Abstract:
A system and method to enable a wide user community to be universally networked in voice communication. Server/IVR  100  receives voice communications from users employing a variety of device types, primarily computers and telephones. These voice communications may be in either asynchronous format, incoming from data grade networks such as the Internet  140 , or synchronous format, incoming from standard telephony networks such as SPN  109 . Server/IVR  100  functionality seamlessly integrates these voice communications and provides point-to-point, conferenced or broadcast connections of multiple users regardless of user device or asynchronous/synchronous connection format. Server/IVR  100  may also selectively call up automated speech resources (“robots”) to be placed in voice communication with users.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to telecommunications systems, and more specifically to an interactive information transaction processing system in which remote computer users communicating by voice over asynchronous Internet-type connections may be seamlessly networked with remote telephone users communicating by voice over synchronous telephony connections in point-to-point, conferencing and broadcast environments. Users may also be networked with automated speech resources (“robots”). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There has been a dramatic increase in recent years of the availability of public digital grade networks, such as the World Wide Web (“WWW”) on the Internet, to exchange information in voice format. Applications have been generally limited so far, however, to specific preselected person-to-person conversations, however, like an “Internet phone.” 
     Numerous new and useful applications would become possible, however, if full duplex asynchronous voice conversations, such as may be exchanged over the WWW, could be seamlessly integrated with synchronous conversations, such as may be exchanged over the Switched Public Network (“SPN”) and other more traditional voice-carrying networks. In this way, a very wide user community would become immediately voice-networked, since multiple devices (primarily telephones and computers) would potentially be supported at the same time to facilitate, for example, point-to-point communications, or multi-party broadcasts, or multi-party conferences. 
     Such connectivity would readily address needs in the art such as allowing a WWW user (with full duplex asynchronous voice capability) to be selectively connected to a live agent who was also serving synchronously-connected remote users. 
     For example, a WWW user might be accessing a website offering catalog-type merchandise and receiving automated voice messages that describe the products and facilitate purchase thereof. Advantageously, these automated voice messages would be available in parallel with traditional visual functionality accessible through standard web browser technology. This session would be immediately enhanced if the user could selectively call up a live agent to intervene. Alternatively, the user might want to go directly to the live agent and bypass automated speech functionality. At the point when intervention by a live operation was desired, it would be useful if the user could call the agent up by means known in the art, such as clicking a mouse on a specific screen zone, or saying “operator.” 
     It would then be extremely useful if the live agent could also serve synchronously-connected remote users, as well as asynchronously-connected remote users calling in from the Internet. In this way, for example, live agents could be drawn from a pool also available to other users over standard telephony connections. 
     Further, it would be useful if the remote Internet user could also be directed to a live agent physically distant from the website or agent pool. In this way, a remote specialist (such as a loan officer in the bank website example) could be called in occasionally to answer very specific questions, while routine business was being handled by general agents. 
     In an alternate example, it would be useful if multiple remote users communicating through computer voice functionality over, for example, the Internet, could be conferenced with multiple remote users communicating through standard synchronous telephony links. Large scale conference calls would be facilitated, such as for “electronic town hall meetings”. Alternatively, a feed from the conference could be sent to be broadcast, thereby enabling wide audience participation in a radio talk show. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     At its broadest conceptual level, the present invention comprises server and Interactive Voice Response (“IVR”) functionality that receives and selectively interconnects incoming voice communications. These communications may be either asynchronously or synchronously disposed, and selective interconnection may be made regardless of the user device type through which the user is communicating. 
     The IVR side of the server/IVR functionality enables interconnection of the various communications through switching. The IVR functionality further interprets communications received over asynchronous connections (such as via the Internet) to be understandable to users connected over synchronous connections (such as via the SPN), and vice versa. 
     Server architecture and functionality is provided according to the types of users and connections served. For example, an HTTP server will typically be required to serve Internet users communicating through WWW browsers currently known in the art. Other types of servers may be required to serve other asynchronous connections. Alternatively, a Private Branch Exchange (“PBX”) or Automated Call Distributor (“ACD”) may be used to serve multiple synchronous connections. 
     In a presently preferred embodiment, the IVR may be an automated voice resource known in the art, such as InterVoice&#39;s “Onevoice” platform. Ports on the IVR receive individual communications, and resources in the IVR perform processing to make communications in one format (e.g. asynchronous) understandable to communications in other formats (e.g. synchronous) Robot resources in the IVR also allow programmable automated speech to be communicated to users connected thereto. Further, switching in the IVR enables point-to-point connections or multi-party conferencing as required. 
     It will be understood that consistent with the present invention, the IVR may be either collocated with the server, or distant therefrom. When separated, however, server/IVR connections are required suitable to serve the type of communications being provided to the IVR by the server. 
     It will be further understood that to take advantage of the present invention, a computer user typically requires a multimedia-grade computer, including speakers, sound card, microphone and full duplex voice-enabling software. Alternatively, the computer user may use a lower capability computer in combination with a traditional telephone. 
     The present invention thus provides capability for an Internet-connected user to selectively call up a live agent to intervene. The live agent may communicate with user regardless of whether the agent&#39;s connection is an asynchronous or synchronous link. 
     It will be seen that the live agent may reside either locally or remotely from the website and/or IVR. The IVR may connect the user to live agent in voice communication over another asynchronous link. Alternatively, the IVE may place a synchronous telephony call to a live agent through Private Branch Exchange (“PBX”) or Automated Call Distribution (ACD”) switching to enable a local connection, or through the Switched Public Network (“SPN”) to enable a remote connection. In this way, for example, the IVR may place the call, responsive to the instructions of the user, to either a general agent resident locally, or a specialist agent resident remotely. 
     It is therefore a technical advantage of the present invention to enable a wide user community to be in voice communication. In achieving this advantage, the present invention enables seamless connectivity of multiple types of user device over both synchronous and asynchronous connections. This connectivity is further disposed to be point-to-point, conferenced or broadcast. 
     It is a further technical advantage of the present invention to enable remote users connected to an IVR over a digital network, such as the Internet, to selectively call up intervention by a live agent and then engage in full duplex voice communication with that agent, regardless of whether that agent is connected to the IVR by synchronous or asynchronous links. Such a connection to a live agent through standard synchronous telephony links may thus be enabled by architecture, such as PBX or ACD systems, or over the SPN. In this way, agents may be called in from a pool also available to other users communicating by traditional synchronous telephone terminals. 
     It is a still further technical advantage of the present invention for the IVR to enable, in addition to point-to-point connections, multi-party conferencing between asynchronously-connected and synchronously-connected parties. In this way, large conference calls may be enabled, or a feed from the conference may be broadcast to facilitate a radio talk show. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 depicts a functional block diagram illustrating universal communication according to the present invention between synchronously-connected and asynchronously-connected parties as enabled by server/IVR  100 ; and 
     FIG. 2 depicts a functional block diagram illustrating exemplary architecture and topology of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a World Wide Web (“WWW”) user may call up a live agent disposed to serve both synchronously- and asynchronously-connected remote users. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning first to FIG. 1, a functional block diagram illustrates the concept of the present invention. Server/IVR  100  is the focal component, and interconnects various originating and terminating parties. 
     Server/IVR  100  is a combination of server functionality and IVR functionality that may be embodied in various forms. As described in earlier sections, an IVR receives voice communications from all connecting parties regardless of whether disposed to be transmitted along asynchronous or synchronous links. A suitable IVR to fulfill this function is InterVoice&#39;s “Onevoice” platform. The IVR also provides switching and conferencing functionality to enable interconnection of any received communications as required. Further, the IVR advantageously provides automated speech functionality so that recorded messages may also be selectively introduced into voice communications, as controlled by the IVR. The IVR also provides processing that enables both asynchronously- and synchronously-connected parties to participate in full voice duplex exchanges. 
     Server functionality at Server/IVR  100  complements the above described IVR functionality to enable non-voice communication, where supported (such as in computers and televisions), to continue alongside the voice communication. For example, a user in voice communication through a multimedia PC will typically have been previously required to log on to some kind of resource for voice communication to be initiated. Over the Internet, this resource might be a website. The server side of Server/IVR  100 , acting as this resource, directs voice communications received through the PC back and forth to the IVR. Further, when supported by the server functionality and the remote PC, the server side may advantageously allow the remote PC user to continue non-voice interactivity with the website while voice communication is being directed to and from the IVR. 
     Consistent with the present invention, Server/IVR  100  may comprise separate server(s) and IVR(s) integrated together, either locally or remotely, or collocated in one box. It will be understood that Server/IVR  100  may also operate in combination with separate host control processing and/or archival data on mass storage devices. 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, multimedia-grade PCs  101 A and  101 B are connected to Server/IVR  100  and equipped to enable full voice duplex communication over asynchronous connections  160 A. Typically, PCs  101 A and  101 B will comprise speakers, a microphone, sound card, and software enabling voice duplex communication. In the case of PC  101 A, connection to Server/IVR  100  is via the Internet or another data grade Wide Area Network (“WAN”)  140 . In the case of PC  101 B, connection to Server/lVR  100  is via direct asynchronous connection, or possibly a Local Area Network (“LAN”) (not illustrated). In this way, any user of a suitably equipped PC connected to the Internet, or another WAN, or a particular LAN, may come into full duplex voice communication with Server/IVR  100 . At the same time, non-voice communication (such as visual displays) may also continue on the user&#39;s multimedia PC. 
     Telephones  110 A and  110 B are also connected to Server/IVR  100 . In this case, however, it will be understood that telephones  110 A and  110 B are linked to Server/IVR  100  over synchronous connections  160 S. Telephone  110 A is connected to Server/IVR  100  via Switched Public Network (“SPN”)  109 . In this way, any user of a telephone attached to the SPN may come into duplex voice communication with Server/IVR  100 . Further, telephone  110 B is connected to Server/IVR  100  via Private Branch Exchange (“PBX”) or Automated Call Distribution (“ACD”) functionality  106 . In this way, standard telephony users in agent pools or other resources local to Server/IVR  100  may become connected. 
     With further reference to FIG. 1, PC/telephone combinations  150 A,  150 B and  150 C reflect connectivity to Server/IVR  100  that enables users of lower capability PCs to have duplex voice communication with Server/IVR  100  via telephone as well as non-voice communication through the PC. In this way, interaction similar to that available to multimedia-grade PCs  101 A and  101 B becomes available. In PC/telephone combination  150 A, remote users connect their PCs via Internet/other WAN  140  to Server/IVR  100 , and their telephones via SPN  109 . In combination  150 B, closer users connect their PCs via Internet/other WAN  140  and their telephones via PBX/ACD functionality  106 . In combination  150 C, local users connect their PCs to Server/IVR  100  directly, or by LAN (not illustrated), and their telephones by PBX/ACD functionality  106 . It will be seen from FIG. 1 that appropriate asynchronous connections  160 A and synchronous connections  160 S are required according to the user device connected. 
     As described above, Server/IVR  100  thus enables interconnection and intercommunication of any originating or terminating party connected to Server/IVR  100 . Both telephone and computer user devices are supported. The IVR side of Server/IVR  100  enables asynchronous/synchronous translation where required, as well as switching to enable point-to-point connection, conferencing, or broadcast as required. The server side of Server/IVR  100  feeds asynchronous voice signals to the IVR as required, and advantageously also enables non-voice interactivity with websites and other similar server-controlled resources while voice communication through the IVR is in progress. 
     Although not illustrated, it will be understood that consistent with the present invention, other user devices may also be supported to enable a wider user community to become networked through Server/IVR  100 . For example, instead of a limited capability PC, a cable television could also be used in combination with a telephone to combine simultaneous voice and non-voice communication. The lines connecting the cable television to Server/IVR  100  may be synchronous or asynchronous as required by the cable television. Other formats of voice and non/voice communication may also be connected. 
     A wide range of embodiments becomes available for the foregoing interconnectivity and intercommunication. In a first embodiment (described in greater detail below with reference to FIG.  2 ), PC users doing business on the Internet or other WANs may receive customer service from an agent pool through the Internet/WAN connection, where that agent pool is also disposed to serve non-Internet/WAN users at the same time. 
     Alternatively, in a second embodiment, Server/IVR  100  may bring together a multi-party conference, drawing participants from a large user community using various user devices connected through diverse links. A controller at Server/IVR  100  may moderate the conference. Such a conference has applications in large investor meetings for corporations or “electronic town hall” meetings where it may be desirable for many parties to listen, but only selected parties to speak. Further, non-voice signals in the communications, such as DTMF, or a particular keyboard or mouse click sequence, may be received from parties at Server/IVR  100  and counted as “votes.” 
     Alternatively., in a third embodiment, a feed from Server/IVR  100  may be routed to be broadcast over radio, television or other mass medium. An application of this would be a radio talk show. In this way, an even wider user community could hear voice communications conferenced by Server/IVR  100  over the mass medium, although only those calling in by computer or telephone would get to speak. Again, a moderator would control the conference at Server/IVR  100 . 
     With reference now to FIG. 2, the first embodiment as described briefly above will now be described in detail. System  10  comprises a remote user&#39;s PC  101 , advantageously a desktop multimedia PC with speakers, a sound card and a microphone, running a full duplex voice-enabled web browser, standard in the art, and connected to World Wide Web (“WWW”)  102 . PC  101 &#39;s connection to WWW  102  will be understood to be a standard Internet connection  111  known in the art, such as provided by many existing Internet service providers (“ISPs”). Connection  111  may be by any means, such as dial-up or dedicated link, so long as the data transfer capability of Internet connection  111  supports full duplex voice. 
     WWW  102  in turn is connected to HTTP server  103  via a further Internet access connection  112  standard in the art. Interactive Voice Response unit (“IVR”)  104  is connected to HTTP server  103  via TCP/IP link  115 . IVR  104  is an automated voice resource known in the art, such as InterVoice&#39;s “Onevoice” platform. With reference back to FIG. 1, HTTP server  103  and IVR  104  provide the general Server/IVR  100  functionality required to enable this particular embodiment. As noted above, however, Server/IVR  100  may comprise other combinations of server, IVR, and/or interconnecting architecture within the scope of the present invention in fulfilling Server/IVR  100  functionality appropriate to other embodiments. 
     Referring again to FIG. 2, it will thus be seen that the user of PC  101  may now exchange full duplex voice information with IVR  104 . For example, the owner of HTTP server  103  may be a financial institution, such as a bank. Upon connection over WWW  102  to HTTP server  103 , the user will typically be presented with a suite of interrelated web pages, such as is standard in the art. Among the options in this suite selectable by the user of PC  101  is the facility to obtain account balance information in voice as well as visual format. The user selects this option and is connected to IVR  104 . IVR  104  then interacts with the user, in automated mode, exchanging information with the user responsive to the user&#39;s instructions 
     For example, IVR  104  may greet the user with a statement such as “Welcome to First Bank&#39;s automated voice teller. Please say your account number.” The user then says her account number, which IVR  104  receives, interprets, and verifies advantageously with reference to information stored on host  121 . The connection  120  between host  121  and IVR  104  may be by either net, or bus, or any other similar means known in the art. The transaction typically is enabled by HTTP server  103  issuing a CGI command via TCP/IP link  115  to IVR  104 . IVR  104  then requests information or enables processing at host  121 , which sends responsive information back to IVR  104 . The information is formatted by HTTP server  103  and sent back to the user via WWW  102 , advantageously including an additional automated voice message. 
     A further exchange between the user and IVR  104  may then occur to validate a PIN number, the PIN again solicited by IVR  104  and spoken back by the user in full voice duplex format. Assuming the user is authorized, IVR  104  then solicits the next action, to which the user may say “account balance.” Again with reference to information stored on host  121 , IVR  104  plays back to the user a voice response such as “As of January 31, your account balance was nine-hundred sixty-two dollars and fifteen cents.” 
     It will be appreciated that consistent with the present invention, many similar transactions between the user and IVR  104  may be accomplished in automated mode, and in full voice duplex format. Further, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not at all limited to the exemplary application of a bank teller as described above. It will be seen that the exchange of information between the user and IVR  104 , in automated mode and in full voice duplex format, has many applications whenever a user desires to exchange information remotely with a data resource. 
     Let it now be assumed that during an automated session with IVR  104  as described above, the user needs the help of a live agent. With reference again to FIG. 2, three alternatives are illustrated by which such a live agent may be disposed to intervene. 
     Premise-based PC  105  is another multimedia-capability PC with speakers, a sound card, a microphone and a full duplex voice-enabled web browser, compatible to converse with user&#39;s PC  101 . A live agent attends premise-based PC  105 , and is connected to HTTP server  103  via TCP/IP link  113 . It will be understood that when the user desires to speak with a live agent, she may enable the connection by, for example, “clicking” her mouse on a predetermined zone on the screen. At this point, HTTP server  103  redirects the user to premise-based PC  105 . 
     Alternatively, the voice portion of the user&#39;s communication with a live agent may be directed by HTTP server  103  and IVR  104  through to telephone terminal  107 . This connection may be made through telephone lines and switching standard in the art, advantageously as controlled by a Private Branch Exchange (“PBX”) or Automated Call Distribution (“ACD”) resources  106 . In this alternative, it will be understood that IVR  104  acts as an interface between the requirements of the TCP/IP link  115  and standard telephone lines  116  and  117 . TCP/IP is a packetized protocol for asynchronous transfer of digital information over networks such as the Internet. To enable the interface to connect to standard telephone lines  116  or  117 , IVR  104  places a standard telephone call and then converts the packetized voice data exchanged over TCP/IP link  115  into an established synchronous conversation format accepted by telephony architecture standard in the art. It should be further noted that the agent at telephone terminal  107  is also advantageously assisted by standard PC  108 , connected to HTTP server  103  to receive non-audio information through a further TCP/IP link  114 . 
     A further advantage of routing the voice portion of the communication through IVR  104  and PBX/ACD resources  106  is that three-way conferencing between the user, the agent, and automated functions in IVR  104  now becomes possible. Such automated functions include IVR  104  being disposed to play messages that may be heard and discussed by both live parties, or IVR  104  disposed to record both sides of the live conversation. This type of three-way conferencing may be enabled at IVR  104 , in combination with host  121 , using switching and conference bridge technology standard in the art. 
     A third alternative to enable agent intervention is to connect a remote agent at telephone terminal  110  via switched public network (“SPN”)  109 . Again, this connection is made by switching through conventional telephone lines  118  and  119 , taking advantage of telephony architecture standard in the art. An example of use of telephone terminal  110  might be if it becomes desirable for the user to be connected to a specialist, such as a manager or a loan officer in the bank example. In this case, IVR  104  would switch the user&#39;s communication over SPN  109  directly through to the specific person desired. As illustrated, the desired person may not always have the facility to be computer-connected to the conversation. Communication may continue adequately, however, in voice mode only, again optionally with the advantage of three-way conferencing resources that may be included in IVR  104 &#39;s automated functions. 
     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.