Computer, internet and telecommunications based network

• US 8,843,141 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Parus Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Parus Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Kurganov, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): MEHRA, INDER P
• Application Number:
  US13/944,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/412.1, 455/413, 455/517, 455/415, 455/461, 370/352, 370/260
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/30 of unstructured textual data document management systems G06F16/93
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/00 Speech recognition G10L17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/00 Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility G10L19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/48 specially adapted for particular use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 : Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 : Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/515 : Night service systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 : Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0003 : Interconnection between telephone networks and data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 : Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a computer and telecommunication network which can receive, send and manage information from or to a subscriber of the network, based on the subscriber'"'"'s configuration. The network is made up of at least one cluster containing voice servers which allow for telephony, speech recognition, text-to-speech and conferencing functions, and is accessible by the subscriber through standard telephone connections or through internet connections. The network also utilizes a database and file server allowing the subscriber to maintain and manage certain contact lists and administrative information. A web server is also connected to the cluster thereby allowing access to all functions through internet connections.

Claims

1. A method for enabling user-configured communications among user communication devices and a unified networks system, wherein the unified networks system facilitates different communication connection types including telephone and web connections via one or more networks, comprising:

receiving via the one or more networks, communications from user communication devices at one or more clusters of servers via the different communication connection types including the telephone and web connections, at least one server of one of the one or more clusters of servers configured with speaker-independent speech recognition functionality;

providing access to stored data at one or more databases associated with the one or more clusters of servers, wherein the data is associated with one or more respective users;

receiving a natural speech command from each respective user, via a first communication connection type of the unified networks system that is at least one of the telephone and web connections, at the at least one server configured with the speaker-independent speech recognition functionality; and

recognizing and interpreting the natural speech command received from each respective user, by the speaker-independent speech recognition functionality executing one or more transactions according to options set for each respective user for sending at least one of messages, faxes, and emails using one of the communication connection types;

sending a message and a notification selected from a group of a facsimile, an email message, a text message, a voicemail, a telephone call, a conference call, and a video, the message and the notification relating to the one or more transactions executed for each respective user and sent to the respective user over one or more second communication connections of the unified networks system with at least one communication connection of the one or more second connections being at least an other of the telephone and web connections of distinct type from the first communication connection over which the natural speech command was received, the message and the notification sent to one or more electronic communication devices associated with the respective user and as designated by options set for the respective user.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein executing the one or more transactions for each respective user further comprises:

transmitting, via the unified networks system, the message and the notification to electronic communication capabilities of the one or more electronic communication devices including at least a telephone, a computer, a facsimile device, and a mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the natural speech command initiates flow of the message and the notification for each respective user at least to the electronic communication capabilities associated with the each respective user according to network protocols that are supported by the electronic communication devices.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a DTMF signal from one of the electronic communication devices and wherein executing the one or more transactions for each respective user includes executing an operation based at least in part on the DTMF signal in addition to the natural speech command.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein executing the one or more transactions for each respective user that is initiated by the natural speech command facilitates management by each respective user of at least one of a contact, a user profile, an email, a voicemail, a video, a telephone call, a facsimile, and a text message.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more transactions that are executed for each respective user, use at least a portion of the data stored to perform at least an action from a group of actions including 1) place a telephone call, 2) send an email, 3) send a voicemail, 4) send a facsimile, 5) send a text message, 6) initiate a conference call, and 7) initiate a video conference.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the natural speech command is received from one or more electronic communication devices used by the respective user, who is at least one user with access associated with the one or more databases.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each respective user via at least the natural speech command accesses a feature including at least one feature from a group of features including:

1) voicemail,

     2) an email,

     3) a facsimile,

     4) a contact,

     5) a schedule, and

     6) one or more controls for designating a plurality of features that execute particular functions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the unified networks system sends at least the message and the notification to each respective user via at least one of IP and non-IP protocols.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the networks system, via the IP and non-IP protocols, supports sending the message and the notification that are at least from a group of:

an email, a voicemail, a telephone call, a conference call, a video, a text message, and a facsimile.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more clusters of servers include a file server, a web server, a database server, and a voice server configured with the speaker-independent speech recognition functionality.

12. A unified networks system enabling user-configured communications among user communication devices and the unified networks system, wherein the unified networks system facilitates different communication connections including telephone and web connections via one or more networks, comprising:

one or more servers grouped in clusters and configured to receive and transmit communications relating to users of the unified networks system, via the one or more networks enabling telephone and web communication connections, wherein the communications relating to the users are received from a plurality of electronic communication capabilities supporting a plurality of network protocols associated with the one or more networks, wherein the one or more servers that are grouped in clusters further comprise;

a first server in a first cluster of servers configured to store data relating to each respective user;

a web server connected to the first cluster of servers and configured to provide access for each respective user; and

a second server in a second cluster of servers, further comprising;

a computer with speaker-independent speech recognition functionality, wherein the computer manages communications in response to a natural speech input received via a first communication connection that is one of a telephone connection and a web connection, by processing the natural speech input received from at least one of the electronic communication capabilities associated with each respective user and executing at least one transaction based at least in part on the natural speech input wherein the at least one transaction further generates at least a message and a notification based on the processing of the natural speech input and according to options for each respective user for sending at least one of messages, faxes, and emails, and one of the message and notification are sent via one or more second communication connections with at least one of the one or more second connections being an other of the telephone connection and the web connection of distinct type from the first communication connection, to a respective one of the plurality of electronic communication capabilities designated by each respective user by the options.

