Network and method for providing a calling name telecommunications service with automatic speech recognition capability

• US 6,873,686 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: CommWorks Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Knoerle, Joseph, Zhang, Zeeman
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US09/634,793
• Time in Patent Office: 1,693 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/88.03, 379/88.04, 379/201.02, 379/201.05, 379/221.02, 379/221.09, 379/88.19, 379/88.25, 379/142.02, 379/142.08, 379/142.04, 379/221.01, 379/221.08, 379/221.11
• US Class Current: 379/88.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/41 using speaker recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0033 customer-controlled

Abstract

A network for providing a telecommunications service with automatic speech recognition to a telecommunications user, including a switch in communication with a telecommunications device associated with the telecommunications user for detecting a terminating trigger specific to the telecommunications service in response to an incoming communication to the telecommunications device from a calling party, and an intelligent resource server in communication with the switch for receiving the incoming communication from the switch, for placing an outgoing communication to the telecommunications device via the switch, the outgoing communication including an audible message identifying the calling party, and for automatically recognizing a predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the outgoing communication.

Claims

1. A network for providing a telecommunications service with automatic speech recognition to a telecommunications user, comprising:

a switch in communication with a telecommunications device associated with the telecommunications user for;

detecting a first terminating trigger specific to a first telecommunications service in response to a first incoming communication to the telecommunications device from a calling party; and

detecting a second trigger specific to a second telecommunications service in response to a second communication from the telecommunications device;

detecting a third trigger specific to a third telecommunications service in response to a third communication from the telecommunications device; and

routing the third communication to an operator services system in response to the detection of the third trigger; and

an intelligent resource server in communication with the switch for;

receiving the first incoming communication from the switch;

placing a first outgoing communication to the telecommunications device via the switch, the first outgoing communication including

a first audible message identifying the calling party, wherein the intelligent resource server is configured for automatically recognizing a first predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the first audible message;

receiving a second communication from the telecommunications device via the switch;

playing a second audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the second communication, the second audible message prompting the telecommunications user to modify a call forwarding profile associated with the telecommunications user;

receiving the third communication from the operator services system with a first message including information regarding a party requested by the telecommunications user from the operator services system;

playing a third audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the third communication, the third audible message including information regarding the party; and

prompting the telecommunications user to place a second outgoing communication to the party.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the switch includes an SSP switch of a central office in communication with the telecommunications device via a subscriber line.

3. The network of claim 1, wherein the switch includes a switch of a mobile switching center in communication with the telecommunications device via an air-interface communication scheme.

4. The network of claim 1, further comprising a service control point in communication with the switch.

5. The network of claim 4, wherein:

the switch is further for sending a query message to the service control point in response to detecting the first terminating trigger; and

the service control point is for returning a second message to the switch to route the first incoming communication to the intelligent resource server.

6. The network of claim 5, wherein the service control point is further for returning the second message to the switch to route the first incoming communication to the intelligent resource server based on a determination of whether the telecommunications user is a subscriber of the telecommunications service.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein the intelligent resource server is further for processing the first incoming communication based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword.

8. The network of claim 7, wherein the intelligent resource server is further for forwarding the first incoming communication to the telecommunications device based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword.

9. The network of claim 8, wherein the intelligent resource server is further for forwarding the first incoming communication to a messaging system associated with the telecommunications user based on recognition of a fourth predetermined keyword.

10. A network for providing a telecommunications service with automatic speech recognition to a telecommunications user, comprising:

a switch in communication with a telecommunications device associated with the telecommunications user for;

detecting a first terminating trigger specific to a first telecommunications service in response to a first incoming communication to the telecommunications device from a calling party;

detecting a second trigger specific to a second telecommunications service in response to a second communication from the telecommunications device;

detecting a third trigger specific to a third telecommunications service in response to a third communication from the telecommunications device; and

routing the third communication to an operator services system in response to the detection of the third trigger; and

a call processing module in communication with the switch for;

receiving the first incoming communication from the switch;

placing a first outgoing communication to the telecommunications device via the switch, the first outgoing communication including a first audible message identifying the calling party to the telecommunications user;

receiving the second communication from the telecommunications device via the switch; and

playing a second audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the second communication, the second audible message prompting the calling party to modify a call forwarding profile associated with the telecommunications user;

receiving the third communication from the operator services system with a first message including information regarding a party requested by the telecommunications user from the operator services system;

playing a third audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the third communication, the third audible message including information regarding the part; and

prompting the telecommunications user to place a second outgoing communication to the party; and

an automatic speech recognition module in communication with the switch for;

recognizing a first predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the first outgoing communication;

recognizing a second predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the second audible message; and

recognizing a third predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the third audible message.

11. The network of claim 10, wherein the switch includes a switch of a central office in communication with the telecommunications device via a subscriber line.

12. The network of claim 10, wherein the switch includes a switch of a mobile switching center in communication with the telecommunications device via an air-interface communication scheme.

13. The network of claim 10, further comprising a service control point in communication with the switch.

14. The network of claim 13, wherein:

the switch is further for sending a query message to the service control point in response to detecting the first terminating trigger; and

the service control point is for returning a second message to the switch to route the first incoming communication to the call processing module.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein the service control point is further for returning the second message to the switch to route the first incoming communication to the call processing module based on a determination of whether the telecommunications user is a subscriber of the telecommunications service.

16. The network of claim 10, wherein the call processing module is further for processing the first incoming communication based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword by the automatic speech recognition module.

17. The network of claim 16, wherein the call processing module is further for forwarding the first incoming communication to the telecommunications device based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword by the automatic speech recognition module.

18. The network of claim 17, wherein the call processing module is further for forwarding the first incoming communication to a call messaging system associated with the telecommunications device based on recognition of a fourth predetermined keyword by the automatic speech recognition module.

19. The network of claim 10, further comprising an enunciation module in communication with the switch for playing the first audible message identifying the calling party.

20. The network of claim 10, further comprising a DTMF decoder module in communication with the switch for recognizing a predetermined DTMF character entered by the telecommunications user in response to the first outgoing communication.

21. The network of claim 20, wherein the call processing module is further for processing the first incoming communication based on recognition of the predetermined DTMF character by the DTMF decoder module.

22. An intelligent resource server for providing a telecommunications service with automatic speech recognition for a telecommunications user, comprising:

a call processing module for;

receiving from a switch in communication with a telecommunications device associated with the telecommunications user a first incoming communication to the telecommunications device from a calling party;

placing a first outgoing communication to the telecommunications device via the switch, the first outgoing communication including a first audible message identifying the calling party to the telecommunications user;

receiving from the switch in communication with the telecommunications device associated with the telecommunications user a second communication; and

playing a second audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the second communication, the second audible message prompting the calling party to modify a call forwarding profile associated with the telecommunications user;

receiving a third communication from an operator services system with a first message including information regarding a party requested by the telecommunications user from the operator services system wherein the third communication was routed to the operator services system in response to the detection of a third trigger;

playing a third audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the third communication, the third audible message including information regarding the party; and

prompting the telecommunications user to place a second outgoing communication to the party; and

an automatic speech recognition module in communication with the call processing module for;

recognizing a first predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the first outgoing communication;

recognizing a second predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the second audible message; and

recognizing a third predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the third audible message.

23. The intelligent resource server of claim 22, wherein the call processing module is further for forwarding the first incoming communication to the telecommunications device based on the recognition of the first predetermined keyword by the automatic speech recognition module.

24. The intelligent resource server of claim 23, wherein the call processing module is further for forwarding the first incoming communication to a messaging system associated with the telecommunications user based on recognition of a fourth predetermined keyword by the automatic speech recognition module.

25. The intelligent resource server of claim 22, further comprising an enunciation module in communication with the call processing module for playing the first audible message identifying the calling party.

26. The intelligent resource server of claim 22, further comprising a DTMF decoder module in communication with the switch for recognizing a predetermined DTMF character entered by the telecommunications user in response to the first outgoing communication.

