Voice mail system for obtaining forwarding number information from directory assistance systems having speech recognition

• US 6,330,308 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1998
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Cheston, Frank C. III, Hatton, Patricia V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US09/057,369
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.01, 379/88.04, 379/88.11, 379/88.16, 379/88.17, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.25, 379/88.27, 379/88.28, 379/201, 379/219, 379/229, 379/230, 379/214, 704/270, 704/275
• US Class Current: 379/88.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/64 Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations centralised dictation systems H04M11/10

Abstract

A voice mail system today offers a user the option to forward a message that he or she has reviewed, alone or along with a message recorded by the user. However, to forward the message, the voice mail system needs to receive the telephone number of the party intended as the recipient of the forwarded message. To eliminate the need for manual output of the destination telephone number, the voice mail system is coupled for communication with a voice responsive directory service system. The directory service system or alternatively the voice mail system prompts the user to speak the name of the party intended as the recipient of the forwarded message. The directory service system analyzes the input speech information, identifies a desired destination and retrieves the number for that destination. The directory service system may announce the number to the user, for manual input to the voice mail system. Preferably, the directory service system supplies the number directly to the voice mail system. The voice mail system uses the number to forward the message.

Claims

1. A voice mail system comprising:

a voice processing unit with a memory storing a recorded message, the voice processing unit being configured for receiving a called party identity spoken by a calling party for the recorded message; and

a master control unit configured for initiating a called party telephone number query routine in response to reception of the called party identity, the called party telephone number query routine when initiated causing the master control unit to establish a link through a network to a separate automated directory assistance system and supply the called party identity to the automated directory assistance system via the link through the network,

wherein the master control unit is configured for receiving a called party telephone number from the automated directory assistance system and in response using the received called party telephone number to initiate a transfer of the recorded message to a destination associated with the called party.

2. A voice mail system comprising:

a voice processing unit configured for recording a called party identity, spoken by calling party, for a recorded message;

a master control unit configured for initiating a called party telephone number query routine in response to reception of the called party identity, the master control unit configured for establishing a link with an automated directory assistance system and supplying the called party identity to the automated directory assistance system, the master control unit configured for receiving the called party telephone number from the automated directory assistance system and in response using the called party telephone number to initiate a transfer of the recorded message; and

a signaling network interface for sending the called party identity to the automated directory assistance system, and receiving the called party telephone number from the automated directory assistance system, via an interoffice signaling network configured for exchanging data between the voice mail system and the automated directory assistance system.

3. A voice mail system comprising:

a voice processing unit configured for recording a called party identity, spoken by calling party, for a recorded message;

a master control unit configured for initiating a called party telephone number query routine in response to reception of the called party identity, the master control unit configured for establishing a link with an automated directory assistance system and supplying the called party identity to the automated directory assistance system, the master control unit configured for receiving the called party telephone number from the automated directory assistance system and in response using the called party telephone number to initiate a transfer of the recorded message;

a signaling network interface for sending the called party identity to the automated directory assistance system, and receiving the called party telephone number from the automated directory assistance system, via an interoffice signaling network configured for exchanging data between the voice mail system and the automated directory assistance system; and

a digital switching system for switching calls between an assigned Multi-Line Hunt Group and a plurality of the voice processing units, the master control unit causing the digital switching system to establish a line-sided connection on one line of the Multi-Line Hunt Group to an assigned switching office for initiating a connection with a destination voice mail system.

4. The voice mail system of claim 3, wherein the digital switching system sends DTMF signals related to the called party telephone number in response to a prompt on the line-sided connection from the destination voice mail system and determined capabilities of the destination voice mail system.

5. The voice mail system of claim 4, wherein the voice processing unit replays the recorded message on the line-sided connection a predetermined time after receiving a voice mail recording prompt.