13. A unified networks system according to claim 12, wherein the natural speech input is received using one of the plurality of network protocols and at least one of the message and the notification is transmitted using a different one of the plurality of network protocols.

14. The unified networks system according to claim 12, wherein the one or more servers grouped in clusters include a, a file server, a voice server, and a database server, and the second server is a voice server.

15. The unified networks system according to claim 12, wherein the speaker-independent speech recognition functionality is configured to execute the at least one transaction including transmission of the message and the notification to each respective user, via the one or more networks, to at least an electronic communication capability associated with each respective user, the transaction relating to at least a portion of the data stored for each respective user and the electronic communication capabilities including at least a telephone, a computer, a facsimile capability, and a mobile device.

16. The unified networks system according to claim 12, wherein the natural speech input initiates transmission of the message and the notification to each respective user to one or more of the electronic communication capabilities associated with each respective user.

17. The unified networks system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second clusters of servers is further configured to receive a DTMF signal from at least one of the electronic communication capabilities associated with each respective user and wherein executing the at least one transaction includes executing an operation based at least in part on the DTMF signal in addition to the natural speech input.

18. The unified networks system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one transaction facilitates management by the respective users of, at least one of a contact, a user profile, an email, a voicemail, a video, a telephone call, a facsimile, and a text message.

19. The unified networks system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one transaction uses stored data for each respective user to perform for the each respective user, at least an action of a group of actions including:

1) a telephone call,

     2) an email,

     3) a voicemail,

     4) a fax,

     5) a text message,

     6) a conference call, and

     7) a video conference.

20. The unified networks system according to claim 12, wherein the natural speech input is received from one or more electronic communication devices used by the respective users.

21. The unified networks system according to claim 12, wherein the one or more networks facilitate sending the message and the notification to the respective user via both IP and non-IP transmission protocols over the one or more networks.

22. The unified networks system of claim 12, wherein the one or more servers grouped in clusters include a file server, the web server, and a database server.

23. The unified networks system of claim 12, wherein the one or more networks support transmission of the message and the notification to each respective user including at least one from a group of:

an email, a voicemail, a telephone call, a conference call, a video, a text message, and a facsimile.

24. The unified networks system of claim 12, wherein each respective user accesses, via at least the natural speech input, features including at least one of:

1) voicemail,

     2) email,

     3) a fax,

     4) a contact,

     5) a schedule, and

     6) controls for a plurality of features that execute particular functions.

25. A computer-implemented method for enabling user-configured communications among user communication devices and a unified networks system, wherein the unified networks system facilitates different communication connections including telephone and web connections, comprising:

receiving communications relating to users of the unified networks system at a plurality of clusters of servers from electronic communication capabilities used by the users, the plurality of clusters of servers configured to receive the communications over the one or more networks and transmit related communications using network protocols supported by the one or more networks, at least one of the plurality of clusters of servers comprising a voice server configured with speaker-independent speech recognition functionality;

providing access to the data stored for each respective user in one or more databases associated with the plurality of clusters of servers;

receiving natural speech input from each respective user via respective electronic communication capabilities associated with each respective user at the voice server, via at least one of a telephone connection and a web connection;

processing the natural speech input at the voice server using the speaker-independent speech recognition functionality and executing at least certain operations relating to the data stored for each respective user, wherein the at least certain operations generate a message and a notification for each respective user and transmit the message and the notification to the respective electronic communication capabilities associated with each respective user, the message and the notification are transmitted via one or more communication connections with at least one of the one or more communication connections being an other of the telephone connection and the web connection of distinct type from the at least one of the telephone and web connections on which the natural speech input is received and the message and the notification transmitted according to network protocols supported by the respective electronic communication capabilities.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least certain operations are configured to enable each respective users to manage, at least one of a contact, a user profile, an email, a voicemail, a video, a telephone call, a facsimile, and a text message.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least certain operations are configured to perform at least one of actions including:

1) a telephone call,

     2) an email,

     3) a voicemail,

     4) a facsimile,

     5) a text message,

     6) a conference call, and

     7) a video conference.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the speech input is received via the respective electronic communication capabilities used by each respective user, wherein the electronic communication capabilities include at least one of a telephone, a computer, and a mobile device.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the one or more networks facilitate transmission of the message and the notification for each respective user via at least one of IP and non-IP transmission lines.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the message and the notification include at least one of:

an email, a voicemail, a telephone call, a conference call, a video, a text message, and a facsimile and respective users have access, via at least the natural speech input, to a plurality of features including at least one of a group of features including;

1) voicemail,

     2) email,

     3) a facsimile,

     4) a contact,

     5) a schedule, and

     6) controls for a plurality of features that execute particular functions.