Voice-directed telephone directory with voice access to directory assistance

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: generating speech signals prompting the caller for authorization for storing the telephone number retrieved from the directory service database and the associated voice label spoken by the caller in the database at the voice dialing system; and storing the telephone number retrieved from the directory service database and the voice label spoken by the caller in the database at the voice dialing system when the caller authorizes storing the retrieved telephone number and the associated voice label spoken by the caller.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of generating speech signals prompting the caller for the voice label spoken by the caller.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of dialing the retrieved telephone number includes the steps of: generating speech signals prompting the caller for authorization for dialing the retrieved telephone number; and dialing the retrieved telephone number when the caller authorizes dialing the retrieved telephone number.

Claim 6

A voice-directed telephone dialing system comprising: a directory service database storing a plurality of telephone listings, each telephone listing including a party name label and a telephone number associated with the party name label; a memory storing a plurality of selected telephone listings, each selected voice label being a spoken party name label and being associated with a telephone number, the memory being separate from the directory service database; a speech recording device recording a voice label spoken by a caller, the voice label corresponding to a party name label; and a controller responsive to the speech recording device by retrieving the telephone number associated with the spoken voice label from the memory when the spoken voice label is one of the selected voice labels stored in the memory, and by placing a telephone call to the directory service database when the telephone number associated with the spoken voice label is not stored in the memory and retrieving the telephone number associated with the party name label corresponding to the spoken voice label from the directory service database.

Claim 7

A voice-directed telephone dialing system comprising: a directory service database storing a plurality of telephone listings, each telephone listing including a party name label and a telephone number associated with the party name label; a memory storing a plurality of selected telephone listings, each selected voice label being a spoken party name label and being associated with a telephone number, the memory being separate from the directory service database; a speech recording device recording a voice label spoken by a caller, the voice label corresponding to a party name label; and a controller responsive to the speech recording device by retrieving the telephone number associated with the spoken voice label from the memory when the spoken voice label is one of the selected voice labels stored in the memory, and by placing a telephone call to the directory service database when the telephone number associated with the spoken voice label is not stored in the memory and retrieving the telephone number associated with the party name label corresponding to the spoken voice label from the directory service database.

Claim 8

The voice-directed telephone dialing system according to claim 5, wherein the controller dials the retrieved telephone number.

Claim 9

The voice-directed telephone dialing system according to claim 6, wherein the controller stores the telephone number retrieved from the directory service database and the associated party name label corresponding to the spoken voice label in the memory.

Claim 10

The voice-directed telephone dialing system according to claim 6, further comprising a speech generator device responsive to the controller when the telephone number associated with the party name label corresponding to the spoken voice label is retrieved from the directory service database by generating speech signals prompting the caller for authorization for storing the telephone number retrieved from the directory service database and the associated party name label corresponding to the spoken voice label in the memory.

Claim 11

The voice-directed telephone dialing system according to claim 8, wherein the directory service database and the memory are coupled through a telecommunications network.

Claim 12

A voice-directed telephone dialing system comprising: a directory service database platform storing a plurality of telephone listings, each telephone listing including a party name label associated with a telephone number; and a voice-directed dialing platform including, a speech generator device generating speech signals, a memory storing a plurality of selected voice labels and telephone numbers, each selected voice label being a spoken part name label and being associated with a telephone number, a controller responsive to a telephone call by controlling the speech generator device to generate speech signals requesting a spoken voice label, and a speech recording device recording the spoken voice label, the controller being responsive to the speech recording device by retrieving the telephone number associated with the spoken voice label from the memory when the spoken voice label is one of the selected voice labels stored in the memory, and by placing a telephone call to the directory service database platform when the spoken voice label is not one of the selected voice labels stored in the memory, the directory service database platform being responsive to the telephone call from the controller and providing the telephone number for the spoken voice label.

Claim 13

A voice-directed telephone dialing system comprising: a directory service database platform storing a plurality of telephone listings, each telephone listing including a party name label associated with a telephone number; and a voice-directed dialing platform including, a speech generator device generating speech signals, a memory storing a plurality of selected voice labels and telephone numbers, each selected voice label being a spoken part name label and being associated with a telephone number, a controller responsive to a telephone call by controlling the speech generator device to generate speech signals requesting a spoken voice label, and a speech recording device recording the spoken voice label, the controller being responsive to the speech recording device by retrieving the telephone number associated with the spoken voice label from the memory when the spoken voice label is one of the selected voice labels stored in the memory, and by placing a telephone call to the directory service database platform when the spoken voice label is not one of the selected voice labels stored in the memory, the directory service database platform being responsive to the telephone call from the controller and providing the telephone number for the spoken voice label.

Claim 14

The voice-directed telephone dialing system according to claim 10, wherein the controller dials the retrieved telephone number.

Claim 15

The voice-directed telephone dialing system according to claim 11, wherein the controller stores the retrieved telephone number and the associated party name label corresponding to the spoken voice label in the memory.

Claim 16

The voice-directed telephone dialing system according to claim 11, wherein the speech generator device is responsive to the controller when the telephone number associated with the spoken voice label is retrieved from the directory service database platform by generating speech signals prompting the caller for authorization for storing the retrieved telephone number and the associated party name label corresponding to the spoken voice label in the memory.