6. A voice mail system comprising:

a voice processing unit configured for recording a called party identity, spoken by calling party, for a recorded message; and

a master control unit configured for initiating a called party telephone number query routine in response to reception of the called party identity, the master control unit configured for establishing a link with an automated directory assistance system and supplying the called party identity to the automated directory assistance system, the master control unit configured for receiving the called party telephone number from the automated directory assistance system and in response using the called party telephone number to initiate a transfer of the recorded message,

wherein the master control unit is configured for establishing the link with the automated directory assistance system in response to reception of corresponding routing information from an automated directory routing system.

7. The voice mail system of claim 6, wherein the voice processing unit records directory index information corresponding to the called party identity and spoken by the calling party, the master control unit outputting the directory index information to the automated directory routing system for reception of the routing information.

8. A telecommunications network comprising:

a central office switching system configured for receiving a line-sided connection with a calling party;

an automated directory assistance system comprising a speech recognition unit for identifying a directory listing based on supplied speech samples, the automated directory assistance system retrieving a stored telephone number for the identified directory listing;

a voice mail system configured for recording a called party identity for a recorded message from the calling party via the line-sided connection, the voice mail system supplying the speech samples to the automated directory assistance system based on the recorded called party identity and obtaining the corresponding stored telephone number for transmission of the recorded message; and

a data network for transporting the speech samples and the stored telephone number between the voice mail system and the automated directory assistance system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the speech samples and the stored telephone number are transported via the data network as TCAP query and TCAP response messages, respectively.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the speech samples and the stored telephone number are each transported via the data network according to TCP/IP protocol.

11. A telecommunications network comprising:

a central office switching system configured for receiving a line-sided connection with a calling party;

an automated directory assistance system comprising a speech recognition unit for identifying a directory listing based on supplied speech samples, the automated directory assistance system retrieving a stored telephone number for the identified directory listing;

a voice mail system configured for recording a called party identity for a recorded message from the calling party via the line-sided connection, the voice mail system supplying the speech samples to the automated directory assistance system based on the recorded called party identity and obtaining the corresponding stored telephone number for transmission of the recorded message,

wherein the automated directory assistance system includes a voice response unit for receiving the speech samples as analog voice signals via a second line-sided co nnection, the second line-sided connection established by the central office switching system between the automated directory assistance system and the voice mail system.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the voice response unit outputs the stored telephone number to the voice mail system via the second line-sided connection.

13. A telecommunications network comprising:

a central office switching system configure dd for receiving a line-sided connection with a calling party;

an automated directory assistance system comprising a speech recognition unit for identifying a directory listing based on supplied speech samples, the automated directory assistance system retrieving a stored telephone number for the identified directory listing; and

a voice mail system configured for recording a called party identity for a recorded message from the calling party via the line-sided connection, the voice mail system supplying the speech samples to the automated directory assistance system based on the recorded called party identity and obtaining the corresponding stored telephone number for transmission of the recorded message, wherein;

the automated directory assistance system includes a voice response unit for receiving the speech samples as analog voice signals via a second line-sided connection, the second line-sided connection established by the central office switching system between the automated directory assistance system and the voice mail system, and

the voice response unit outputs the stored telephone number to the voice mail system via the second line-sided connection as DTMF signals.

14. A telecommunications network comprising:

a central office switching system configured for receiving a line-sided connection with a calling party;

an automated directory assistance system comprising a speech recognition unit for identifying a directory listing based on supplied speech samples, the automated directory assistance system retrieving a stored telephone number for the identified directory listing; and

a voice mail system configured for recording a called party identity for a recorded message from the calling party via the line-sided connection, the voice mail system supplying the speech samples to the automated directory assistance system based on the recorded called party identity and obtaining the corresponding stored telephone number for transmission of the recorded message,

wherein the automated directory assistance system includes;

(a) a first database for storing a plurality of stored telephone numbers for respective directory listings; and

(b) a second database for storing routing information for respective directory index entries, the automated directory assistance system accessing the second database in response to determining an absence of the identified directory listing in the first database and based on a directory index entry recorded by the voice mail system.

15. A telecommunications network comprising:

a central office switching system configured for receiving a line-sided connection with a calling party;

an automated directory assistance system comprising a speech recognition unit for identifying a directory listing based on supplied speech samples, the automated directory assistance system retrieving a stored telephone number for the identified directory listing;

a voice mail system configured for recording a called party identity for a recorded message from the calling party via the line-sided connection, the voice mail system supplying the speech samples to the automated directory assistance system based on the recorded called party identity and obtaining the corresponding stored telephone number for transmission of the recorded message,

wherein the automated directory assistance system includes;

(a) a first database for storing a plurality of stored telephone numbers for respective directory listings; and

(b) a second database for storing routing information for respective directory index entries, the automated directory assistance system accessing the second database in response to determining an absence of the identified directory listing in the first database and based on a directory index entry recorded by the voice mail system;

a second directory assistance system, addressable by the corresponding routing information, comprising a second speech recognition unit for identifying said directory listing in response to reception of said speech samples, and a directory database for outputting the stored telephone number for the identified directory listing; and

a data network for supplying the speech samples and the stored telephone number to and from the second directory assistance system, respectively, based on the routing information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the automated directory assistance system supplies the speech signals to, and retrieves the stored telephone number from, the second directory assistance system based on the accessed routing information for the corresponding directory index entry.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the routing information is supplied via the data network from the automated directory assistance system to the voice mail system for the corresponding directory index entry, the voice mail system in response supplying the speech signals to, and retrieving the stored telephone number from, the second directory assistance system via the data network.

18. A telecommunications network comprising:

a central office switching system configured for receiving a line-sided connection with a calling party;

an automated directory assistance system comprising a speech recognition unit for identifying a directory listing based on supplied speech samples, the automated directory assistance system retrieving a stored telephone number for the identified directory listing;

a voice mail system configured for recording a called party identity for a recorded message from the calling party via the line-sided connection, the voice mail system supplying the speech samples to the automated directory assistance system based on the recorded called party identity and obtaining the corresponding stored telephone number for transmission of the recorded message;

a common channel interoffice signaling network for transporting signaling messages; and

a database for retrieving voice mail subscriber profile information in response to reception of a query message from the voice mail system, via the common channel interoffice signaling network, requesting identification of a destination voice mail system serving the identified directory listing corresponding to the stored telephone number.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the voice mail system transmits the recorded message to the destination voice mail system based on the subscriber profile information retrieved from the database.

20. A method in a switched communications network, the method comprising:

connecting a calling party in a first network connection to an originating voice mail system serving the calling party and configured for storing a recorded message associated with the calling party;

receiving a called party identity spoken by the calling party, wherein the spoken called party identity relates to an intended destination party for the recorded message;

transmitting speech samples of the spoken called party identity over a second network connection to a separate automated directory assistance system;

processing the speech samples in the automated directory assistance system to identify the intended destination party;

retrieving a telephone number corresponding to the identity of the intended destination party via the automated directory assistance system; and

transmitting the recorded message to a destination voice mailbox serving the intended destination party based on the retrieved telephone number.

21. A method in a switched communications network, the method comprising:

connecting a calling party in a first connection to an originating voice mail system serving the calling party and configured for storing a recorded message associated with the calling party;

receiving a called party identity, spoken by the calling party, that specifies a destination party for the recorded message;

processing speech samples spoken by the calling party to identify the called party identity in an automated directory assistance system;

retrieving a telephone number corresponding to the destination party in response to identification thereof using a second connection between the originating voice mail system and the automated directory assistance system while maintaining the first connection, wherein the receiving step comprises;

(a) establishing the second connection in response to a prompt request received by the originating voice mail system; and

(b) recording the called party identity in a voice response unit in the automated directory assistance system; and

transmitting the recorded message to a destination voice mailbox serving the destination party based on the retrieved telephone number.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the connection establishing step comprises establishing a bridge connection between the calling party, the originating voice mail system, and the voice response unit of the automated directory assistance system.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the retrieving step comprises:

accessing a first database in the automated directory assistance system to determine a presence of the stored telephone number for the destination party;

if the first database does not store said stored telephone number for the destination party;

(1) recording a directory identifier corresponding to the destination party from the calling party;

(2) identifying the directory identifier by the voice response unit;

(3) accessing a second database by the automated directory assistance system via a data network based on a directory identifier; and

(4) obtaining the telephone number from the second database to the automated directory assistance system.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the retrieving step further comprises announcing the retrieved telephone number by the voice response unit to the calling party.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the retrieving step further comprises announcing the retrieved telephone number by the voice response unit to the calling party.

26. A method of in a switched communications network, the method comprising:

connecting a calling party in a first connection to an originating voice mail system serving the calling party and configured for storing a recorded message associated with the calling party;

receiving a called party identity, spoken by the calling party, that specifies a destination party for the recorded message, wherein the receiving step comprises recording the called party identity in the originating voice mail system;

processing speech samples spoken by the calling party to identify the called party identity in an automated directory assistance system;

retrieving a telephone number corresponding to the destination party in response to identification thereof using a second connection between the originating voice mail system and the automated directory assistance system while maintaining the first connection, wherein the retrieving step comprises;

(a) supplying the recorded called party identity to the automated directory assistance system; and

(b) transmitting signals from the automated directory assistance system to the originating voice mail system that represent the retrieved telephone number; and

transmitting the recorded message to a destination voice mailbox serving the destination party based on the retrieved telephone number.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the supplying and transmitting steps output the respective recorded called party identity and the signals via line sided connections between the originating voice mail system and the automated directory assistance system.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the supplying and transmitting steps output the respective recorded called party identity and the signals via a data network configured for sending data between the originating voice mail system and the automated directory assistance system.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the supplying and transmitting steps each comprise outputting the respective recorded called party identity and the signals via a data network as TCAP-formatted messages.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the supplying and transmitting steps each comprise outputting the respective recorded called party identity and the signals via a data network as TCP/IP formatted data packets.

31. A method in a switched communications network, the method comprising:

connecting a calling party in a first connection to an originating voice mail system serving the calling party and configured for storing a recorded message associated with the calling party;

receiving a called party identity, spoken by the calling party, that specifies a destination party for the recorded message;

processing speech samples spoken by the calling party to identify the called party identity in an automated directory assistance system;

retrieving a telephone number corresponding to the destination party in response to identification thereof using a second connection between the originating voice mail system and the automated directory assistance system while maintaining the first connection, wherein the retrieving step comprises accessing a first database in the automated directory assistance system to determine a presence of the stored telephone number for the destination party, and if the first database does not store said stored telephone number for the destination party;

(1) recording a directory identifier corresponding to the destination party from the calling party;

(2) identifying the directory identifier by a speech recognition unit;

(3) accessing a second database via a data network based on a directory identifier; and

(4) obtaining the telephone number from the second database to the automated directory assistance system; and

transmitting the recorded message to a destination voice mailbox serving the destination party based on the retrieved telephone number.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the second database accessing step is performed by the automated directory assistance system.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the second database accessing step is performed by the originating voice mail system.

34. A method in a switched communications network, the method comprising:

connecting a calling party in a first connection to an originating voice mail system serving the calling party and configured for storing a recorded message associated with the calling party;

receiving a called party identity, spoken by the calling party, that specifies a destination party for the recorded message;

recording a directory identifier corresponding to the destination party from the calling party;

processing speech samples spoken by the calling party to identify the called party identity in an automated directory assistance system;

identifying the recorded directory identifier by a speech recognition unit;

retrieving a telephone number corresponding to the destination party in response to identification thereof using a second connection between the originating voice mail system and the automated directory assistance system while maintaining the first connection, wherein the retrieving step comprises;

(a) accessing a database via a data network based on the identified directory identifier; and

(b) supplying the telephone number retrieved from the database to the originating voice mail system via the data network; and

transmitting the recorded message to a destination voice mailbox serving the destination party based on the retrieved telephone number.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the accessing and supplying steps each comprise outputting TCAP-format messages onto the data network.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the accessing and supplying steps each comprise outputting TCP/IP format data packets onto the data network.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the accessing step is executed by the originating voice mail system.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the accessing step is executed by the originating voice mail system by the automated directory assistance system.