Offline delivery of content available in voice applications

Methods and arrangements for facilitating offline delivery of content available in voice applications. User access to a voice application is permitted, and the user is accorded a capability to select content in the voice application for offline delivery. The selected content is stored in a holding arrangement, and the selected content is availed for delivery to the user.

BACKGROUND

The lack of internet access in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries, has given rise to voice applications with a capability for user-generated content. These permit a user to phone into a number and access voice application sites analogous to websites, yet controlled, delivered and administered via audio and voice. Voice application platforms and associated sites thus represent tremendous potential for utility, but unfortunately a range of versatility analogous to that offered via internet access has hitherto largely remained out of reach.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In summary, one aspect of the invention provides a method comprising: permitting user access to a voice application; according the user a capability to select content in the voice application for offline delivery; storing the selected content in a holding arrangement; and availing the selected content for delivery to the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description now turns to the figures. The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the figures. The following description is intended only by way of example and simply illustrates certain selected exemplary embodiments of the invention as claimed herein.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a schematic of an example of a cloud computing node is shown. Cloud computing node10is only one example of a suitable cloud computing node and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the invention described herein. Regardless, cloud computing node10is capable of being implemented and/or performing any of the functionality set forth hereinabove. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, computing node10may not necessarily even be part of a cloud network but instead could be part of another type of distributed or other network, or could represent a stand-alone node. For the purposes of discussion and illustration, however, node10is variously referred to herein as a “cloud computing node”.

Program/utility40, having a set (at least one) of program modules42, may be stored in memory28by way of example, and not limitation, as well as an operating system, at least one application program, other program modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, at least one application program, other program modules, and program data or some combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networking environment. Program modules42generally carry out the functions and/or methodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein.

Computer system/server12may also communicate with at least one external device14such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display24, etc.; at least one device that enable a user to interact with computer system/server12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enable computer system/server12to communicate with at least one other computing device. Such communication can occur via I/O interfaces22. Still yet, computer system/server12can communicate with at least one network such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) via network adapter20. As depicted, network adapter20communicates with the other components of computer system/server12via bus18. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardware and/or software components could be used in conjunction with computer system/server12. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

To facilitate easier reference, in advancing fromFIG. 2to and throughFIG. 3, a reference numeral is advanced by a multiple of 100 in indicating a substantially similar or analogous component or element with respect to at least one component or element found in at least one earlier figure amongFIGS. 2 and 3.

Generally, the creation of audio content continues to evolve for use in new applications. One such application is the World Wide Telecom Web (WWTW), also referred to as the ‘Telecom Web’ or the ‘Spoken Web.’ The Spoken Web is a network of VoiceSites hosted on the telecom network, wherein each voice site individually comprises a voice driven application. The Spoken Web system may be viewed as a telecom network parallel to the World Wide Web (WWW) that runs on the Internet infrastructure. VoiceSites are accessed by calling the number associated with the VoiceSite, called a VoiNumber. A VoiLink is used to link the various VoiceSites to one another. A VoiceSite may be created or updated through a voice driven interface, such that a program creator may create a VoiceSite or modify an existing VoiceSite using a cellular phone. The Spoken Web is an ideal solution for a large part of the world were the population does not have access to the devices necessary to access the Internet, but cellular phone penetration is high. As a result, the use of the Spoken Web and the number of VoiceSites continue to increase. Thus, the volume of audio content associated with the Spoken Web continues to steadily expand.

Generally, the World Wide Telecom Web and interconnected voice applications (VoiceSites) and can be accessed by any voice-capable (e.g., landline or cellular) telephone. In the course of an ordinary phone call, the user interacts with a service or other application through speech or DTMF (dual tone multi frequency, or the signal to the phone company that is generated when one presses the touch keys of a telephone, which can also be referred to as “touch tone” or “telephone touch tone”).

By way of further background in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, SWAF (Spoken Web Application Framework) can be used in creating VoiceSites. Background information on SWAF may be found in A. Kumar et al., “The Spoken Web Application Framework User Generated Content and Service Creation through low-end mobiles” in the 19th International World Wide Web Conference (co-located with the 2010 W4A Technical Conference).

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, in a voice application with a capability for user generated content (such as VoiceSites), there is broadly contemplated herein the employment of a content wallet, whereby a user may selectively designate information or data that can be reviewed offline.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, and as shown schematically inFIG. 2, a user202can have access to a voice application platform204(e.g., a Spoken Web network) and a variety of voice application sites206a/b/c/dthat form the core of the platform204. Each site206a/b/c/dcan be embodied as any suitable voice application site, such as an individual voice application site, an information portal or a business site.

