Performing actions for users based on spoken information

• US 8,718,239 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Madhavapeddi, Shreedhar, Pollard, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Joseph T
• Application Number:
  US13/596,427
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.01, 379/88.13, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 379/88.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/64 Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations centralised dictation systems H04M11/10
• 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

Abstract

Techniques are described for performing actions for users based at least in part on spoken information, such as spoken voice-based information received from the users during telephone calls. The described techniques include categorizing spoken information obtained from a user in one or more ways, and performing actions on behalf of the user related to the categorized information. For example, in some situations, spoken information obtained from a user is analyzed to identify one or more spoken information items (e.g., words, phrases, sentences, etc.) supplied by the user, and to generate corresponding textual representations (e.g., via automated speech-to-text techniques). One or more actions may then be taken regarding the identified information items, including to categorize the items by adding textual representations of the spoken information items to one or more of multiple predefined lists or other collections of information that are specific to or otherwise available to the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for performing actions for users based on collections of information specified via spoken information, the method comprising:

receiving a spoken voice message from a user during a telephone call;

automatically analyzing the received voice message to identify a spoken indication of one of multiple predefined collections of information for the user that are each specific to a distinct associated topic, and to identify a spoken indication of each of one or more information items to be added to the indicated one predefined information collection;

automatically adding generated textual representations of the identified one or more information items to a stored copy of the identified predefined information collection for the user, the stored copy further including one or more other generated textual representations of one or more other identified information items added based on one or more prior spoken voice messages from the user during one or more prior telephone calls;

after obtaining an indication from the user of one or more actions to take for the identified predefined information collection, at least one of the actions including providing determined information to the user that is based at least in part on the textual representations added to the identified predefined information collection, automatically performing the one or more actions so as to provide the determined information to the user; and

obtaining information from one or more partner services related to the user acquiring from the one or more partner services at least one of the one or more products to which the identified one or more information items correspond, wherein the obtained information includes price bids by multiple partner services, and wherein the determined information that is provided to the user includes the obtained information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing of the determined information to the user includes sending one or more electronic messages to the user that include at least one generated textual representation of an information item added to the identified predefined information collection.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the identified predefined information collection is a list of products for possible future purchase, and wherein the identified one or more information items each correspond to one or more products.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the identified predefined information collection is at least one of a shopping list of products and/or services for planned future purchase for the user, a wish list of products and/or services that are desired by the user, a gift list of products and/or services for possible future purchase by the user one or more recipients, a to-do list of one or more future actions to be taken by the user, a list of actions to be delegated for future performance to one or more other people, a blog of the user that is accessible to be viewed by other users, and a bulletin board that is accessible to multiple users to add comments.

5. A tangible computer-readable memory containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute a method for performing actions for users based on collections of information specified via spoken information, comprising:

receiving a spoken voice message from a user during a telephone call;

automatically analyzing the received voice message to identify a spoken indication of one of multiple predefined collections of information for the user that are each specific to a distinct associated topic, and to identify a spoken indication of each of one or more information items to be added to the indicated one predefined information collection;

automatically adding generated textual representations of the identified one or more information items to a stored copy of the identified predefined information collection for the user, the stored copy further including one or more other generated textual representations of one or more other identified information items added based on one or more prior spoken voice messages from the user during one or more prior telephone calls; and

after obtaining an indication from the user of one or more actions to take for the identified predefined information collection, wherein at least one of the actions includes providing determined information to the user that is based at least in part on the textual representations added to the identified predefined information collection, automatically performing the one or more actions so as to provide the determined information to the user; and

obtaining information from one or more partner services related to the user acquiring from the one or more partner services at least one of the one or more products to which the identified one or more information items correspond, wherein the obtained information includes price bids by multiple partner services, and wherein the determined information that is provided to the user includes the obtained information.

6. The computer-readable memory of claim 5 wherein the providing of the determined information to the user includes sending one or more electronic messages to the user that include at least one generated textual representation of an information item added to the identified predefined information collection.

7. The computer-readable memory of claim 5 wherein the identified predefined information collection is a list of products for possible future purchase, and wherein the identified one or more information items each correspond to one or more products.

8. The computer-readable memory of claim 5 wherein the identified predefined information collection is at least one of a shopping list of products and/or services for planned future purchase for the user, a wish list of products and/or services that are desired by the user, a gift list of products and/or services for possible future purchase by the user one or more recipients, a to-do list of one or more future actions to be taken by the user, a list of actions to be delegated for future performance to one or more other people, a blog of the user that is accessible to be viewed by other users, and a bulletin board that is accessible to multiple users to add comments.

9. A computing system for performing actions for users based on collections of information specified via spoken information, the system comprising:

a component configured to receive a spoken voice message from a user during a telephone call;

a component configured to automatically analyze the received voice message to identify a spoken indication of one of multiple predefined collections of information for the user that are each specific to a distinct associated topic, and to identify a spoken indication of each of one or more information items to be added to the indicated one predefined information collection;

a component configured to automatically add generated textual representations of the identified one or more information items to a stored copy of the identified predefined information collection for the user, the stored copy further including one or more other generated textual representations of one or more other identified information items added based on one or more prior spoken voice messages from the user during one or more prior telephone calls; and

a component configured to, after obtaining an indication from the user of one or more actions to take for the identified predefined information collection, wherein at least one of the actions includes providing determined information to the user that is based at least in part on the textual representations added to the identified predefined information collection, automatically perform the one or more actions so as to provide the determined information to the user; and

a component configured to obtain information from one or more partner services related to the user acquiring from the one or more partner services at least one of the one or more products to which the identified one or more information items correspond, wherein the obtained information includes price bids by multiple partner services, and wherein the determined information that is provided to the user includes the obtained information.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the providing of the determined information to the user includes sending one or more electronic messages to the user that include at least one generated textual representation of an information item added to the identified predefined information collection.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the identified predefined information collection is a list of products for possible future purchase, and wherein the identified one or more information items each correspond to one or more products.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the identified predefined information collection is at least one of a shopping list of products and/or services for planned future purchase for the user, a wish list of products and/or services that are desired by the user, a gift list of products and/or services for possible future purchase by the user one or more recipients, a to-do list of one or more future actions to be taken by the user, a list of actions to be delegated for future performance to one or more other people, a blog of the user that is accessible to be viewed by other users, and a bulletin board that is accessible to multiple users to add comments.