Network and method for providing a flexible call forwarding telecommunications service with automatic speech recognition capability

• US 6,993,119 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Zeeman, Knoerle, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chow, Ming
• Application Number:
  US09/635,018
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/70, 379/77, 379/80, 379/81, 379/84, 379/211, 379/197, 379/88.25, 379/219
• US Class Current: 379/88.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• 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: 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 network for providing a telecommunications service with automatic speech recognition to a telecommunications user, including a switch in communication with a telecommunications device used by the telecommunications user for detecting a trigger specific to the telecommunications service in response to a communication from the telecommunications device, and an intelligent resource server in communication with the switch for receiving the communication from the telecommunications device via the switch, for playing an audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the communication, the message prompting the telecommunications user to modify a call forwarding profile associated with the telecommunications user, and for automatically recognizing a predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the message.

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

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

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;

an intelligent resource server in communication with the switch, wherein the intelligent resource server is for;

receiving the first communication from the telecommunications device via the switch;

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

automatically recognizing a first predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the first audible message by digitizing the telecommunications user'"'"'s response and comparing the digitized response to a set of coded waveforms corresponding to predefined keywords;

receiving the second communication and a first message including the identifying information 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 containing the information regarding the prior calling party;

prompting the telecommunications user to place an outgoing communication to the prior calling party;

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

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;

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

prompting the telecommunications user to place an outgoing communication to the party; and

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

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the switch includes a 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, wherein the switch is further for detecting an originating trigger in response to a feature code entered by the telecommunications user from the telecommunications device.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein the switch is further for detecting a terminating trigger in response to an administration number entered by the telecommunications user from the telecommunications device.

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

7. The network of claim 6, wherein:

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

the service control point is for returning a third message to the switch to route the first communication from the telecommunications device to the intelligent resource server.

8. The network of claim 7, wherein the service control point is further for returning the third message to the switch to route the first communication to the intelligent resource server based on a determination of whether the telecommunications user is a subscriber of the first telecommunications service.

9. The network of claim 6, wherein the intelligent resource server is further for sending a fourth message to the service control point based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword to modify the communication services profile of the telecommunications user.

10. The network of claim 6, wherein the intelligent resource server is further for sending a fifth message to the service control point based on recognition of a predetermined DTMF character entered by the telecommunications user to modify the communication services profile.

35. The network of claim 6, wherein the service control point is further for modifying the communication services profile associated with the telecommunications user in accordance with a modification message received thereto, the service control point having a database associated therewith for storing the communication services profile.

36. The network of claim 35, wherein the intelligent resource server is further for generating and sending the modification message to the service control point.

11. 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 trigger specific to a first telecommunications service in response to a first communication from the telecommunications device;

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

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;

a call processing module in communication with the switch, the call processing module for;

receiving the first communication from the telecommunications device via the switch;

receiving the second communication and a first message including the identifying information from the telecommunications device via the switch; and

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;

an enunciation module in communication with the call processing module, the enunciation module for;

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

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

prompting the telecommunications user to place an outgoing communication to the prior calling party;

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

prompting the telecommunications user to place an outgoing communication to the party;

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 audible message by digitizing the telecommunications user'"'"'s response and comparing the digitized response to a set of coded waveforms corresponding to predefined keywords;

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

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

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

13. The network of claim 11, wherein the switch includes a switch of a mobile switching center in communication with the telecommunications device via an air-interface communication scheme.

14. The network of claim 11, wherein the switch is further for detecting an originating trigger in response to a feature code entered by the telecommunications user from the telecommunications device.

15. The network of claim 11, wherein the switch is further for detecting a terminating trigger in response to an administration number entered by the telecommunications user from the telecommunications device.

16. The network of claim 11, further comprising a service control point in communication with the switch.

17. The network of claim 16, wherein:

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

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

18. The network of claim 17, wherein the service control point is further for returning the third message to the switch to route the first communication to the call processing module based on a determination of whether the telecommunications user is a subscriber of the first telecommunications service.

19. The network of claim 16, wherein the call processing module is further for sending a fourth message to the service control point based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword to modify the communication services profile of the telecommunications user.

20. The network of claim 11, 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 audible message.

21. The network of claim 20, wherein the call processing module is further for sending a fifth message to the service control point based on recognition of the predetermined DTMF character by the DTMF decoder module to modify the communication services profile of the telecommunications user.

37. The network of claim 16, wherein the service control point is further for modifying the communication services profile associated with the telecommunications user in accordance with a modification message received thereto, the service control point having a database associated therewith for storing the communication services profile.

38. The network of claim 37, wherein the call processing module is further for generating and sending the modification message to the service control point.

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 a first incoming communication from a switch, wherein the switch is in communication with a telecommunications device associated with the telecommunications user;

generating and sending a modification message to a service control point in communication with the switch to modify a communication services profile associated with the telecommunications user, the service control point having a database associated therewith for storing the communication services profile; and

receiving a second incoming communication from the telecommunication device and a first message including identifying information regarding a prior calling party device via the switch;

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

an enunciation module in communication with the call processing module for;

playing a first audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the first communication, the first audible message further prompting the telecommunications user to modify the communication services profile associated with the telecommunications user;

playing a second audible message for the telecommunications user in response to receiving the second communication the second audible message containing the information regarding the prior calling party;

prompting the telecommunications user to place an outgoing communication to the prior calling party;

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

prompting the telecommunications user to place an outgoing communication to the party;

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 audible message by digitizing the telecommunications user'"'"'s response and comparing the digitized response to a set of coded waveforms corresponding to predefined keywords;

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

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 generating and sending the modification message to the service control point in communication with the switch based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword by the automatic speech recognition module in response to the first audible message to modify the communication services profile of the telecommunications user.

24. The intelligent resource server of claim 23, 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 audible message.

25. The network of claim 24, wherein the call processing module is further for generating and sending the modification message to the service control point based on recognition of the predetermined DTMF character by the DTMF decoder module to modify the communication services profile of the telecommunications user.

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

detecting a first communication from the telecommunications user;

detecting a first trigger specific to a first telecommunication service in response to the first communication from the first telecommunications user;

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

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;

playing a first audible message to the telecommunications user in response to detection of the first communication, the first audible message prompting the telecommunications user to modify a communication services profile of the telecommunications user;

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

receiving the second communication and a first message including the identifying information 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 containing the information regarding the prior calling party;

prompting the telecommunications user to place an outgoing communication to the prior calling party;

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

placing an outgoing communication to a prior calling party based on recognition of the second predetermined keyword;

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;

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

prompting the telecommunications user to place an outgoing communication to the party; and

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

27. The method of claim 26, wherein playing the first audible message includes playing the first audible message when it is determined that the telecommunications user is a subscriber of the first telecommunications service.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising modifying the communication services profile based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising recognizing a predetermined DTMF character entered by the telecommunications user in response to the first audible message.

30. The method claim 29, further comprising modifying the communication services profile based on recognition of the predetermined DTMF character.

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

means for detecting a first communication from the telecommunications user;

means for detecting a first trigger specific to a first telecommunication service in response to the communication from a first telecommunications user;

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

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

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

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

means for playing a first audible message to the telecommunications user in response to detection of the first communication, the first audible message prompting the telecommunications user to modify a communication services profile of the telecommunications user;

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

means for receiving the second communication and a first message including the identifying information from the telecommunications device via the switch;

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

means for prompting the telecommunications user to place an outgoing communication to the prior calling party;

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

means for placing an outgoing communication to a prior calling party based on recognition of the second predetermined keyword;

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;

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

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

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

32. The network of claim 31, further comprising means for modifying the communication services profile based on recognition of the first predetermined keyword.

33. The network of claim 31, further comprising means for recognizing a predetermined DTMF character entered by the telecommunications user in response to the first audible message.

34. The network of claim 33, further comprising means for modifying the communication services profile based on recognition of the predetermined DTMF character.