VoiceXML browser and supporting components for mobile devices

• US 9,754,590 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Technology Group LLC (West Corporation)
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Fox, Chad Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Paras D
• Application Number:
  US14/473,134
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 704270, 7042701, 704275, 379 8801, 379 8816
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating user interaction with a voice application. A VoiceXML browser runs locally on a mobile device. Supporting components, such as a Resource Manager, a Call Data Manager, and a MRCP Gateway Client support operation of the VoiceXML browser. The Resource Manager servers either those files stored locally on the mobile device, or files accessible via a network connection using the wireless or mobile broadband capabilities of the mobile device. The Call Data Manager communicates call-specific data back to the application'"'"'s system of origin or another configured target system. The MRCP Gateway Client provides the VoiceXML browser with access to media resources via a MRCP Gateway Client.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a VoiceXML browser executing locally on the mobile device;

components supporting the VoiceXML browser, the components resident and executing on the mobile device and comprising;

a Resource Manager operable to serve one of locally stored files and files accessible via a network connection utilizing at least one of wireless and mobile broadband capabilities of the mobile device,

a Call Data Manager operable to communicate call-specific data to at least one of an application'"'"'s system of origin and another configured target system,

a MRCP Gateway Client operable to provide the VoiceXML browser with access to media resources via a MRCP Gateway Server; and

a mobile voice self service (MVSS) bootstrap application and an XML-based MVSS configuration file, both resident and executing on the mobile device and both separate from the VoiceXML browser, wherein the bootstrap application reads the configuration file to configure the supporting components and launch a voice application on the components wherein the configuration file contains configuration settings for the supporting components, defines session data and credentials for the voice application accessing remote resources, and provides an initial URI to access the voice application.

2. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile device launches an MVSS application when a user of the mobile device follows a link that provides MVSS content.

3. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the supporting components is operable to communicate via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) open to other applications running on the mobile device and wherein a call to the APIs must pass an ID that was returned as a response to a configuration request.

4. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein MVSS enables a VoiceXML browser to be deployed as a mobile application and implemented on the mobile device, further enabling a VoiceXML application to be processed directly on the mobile device.

5. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a mobile telephone.

6. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile device further provides access to call flow data, enabling user-define bookmarks in a VoiceXML application.

7. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the VoiceXML browser is operable to at least one of suspend and resume execution of a VoiceXML application.

8. The mobile device as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of the mobile device, a user of the mobile device, and a call to Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) of the VoiceXML browser initiates the at least one of suspending and resuming of the VoiceXML application.

9. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the VoiceXML browser is operable to display alternative text and user responses for a voice application on-screen as a log of the user'"'"'s interaction with the voice application.

10. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the VoiceXML browser is operable to display VoiceXML menu tags from a voice application as an on-screen graphical menu.

11. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the VoiceXML browser is operable to report status and application information to at least one of other components and applications on the mobile device.

12. A method, comprising:

operating a VoiceXML browser executing locally on a mobile device;

supporting operation of the VoiceXML browser with components consisting of a Resource Manager, a Call Data Manager, and a MRCP Gateway Client, the supporting components resident and executing on the mobile device;

serving one of locally stored files and files accessible via a network connection utilizing at least one of wireless and mobile broadband capabilities of the mobile device;

communicating call-specific data to at least one of an application'"'"'s system of origin and another configured target system;

providing the VoiceXML browser with access to media resources via a MRCP Gateway Server; and

executing a mobile voice self service (MVSS) bootstrap application and an MVSS configuration file resident on the mobile device wherein the bootstrap application reads the configuration file to configure the supporting components and launch a voice application on the components wherein the configuration file contains configuration settings for the supporting components, defines session data and credentials for the voice application accessing remote resources, and provides an initial URI to access the voice application.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising launching an MVSS application when a user of the mobile device follows a link that provides MVSS content.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising at least one of the supporting components being operable to communicate via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) open to other applications running on the mobile device wherein when a call to the APIs is made, passing an ID that was returned as a response to a configuration request.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, further providing direct access to call flow data, enabling user-defined bookmarks via a VoiceXML application.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising initiating at least one of suspending and resuming execution of a VoiceXML application via at least one of the mobile device, a user of the mobile device, and a call to Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) of the VoiceXML browser.

18. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising displaying VoiceXML menu tags from the voice application as an on-screen graphical menu.

19. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising reporting status and application information to at least one of other components and applications on the mobile device.

17. The method as claimed in 12, further comprising displaying alternative text and user responses for the voice application on-screen as a log of the user interaction with the voice application.

20. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising instructions for:

operating a VoiceXML browser executing locally on a mobile device;

supporting operation of the VoiceXML browser with components consisting of a Resource Manager, a Call Data Manager, and a MRCP Gateway Client wherein the supporting components reside on the mobile device;

serving one of locally stored files and files accessible via a network connection utilizing at least one of wireless and mobile broadband capabilities of the mobile device;

communicating call-specific data to at least one of an application'"'"'s system of origin and another configured target system;

providing the VoiceXML browser with access to media resources via a MRCP Gateway Server and

executing a mobile voice self service (MVSS) bootstrap application and an MVSS configuration file resident on the mobile device wherein the bootstrap application reads the configuration file to configure the supporting components and launch a voice application on the components wherein the configuration file contains configuration settings for the supporting components, defines session data and credentials for the voice application accessing remote resources, and provides an initial URI to access the voice application.