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System, method, and business model for speech-interactive information system having business self-promotion, audio coupon and rating features

  • US 6,658,389 B1
  • Filed: 03/24/2000
  • Issued: 12/02/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An operating model for a telephone-based audio-interfaced goods and services information service, comprising:

  • an information database provider storing merchant information including a merchant identity information and at least one good or service associated with said merchant;

    an audio merchant interface including a first telephone for inputting said merchant information into said database;

    a second telephone for inputting end-consumer spoken voice commands making a request for information and for receiving said merchant information in audio form stored in said database in response to said input spoken voice commands making said request for information, said inputting end-consumer spoken voice commands making a request for information occurring without a conversion of a text command into a spoken voice command and without the use of a computer; and

    at least one speech server separate from said merchant interface and said end-consumer second telephone and operable to;

    (i) receive said input spoken end-consumer voice commands in audio form and translate said received input spoken voice commands into a first symbolic command form using a speech-to-text conversion engine so that said symbolic command form may be used to search said information database and retrieve an information item in a second symbolic form therefrom, and (ii) convert said retrieved second symbolic form information item into speech using a text-to-speech conversion engine for communication to said end user in spoken form;

    said second telephone comprises a mobile telephone; and

    further comprising;

    receiving and collecting raw business rating inputs in the form of voice utterances from users, processing these speech uttered ratings inputs to generate compiled business ratings, and providing said processed business ratings to users in response to said speech utterances;

    providing a referral service accessible via said second telephone and operable to provide a consumer with a referral to a merchant having a predetermined rating, including providing a highly rated business;

    providing a merchant self-promotion and consumer feedback features that encourage use, generate revenues, and provide incentives for use by both merchants and consumers;

    said merchant information includes a merchant identifier, a merchant coupon, a category sponsorship message, a merchant telephone number, and a stored merchant information as a recorded audio information;

    said consumer interface does not utilize a visual display even if present in said consumer interface to interact with said speech server; and

    determining the geographic location of the caller, and providing an information having geographical context to the caller based on said determined geographic caller location, said information having geographical context being selected from the set consisting of;

    a geographically based recommendations, a geographically-based promotion, a geographically based audio coupon delivery, and combinations thereof.

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