In accordance with at least on embodiment of the invention, and as discussed hereabove, the platform204permits user202to create his/her own applications and content (e.g., in the form of sites206a/b/c/d) via audio interaction in a telephone call. The sites206a/b/c/dare thereafter accessible to user202and even possibly other users but, conventionally, any and all user generated content (UGC) associated therewith is not available offline. This has normally prevented a user202from effectively saving content in which he/she may be interested, e.g., for use at a later time. In other words, in conventional arrangements, any and all content generated on the platform204(e.g., sites206a/b/c/d) is accessible only when the user202makes a phone call, thus necessitating repeated calls to re-access any and all desired content.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, UGC is made available with a user's permission, and can be replicated in a content wallet that becomes available offline for the use of one or more users. As shown, during the time that user202(here designated as “User1”) uses platform204, he/she can designate certain audio items or data from at least one voice application site (here sites206aand206b) to be apportioned or copied into his/her own designated content wallet210aat a content wallet repository service208. Likewise, a “User2” can build his/her own content wallet210b(here, from site206c) as can other users up to and including n users (thus, as shown by way of another example, a “User n” can apportion content into his/her own wallet210cfrom sites such as206cand206d).

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, a suitable payment gateway212is available for charging a user at such a time that the user wishes to have his/her content wallet delivered, and to the extent that some or all of the content in the wallet might necessitate a charge for the user. (For instance, content originating from the user him/herself might not incur a charge, but content from other users, to the extent they permit it to be copied or downloaded, indeed might.) As shown, delivery may take place via any of a variety of suitable mechanisms. For instance, by way of one non-restrictive example, content can be availed to at least one web site216on the World Wide Web214, which user202can then conveniently download or at least avail (e.g., through a secure mechanism such a password-based portal). On the other hand, and particularly in a context where user202does not have or cannot access a computer (or, e.g., content-enabled mobile phone), an arrangement for media creation and ground delivery (218) can be provided. Here, audio content from the user's content wallet can be reproduced on media such as a compact disc and then be delivered to the user via an arrangement such as standard mail or a courier, etc.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, it can be appreciated that content is transmitted in three different stages. Indicated at220is content that user202deposits to at least one content wallet (at the repository service208) while interacting with voice application platform204. Content222, on the other hand, represents that content selected by user202for offline delivery (whether, e.g., via the World Wide Web214, a media creation arrangement218, or some other arrangement). Thence, content224represents that spoken web content that ultimately is delivered to the user202.

To elaborate further, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that a content wallet (210a/b/c) comprises a repository of content collected by a user202of a voice application platform204for offline delivery or later perusal. User202can continue to add content to a wallet (e.g.,210a) while browsing various voice application sites (e.g.,206a/b/c/d). In example embodiments, while adding content to a content wallet (e.g.,210a), the user202can annotate the content with spoken tags or in other suitable ways. Essentially, a wallet210a/b/cbelongs to or is associated with a particular user, wherein other users are not able to post content into that user's wallet. However, in accordance with a variant embodiment of the invention, a shared wallet is possible, wherein a fixed set of authorized users can deposit content into the shared wallet. Further, inasmuch as a shared wallet is not present, a user can still share content of interest with another user, e.g., by sending to the other user a link to such content.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, at essentially any point in time or at predetermined intervals (e.g., based on time increments or a predetermined accumulation of content), user202can request delivery (222,224) of the content for offline consumption. The content can be delivered in physical form (e.g., via a media creation arrangement218), such as CDs, audio tapes, USB (universal serial bus) sticks, or via soft copies (e.g., via World Wide Web214) such as MP3, email, MMS (multimedia messaging service), online file and content sharing accounts, or other analogous arrangements.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, delivered content (224) can be packaged with meta-information across several dimensions that include, for instance: an identifying name and number for the voice application site (from which the content derives); time at which the content was browsed and collected; and user-generated annotations including annotations from a requesting user as well as other users. If a charge for offline content delivery is involved, e.g., as applied by payment gateway212, then such charges could include: a charge for the media employed for content delivery; a wallet hosting fee; processing/packaging charges; charges for the content itself; and delivery charges.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, a content wallet (e.g.,210a) is specific to user202and applicable across different voice application sites (206a/b/c/d). In other words, as user202browses through different voice application sites (206a/b/c/d), he/she is able to collect and bookmark content that he/she is interested in. To that end, details regarding content that can be stored in a content wallet (e.g.,210a) can include: a voice application site identifier; the content URI (uniform resource identifier); and possibly a copy of the content itself.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, the life of a content wallet210a/b/ccan be represented by a single browsing session, or could persist across multiple browsing sessions. In other words, a content wallet210a/b/cmay be predetermined to be “complete”, and thus ready for delivery, once a browsing session is over, or could remain “open”, or available to receive additional content, after a browsing session is over.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, collection of content into a single one of the content wallets (e.g.,210a) involves providing support for content collection commands at every voice application site206a/b/c/d. Further, each voice application site206a/b/c/dcan have a capability for exposing standard voice commands in its interface to allow content wallet operations, or a mechanism such as a voice application platform browser (e.g., a Spoken Web browser) can be assumed. In other words, a voice application site206a/b/c/dwill either directly expose voice API for content wallet commands, or will expose programmatic API's for the same. In the latter instance, voice application platform204can expose a voice API and forwards such commands to a voice application site206a/b/c/dby invoking a corresponding programmatic API. In such a context, platform204becomes a main point of entry into the voice application in general, and remains active while the user202browses other sites. Commands intended for a content wallet210a/b/ccan be picked up by the platform204, which can then execute the corresponding content wallet API on the site206a/b/c/dbeing browsed.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, each voice application site206a/b/c/dsupports a mechanism to send content collection information (i.e., based on a user's selection) to repository service208. This functionality could also be embedded in platform middleware through the use of HSTP (hyper speech transfer protocol).

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, a content wallet repository service208offers application programming interfaces (API's) that are able to undertake at least the following steps with relation to individual content wallets210a/b/c:Register( )OpenBrowsingSession( )StoreContent (UserId, ContentDescription, authentication)BrowseContent( )DeliverContent (UserId, Description, Mode, authentication) [wherein “Mode” can represent online or ground delivery as discussed heretofore]CloseBrowsingSession( )Deregister( )

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, a description of collected content at a content wallet210a/b/ccan include: descriptor or other identification for audio content; size; publisher; voice application site identifier; title; other descriptive information; content type (e.g., mp2, way, etc.); an annotation as discussed heretofore; a grouping or classification identifier for the content (to permit it to be grouped/classified with other content); and at least one other type of content label. It should be noted that, while contemplated here are essentially private content wallets210a/b/c, a variant embodiment is conceivable in which the privacy level of a wallet210a/b/ccan be made be public, with different possible levels of permission accorded (e.g., read-only for a group, read-only for all, write-only for a group, write for all, etc.). In such non-private situations, where a wallet's content is accessible to others, the aforementioned descriptive information or even other information can reside outside the wallet (e.g., somewhere else in the repository208), in addition to it residing inside the wallet210a/b/cin question.

In accordance with at least one variant embodiment of the invention, as shown inFIG. 3, voice application sites306a/b/chave individual content wallet repositories310a/b/c, respectively, disposed within or directly associated with them. Accordingly, such an arrangement does not involve a separated content wallet repository service (e.g., as indicated at208inFIG. 2).

Thus, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, a user302interacts with a voice application platform304and with voice application sites306a/b/cassociated therewith. However, here, when selecting content to be deposited into a content wallet, such action is undertaken within each voice application site306a/b/citself, rather than sending such content to a separate repository service or other site external to the voice application sites306a/b/c.

As such, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, individual voice application sites306a/b/cinteract directly with media or arrangements for transmitting selected content or for affording payment options for content. Thus, as shown in accordance with a present example, content selected by the user302for content wallet repository310aof voice application site306ais transmitted to the World Wide Web314while that selected by the user302for content wallet repository310bof voice application site306bis transmitted to media creation arrangement318. (Such selected content, in both cases, is indicated at322.) Further, in a present example, voice application site306bindividually interacts with payment gateway312in order to process a payment for some or all of the content selected by user302for content wallet repository310b. It can readily be appreciated that, in an arrangement such as that discussed and illustrated with respect toFIG. 3, a voice application site306a/b/c/dcan benefit from being able to sell its UGC independently, rather than subsume it to a collective repository (208) as described hereinabove with respect toFIG. 2.

In accordance with at least one other variant embodiment of the invention, it is conceivable to add content to a content wallet automatically, as opposed to a user specifically directing when and how content enters a content wallet. This can be based on a user preset, that is inherent in a voice application site when a site is set up, whereupon a predetermined action by any user of a voice application site triggers an automatic deposit into a content wallet. Other automatic deposits of content can be based on other triggers, such as a simple time-based trigger (e.g., a type of content is deposited into a content wallet at predetermined time intervals) or capacity-based trigger (e.g., when a content wallet reaches a predetermined capacity, an automatic deposit of a given type of content is triggered).

In accordance with yet at least one other variant embodiment of the invention, it is conceivable to configured content wallets so as to be purpose-based. In this manner, parallel wallets for a given user, and in communication with at least one voice application site, may be provided, wherein a deposit will be made into one wallet or another based on a specific purpose or function. The user can direct such deposits via specific commands, or the allocation to specific wallets can be automatic based on the nature of a portion of the voice application site from which the content to be deposited originates.

FIG. 4sets forth a process more generally for facilitating offline delivery of content available in voice applications, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. It should be appreciated that a process such as that broadly illustrated inFIG. 4can be carried out on essentially any suitable computer system or set of computer systems, which may, by way of an illustrative and on-restrictive example, include a system such as that indicated at12inFIG. 1. In accordance with an example embodiment, most if not all of the process steps discussed with respect toFIG. 4can be performed by way a processing unit or units and system memory such as those indicated, respectively, at16and28inFIG. 1.

As shown inFIG. 4, user access to a voice application is permitted (402), and the user is accorded a capability to select content in the voice application for offline delivery (404). The selected content is stored in a holding arrangement (406), and the selected content is availed for delivery to the user (408).