Method and apparatus for voice interactive messaging

• US 8,345,830 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takeda, Kyoko, Clement, Jason, Booth, Theodore R III
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Application Number:
  US12/491,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20100020948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 379/71, 379/76, 379/167.08, 379/263, 379/88.17, 379 8801- 8804, 704/254, 704/270.1, 704/275, 455/412.2, 455/466, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 379/88.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/64 Hybrid switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/65 Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party in the exchange H04M3/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/39 using speech synthesis speech synthesis per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53366 Message disposing or creating aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

An audio indication of a recipient for a message is received, the message to be sent by a user to the recipient. An electronic database is searched for the recipient. When the recipient is found in the electronic database, information is determined from the electronic database concerning the recipient. An audio prompt is formed including at least some of the information concerning the recipient that was obtained from the electronic database.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an audio indication of a recipient for a message, the message to be sent by a user to the recipient;

searching an electronic database for an existing electronic account of the recipient, the account populated with information, the information not being created or interactively provided by the user sending the audio indication, the information including an existing first informational component and an existing second informational component;

subsequently, when the account of the recipient is found in the electronic database, retrieving the first informational component and the second informational component from the account;

subsequently automatically analyzing the first informational component and the second informational component from the account of the recipient and, based upon the analyzing, automatically determining a variable and non-fixed, next type of information that is needed to compose the message, the next type of information not being interactively provided by the user and being different from the first informational component and the second informational component;

subsequently forming an audio prompt including content that relates to the variable, next type of information that is needed to compose the message, the entire format of the entire prompt being customizable and changeable based upon the determined variable, next type of information and the identity of the recipient, the prompt not being part of a predetermined script or series of prompts.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting the audio prompt to the user.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising receiving an audio response to the prompt.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising guiding the user through a plurality of inquiries and receiving information from the user based upon the guiding.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic database comprises an electronic address book.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises a message type.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a request to compose a message.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising asking the user for the recipient of the message.

9. An apparatus comprising:

an interface having an input and an output, the interface configured to receive an audio indication of a recipient for a message at the input, the message to be sent by a user to the recipient;

a controller coupled to the interface, the controller configured to search an electronic database for an existing account of the recipient identified in the audio indication, the account populated with information, the information not being created or interactively provided by the user sending the audio indication, and when the account of the recipient is found in the electronic database, determine selected information from the account concerning the recipient, the information including an existing first informational component and an existing second informational component, the controller configured to automatically analyze the first informational component and the second informational component information from the account and, based upon analysis, automatically determine a variable and non-fixed, next type of information needed to compose the message, the controller further configured to form an audio prompt at the output of the interface, the prompt including content that relates to the variable, next type of information needed to compose the message, the next type of information not being interactively provided by the user and being different from the first informational component and the second informational component, the entire format of the entire prompt being customizable and changeable based upon the determined variable, next type of information and the identity of the recipient, the prompt not being part of a predetermined script or series of prompts.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the audio prompt is presented to the user at the output of the interface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein an audio response to the prompt is received at the input of the interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the controller is further configured to guide the user through a plurality of inquiries and information from the user is received at the input of the interface as a result of the inquiries.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the electronic database comprises an electronic address book.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the information comprises a message type.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a request to compose a message is received at the input of the interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the controller is further configured to ask the user for the recipient of the message.