US5493606A — Multi-lingual prompt management system for a netw…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 533 words

In combination with a Network Application Platform (NAP), a prompt management system for playing prompts comprised of elements, said NAP operative to play voice messages in response to NAP Message IDs, respectively, each element marking a position in a prompt for playing at least one of said voice messages, said NAP supporting at least one Network Application for execution thereby, comprising a plurality of information sets, independent of said Network Application, containing information for playing said prompts in a plurality of languages, respectively, said information sets identified by a plurality of information set IDs, respectively, said information of each of said information sets including a set of prompt definitions comprised of sequences of said elements, each said prompt definition identified by a prompt ID, said information of each of said information sets including NAP Message IDs corresponding to said elements of said prompt definitions, and a Prompt Expansion Processor (PEP) having access to said information sets and responsive to a command from said Network Application to play a prompt, said command identifying a commanded prompt to be played and a language in which to play said commanded prompt by including said prompt ID and said information set ID, respectively, in said command, said PEP operative, by accessing one of said information sets with information set ID identified by said command, to expand said commanded prompt into a sequence of NAP Message IDs corresponding to said elements of said prompt definition of said commanded prompt, said sequence of NAP Message IDs being sent to said NAP to play said voice messages corresponding to said sequence of NAP Message IDs so as to play said commanded prompt in said language corresponding to said information set ID, said command including dynamic data to be played in said commanded prompt, said elements comprising static and dynamic elements, said static elements marking positions in said prompts for playing predetermined ones of said voice messages, said dynamic elements-marking positions in said prompts for playing said dynamic data, said prompt definition of said commanded prompt comprising a sequence of said static and said dynamic elements, said information of each said information set including NAP Message IDs corresponding to said static elements and said dynamic data, said PEP being operative to expand said commanded prompt into said sequence of NAP Message IDs corresponding to said static elements of said prompt definition of said commanded prompt and to said dynamic data for said dynamic elements of said prompt definition of said commanded prompt, said dynamic data of said command being categorized into predetermined dynamic element types, each of said dynamic elements of said prompts having one of said dynamic element types associated therewith, said PEP being operative to expand a dynamic element of a prompt into said NAP Message IDs corresponding to said dynamic data of said one of said dynamic element types associated with said dynamic element to be expanded, each said information set having a Modular Dynamic Data Processor (MDDP) associated therewith, said MDDP containing procedures for expanding, in accordance with said language associated with said information set, dynamic data of said dynamic element types, respectively, into element references representative of said NAP Message IDs corresponding to said dynamic data.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 533 words

In combination with a Network Application Platform (NAP), a prompt management system for playing prompts comprised of elements, said NAP operative to play voice messages in response to NAP Message IDs, respectively, each element marking a position in a prompt for playing at least one of said voice messages, said NAP supporting at least one Network Application for execution thereby, comprising a plurality of information sets, independent of said Network Application, containing information for playing said prompts in a plurality of languages, respectively, said information sets identified by a plurality of information set IDs, respectively, said information of each of said information sets including a set of prompt definitions comprised of sequences of said elements, each said prompt definition identified by a prompt ID, said information of each of said information sets including NAP Message IDs corresponding to said elements of said prompt definitions, and a Prompt Expansion Processor (PEP) having access to said information sets and responsive to a command from said Network Application to play a prompt, said command identifying a commanded prompt to be played and a language in which to play said commanded prompt by including said prompt ID and said information set ID, respectively, in said command, said PEP operative, by accessing one of said information sets with information set ID identified by said command, to expand said commanded prompt into a sequence of NAP Message IDs corresponding to said elements of said prompt definition of said commanded prompt, said sequence of NAP Message IDs being sent to said NAP to play said voice messages corresponding to said sequence of NAP Message IDs so as to play said commanded prompt in said language corresponding to said information set ID, said command including dynamic data to be played in said commanded prompt, said elements comprising static and dynamic elements, said static elements marking positions in said prompts for playing predetermined ones of said voice messages, said dynamic elements-marking positions in said prompts for playing said dynamic data, said prompt definition of said commanded prompt comprising a sequence of said static and said dynamic elements, said information of each said information set including NAP Message IDs corresponding to said static elements and said dynamic data, said PEP being operative to expand said commanded prompt into said sequence of NAP Message IDs corresponding to said static elements of said prompt definition of said commanded prompt and to said dynamic data for said dynamic elements of said prompt definition of said commanded prompt, said dynamic data of said command being categorized into predetermined dynamic element types, each of said dynamic elements of said prompts having one of said dynamic element types associated therewith, said PEP being operative to expand a dynamic element of a prompt into said NAP Message IDs corresponding to said dynamic data of said one of said dynamic element types associated with said dynamic element to be expanded, each said information set having a Modular Dynamic Data Processor (MDDP) associated therewith, said MDDP containing procedures for expanding, in accordance with said language associated with said information set, dynamic data of said dynamic element types, respectively, into element references representative of said NAP Message IDs corresponding to said dynamic data.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 53 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said information of each said information set includes a Dynamic Element Table containing an ordered list of logically grouped elements for correlating said element references provided by said MDDP of said information set associated therewith into corresponding NAP Message IDs in accordance with said logically grouped elements.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 2 further including a Speech Interface to NAP program (SPIN) for interactively creating or modifying said information of each said information set in accordance with said language associated therewith.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 81 words

The system of claim 3 further including a terminal having a display and information entry means, said SPIN including screen management logic for generating screens on said display and information management logic for managing information entered by said information entry means by a user interacting with said screens for creating or modifying said information of said information sets, said information management logic providing information to said screen management logic for displaying, on said screens, information entered by said information entry means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 54 words

The system of claim 4 further including a SPIN Data Base (SPINDB) responsive to said Information Management Logic, said SPINDB containing records for storing said information of said information sets, said SPIN operative to create or modify said information stored in said records in accordance with said information entered by said information entry means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 71 words

The system of claim 5 wherein said PEP includes cache table sets for storing said information of said information sets, respectively, said PEP being operative to build said cache table sets from said records, said PEP being operative to expand said command into said sequence of NAP Message IDs by accessing a cache table set storing said information of said information set identified by said information set ID in said command.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 61 words

The system of claim 4 wherein said prompt definition includes an element order established by the sequence in which said static and dynamic elements are ordered in said prompt definition, said screens including a prompt processing screen for creating or modifying said element order in accordance with requirements of said language associated with said information set that includes said prompt definition.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 86 words

The system of claim 4 wherein said command provides said dynamic data in a predetermined dynamic data order, said prompt definition includes a dynamic data usage order in accordance with said positions marked by said dynamic elements in said sequence of static and dynamic elements, and one of said screens includes Dynamic Data Location fields for modifying said dynamic data usage order with respect to said dynamic data order in accordance with requirements of said language associated with said information set that includes said prompt definition.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system of claim 8 wherein said Dynamic Data Location fields are utilized to indicate that specified dynamic data from said command will not be used for said dynamic elements by entering, via said information entry means, an appropriate indication in said Dynamic Data Location fields.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 65 words

The system of claim 4 wherein one of said screens includes Dynamic Element Subtype fields for providing subtypes for said dynamic element types associated with said dynamic elements of said prompt definition, and said MDDP includes procedures for processing said dynamic data for said dynamic elements pursuant to said subtypes in accordance with said language associated with said information set that includes said prompt definition.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 52 words

The system of claim 4 wherein said screens include at least one screen for adding elements for a new dynamic element type, said MDDP including a procedure for expanding dynamic data pursuant to said new dynamic element type in accordance with said language associated with said information set that includes said MDDP.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 4 wherein said screens include a Dynamic Element Table screen for creating or modifying elements in said Dynamic Element Table, said MDDP being enhanced in accordance with said created or modified elements in said Dynamic Element Table.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 68 words

The system of claim 4 wherein said screens include a transfer screen for selectively transferring part or all of said information from a first of said information sets to a second of said information sets, said first information set having a first language associated therewith, and thereafter modifying said information in said second information set, using said screens, in accordance with a language different from said first language.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 13 wherein said second information set has an MDDP associated therewith, said MDDP including a procedure created or modified in accordance with said information modified with respect to said second information set.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said SPIN is deployed on said NAP.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 86 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said command comprises an Enhanced Multi-Send Prompt (EMSP) command including a field for said information set ID, said EMSP command containing at least one Prompt Information Cluster, each Prompt Information Cluster containing a Prompt Information Type (PIT) field and a Prompt Information Data (PID) field, said PIT field of a particular Prompt Information Cluster containing an indication that said PID field of said particular Prompt Information Cluster will either request a prompt or provide dynamic data for a requested prompt.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 16 wherein said indication comprises an indication of dynamic element type when said PID field will provide said dynamic data.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 17 wherein said PID field contains dynamic data of said dynamic element type indicated in said PIT field of said particular Prompt Information Cluster.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 16 wherein said indication comprises an indication of a Prompt Index Value or a Prompt Name when said PID field will request a prompt.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 19 wherein said PID field contains a Prompt Index Value or a Prompt Name in accordance with whether said PIT field of said particular Prompt Information Cluster indicates Prompt Index Value or Prompt Name.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 16 wherein each said Prompt Information Cluster includes a Prompt Information Length (PIL) field designating the length of the Prompt Information Cluster including said PIL, PIT and PID fields.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 431 words

For use with a prompt management system in combination with a Network Application Platform (NAP), said prompt management system for playing prompts comprised of elements, said NAP operative to play voice messages in response to NAP Message IDs, respectively, each element marking a position in a prompt for playing at least one of said voice messages, said NAP supporting at least one Network Application for execution thereby, said NAP operative to record voice messages and return NAP Message IDs, respectively, said prompt management system including a first information set containing information for playing said prompts in a first language, said first information set identified by a first information set ID, said information of said first information set including a set of prompt definitions comprised of sequences of said elements, each said prompt definition identified by a prompt ID, said information of said first information set including voice messages in said first language and NAP Message IDs corresponding to said elements of said prompt definitions, a method for selectively playing said prompts in said first language or in a second language comprising creating a second information set identified by a second information set ID, copying said information from said first information set to said second information set except for said voice messages and said NAP Message IDs, creating recorded voice messages by recording voice through NAP in said second language for each element in said second information set and entering into said second information set said NAP Message IDs returned by NAP corresponding to said recorded voice messages, reordering said elements of said prompt definitions of said second information set to accommodate any phrase ordering differences between said first language and said second language, creating new elements for said information of said second information set or deleting elements therefrom as required for said second language, issuing a command from said Network Application to play a prompt, said command identifying a commanded prompt to be played and the language in which to play said commanded prompt by including said prompt ID and said information set ID, respectively, in said command, accessing one of said information sets with information set ID identified by said command to expand said commanded prompt into a sequence of NAP Message IDs corresponding to said elements of said prompt definition of said commanded prompt, and sending said sequence of NAP Message IDs to said NAP to play said voice messages corresponding to said sequence of NAP Message IDs so as to play said commanded prompt in said first language or said second language corresponding to said information set ID.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 431 words

For use with a prompt management system in combination with a Network Application Platform (NAP), said prompt management system for playing prompts comprised of elements, said NAP operative to play voice messages in response to NAP Message IDs, respectively, each element marking a position in a prompt for playing at least one of said voice messages, said NAP supporting at least one Network Application for execution thereby, said NAP operative to record voice messages and return NAP Message IDs, respectively, said prompt management system including a first information set containing information for playing said prompts in a first language, said first information set identified by a first information set ID, said information of said first information set including a set of prompt definitions comprised of sequences of said elements, each said prompt definition identified by a prompt ID, said information of said first information set including voice messages in said first language and NAP Message IDs corresponding to said elements of said prompt definitions, a method for selectively playing said prompts in said first language or in a second language comprising creating a second information set identified by a second information set ID, copying said information from said first information set to said second information set except for said voice messages and said NAP Message IDs, creating recorded voice messages by recording voice through NAP in said second language for each element in said second information set and entering into said second information set said NAP Message IDs returned by NAP corresponding to said recorded voice messages, reordering said elements of said prompt definitions of said second information set to accommodate any phrase ordering differences between said first language and said second language, creating new elements for said information of said second information set or deleting elements therefrom as required for said second language, issuing a command from said Network Application to play a prompt, said command identifying a commanded prompt to be played and the language in which to play said commanded prompt by including said prompt ID and said information set ID, respectively, in said command, accessing one of said information sets with information set ID identified by said command to expand said commanded prompt into a sequence of NAP Message IDs corresponding to said elements of said prompt definition of said commanded prompt, and sending said sequence of NAP Message IDs to said NAP to play said voice messages corresponding to said sequence of NAP Message IDs so as to play said commanded prompt in said first language or said second language corresponding to said information set ID.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 133 words

The method of claim 22 wherein said command includes dynamic data to be played in said commanded prompt, said command providing said dynamic data in a predetermined dynamic data order; said elements comprise static and dynamic elements, said static elements marking positions in said prompts for playing predetermined ones of said voice messages, said dynamic elements marking positions in said prompts for playing said dynamic data; said prompt definition includes a dynamic data usage order in accordance with said positions marked by said dynamic elements in said sequence of static and dynamic elements; said method further comprises reordering, in said prompt definitions of said information of said second information set, said dynamic data usage order with respect to said dynamic data order to accommodate phrase ordering differences between said first and second languages.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 93 words

The method of claim 23 wherein said dynamic data of said command is categorized into predetermined dynamic element types, each of said dynamic elements of said prompts having one of said dynamic element types associated therewith, said method further comprises creating a Modular Dynamic Data Processor (MDDP) containing procedures for expanding, in accordance with said second language, dynamic data of said dynamic element types, respectively, into element references representative of NAP Message IDs corresponding to said dynamic data, said MDDP being created to accommodate language specific dynamic data formats for said second language.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 74 words

The method of claim 24 wherein said information of said second information set includes a Dynamic Element Table copied from said first information set, said Dynamic Element Table containing an ordered list of logically grouped elements, said method further comprises modifying said Dynamic Element Table in accordance with requirements of said second language, and correlating said element references provided by said MDDP into corresponding NAP Message IDs in accordance with said logically grouped elements.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-02-19	1999-08-21	2000-02-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-02-19	2003-08-21	2004-02-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-02-19	2007-08-21	2008-02-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multi-lingual prompt management system for a network applications platform

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