Methods for generating voice prompts using grammatical rules in a system proving TDM voice communications and VOIP communications
First Claim
1. In a system for managing voice communications, the system providing voice prompts in one or more particular languages, a method for providing a set of voice prompts in a particular language, comprising the steps of:
- defining high level grammatical rules for the set of voice prompts in the particular language;
storing the grammatical rules for the set of voice prompts in the system;
developing a set of audio files in the particular language;
storing the audio files in the particular language in the system;
receiving a call from a user, wherein the system initiates a request for a voice prompt in response to the call from the user;
in response to the request for the voice prompt, developing a sequential list of audio files, wherein, when the sequential list of audio files is played by the system, the requested voice prompt is played to the user in the particular language;
wherein the sequential list of audio files is produced based on the grammatical rules;
wherein the system is controlled by a processor and coupled to a wide area communication network, the system providing voice and data communications to a plurality of users, the method further comprising the steps of;
transferring packetized data to and from the system via at least a first packet bus coupled to one or more packet-based devices under control of the processor;
coupling voice communications from one or more telephones to at least one time division multiplex (TDM) bus, wherein the TDM bus is selectively coupled to the wide area communication network under control of the processor;
wherein the processor selectively controls voice communications from the one or more telephones over the TDM bus and packet-based communications over the first packet bus, wherein the sequential list of audio files in accordance with the particular language are developed and played under control of the processor, wherein system configuration and management commands for controlling the system via the processor are remotely generated and received by the system via the wide area communication network and the TDM bus and/or via an external computing device and the first packet bus;
wherein the system is controlled at least in part in response to one or more commands entered by the user after playing of the requested voice prompt, wherein the packet-based communications include VoIP communications.
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Abstract
Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur in multiple modes/protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided for multiple native mode/protocol voice and data transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub and data router. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system. A computer or other processor includes a local area network controller, which provides routing and hub(s) for one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to a buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from the computer from TDM bus. The buffer/framer includes a plurality of framer/deframer engines, supporting, for example, ATM and HDLC framing/deframing. The buffer/framer is coupled to the TDM bus by way of a switch/multiplexer, which includes the capability to intelligently map data traffic between the buffer/framer and the TDM bus to various slots of the TDM frames. Preferably, a DSP pool is coupled to buffer/framer in a manner to provide various signal processing and telecommunications support, such as dial tone generation, DTMF detection and the like. The TDM bus is coupled to a various line/station cards, serving to interface the TDM bus with telephone, facsimiles and other telecommunication devices, and also with a various digital and/or analog WAN network services. Language support for such systems is accomplished by way of a program/data structure so that additional language support may be readily implemented, for example, by a non-software programmer using grammar and voice prompt files, which are preferably located in a predetermined directory in the system.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a system for managing voice communications, the system providing voice prompts in one or more particular languages, a method for providing a set of voice prompts in a particular language, comprising the steps of:
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defining high level grammatical rules for the set of voice prompts in the particular language; storing the grammatical rules for the set of voice prompts in the system; developing a set of audio files in the particular language; storing the audio files in the particular language in the system; receiving a call from a user, wherein the system initiates a request for a voice prompt in response to the call from the user; in response to the request for the voice prompt, developing a sequential list of audio files, wherein, when the sequential list of audio files is played by the system, the requested voice prompt is played to the user in the particular language; wherein the sequential list of audio files is produced based on the grammatical rules; wherein the system is controlled by a processor and coupled to a wide area communication network, the system providing voice and data communications to a plurality of users, the method further comprising the steps of; transferring packetized data to and from the system via at least a first packet bus coupled to one or more packet-based devices under control of the processor; coupling voice communications from one or more telephones to at least one time division multiplex (TDM) bus, wherein the TDM bus is selectively coupled to the wide area communication network under control of the processor; wherein the processor selectively controls voice communications from the one or more telephones over the TDM bus and packet-based communications over the first packet bus, wherein the sequential list of audio files in accordance with the particular language are developed and played under control of the processor, wherein system configuration and management commands for controlling the system via the processor are remotely generated and received by the system via the wide area communication network and the TDM bus and/or via an external computing device and the first packet bus; wherein the system is controlled at least in part in response to one or more commands entered by the user after playing of the requested voice prompt, wherein the packet-based communications include VoIP communications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification