Computer-implemented voice-based command structure for establishing outbound communication through a unified messaging system

• US 6,477,240 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Nguyen, Joseph A., Lim, Kang S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US09/282,541
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/88.03, 379/88.04, 379/88.07, 379/88.13, 379/88.16, 379/88.17, 379/88.22, 379/93.03, 379/93.12, 379/100.06, 379/93.23, 379/201-206, 379/211-214, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/201.11, 379/201.12, 379/207.11, 704/270, 704/271, 704/275, 704/9, 704/10, 370/352, 370/389, 370/401
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308

Abstract

A method for permitting a user to create a plurality of outbound communication paths to a plurality of communication devices from a unified messaging system, the creating the plurality of the outbound communication paths being performed responsive to verbal input from a user through a first telephone. The method includes receiving at the unified messaging system the verbal input from the user through the first telephone and performing voice recognition on the verbal input. There is also included detecting an action word from the verbal input after the performing voice recognition. The action word is indicative of a communication service desired by the user in creating the end-to-end connection. Additionally, there is included detecting at least one of a first called party identity and first contacting data from the verbal input after the detecting the action word. Furthermore, there are included entering the one of the first called party identity and the first contacting data in a first record of a call table and detecting a conjunctive word after the detecting the at least one of the first called party identity and the first contacting data. The method further includes detecting at least one of a second called party identity and second contacting data from the verbal input after the detecting the conjunctive word. Furthermore, there is included entering the one of the second called party identity and the second contacting data in a second record of a call table and finalizing the call table after the user finishes with the verbal input. Finalizing the call table ensuring that each record of the call table, including the first record and the second record, includes service-appropriate contact information to permit the unified messaging system to create an outbound communication path for the each record.

Claims

1. A method for creating an end-to-end connection between a first telephone and a second telephone through a unified messaging system, said creating said end-to-end connection between said first telephone and said second telephone being performed responsive to verbal input from a user of said first telephone, comprising:

receiving at said unified messaging system said verbal input from said user through said first telephone, wherein the unified messaging system provides a plurality of communication service options, comprising a telephone service, a facsimile service, and an e-mail service wherein each communication service may be designated by an action word, which is recognizable by voice recognition;

performing voice recognition on said verbal input;

detecting an action word from said verbal input after said performing voice recognition, said action word being indicative of the telephone service desired by said user in creating said end-to-end connection;

detecting at least one of a called party identity and contacting data from said verbal input after said detecting said action word;

entering said one of said called party identity and said contacting data in a record of a call table;

finalizing said call table after said user finishes with said verbal input, said finalizing said call table ensuring that said record of said call table includes a telephone number to permit said unified messaging system to create an outbound communication path of said end-to-end connection using said telephone number, said finalizing said call table including consulting an electronic address book of said user to locate an address book telephone number if said telephone number is not present in said record prior to said finalizing, said consulting employing at least one of said called party identity and said location; and

permitting said user to cancel, via a verbal command, said creating said end-to-end connection if said address book telephone number cannot be located in said electronic address book during said consulting.

2. A method for creating an end-to-end connection between a first telephone and a second telephone through a unified messaging system, said creating said end-to-end connection between said first telephone and said second telephone being performed responsive to verbal input from a user of said first telephone, comprising:

receiving at said unified messaging system said verbal input from said user through said first telephone, wherein the unified messaging system provides a plurality of communication service options, comprising a telephone service, a facsimile service, and an e-mail service wherein each communication service may be designated by an action word, which is recognizable by voice recognition;

performing voice recognition on said verbal input;

detecting an action word from said verbal input after said performing voice recognition, said action word being indicative of the telephone service desired by said user in creating said end-to-end connection;

detecting at least one of a called party identity and contacting data from said verbal input after said detecting said action word;

entering said one of said called party identity and said contacting data in a record of a call table;

finalizing said call table after said user finishes with said verbal input, said finalizing said call table ensuring that said record of said call table includes a telephone number to permit said unified messaging system to create an outbound communication path of said end-to-end connection using said telephone number, said finalizing said call table including consulting an electronic address book of said user to locate an address book telephone number if said telephone number is not present in said record prior to said finalizing, said consulting employing at least one of said called party identity and said location; and

permitting said user to verbally input another location if said address book telephone number cannot be located in said electronic address book during said consulting.

3. A method for creating an end-to-end connection between a first telephone and a second telephone through a unified messaging system, said creating said end-to-end connection between said first telephone and said second telephone being performed responsive to verbal input from a user of said first telephone, comprising:

receiving at said unified messaging system said verbal input from said user through said first telephone, wherein the unified messaging system provides a plurality of communication service options, comprising a telephone service, a facsimile service, and an e-mail service wherein each communication service may be designated by an action word, which is recognizable by voice recognition;

performing voice recognition on said verbal input;

detecting an action word from said verbal input after said performing voice recognition, said action word being indicative of the telephone service desired by said user in creating said end-to-end connection;

detecting at least one of a called party identity and contacting data from said verbal input after said detecting said action word;

entering said one of said called party identity and said contacting data in a record of a call table;

finalizing said call table after said user finishes with said verbal input, said finalizing said call table ensuring that said record of said call table includes a telephone number to permit said unified messaging system to create an outbound communication path of said end-to-end connection using said telephone number, said finalizing said call table including consulting an electronic address book of said user to locate an address book telephone number if said telephone number is not present in said record prior to said finalizing, said consulting employing at least one of said called party identity and said location; and

permitting said user to verbally input another telephone number if said address book telephone number cannot be located in said electronic address book during said consulting.

4. A method for permitting a user to create a plurality of outbound communication paths to a plurality of communication devices from a unified messaging system, said creating said plurality of said outbound communication paths being performed responsive to verbal input from a user through a first telephone, comprising:

receiving at said unified messaging system said verbal input from said user through said first telephone;

performing voice recognition on said verbal input;

detecting an action word from said verbal input after said performing voice recognition, said action word being indicative of a communication service desired by said user in creating said end-to-end connection;

detecting at least one of a first called party identity and first contacting data from said verbal input after said detecting said action word;

entering said one of said first called party identity and said first contacting data in a first record of a call table;

detecting a conjunctive word after said detecting said at least one of said first called party identity and said first contacting data;

detecting at least one of a second called party identity and second contacting data from said verbal input after said detecting said conjunctive word;

entering said one of said second called party identity and said second contacting data in a second record of a call table; and

finalizing said call table after said user finishes with said verbal input, said finalizing said call table ensuring that each record of said call table, including said first record and said second record, includes service-appropriate contact information to permit said unified messaging system to create an outbound communication path for said each record.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said action word represents an action word indicative of a telephone call, said communication device represents a second telephone different from said first telephone, and said service-appropriate contact information represents a telephone number.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising

detecting a temporal order word from said verbal input after said detecting said conjunctive word; and

entering a temporal order in said second record, said temporal order being reflective of a temporal status of an outbound call associated with said second record relative to an outbound call associated with said first record, said temporal status being determined responsive to said temporal order word input by said user.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein if the conjunctive word is a first type of conjunctive word and the action word designates a telephone service then:

calling a first telephone number in the first contacting data in the first record of the call table; and

into calling a second telephone number in the second contacting data in the second record of the call table to create a conference call between the user the first called party and the second called party.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein if the conjunctive word is a first type of conjunctive word and the action word designates a telephone service then said

calling a first telephone number in the first contacting data in the first record of the call table;

calling a second telephone number in the second contacting data in the second record of the call table; and

connecting to the first of either the first called party or second called party to establish a connection, while disconnecting any party that is not the first to establish a connection.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said location of said given record is assumed to be a predefined default location if said location of said given record is not present in said given record of said call table.

10. The method of claim 8 further includes permitting said user to verbally input another location for said given record of said call table if said address book telephone number cannot be located in said electronic address book during said consulting.

11. The method of claim 8 further includes permitting said user to cancel, via a verbal command, a call session involving said plurality of outbound communication paths if said address book telephone number cannot be located in said electronic address book during said consulting for said given record of said call table.

12. The method of claim 8 further includes permitting said user to verbally input another telephone number for said given record of said call table if said address book telephone number cannot be located in said electronic address book during said consulting.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein said finalizing said call table for a given record of said call table includes

consulting an electronic address book of said user to ascertain whether there exists an address record having a called party identity of said given record of said call table;

ascertaining an address book telephone number associated with said address record having said called party identity of said given record of said call table; and

entering said address book telephone number into said given record of said call table if said address book telephone number is ascertained.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said finalizing said call table further includes

permitting said user to verbally input another location for said given record of said call table if said address book telephone number cannot be ascertained from said address record having said called party identity of said given record of said call table.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said finalizing said call table further includes

permitting said user to verbally enter another telephone number for said given record of said call table if said address book telephone number cannot be ascertained from said address record having said called party identity of said given record of said call table, and

entering said another telephone number into said given record of said call table.

16. A method for initiating communication with a first party and a second party in response to verbal input from a user, the method comprising:

receiving the verbal input from the user;

detecting an action word from the received verbal input;

detecting first contact data from the received verbal input after detecting the action word;

detecting a conjunctive word from the received verbal input after detecting the first contact data;

detecting second contact data from the received verbal input after detecting the conjunctive word; and

initiating contacting said first party and said second party in accordance with the detected action word using the detected first contact data and the detected second contact data.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising storing the detected first and second contact data in a table, wherein initiating contacting includes contacting said first party and said second party using the detected first and second contact data stored in said table.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the detected action word is call, fax, email or page.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein receiving includes receiving the verbal input from the user via a phone device.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the detected first contact data represents a name of said first party or data for addressing a communication device associated with said first party.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the detected first contact data represents a phone number for addressing a phone device associated with said first party.

22. The method of claim 16 further comprising detecting a preposition from the received verbal input.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the preposition is at.

24. A method for initiating communication with a plurality of communication devices in response to verbal input from a user, the method comprising:

receiving the verbal input from the user;

detecting an action word from the received verbal input;

detecting first contact data from the received verbal input after detecting the action word;

detecting a conjunctive word from the received verbal input after detecting the first contact data;

detecting second contact data from the received verbal input after detecting the conjunctive word; and

initiating communication with the plurality of communication devices in accordance with the detected action word using the detected first contact data and the detected second contact data.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising storing the first contact data in a first record of a table and the second contact data in a second record of a table, wherein initiating communication includes initiating communication with the plurality of communication devices using the detected first contact data and the detected second contact data stored in said table.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein initiating communication includes initiating communication with the plurality of communication devices at substantially the same time.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising terminating, upon establishing communication with one of the plurality of communication devices, the communication with remaining ones of the plurality of communication devices.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein initiating communication includes successively initiating communication with the plurality of communication devices.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the detected conjunctive word is and.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein the detected action word is call, fax, email or page.

31. A method for initiating communication with a plurality of communication devices in response to verbal input from a user, the method comprising:

receiving the verbal input from the user;

detecting an action word from the received verbal input;

detecting first contact data from the received verbal input after detecting the action word;

detecting a temporal order word from the received verbal input after detecting the first contact data;

detecting second contact data from the received verbal input after detecting the temporal order word; and

initiating communication with the plurality of communication devices in accordance with the detected action word and the detected temporal order word using the detected first contact data and the detected second contact data.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the detected temporal order word is then or before.