US4785408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for generating computer-controlled interactive voice services
Assignee: Avaya Technology LLC
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Filing: 1985-03-11
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Granted: 1988-11-15
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Expires: 2005-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A user-application program for computerized telephone ordering is generatedy a system designer who selects and interconnects pre-defined program modules and subroutines using a graphics terminal. The application program allows TOUCH-TONE input data and voice response. The present invention describes a Dialog Production System (DPS) for generating application programs for instructing a computer-controlled voice response system to provide computer-controlled voice services. The DPS includes interaction modules, each defining a basic end-user transaction which can be performed by the system, and methods for specifying module interconnection. Each interaction module controls the intercommunications with other modules and controls the devices which interface to the system. To design a dialog program to implement the desired voice service the system designer uses a graphic terminal to select and interconnect the modules to define the sequence of transactions needed to implement the desired voice service.
Inventors
- 👤 James T. Britton
- 👤 Lorraine Figueroa
- 👤 John F. Patterson
- 👤 Robert I. Rosenthal
- 👤 Richard R. Rosinski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:04
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F17/00; H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/487; H04M3/493; G06F3/00; G06F3/16; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/35; H04M2203/355; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S379/00; Y10S379/909; Y10S379/914; Y10S379/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of enabling a system designer to generate a dialog application program for instructing a computer controlled voice response system for providing a user interactive voice service, said method comprising the steps of: selecting two or more interaction program modules from a group of predefined interaction program modules, each program module including one or more system designer selectable parameters for further defining a particular user transaction function to be performed by said program module and specifying the logical interconnection of said selected two or more program modules to generate said application program to provide said user interactive voice service.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of enabling a system designer to generate a dialog application program for instructing a computer controlled voice response system for providing a user interactive voice service, said method comprising the steps of: selecting two or more interaction program modules from a group of predefined interaction program modules, each program module including one or more system designer selectable parameters for further defining a particular user transaction function to be performed by said program module and specifying the logical interconnection of said selected two or more program modules to generate said application program to provide said user interactive voice service.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said program module selecting step includes the step of further selecting each of said program modules from a group including: an execution module for controlling interactions between a user and said system and a control module for specifying conditional functions to be performed by said program.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said further selecting step includes choosing said execution module from a group of modules including: a. prompt and collect module for playing an announcement to said user and collects digits entered by said user; b. call attendant module for signaling attendant to handle the user transaction; c. announcement module for playing a predetermined announcement to user; d. record voice module for enabling user to leave a voice message; e. play voice module for playing the prerecorded user voice message; and f. data exchange module to get data specified by user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said further selecting step includes choosing said control module from a group of modules including: a. branch module for branching one of several branches of said dialog program depending on the input from the user; b. switch module for branching to one of several paths depending on predetermined information from said system; c. loop module for repeating a sequence a predetermined number of times; and d. match module for comparing two data strings and branches based on the outcome of the comparison.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 including the steps of: editing an existing application program using said module selecting step and said interconnection specifying step running said application program generated during said editing step to simulate the operation thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 5 further including an installing step to install said application program in an associated communication system to operate voiceware equipment in said communication system under control of the associated control module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further including tutoring step for training a system designer in the method of generating said application program.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said module selecting step includes the step of: identifying a prompt or announcement signal to be outputted to a user in response to a user interaction with said application program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for enabling a system designer to generate a dialog application program for instructing a computer controlled values response system for providing a user interactive voice service, said apparatus comprising: a group of predefined interaction program module means, each program module means including two or more system designer selectable parameters for further defining a particular user transaction function to be performed by said program module means, means for selecting two or more program module means from said group of program module means and for selecting said parameters therein, and means for specifying the logical interconnection of said selected two or more program module means to generate said application program to provide said user interactive voice service.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for enabling a system designer to generate a dialog application program for instructing a computer controlled values response system for providing a user interactive voice service, said apparatus comprising: a group of predefined interaction program module means, each program module means including two or more system designer selectable parameters for further defining a particular user transaction function to be performed by said program module means, means for selecting two or more program module means from said group of program module means and for selecting said parameters therein, and means for specifying the logical interconnection of said selected two or more program module means to generate said application program to provide said user interactive voice service.
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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) | 1991-11-15 | 1992-05-16 | 1992-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-15 | 1996-05-16 | 1996-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-15 | 2000-05-16 | 2000-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |