US6400809B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for text-to-speech conversion of caller information
Assignee: SBC Holdings Properties LP
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Filing: 1999-01-29
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Granted: 2002-06-04
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Expires: 2019-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A system (10) and method (40) for providing audible caller information to telephone service subscribers is presented. The system (10) includes a pre-processor (28) that converts textual caller information from a first data format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis (TTS). The pre-processor (28) can be incorporated in a service node/intelligent peripheral (SN/IP) (24) in an advanced intelligent network (AIN). In this configuration, the pre-processor (28) can be used to convert caller-ID with name database entries into a predetermined TTS format. The TTS formatted information can be provided to a TTS synthesized (30) included in the SN/IP (24). In conjunction with a switching service point (SSP) (20), the pre-processor (28) can provide a talking call-waiting feature to subscribers with significantly improved intelligibility.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr.
- 👤 Mary Louise Hardzinski
- 👤 Thomas Joseph McBlain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42042; G; G10; G10L; G10L13/00; H04M3/428; H04M3/4288; H04M1/00; H04M1/57; H04M1/575; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/39; H04M2201/60; H04M2207/00; H04M2207/12; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/22; H04M3/42059
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for providing audible caller information to a telephony subscriber, comprising: a pre-processor having a combination of hardware and software for converting textual caller information from a predetermined caller information database format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis, the pre-processor removing at least one irregular character and converting the remaining textual caller information according to at least one set of rules for pre-processing caller name information; and a text-to-speech synthesizer, in combination with the pre-processor, for generating the audible caller information in response to the textual caller information in the second data format.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for providing audible caller information to a telephony subscriber, comprising: a pre-processor having a combination of hardware and software for converting textual caller information from a predetermined caller information database format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis, the pre-processor removing at least one irregular character and converting the remaining textual caller information according to at least one set of rules for pre-processing caller name information; and a text-to-speech synthesizer, in combination with the pre-processor, for generating the audible caller information in response to the textual caller information in the second data format.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-processor and the text-to-speech synthesizer are included in a device selected from the group consisting of a service node and an intelligent peripheral.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined caller information database format is based on a set of rules for storing data in a caller ID with name database.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising: means for providing the audible caller information to the subscriber on call waiting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one set of rules includes a first subset of rules for business listings and a second subset of rules for residential listing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-processor includes a plurality of abbreviation expansion tables for expanding abbreviated caller information presented in the predetermined caller information database format.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-processor includes separate abbreviation expansion tables for business listings and residential listings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-processor includes an exceptions table for converting predetermined caller information to the second data format.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
A telecommunication system, comprising: a service switching point (SSP) for providing textual caller information in response to an incoming call; and a service node, in communication with the SSP, having a pre-processor for removing at least one irregular character and converting the remaining textual caller information from a predetermined caller information database format to a second data format according to at least one set of rules for pre-processing caller name information, and the service node also having a text-to-speech synthesizer for generating audible caller information in response to the converted caller information in the second data format, the audible caller information being transferable from the service node to a subscriber unit via the SSP.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
A telecommunication system, comprising: a service switching point (SSP) for providing textual caller information in response to an incoming call; and a service node, in communication with the SSP, having a pre-processor for removing at least one irregular character and converting the remaining textual caller information from a predetermined caller information database format to a second data format according to at least one set of rules for pre-processing caller name information, and the service node also having a text-to-speech synthesizer for generating audible caller information in response to the converted caller information in the second data format, the audible caller information being transferable from the service node to a subscriber unit via the SSP.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein the SSP includes a call waiting feature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein the service node signals the SSP call waiting feature to cut-through to the subscriber unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein the service node selectively transfers the audible caller information or an audible call indicator upon the SSP call waiting feature successfully cutting-through to the subscriber unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein the service node transfers the audible caller information upon the SSP call waiting feature successfully cutting-through to the subscriber unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein the service node is an intelligent peripheral.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for providing audible caller information to a telephony subscriber, comprising: receiving textual caller information in a caller information database format; removing at least one irregular character from the textual caller information; converting the remaining textual caller information from the caller information database format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis; performing text-to-speech synthesis of the converted textual caller information to produce the audible caller information; and providing the audible caller information to the subscriber.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for providing audible caller information to a telephony subscriber, comprising: receiving textual caller information in a caller information database format; removing at least one irregular character from the textual caller information; converting the remaining textual caller information from the caller information database format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis; performing text-to-speech synthesis of the converted textual caller information to produce the audible caller information; and providing the audible caller information to the subscriber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 , further comprising: signaling a service signal point (SSP) to cut-through to the subscriber prior to providing the audible caller information thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of converting includes determining whether the textual caller information represents a residential listing or a business listing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer-usable memory storing a computer program for directing a communication server to remove an irregular character from textual caller information and to convert textual caller information from a predetermined caller information database format to a second data format according to at least one set of rules for pre-processing caller name information, and for directing the communication server to generate audible caller information by performing text-to-speech synthesis of the converted textual caller information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer-usable memory storing a computer program for directing a communication server to remove an irregular character from textual caller information and to convert textual caller information from a predetermined caller information database format to a second data format according to at least one set of rules for pre-processing caller name information, and for directing the communication server to generate audible caller information by performing text-to-speech synthesis of the converted textual caller information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer-readable memory of claim 18 , wherein the predetermined caller information database format is based on a set of rules for storing the caller information in a caller ID with the name database.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-readable memory of claim 18 , wherein the computer program includes a software routine for communicating with a service switch point (SSP).
Claim 25
Independent Claim
67 words
A system for selectively providing audible caller information to a telephony subscriber, comprising: a software flag; and a pre-processor for removing at least one irregular character from textual caller information and for converting the remaining textual caller information into caller information formatted according to a predetermined text-to-speech synthesis format, the pre-processor selectively outputting converted textual caller information and an audible call-waiting indicator based on the software flag.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
67 words
A system for selectively providing audible caller information to a telephony subscriber, comprising: a software flag; and a pre-processor for removing at least one irregular character from textual caller information and for converting the remaining textual caller information into caller information formatted according to a predetermined text-to-speech synthesis format, the pre-processor selectively outputting converted textual caller information and an audible call-waiting indicator based on the software flag.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 21 , further comprising a text-to-speech synthesizer, in communication with the pre-processor, for generating the audible caller information in response to the converted textual caller information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the pre-processor converts the textual caller information according to at least one set of rules for converting information from the caller information database format to the text-to-speech synthesis format.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for providing audible caller information to a subscriber unit, comprising: receiving textual caller information formatted according to a predetermined caller information database format; removing an irregular character from the textual caller information; determining whether a flag is set; converting the remaining textual caller information from the caller information database format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis; performing text-to-speech synthesis of the converted textual caller information to produce the audible caller information; selectively providing a call-waiting indicator to the subscriber unit based on the setting of the flag; and providing the audible caller information to the subscriber unit.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for providing audible caller information to a subscriber unit, comprising: receiving textual caller information formatted according to a predetermined caller information database format; removing an irregular character from the textual caller information; determining whether a flag is set; converting the remaining textual caller information from the caller information database format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis; performing text-to-speech synthesis of the converted textual caller information to produce the audible caller information; selectively providing a call-waiting indicator to the subscriber unit based on the setting of the flag; and providing the audible caller information to the subscriber unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer-usable memory storing software code for directing a computing device to retrieve from a predetermined caller information database textual caller information and to remove at least one irregular character and then convert the remaining textual caller information into caller information formatted according to a predetermined text-to-speech synthesis format.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer-usable memory storing software code for directing a computing device to retrieve from a predetermined caller information database textual caller information and to remove at least one irregular character and then convert the remaining textual caller information into caller information formatted according to a predetermined text-to-speech synthesis format.
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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) | 2005-06-03 | 2005-12-03 | 2006-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-03 | 2009-12-03 | 2010-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-03 | 2013-12-03 | 2014-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |