Method and apparatus for voice recognition unit simulation

• US 8,670,972 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Technology Group LLC (West Corporation)
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Akhwand, Mahmood S., Varman, Mahendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Silver, David
• Application Number:
  US11/759,659
• Time in Patent Office: 2,469 Days
• Field of Search: 703/24
• US Class Current: 703/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/455 Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or operating system execution engines
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/00 Speech recognition G10L17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/01 Assessment or evaluation of speech recognition systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2227 Quality of service monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method apparatus and/or computer software to automate testing of a voice self service platform. In its software embodiment, the present invention comprises software that runs on the windows platform to simulate all the components of an Interactive Voice Recognition Unit (VRU). In addition this embodiment can also be used as a helper unit to test individual components of an interactive voice recognition (IVR).

Claims

1. A system for simulating a voice recognition unit comprising:

at an electronic device;

a simulated voice recognition unit (VRU) function further comprising,

a simulated TelecomIn function having functional logic configured to forward a call to an application Interpreter,

a simulated voice handling software (VOX) function having functional logic configured to perform voice handling functions,

a simulated automatic speech recognition (ASR) function having functional logic configured to perform voice recognition operations, and

a simulated TelecomOut function having functional logic configured to perform a bridge transfer of the call, wherein the TelecomOut function is further configured to provide a plurality of call management options, and return a code associated with a selected call management option;

an interface of the simulated VRU communicably linked to the Application Interpreter having functional logic configured to initiate an appropriate program logic on an Application Server based on a dialed number identification service (DNIS) included in a ring message, wherein the interface comprises a username password validation control;

a simulated dialer function having functional logic configured to generate the call responsive to a developer initiation; and

a simulated call generator having functional logic configured to generate the ring message comprising the DNIS when the call is generated by the simulated dialer function, wherein the DNIS is representative of a particular number that was dialed and interpretable by the VRU.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the voice handling functions simulated by the VOX function comprise playing a prompt, recording an utterance, dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) playback, voice routing during bridge transfer and DTMF digit collection.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, where the simulated ASR function having functional logic to perform DTMF recognition.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, further comprising a simulator main console user interface operable to prompt for, receive and process developer control inputs for simulated functions and further operable to monitor, capture and present simulated function performance parameters.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the simulated functions being monitored comprise the simulated VRU function, the simulated dialer function, and the simulated call generator function.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising a database logging interface having functional logic to log in a database operational data comprising number of calls generated, and MTL message transactions generated.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, where the simulated VOX function is replaced by a real VOX.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, where the simulated ASR function is replace by a real ASR.

9. A method for simulating a voice recognition unit comprising:

simulating a voice recognition unit (VRU) function further comprising,

simulating a TelecomIn function having functional logic configured to forward a call to an Application Interpreter,

simulating a voice handling software (VOX) function having functional logic configured to perform voice handling functions,

simulating an automatic speech recognition (ASR) function having functional logic configured to perform voice recognition operations, and

simulating a TelecomOut function having functional logic configured to perform a bridge transfer of the call, wherein the TelecomOut function is further configured to provide a plurality of call management options, and return a code associated with a selected call management option;

providing an interface of the simulated VRU communicably linked to the Application Interpreter and initiating with the functional logic of the Application Interpreter an appropriate program logic on an Application Server based on a dialed number identification service (DNIS) included in a ring message, wherein the interface comprises a username password validation control;

simulating a dialer function and generating the call with the functional logic of the dialer function responsive to a developer initiation; and

simulating a call generator and generating the ring message comprising the DNIS when the call is generated by the dialer function, the ring message comprising the DNIS with the functional logic of the call generator, wherein the DNIS is representative of a particular number that was dialed and interpretable by the VRU.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the voice handling functions of the simulated VOX function comprise playing a prompt, recording an utterance, playing back dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF), routing voice during bridge transfer and collecting DTMF digit.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the simulating of the ASR function comprises recognizing DTMF with functional logic of the ASR.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

providing a main console user interface operable to perform prompting for, receiving and processing developer control inputs for simulated functions and further operable for monitoring, capturing and presenting simulated function performance parameters.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the monitoring of the simulated functions comprises monitoring the simulated VRU function, the simulated dialer function, and the simulated call generator function.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising providing a database logging interface having functional logic to log in a database operational data comprising a number of calls generated, and MTL message transactions generated.

15. The method as recited in claim 9, where the step of simulating VOX function is replaced by a step of providing real VOX interface.

16. The method as recited in claim 9, where the step of simulating the ASR function is replaced by a providing a real ASR interface.

17. A machine readable storage device having stored thereon a set of program instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for simulating a voice recognition unit, the method comprising:

simulating a voice recognition unit (VRU) function further comprising,

simulating a TelecomIn function having functional logic configured to forward a call to an Application Interpreter,

simulating a voice handling software (VOX) function having functional logic configured to perform voice handling functions,

simulating an automatic speech recognition (ASR) function having functional logic configured to perform voice recognition operations and

simulating a TelecomOut function having functional logic configured to perform a bridge transfer of the call, wherein the TelecomOut function is further configured to provide a plurality of call management options, and return a code associated with a selected call management option;

providing an interface of the simulated VRU communicably linked to the Application Interpreter and initiating with the functional logic of the Application Interpreter an appropriate program logic on an Application Server based on a dialed number identification service (DNIS) that is included in a ring message, wherein the interface comprises a username password validation control;

simulating a dialer function and generating the call with the functional logic of the dialer function responsive to a developer initiation; and

simulating a call generator and generating the ring message comprising the DNIS with the functional logic of the call generator when the call is generated by the dialer function, wherein the DNIS is representative of a particular number that was dialed and interpretable by the VRU.

18. The machine readable storage device as recited in claim 17, wherein the voice handling functions of the simulated VOX function comprise playing a prompt, recording an utterance, playing back DTMF, routing voice during bridge transfer and collecting DTMF digit.

19. The machine readable storage device as recited in claim 18, further comprising simulating the ASR function that comprises recognizing a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) with functional logic of the ASR.

20. The machine readable storage device as recited in claim 19, further comprising providing a main console user interface operable to perform prompting for, receiving and processing developer control inputs for simulated functions and further operable for monitoring, capturing and presenting simulated function performance parameters.

21. The machine readable storage device as recited in claim 20, wherein the monitoring of the simulated functions comprises monitoring the simulated VRU function, the simulated dialer function, and the simulated call generator function.

22. The machine readable storage device as recited in claim 21, further comprising providing a database logging interface having functional logic to log in a database operational data that comprises a number of calls generated, and MTL message transactions generated.

23. The machine readable storage device as recited in claim 17, wherein the simulating of the VOX function in the method is replaced by providing a real VOX interface.

24. The machine readable storage device as recited in claim 17, wherein the simulating of the ASR function in the method is replaced by providing a real ASR interface.

25. A system for simulating a voice recognition unit comprising:

at an electronic device;

a simulated voice recognition unit (VRU) function further comprising,

an emulated TelecomIn hardware component having functional logic configured to forward a call to an Application Interpreter,

a simulated voice handling software (VOX) function having functional logic configured to perform voice handling functions,

an emulated automatic speech recognition (ASR) hardware component having functional logic configured to perform voice recognition operations, and

an emulated TelecomOut hardware component having functional logic configured to perform a bridge transfer of the call, wherein the emulated TelecomOut hardware component is further configured to provide a plurality of call management options, and return a code associated with a selected call management option;

an interface of the simulated VRU communicably linked to the Application Interpreter having functional logic configured to initiate an appropriate program logic on an Application Server based on a dialed number identification service, wherein the interface comprises a username password validation control;

a simulated dialer function having functional logic configured to generate the call responsive to a developer initiation; and

a simulated call generator having functional logic operable to generate a ring message comprising the DNIS when the call is generated by the dialer function, the DNIS is representative of the generated call and interpretable by the VRU.

26. The system as recited in claim 25, further comprising a simulator main console user interface operable to prompt for, receive and process developer control inputs for simulated functions and further operable to monitor, capture and present simulated function performance parameters.

27. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the simulated VOX function is integrated with a real VOX daemon, wherein the simulated VOX selectively assumes a helper role.

28. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the simulated ASR function is integrated with a real ASR daemon, wherein the simulated ASR selectively assumes a helper role.

29. A system for simulating a voice recognition unit comprising:

at an electronic device;

a simulated voice recognition unit (VRU) function further comprising,

a simulated TelecomIn function having functional logic configured to forward a call to an Application Interpreter,

a simulated voice handling software (VOX) function having functional logic configured to perform voice handling functions,

a simulated automatic speech recognition (ASR) function having functional logic configured to perform voice recognition operations, and

a simulated TelecomOut function having functional logic configured to perform a bridge transfer of the call, wherein the TelecomOut function is further configured to provide a plurality of call management options, and return a code associated with a selected call management option;

an interface of the simulated VRU communicably linked to the Application Interpreter having functional logic configured to initiate an appropriate program logic on an Application Server based on a dialed number identification service (DNIS), wherein the interface comprises a username password validation control;

a simulated dialer function having functional logic configured to generate the call responsive to a developer initiation;

a simulated call generator having functional logic configured to generate a ring message comprising the DNIS when the call is generated by the dialer function, the DNIS is representative of a particular number that was dialed and interpretable by the VRU; and

a call calculator function having functional logic configured to calculate call load and categorize call load as cyclic, peak, burst, choppy or sustained based on number of calls per batch, intercall period, batch period, and hang-ups or calls skipped.

30. The system as recited in claim 29, further comprising a user interface having function logic to display call calculator parameters.

31. A system for simulating a voice recognition unit comprising:

at an electronic device;

a simulated voice recognition unit (VRU) function further comprising,

a simulated TelecomIn function having functional logic configured to forward a call to an Application Interpreter,

a simulated voice handling software (VOX) function having functional logic configured to perform voice handling functions,

a simulated automatic speech recognition (ASR) function having functional logic configured to perform voice recognition operations, and

a simulated TelecomOut function having functional logic configured to perform a bridge transfer of the call, wherein the TelecomOut function is further configured to provide a plurality of call management options, and return a code associated with a selected call management option;

an interface of the simulated VRU communicably linked to the Application Interpreter having functional logic configured to initiate an appropriate program logic on an Application Server based on a dialed number identification service (DNIS), wherein the interface comprises a username password validation control;

a simulated dialer function having functional logic configured to generate the call responsive to a developer initiation; and

a simulated call generator having functional logic configured to generate a ring message comprising the DNIS when the call is generated by the simulated dialer function, the DNIS is representative of a particular number that was dialed and interpretable by the VRU,

wherein said VOX function and said ASR function have functional logic configured to propagate a VOX health status and a ASR health status respectively to the call generator function for a system integrity check, and

wherein the call generator having functional logic is configured to propagate a call generator health status to the dialer function based on the VOX and ASR health statuses.

32. The system as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

a database logging interface having function logic for logging data transactions between the VOX, ASR, call generator and dialer functions.

33. A system for simulating a voice recognition unit comprising:

at an electronic device;

a simulated voice recognition unit (VRU) function further comprising,

a simulated TelecomIn function having functional logic configured to forward a call to an application Interpreter,

a simulated voice recognition software (VOX) function having functional logic configured to perform voice handling functions,

a simulated automatic speech recognition (ASR) function having functional logic configured to perform voice recognition operations, and

a simulated TelecomOut function having functional logic configured to perform a bridge transfer of the call, wherein the TelecomOut function is configured to provide a plurality of call management options, and return a code associated with a selected call management option;

an interface of the simulated VRU communicably linked to the Application Interpreter having functional logic configured to initiate an appropriate program logic on an Application Server based on a dialed number identification service (DNIS), wherein the interface comprises a username password validation control;

a simulated dialer function having functional logic configured to generate the call responsive to a developer initiation;

a simulated call generator having functional logic configured to generate a ring message comprising the DNIS when the call is generated by the simulated dialer function, the DNIS is representative of a particular number that was dialed and interpretable by the VRU; and

a D-channel polling function having functional logic to selectively place a call to the VRU for monitoring the quality of call processing.

34. The system as recited in claim 33, where the D-channel polling function comprises a call outcome comparator function having functional logic to compare monitored call flow with expected call flow.