Interactive voice response with user designated delivery

• US 9,191,514 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ruckart, John P., Cavanaugh, Craig M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bezuayehu, Solomon
• Application Number:
  US11/745,114
• Time in Patent Office: 3,116 Days
• Field of Search: 379 8801- 8821, 379/218.01, 701400-541
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• 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 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing voice activated location information to a user are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user provides a voice-based request for directions to a desired destination through a communications device. The voice-based request includes a delivery method for the directions. The location of the user is determined, and a database is queried to determine one or more entries that match the desired destination contained in the request. Directional instructions to the matching entries are determined and provided to the user by the delivery method.

Claims

1. A method of providing directions over a network to a user, comprising:

receiving, at an interactive voice response system, a single voice-based request in a call from the user, in response to a single voice prompt provided by the interactive voice response system, for directions to a desired destination, the single request including an electronic delivery method and a location of the user;

storing in a memory a plurality of destination entries;

determining, by a processor, if the user is authorized to make a request for directions;

if the user is authorized, comparing, by the processor, the plurality of destination entries with the desired destination to determine a matching entry based on the single request, and obtaining using the processor directional instructions from the location of the user for the matching entry based on the single request; and

providing, by an output device, the user with the obtained directional instructions via the electronic delivery method provided within the single request,

wherein the delivery method comprises at least one of e-mail, a facsimile, a short message service (SMS) message, and an instant message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing at least one of account information, technical help, and billing information to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user has a wireless communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the directional instructions for the matching entry include at least one of driving directions, a distance, a street address, and a set of global positioning system coordinates.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the user is received using at least one of a Mobile Identification Number of communications device used by the user, cellular site triangulation, location information input by the user, and a set of global positioning system coordinates.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving location information corresponding to the desired destination based on the single voice-based request.

6. A system for providing directions to a user over a network, comprising:

an interactive voice response system that receives a single voice-based request in a call from the user, in response to a single voice prompt provided by the interactive voice response system, for directions to a desired destination, wherein the single request includes an electronic delivery method and a location of the user;

a memory that stores a plurality of destination entries; and

a processor that determines if the user is authorized to make a request for directions, and-if the user is authorized, to compare the plurality of destination entries with the desired destination to determine a matching entry based on the single request, and to obtain directional instructions from the location of the user for the matching entry based on the single request; and

an output device that provides the user with the obtained directional instructions by the delivery method provided with the single request,

wherein the delivery method comprises at least one of e-mail, a facsimile, a short message service (SMS) message, and an instant message.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the request from the user is received via a wireless communications device used by the user.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the location of the user and the matching entry are sent to a third party location service, and the directional instructions are received from the third party location service.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the third party location service is contacted via a global communication network.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the directional instructions include at least one of driving directions, a distance, a street address, and a set of global positioning system coordinates of the matching entry.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the location of the user is received using at least one of a Mobile Identification Number of a communications device used by the user, cellular site triangulation, and global positioning system coordinates associated with the user.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs a method comprising:

receiving, over a network at an interactive voice response system, a single voice-based request in a call from a user, in response to a single voice prompt provided by the interactive voice response system, for directions to a desired destination, wherein the single request includes an electronic delivery method and a location of the user;

storing, in a memory, a plurality of destination entries;

determining, using a processor, if the user is authorized to make a request for directions;

if the user is authorized, querying, by the processor, a database to compare the plurality of destination entries with the desired destination to determine a matching entry based on the single request and obtaining directional instructions from the location of the user for the matching entry based on the single request; and

providing, by an output device, the directional instructions for the matching entry to the user by the delivery method provided with the single request,

wherein the delivery method comprises at least one of e-mail, a facsimile, a short message service (SMS) message, and an instant message.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein the user has a wireless communications device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein obtaining directional instructions for the matching entry includes at least one of determining driving directions, a distance, a street address, and a set of global positioning system coordinates.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein the location of the user is received using at least one of a Mobile Identification Number of the communications device, cellular site triangulation, location information input by the user, and a set of global positioning system coordinates.