Electronic communications manager

0001ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Technical Field

0002This invention relates generally to user/network interface systems, and in particular, to the utilization of an integrated, electronic communications manager referred to as an Advanced Virtual Assistant ("AVA") for interfacing a user with both telephony and data networks.

0003Background of the Invention

0004The remote accessability of people and information is continually increasing. A person now has at his disposal many different communication devices, such as a telephone, cellular telephone, pager, facsimile, and e-mail. Likewise, the availability of general information such as financial data, business information, weather reports, and/or newspapers, as well as personal information such as a one's calendar or schedule, has grown tremendously. An advantage to the increasing diversity of communication devices is that the person now has the possibility of greater mobility as well as different mediums for receiving information. However, the increased number of communication devices, coupled with the increased availability of information, makes providing a desired portion of information to one of the communication devices more and more difficult. In fact, often a full-time personal assistant is required to successfully connect to the desired information to the communication device. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford a personal assistant, nor are most personal assistants available around the clock.

0005In addition to the increasing diversity of communication devices, there is an increasing diversity of communication paths. Traditionally, for two people to talk on their telephones, they had to use a long distance provider in the public switched telephone network. However, there are now alternative communication paths that have specific benefits that make them desirable alternatives to the long distance provider. For example, two people may talk to each other over the internet. Although the "grade" of service is not as reliable as from the long distance providers, the cost is very low. It is difficult, however, to switch ones telephone from one communication path to another, such that most people simply use the long distance provider, even though at times, the higher grade of service provided is nonessential. Therefore, what is needed is an electronic communications manager that can provide all the benefits of a personal assistant without the extra cost or working hour limitations.

0006In addition, what is needed is an electronic communications manager that provides a selectable grade of communication service by providing easy access to multiple communication paths. Summary of the Invention

0007In response to such difficulties, a technical advance is achieved by providing an integrated, electronic communications manager, hereinafter referred to as an Advanced Virtual Assistant ("AVA"), that provides an intelligent interface between a user and a data network and/or a telephone network. The user may communicate with the AVA using one or more types of communication devices. The data network, which may include an internet or intranet, one or more databases, and applications such as a universal mailbox, schedules, and/or calendars, is connectible to at least one information provider, such as, for example, an investment/ financial data tracking service.

0008The AVA can receive and interpret voice, such as those received from the user using a telephone, as well as data, such as those received from the user using a computer. Likewise, the AVA can provide voice, such as would be necessary for interacting with the user via a telephone, and can provide data, such as would be necessary for interacting with the user via a pager. Furthermore, the AVA can send internet protocol to and receive internet protocol from an information provider. As a result, the voice spoken by the user and directed to the information provider are translated by the AVA into data for transmission to the information provider. In addition, the information provider can make responsive data available in reply to the user's voice, which data is appropriately translated by the AVA for communication to the user.

0009In another embodiment, the AVA also enables the user to select whether to connect to a second person via a telephone network or a data network. In this case, both the telephone network and the data network are connectible to the second person. Since the telephone network and the data network provide different "grades" of communication service, the AVA thus enables the user to select between the different grades.

0010A technical advantage achieved with the invention is that the AVA can provide all the benefits of a personal assistant without the extra cost or working hour limitations.

0011Another technical advantage achieved with the invention is that a significant reduction in communications cost is achieved through use of a selectable grade of communication service, including voice-over internet. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 illustrates a communication network employing one embodiment of an AVA of the present invention. Description of the Preferred Embodiment

0012Referring to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 10 designates a communication network including both a public switched telephone network ("PSTN") 11a and a data network ("I-NET") lib. The I-NET lib represents one or more intranets and/or internets. Connected to the PSTN 11a are two switches 12, 14. For the sake of example, each of the switches 12, 14, is shown in Fig. 1 as comprising a single network switch. It is understood, however, that the switches 12, 14, may comprise any type of switch, such as a private branch exchange (PBX) switch or a long distance carrier switch. Therefore, any type of line/trunk determination illustrated or described herein is for the sake of example, and is not intended to limit the invention.

0013The switch 12 enables a first user ("USER1") to interface with the PSTN 11a and I-NET lib using one or more of a variety of communication devices, including, for example, a cellular phone 16, a telephone 18, a pager 20, a computer or information appliance (generically referred to as a "PC") 22, and a facsimile machine 24. In addition, the telephone 18 is further connected to a voice-mail system (not shown). It is understood that each of the communication devices may interface with the switch 12 with many different communication links, such as a wireless/cellular link for the cellular phone 16 and the pager 20, a telephone line for the telephone 18 and the facsimile machine 24, and a data link for the personal computer 22. Therefore, accommodation of many different types of communication devices and corresponding communication links is anticipated.

0014Similarly, switch 14 enables a second user ("USER2") to interface with the PSTN 11a and I-NET lib using a variety of communication devices including, for example, a telephone 26 and a PC 28. The PC 28 is connected to a voice-over internet protocol device ("V/IP") 30 for transmitting data packets between the I-NET lib and the PC 28.

0015Connected to the switch 12 is an Advanced Virtual Assistant ("AVA") 40, which serves as an integrated, electronic communications manager between USER1 and the I-NET lib as described in greater detail below. In the preferred embodiment, the AVA 40 is an adjunct to the switch 12 and therefore also includes several T-l trunk interface cards (not shown). However, it is understood that the AVA 40 may be incorporated into the switch 12 itself or may be associated with another switch (also not shown). The AVA 40 includes a V/IP 42, an automatic speech recognition device ("ASR") 44, a text-to-speech device ("TTS") 46, a controller 48 and a storage device 50.

0016Also connected to the I-NET lib are three information providers 60, 62, 64, and a V/IP 66. Although each of the information providers 60, 62, 64, may be one of any number of different types of information providers, for the sake of example it will be assumed that the provider 60 is a financial information provider, the provider 62 is a concierge information provider, and the provider 64 is a local area network (LAN) information provider that is also connected to the PC 22. The V/IP 66 connects the I-NET lib to the switch 14. It should be recognized that the V/IP 66 and the V/IP 30 overlap somewhat in their functionality, and therefore either or both may be provided in the communications system 10.

0017The method in which the AVA 40 communicates with USER1 depends on the communication device 16, 18, 20, 22, and/or 24 being used. For example, USER1, using the telephone 18, can provide voice, which the AVA 40 interprets using the ASR 44 and provides to the controller 48. Likewise, the AVA 40 can signal USER1 with voice prompts by using the TTS 46 or pre-recorded voice clips, with pager messages by using an external paging system (not shown), e- mail, voice mail, video-mail, facsimiles, or other types of messages. In addition, the AVA 40 may communicate with USERl through a web page (also not shown) and may supply video clips to the PC 22. As a result, the AVA 40 serves as a media cross-translator by interpreting information provided in one format (e.g., voice) to a totally different format (e.g., data). Furthermore, the AVA 40 can serve as a video interactive voice response unit. It is understood that descriptions of voice and data are merely exemplary of many types of formats including video, text, control codes, DTMF tones, serial bit streams, wireless signals, and other types of communications. USERl may interact with the I-NET lib, and hence the information providers 60, 62, 64, through the ASR 44 using, for example, speech recognition, or through the controller 48, for example, via USERl's PC 22 directly through the web page. The V/IP 42 also enables USERl and USER2 to verbally communicate via the I-NET lib. The AVA 40 thereby provides several benefits, two of which are media cross-translation between USERl and the information providers, and a selectable grade of service between USERl and USER2, both described in greater detail below. I. Advanced Information Access

0018The controller 48 maintains a profile for USERl in the storage device 50. The profile includes voice prints for use by the ASR 44 for voice identification and verification, account numbers for use with the various information providers, preferences such as airline seat preferences or favorite pizza restaurant, and speed dials, including grade of service selection. The profile also includes a schedule that describes the accessibility of USERl. The schedule may contain working hours in which USERl is accepting calls at work, home hours in which USERl is accepting calls at home and off-hours when calls should be directed to voice-mail.

0019To better explain how the controller 48 uses the profile to interact with the information providers 60, 62, 64, the following scenarios are helpful. A. Financial Information Provider 60

0020USERl, using the telephone 22, wants to be informed of certain financial information. The financial information provider 60 is a service, accessible through the I-NET lib, that can report the financial information, as described in Table 1, below.

0021Table 1: Access to Financial Services

0022Action: USERl dials the AVA 40 and hears ringing.

0023Action: AVA 40 answers the ringing line and speaks to USERl using a prerecorded voice clip.

0024AVA 40: "Good morning and thank you for calling AVA, your Advanced Virtual Assistant for Financial Services. Please enter (or say) your social security number and state your name."

0025USERl: "123-45-6789, David May"

0026Action: AVA 40 verifies the account number and name, as interpreted by the ASR 44. Alternatively, AVA 40 may simply require USERl to state only his name, and then verify the account information through voice identification I verification procedures. AVA 40 speaks to USERl using the TTS 46 or voice clips.

0027AVA 40: "Thank you David May. Would you like to make a trade, get information or update your preferences?"

0028USERl: "Uh, I guess I want to update my preferences."

0029AVA 40: "Which preference would you like to update?"

0030USERl: "Change my notification preferences."

0031AVA 40: "Would you like to be notified when there is significant market movement in your portfolio?"

0032USERl: "Yes, I would."

0033AVA 40: "Under what conditions would you like to be notified?"

0034USERl: "When there is movement of 20%."

0035AVA 40: "Over what period of time?"

0036USERl: "Good question. Over a two day period."

0037AVA 40: "How would you like to be notified?"

0038USERl: "Notify me via my pager."

0039AVA 40: "Would you also like to be notified of related news stories of companies in your portfolio."

0040<img file="WO9857501A2_D0001.tif" /> 5. onc erge In ormat on Service 62

0041USERl, using the telephone 22 wants to purchase an item. The Concierge Information Service 62 is a service, accessible through the I-NET lib, that can provide the requested item, as described in Tables 2 and 3, below.

0042Table 2: Access to Concierge Services, part 1

0043Action: USERl dials the AVA 40 and hears ringing.

0044Action: AVA 40 answers the ringing line and speaks to USERl using a prerecorded voice clip. <img file="WO9857501A2_D0002.tif" />

0045<img file="WO9857501A2_D0003.tif" />

0046Table 3: Access to Concierge Services, part 2

0047<img file="WO9857501A2_D0004.tif" />

0048<img file="WO9857501A2_D0005.tif" /> n ormat on erv ce 64

0049USERl, using the telephone 22, wants to access the PC 22. Although not shown, the LAN Information Service 64 is connected to the PC 22, as well as to USERl's e-mail, voice mail, and other services. Two examples are shown in Tables 4 and 5.

0050Table 4: Access to PC 22

0051<img file="WO9857501A2_D0006.tif" />

0052<img file="WO9857501A2_D0007.tif" />

0053<img file="WO9857501A2_D0008.tif" /><img file="WO9857501A2_D0009.tif" /> Action: AVA 40 retrieves the recorded voice-mails, logs-in to USERl 's voice mail system, and publishes the voice mail message to the appropriate recipients.

0054The controller 48 for the AVA 40 also uses artificial intelligence programming to adapt its interface with USERl. Therefore, AVA 40 can learn from previous interactions with USERl. Considering the concierge information service example of Table 2, AVA 40 can store USERl's pizza preference in USERl's profile, therefore, the next time USERl uses the Concierge Information Service 62, the interaction may be as described below in Table 5.

0055Table 6: Access to Concierge Services, part 3

0056Action: USERl dials the AVA 40 and hears ringing.

0057Action: AVA 40 answers the ringing line and speaks to USERl using a prerecorded voice clip.

0058AVA 40: "Good morning and thank you for calling AVA, your Advanced Virtual Assistant for Concierge Services. Please enter your social security number and state your name."

0059USERl: "123-45-6789, Brian Thompson"

0060Action: AVA 4 verifies the account number and name, as interpreted by the ASR 44. Alternatively, AVA 40 may simply require USERl to state only his name, and then determine and verify the account information through voice identification I verification procedures.

0061Action: AVA 40 speaks to USERl using the TTS 46.

0062AVA 40: "Thank you Brian Thompson. How may I help you?"

0063USERl: "I want to order a pizza."

0064AVA 40: "How about a large pepperoni pizza delivered by Domino's Pizza?"

0065USERl: "Sounds great."

0066Action: AVA 40 contacts Domino's Pizza, either through the web page, e- mail, facsimile, or direct voice communication. AVA then updates USERl 's profile. AVA 40: "Thank you Mr. Thompson. It was a pleasure to serve you. I'm AVA. Your Advanced Virtual Assistant for Concierge Services."

0067Action: USERl goes on- hook.

0068It is understood that the information providers described above, as well as the scenarios associated therewith, are merely representative of many different applications. II. Selectable Grade of Service

0069The AVA 40 also provides a selectable grade of service for connecting USERl to USER2 by enabling USERl to select a communication path therebetween. Examples of this are described below in Tables 7-9.

0070Table 7: Selection of Grade of Service, part 1

0071<img file="WO9857501A2_D0010.tif" />

0072<img file="WO9857501A2_D0011.tif" /> a e 8: eecton o ra e o ervce, part 2

0073<img file="WO9857501A2_D0012.tif" />

0074<img file="WO9857501A2_D0013.tif" />

0075Ta e 9: eecton o ra e o ervce, part 3

0076<img file="WO9857501A2_D0014.tif" />

0077Although illustrative em o iments of the invention ave een s own an described, other modifications, changes, and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure. For example, dual tone multi-frequency ("DTMF") as well as computer instructions may be additionally used to interface with the AVA 40. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.