Network-based voice activated auto-attendant service with B2B connectors

• US 7,848,509 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Hisao M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, HEMANT SHANTILAL
• Application Number:
  US12/167,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20080275708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 379 8801- 8802, 379/88.04, 379/88.17, 379/265.02, 704/2, 704/7, 704/10, 704/270, 704/270.1, 704/275, 704/277, 705/50, 705/51, 705/57, 705/59, 707/101, 707/104.1, 707/602, 707/607, 707/609, 707736-738, 707/758, 707769-770, 726/2, 726/22, 726/26, 726/27, 709201-203, 709246-247
• US Class Current: 379/265.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention

Abstract

A network-based voice activated auto-attendant service is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a data processor is provided that can construct an enterprise voice directory by executing instructions to encrypt eXtended Markup Language (XML)-based files using an encryption key issued by a voice activated auto-attendant service provider network to form encrypted XML-based files. The instructions are further to store the encrypted XML-based files in a manner that is accessible to the voice activated auto-attendant service provider network, and to create the enterprise voice directory based on the encrypted XML-based files. The enterprise voice directory is configured to provide run-time access to the voice activated auto-attendant service provider network.

Claims

1. A data processor to construct an enterprise voice directory by executing instructions to:

encrypt eXtended Markup Language (XML)-based files using an encryption key issued by a voice activated auto-attendant service provider network to form encrypted XML-based files;

store the encrypted XML-based files in a manner that is accessible to the voice activated auto-attendant service provider network; and

generate the enterprise voice directory based on the encrypted XML-based files, the enterprise voice directory configured to provide run-time access to the voice activated auto-attendant service provider network.

2. The data processor of claim 1, wherein the data processor is further to convert received data from an enterprise data format to the XML-based files.

3. The data processor of claim 2, wherein the data is received from a remote enterprise information system via a first data connector.

4. The data processor of claim 3, wherein a firewall is disposed between the first data connector and the remote enterprise information system.

5. The data processor of claim 3, wherein a second data connector is coupled to the remote enterprise information system and wherein the second data connector is remotely located with respect to the first data connector.

6. The data processor of claim 5, wherein the second data connector is coupled to the remote enterprise information system via a virtual private network connection.

7. The data processor of claim 3, wherein a second data connector is coupled to the remote enterprise information system and wherein the second data connector is used to convert data to a format compatible with the voice activated auto attendant service provider network.

8. The data processor of claim 1, wherein the data processor is coupled to the enterprise voice directory and coupled to a first data connector.

9. The data processor of claim 8, wherein the first data connector is coupled to a secured website via a firewall.

10. The data processor of claim 1, wherein the enterprise voice directory includes a record with a type field, a directory ID field, a name field, and a location field.

11. The data processor of claim 1, wherein each entry in the enterprise voice directory contains a link to another entry in the enterprise voice directory.

12. The data processor of claim 1, wherein the voice activated auto-attendant service provider network includes a precompiled voice directory grammar database.

13. The data processor of claim 12, wherein the voice activated auto-attendant service provider network includes a voice search engine that receives internet protocol data via the precompiled voice directory grammar database.

14. A method of constructing an enterprise voice directory, the method comprising:

encrypting extended Markup Language (XML)-based files using an encryption key issued by a voice activated auto-attendant service provider network to form encrypted XML-based files;

storing the encrypted XML-based files in a manner that is accessible to the voice activated auto-attendant service provider network; and

creating the enterprise voice directory based on the encrypted XML-based files, wherein the enterprise voice directory is configured to provide run-time access to the voice activated auto-attendant service provider network.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising converting received data from an enterprise data format to the XML-based files.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving the data from a remote enterprise information system via a data connector.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising uploading the encrypted XML-based files from a host server to a secured website.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein uploading is initiated on a host that has been issued a security certificate to connect to the secured website.

19. A computer-readable medium including processor-executable instructions that when executed, cause a computer to:

encrypt eXtended Markup Language (XML)-based files using an encryption key issued by a voice activated auto-attendant service provider network to form encrypted XML-based files;

store the encrypted XML-based files in a manner that is accessible to the voice activated auto-attendant service provider network; and

create the enterprise voice directory based on the encrypted XML-based files, the enterprise voice directory configured to provide run-time access to the voice activated auto-attendant service provider network.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions to store the encrypted XML-based files at a secured site.