Computer, internet and telecommunications based network

• US 6,775,264 B1
• Filed: 03/02/1998
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Parus Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Webley Systems, Inc. (Webley, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kurganov, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dan
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHRA, INDER P
• Application Number:
  US09/033,335
• Time in Patent Office: 2,353 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/355, 370/356, 370/260, 370/354, 370/400, 370/401, 370/389, 370/390, 370/391, 370/392, 370/261, 379/900, 379/88.02, 379/88.07, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.16, 379/88.17, 379/905, 379/907, 704/231, 704/270, 704/275
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/30 of unstructured textual data document management systems G06F16/93
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/00 Speech recognition G10L17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/00 Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility G10L19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/48 specially adapted for particular use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 : Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• 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 3/515 : Night service systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 : Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0003 : Interconnection between telephone networks and data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 : Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a computer and telecommunication network which can receive, send and manage information from or to a subscriber of the network, based on the subscriber'"'"'s configuration. The network is made up of at least one cluster containing voice servers which allow for telephony, speech recognition, text-to-speech and conferencing functions, and is accessible by the subscriber through standard telephone connections or through internet connections. The network also utilizes a database and file server allowing the subscriber to maintain and manage certain contact lists and administrative information. A web server is also connected to the cluster thereby allowing access to all functions through internet connections.

Claims

1. A computer and telecommunications network for receiving, sending and managing information from a subscriber through a subscriber communication device to the network and from the network to the subscriber communication device, comprising:

at least one cluster, said cluster containing at least one voice server, said voice server containing telephony and speaker-independent speech command recognition and execution functions, such that said subscriber can access said cluster via a first standard telephone connection and also via a first internet connection;

at least one database server, said database server being connected to said cluster and containing contact lists, and administrative data, such that said subscriber can manipulate and manage said data and said contact lists;

at least one file server, said file server being connected to said cluster; and

a web server, said web server being connected to said cluster such that said subscriber can access said network by connecting to said web server via said first internet connection;

wherein said network can receive a first message from a second telephone connection and from a second internet connection and transmit said first message to said subscriber communication device or transmit a notification to said subscriber communication device about said first message via said first telephone connection or said first internet connection, and said network can receive a second message from said subscriber communication device via said first telephone connection and via said first internet connection and transmit said second message via said second telephone connection or said second internet connection based on commands received from said subscriber.

2. The computer and telecommunications network described in claim 1, wherein said first message and said second message comprises telephone calls, e-mail, faxes, conference calls or voice-mail.

3. The computer and telecommunications network described in claim 1, wherein manipulating and managing said data and said contact lists comprises creating and modifying a contact list.

4. The computer and telecommunications network described in claim 3, wherein manipulating and managing said data and said contact lists comprises utilizing said contact lists to place telephone calls, send e-mail, voice-mail and faxes, and create or modify conference calls.

13. The computer and telecommunications network of claim 1, wherein said subscriber may issue commands to manipulate and manage said contact lists and administrative data.

14. The computer and telecommunications network of claim 13 wherein said commands are speech commands which are interpreted by said speaker-independent speech command recognition of said at least one voice server.

15. The computer and telecommunications network of claim 1, wherein said commands received from said subscriber are speech commands which are interpreted by said speaker-independent speech command recognition of said at least one voice server.

16. The computer and telecommunications network of claim 15 wherein said speech commands are utilized to place telephone calls, create and send e-mail, voice-mail and faxes, and to create or modify conference calls.

17. The computer and telecommunications network of claim 1 wherein said speaker-independent speech command recognition of said at least one voice server recognizes naturally spoken speech commands.

26. The computer and telecommunications network of claim 1 wherein said subscriber communication device comprises a cellular phone, a pager, a personal computer, a fax machine, an electronic mailbox or a voice-mail service.

5. A method for receiving, sending and managing information between a computer and telecommunications network and a subscriber communication device of a subscriber comprising the steps of:

providing at least one cluster, said cluster containing at least one voice server, said voice server containing telephony and speaker-independent speech command recognition and execution functions, such that said subscriber can access said cluster via a first standard telephone connection and also via a first internet connection;

providing at least one database server, said database server being connected to said cluster and containing contact lists, and administrative data, such that said subscriber can manipulate and manage said data and said contact lists;

providing at least one file server, said file server being connected to said cluster; and

providing a web server, said web server being connected to said cluster such that said subscriber can access said network by connecting to said web server via said first internet connection;

receiving a first message from a second telephone connection and receiving a second message from a second internet connection and transmitting said first message and said second message to said subscriber communication device or transmitting a notification to said subscriber communication device about said first message and said second message via said first telephone connection or said first internet connection, based on commands received by the network from said subscriber.

6. The computer and telecommunications network described in claim 5, wherein said message comprises telephone calls, e-mail, faxes, conference calls or voice-mail.

7. The computer and telecommunications network described in claim 5, wherein manipulating and managing said data and said contact lists comprises creating and modifying a contact list.

8. The computer and telecommunications network described in claim 7, wherein manipulating and managing said data and said contact lists comprises utilizing said contact list to place telephone calls, send e-mail, voice-mail and faxes, and create or modify conference calls.

18. The method of claim 5, comprising the additional step of issuing commands from said subscriber for manipulating and managing said contact lists and administrative data.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said step of issuing commands comprises issuing speech commands spoken by said subscriber.

20. The method of claim 5, wherein said commands received by said network from said subscriber are speech commands;

and

interpreting said speech commands by said speaker-independent speech command recognition of said at least one voice server.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of placing telephone calls, creating and sending e-mail, voice-mail and faxes, and creating and modifying conference calls based upon said speech commands.

22. The method of claim 5 comprising the further step of recognizing naturally spoken speech commands using said speaker-independent speech command recognition.

27. The method of claim 5 wherein said subscriber communication device comprises a cellular phone, a pager, a personal computer, a fax machine, an electronic mailbox or a voice-mail service.

9. A method for receiving, sending and managing information between a computer and telecommunications network and a subscriber communication device of a subscriber comprising the steps of:

providing at least one cluster, said cluster containing at least one voice server, said voice server containing telephony and speaker-independent speech command recognition and execution functions, such that said subscriber can access said cluster via a first standard telephone connection and also via a first internet connection;

providing at least one database server, said database server being connected to said cluster and containing contact lists, and administrative data, such that said subscriber can manipulate and manage said data and said contact lists;

providing at least one file server, said file server being connected to said cluster, and

providing a web server, said web server being connected to said cluster such that said subscriber can access said network by connecting to said web server via said first internet connection;

receiving a first message from said subscriber via said first telephone connection;

receiving a second message from said subscriber via said first internet connection; and

transmitting said first message and said second message via a second telephone connection or a second internet connection, based on commands received by said network from said subscriber.

10. The computer and telecommunications network described in claim 9, wherein said message comprises telephone calls, e-mail, faxes, conference calls or voice-mail.

11. The computer and telecommunications network described in claim 9, wherein manipulating and managing said data and said contact lists comprises creating and modifying a contact list.

12. The computer and telecommunications network described in claim 11, wherein manipulating and managing said data and said contact lists comprises utilizing said contact list to place telephone calls, send e-mail, voice-mail and faxes, and create or modify conference calls.

23. The method for of claim 9, wherein said commands received by said network from said subscriber are speech commands;

and

interpreting said speech commands by said speaker-independent speech command recognition of said at least one voice server.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of placing telephone calls, creating and sending e-mail, voice-mail and faxes, and creating and modifying conference calls based upon said speech commands.

25. The method of claim 9 comprising the further step of recognizing naturally spoken speech commands using said speaker-independent speech command recognition.

28. The method of claim 9 wherein said subscriber communication device comprises a cellular phone, a pager, a personal computer, a fax machine, an electronic mailbox or a voice-mail service.