Patent ID: 7062018
Filing Date: 2006-06-13
Classification: G10L,H04M,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for providing automated directory assistance, comprising: initiating a multi-stage directory assistance dialog with a user; prompting the user for a directory assistance utterance in accordance with a current stage of the multi-stage dialog; recording a user utterance in response to the prompt; gathering one or more directory assistance search parameters from the user utterance; determining whether a user directory assistance query may be completed based on gathered directory assistance search parameters; repeating the prompting operation until either the user directory assistance query may be completed or a determination that a user utterance satisfies an error condition; displaying gathered directory assistance search parameters on an operator terminal and forwarding one or more recorded user utterances to an operator for playback in response to a failure to obtain the directory assistance search parameters needed to complete the user directory assistance query; determining whether a particular user utterance received prior to a user utterance satisfying an error condition is a generic utterance or a non-generic utterance; if the particular user utterance is a non-generic utterance, playing the particular user utterance for the operator; and if the particular user utterance is a generic utterance, not playing the particular user utterance for the operator.