Systems and methods for multiple mode voice and data communications using intelligently bridged TDM and packet buses and methods for implementing language capabilities using the same

• US 20070239429A1
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Inventors: Pickett, Scott, Johnson, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,037,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/56 Natural language generation
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/07 Concatenation rules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur in multiple modes/protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided for multiple native mode/protocol voice and data transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub and data router. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system. A computer or other processor includes a local area network controller, which provides routing and hub(s) for one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to a buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from the computer from TDM bus. The buffer/framer includes a plurality of framer/deframer engines, supporting, for example, ATM and HDLC framing/deframing. The buffer/framer is coupled to the TDM bus by way of a switch/multiplexer, which includes the capability to intelligently map data traffic between the buffer/framer and the TDM bus to various slots of the TDM frames. Preferably, a DSP pool is coupled to buffer/framer in a manner to provide various signal processing and telecommunications support, such as dial tone generation, DTMF detection and the like. The TDM bus is coupled to a various line/station cards, serving to interface the TDM bus with telephone, facsimiles and other telecommunication devices, and also with a various digital and/or analog WAN network services. Language support for such systems is accomplished by way of a program/data structure so that additional language support may be readily implemented, for example, by a non-software programmer using grammar and voice prompt files, which are preferably located in a predetermined directory in the system.

Claims

1. In a system for managing voice communications, the system providing voice prompts in one or more particular languages or language variants, a method for providing a set of voice prompts in a particular language, comprising the steps of:

defining high level grammatical rules for the set of voice prompts in the particular language;

storing the grammatical rules for the set of voice prompts in the system;

developing a set of audio files in the particular language;

storing the audio files in the particular language in the system;

receiving a request from a user, wherein the system initiates a request for a voice prompt in response to the request from the user;

in response to the request for the voice prompt, developing a sequential list of audio files, wherein, when the sequential list of audio files is played by the system, the requested voice prompt is played to the user in the particular language;

wherein the sequential list of audio files is produced based on the grammatical rules.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a parser parses the grammatical rules to produce a database structure, wherein, in response to the request for the voice prompt, the sequential list of audio files is produced based on the database structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of defining high level grammatical rules, storing the grammatical rules, developing a set of audio files and storing the audio files are repeating a plurality of times for a plurality of particular languages, wherein the system provides voice prompts in each of the plurality of particular languages.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of determining which of the particular languages are to be used for a particular user.