US5771276A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Voice templates for interactive voice mail and voice response system
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1995-10-10
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Granted: 1998-06-23
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Expires: 2015-10-10
Abstract
Abstract Method and a system for a user-customizable interactive voice mail/voice response system are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, an interactive voice mail/voice response ("IVR") system of the present invention enables a user to build and operate custom IVR functions using voice templates. An interactive voice mail/voice response ("IVR") system of the present invention enables a user to build and operate custom IVR menus. The system comprises a voice menu system that includes a plurality of menus, each comprising a plurality of script records implemented using voice templates made up of voice template elements of various types, the characteristics and behavior of which will be determined by their user-designated type and the characteristic of the voice response record with which they are associated. As a result, the voice elements, and in turn, the voice templates they comprise, dynamically exhibit a behavior that is appropriate to the current environment. When the contents of a voice template are to be played over the telephone line, the voice elements are played sequentially such that the result is perceived as a whole that represents the entire phrase or sentence as described by the text representation of the voice template.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Wolf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:52
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M3/487; H04M3/493; H04M3/42314; H04M3/42323; H04M3/53366; H04M3/53383
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of implementing an interactive voice mail/voice response (IVR) system on a personal computer ("PC"), the method comprising the steps of: creating a script for implementing a user-specified set of IVR functions, said script comprising a plurality of records each having a template associated therewith; for each of said records, automatically splitting a text representation of said associated template into template elements and searching a database for said template elements; for each of said template elements, assigning a type to said template element, said type defining characteristics of said template element; and for each of said template elements, storing a text representation of and an audio file associated with said template element in said database.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of implementing an interactive voice mail/voice response (IVR) system on a personal computer ("PC"), the method comprising the steps of: creating a script for implementing a user-specified set of IVR functions, said script comprising a plurality of records each having a template associated therewith; for each of said records, automatically splitting a text representation of said associated template into template elements and searching a database for said template elements; for each of said template elements, assigning a type to said template element, said type defining characteristics of said template element; and for each of said template elements, storing a text representation of and an audio file associated with said template element in said database.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said template elements is a stock recording type, a custom recording type, a sound from key type, a name type, a text to speech type, or a number of items type.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising recording a custom recording for each custom recording type template element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising testing each of said template elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising, responsive to said testing, for each of said tested template elements: displaying a list of template elements similar to said tested template element; and responsive to user selection of one of said displayed template elements, substituting said selected template element for said tested template element in said script.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising, responsive to said testing, for each of said template elements, playing an audio file associated with said template element to a user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said testing is performed by user-selection of a graphical display element ("GDE") presented on a display of said PC.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising, responsive to user selection of a graphical display element ("GDE") presented on a display of said PC, displaying a list of text representations of template elements stored in said database.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of implementing an interactive voice mail/voice response (IVR) system on a personal computer ("PC") connected to a telephone line, the method comprising the steps of: creating a script for implementing a user-specified set of IVR functions, said script comprising a plurality of records each having a template associated therewith; for each of said records, automatically splitting a text representation of said associated template into template elements and searching a database to find said template elements; for each of said template elements, assigning a type to said template element, said type defining characteristics of said template element; and for each of said template elements, storing a text representation of and an audio file associated with said template element in said database; testing each of said template elements; and responsive to said testing, for each of said tested template elements, displaying a list of template elements similar to said tested template element and responsive to user selection of one of said displayed template elements, substituting said selected template element for said tested template element in said script.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of implementing an interactive voice mail/voice response (IVR) system on a personal computer ("PC") connected to a telephone line, the method comprising the steps of: creating a script for implementing a user-specified set of IVR functions, said script comprising a plurality of records each having a template associated therewith; for each of said records, automatically splitting a text representation of said associated template into template elements and searching a database to find said template elements; for each of said template elements, assigning a type to said template element, said type defining characteristics of said template element; and for each of said template elements, storing a text representation of and an audio file associated with said template element in said database; testing each of said template elements; and responsive to said testing, for each of said tested template elements, displaying a list of template elements similar to said tested template element and responsive to user selection of one of said displayed template elements, substituting said selected template element for said tested template element in said script.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 9 wherein each of said template elements is a stock recording type, a custom recording type, a sound from key type, a name type, a text to speech type, or a number of items type.