27. The network of claim 26, wherein the call processing module is further for processing the incoming communication based on recognition of the predetermined DTMF character by the DTMF decoder module.

28. A method for providing a telecommunications service with automatic speech recognition to a telecommunications user, comprising:

detecting a first incoming communication from a calling party to the telecommunications user;

placing a first outgoing communication to the telecommunications user using an intelligent resource server, wherein the intelligent resource server in response to detection of the first incoming communication transmits the first outgoing communication including a first audible message identifying the calling party to the telecommunications user;

automatically recognizing at predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user using the intelligent resource server, wherein the first predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user is in response to the first outgoing communication;

detecting a second communication from the telecommunications device;

playing second audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the second communication, the second audible message prompting the calling party to modify a call forwarding profile associated with the telecommunications user;

automatically recognizing a second predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the second audible message;

detecting a third communication from the telecommunications device;

routing the third communication to an operator services system;

receiving the third communication from the orator services system with a second message including information regarding a party requested by the telecommunications user from the operator services system;

playing a third audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the third communication, the third audible message including information regarding the party;

prompting the telecommunications user to place a second outgoing communication to the party; and

recognizing a third predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the third audible message.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein placing the first outgoing communication includes placing the first outgoing communication to the telecommunications user identifying the calling party when it is determined that the telecommunications user is a subscriber of the telecommunications service.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising processing the first incoming communication based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein processing the first incoming communication includes routing the first incoming communication to the telecommunications user based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein processing the first incoming communication includes routing the first incoming communication to a messaging system associated with the telecommunications user based on recognition of a third predetermined keyword.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising recognizing a predetermined DTMF character entered by the telecommunications user in response to the outgoing communication.

34. The method claim 33, further comprising processing the incoming communication based on recognition of the predetermined DTMF character.

40. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

storing identifying information regarding a prior calling party to the telecommunications user in conjunction with a fourth telecommunications service;

detecting a fourth trigger specific to the fourth telecommunications service in response to a fourth communication from the telecommunication device;

receiving the fourth communication and a third message including the identifying information from the telecommunication device;

playing a fourth audible message for the telecommunication user in response to receiving the fourth communication, the fourth audible message containing the information regarding the prior calling party;

prompting the telecommunication user to place a second outgoing communication to the prior calling party; and

recognizing a fourth predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunication user in response to the fourth audible message.

35. A network for providing a telecommunications service with automatic speech recognition to a telecommunications user, comprising:

means for detecting a first incoming communication from a calling party to the telecommunications user;

means for placing a first outgoing communication to the telecommunications user using an intelligent resource server, wherein the intelligent resource server in response to detection of the first incoming communication transmits the first outgoing communication including a first audible message identifying the calling party to the telecommunications user;

means for automatically recognizing a first predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user using the intelligent resource server, wherein the first predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user is in response to the first outgoing communication;

means for detecting a second communication from the telecommunications device;

means for playing a second audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the second communication, the second audible message prompting the telecommunications user to modify a call forwarding profile associated with the telecommunications user;

means for automatically recognizing a second predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the second audible message

means for detecting a third communication from the telecommunications device;

means for routing the third communication to an operator services system;

means for receiving the third communication from the operator services system with a second message including information regarding a party requested by the telecommunications user from the operator services system;

means for playing a third audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the third communication, the third audible message including information regarding the party;

means for prompting the telecommunications user to place a second outgoing communication to the party; and

means for recognizing a third predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the third audible message.

36. The network of claim 35, further comprising means for recognizing a predetermined DTMF character entered by the telecommunications user in response to the first outgoing communication.

37. The network of claim 35, further comprising means for processing the first incoming communication based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword.

38. The network of claim 37, wherein the means for processing includes means for routing the first incoming communication to the telecommunications user based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword.

39. The network of claim 38, wherein the means for processing includes means for routing the first incoming communication to a messaging system associated with the telecommunications user based on recognition of a third predetermined keyword.