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising recording a custom recording for each custom recording type template element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising, responsive to said testing, for each of said template elements, playing an audio file associated with said template element to a user.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said testing is performed by user-selection of a graphical display element ("GDE") presented on a display of said PC.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising, responsive to user selection of a graphical display element ("GDE") presented on a display of said PC, displaying a list of text representations of template elements stored in said database.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for implementing an interactive voice mail/voice response (IVR) system on a personal computer ("PC"), the apparatus comprising: means for creating a script for implementing a user-specified set of IVR functions, said script comprising a plurality of records each having a template associated therewith; means for automatically splitting a text representation of said associated template of each of said records into template elements and searching a database to find said template elements; means for assigning a type to each of said template elements, said type defining characteristics of said template element; and means for storing a text representation of and an audio file associated with each of said template elements in said database.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for implementing an interactive voice mail/voice response (IVR) system on a personal computer ("PC"), the apparatus comprising: means for creating a script for implementing a user-specified set of IVR functions, said script comprising a plurality of records each having a template associated therewith; means for automatically splitting a text representation of said associated template of each of said records into template elements and searching a database to find said template elements; means for assigning a type to each of said template elements, said type defining characteristics of said template element; and means for storing a text representation of and an audio file associated with each of said template elements in said database.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each of said template elements is a stock recording type, a custom recording type, a sound from key type, a name type, a text to speech type, or a number of items type.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising means for recording a custom recording for each custom recording type template element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for initiating testing each of said template elements.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising means responsive to said testing, for each of said tested template elements, for displaying a list of template elements similar to said tested template element and, responsive to user selection of one of said displayed template elements, substituting said selected template element for said tested template element in said script.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising means responsive to said testing, for each of said template elements, for playing an audio file associated with said template element to a user.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means for initiating testing comprises a graphical display element ("GDE") presented on a display of said PC.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising, responsive to user selection of a graphical display element ("GDE") presented on a display of said PC, means for displaying a list of text representations of template elements stored in said database.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
142 words
A computer program for implementing an interactive voice mail/voice response (IVR) system, the computer program being stored in a computer-readable medium for execution by a personal computer ("PC"), the computer program comprising: instructions responsive to input from a user to create a script for implementing a user-specified set of IVR functions, said script comprising a plurality of records each having a template associated therewith; instructions to automatically split a text representation of said associated template of each of said records into template elements and search a database for said template elements; instructions for enabling a user to assign a type to each of said template elements, said type defining characteristics of said template element; and instructions responsive to input from a user to store a text representation of and an audio file associated with each of said template elements in said database.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
142 words
A computer program for implementing an interactive voice mail/voice response (IVR) system, the computer program being stored in a computer-readable medium for execution by a personal computer ("PC"), the computer program comprising: instructions responsive to input from a user to create a script for implementing a user-specified set of IVR functions, said script comprising a plurality of records each having a template associated therewith; instructions to automatically split a text representation of said associated template of each of said records into template elements and search a database for said template elements; instructions for enabling a user to assign a type to each of said template elements, said type defining characteristics of said template element; and instructions responsive to input from a user to store a text representation of and an audio file associated with each of said template elements in said database.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer program of claim 23 wherein each of said template elements is a stock recording type, a custom recording type, a sound from key type, a name type, a text to speech type, or a number of items type.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer program of claim 24 further comprising instructions for recording a custom recording for each custom recording type template element.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer program of claim 23 further comprising instructions for initiating testing each of said template elements.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computer program of claim 26 further comprising instructions for displaying a list of template elements similar to said tested template element and, responsive to user selection of one of said displayed template elements, substituting said selected template element for said tested template element in said script.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program of claim 26 further comprising instructions for playing an audio file associated with said tested template element to a user.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer program of claim 26 further comprising instructions for presenting a graphical display element ("GDE") on a display of said PC, wherein selection of said GDE initiates said testing.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer program of claim 23 further comprising instructions for displaying a list of text representations of template elements stored in said database responsive to user selection of a graphical display element ("GDE") presented on a display of said PC.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-22 | 2001-12-22 | 2002-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-22 | 2005-12-22 | 2006-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-22 | 2009-12-22 | 2010-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |