Abstract:
A dynamically configured voice mail system which allows customers to send digital information through a number of different sources into a user&#39;s voice mail system. The dynamically configured voice mail system prioritizes the customer&#39;s information and converts this information into audio messages using known technology. Subsequently, the user may retrieve prioritized audio messages and take action on said audio messages by simply pressing one or more buttons on the telephone keypad. Keypad actions may be dynamically and uniquely configured for each audio message, depending on the appropriate actions intended by the sender for the recipient.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a method for integrating and prioritizing business data and audio messaging in order to enable a user to perform business-related processes directly from a voice mail, e-mail, web browser, or text messaging system.  
         [0003]     2. Background Information  
         [0004]     Currently, there are a number of viable ways to send and receive information or data in a business-related environment. Several of the most prominent methods of sending and receiving data are e-mail (computer-to-computer), fax (phone-to-phone), database data-transfer (computer-to-computer), and pager services (phone-to-phone or e-mail-to-phone). It has become increasingly vital that business professionals possess the updates to the most recent business data in order to make informed and well-reasoned decisions. For example, the use of wireless networks, video-conferencing, portable e-mail devices (i.e. BLACKBERRY brand devices), and cell-phone applications have become common tools associated with running a business effectively and in keeping employees in touch with customers and other employees.  
         [0005]     According to some recent studies, employees should achieve 55 minutes extra work per day this year with the usage of wireless e-mail services. Further studies indicate that 24% of business end-users believe that push-to-talk voice calling, wireless IM and wireless video conferencing could increase their overall work productivity. Recently, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan stated that advances in technology lie behind much of the U.S. economy&#39;s growth over the past 10 years. In addition to producing more widgets, information technology has prompted speed, quality improvements, customer service, and new products.  
         [0006]     One of the major downfalls of technology in the workplace is technology&#39;s ability to accelerate the pace of work and of communication beyond what humans are able to bear. A recent survey found that an overwhelming majority of business employees believe that they are physically incapable of responding to the vast amount of information received each day—via e-mail, database transfer, pager, and cell-phone. With the advent of so many means of communication, users can easily become lost and overwhelmed at the amount of information they are required to process and use each work day. To further exacerbate the problem, the use of numerous software and hardware packages has made the integration of the information needed to run a business difficult, if not impossible.  
         [0007]     Recently, many experts have criticized the use of high-technology in communication in regard to productivity. In its simplest form, the concept of productivity consists of two elements: the value of goods produced divided by the number of hours worked. According to Robert Solow, a Nobel prize winner from M.I.T., the computer age can be seen everywhere except in the productivity statistics. Countless number of hours of productivity are wasted on sorting through various pieces of data for the one piece of information that is critically important to the user at that very moment. Research done by Purdue University&#39;s School of Technology found that workers may accomplish more tasks with the advent of new technology without actually improving productivity. In other words, workers may simply be getting the wrong things done faster. Although the technology used to increasing the flow of communication has progressed immensely, it has failed to progress at the same speed in assisting workers with critical management skills, such as: identifying priorities, managing time, planning, and delegating. Further, a worker&#39;s productivity has become highly dependant upon their relative ability to manage priorities and effectively plan their time, especially in an environment where more information and technology is thrown at a worker than ever in the history of the working world.  
         [0008]     Like so many technologies today, voice mail has tremendous potential to help employees to communicate quicker, to get more done, and to be more productive from remote locations. However, the current use of voice mail is inadequate at integrating and prioritizing vast amounts of data, such that the user can make informed business decisions and perform real-time business processes through the voice mail system. The typical business professional is able to use their voice mail services on their cell phone merely for receiving information from a caller or, in some cases, from a small electronic message (a “text message”). Businesses are even using portable e-mail devices (a “blackberry”) to keep their employees in touch with customers and other employees. But the current voice mail methods are not dynamic. Such methods do not provide users with automatically prioritized information, drawn pro-actively or passively from multiple data sources. Nor does the current voice mail technology allow a user to perform business processes from remote locations. Finally, current voice mail technology is inadequate at pulling in data from a number of data sources, as is required in today&#39;s environment.  
         [0009]     A method is needed, utilizing voice messaging systems, to integrate relevant, real-time business data from numerous sources, categorizing and prioritizing that data, so that the business professional can adequately perform business processes from remote locations.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for facilitating business management and/or transactions by persons remote from their places of employment.  
         [0011]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for providing mobile business persons with specifically targeted business information via telephone (or other audible information transceiver device, such as an internet “phone” device).  
         [0012]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for by which an information transmitter can convey information to remote recipients in a manner which, according to the transmitter&#39;s preferences specified in a conveyed data unit&#39;s parameters, is available to the recipient in a hierarchical or categorized manner according to such transmitter&#39;s preferences.  
         [0013]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method as just described, wherein the system presents each recipient with audible control options for selecting information to be received and/or transmitter-enabled actions to undertake in response to such selected and received information, such options being exercised by touch tone selections via a recipient&#39;s telephone.  
         [0014]     In satisfaction of these and related objects, the present invention provides a Dynamically Configured Voice Mail System (“DCVMS”) which creates a new way of working by allowing the user to not only receive key metric information via audio messages, but also allowing the user to then take some additional action to resolve or drive the business process further. In other words, the DCVMS solution will extend current business processes by providing a user access and the capability to process (take action on) business and personal data from anywhere and anytime via a phone.  
         [0015]     The DCVMS provides a robust method of collecting relevant, real-time business data from numerous sources, categorizing and prioritizing that data, so that the business professional can adequately perform business process from remote locations. Furthermore, the use of this device will increase the productivity of the modern worker.  
         [0016]     The DCVMS also has applications beyond the business community. It will provide a more robust way for family and friends to not only leave messages for a recipient but to also select what actions the recipient may take after hearing a message. As merely one example, one family member can now, in addition to leaving a message for another family member to pick up the family dog at the groomer, also enter an option for the recipient to, for example, press #1 on the phone keypad to call the groomer to ask if the dog is ready to be picked up, or press #2 on the phone keypad to call the sender&#39;s cell phone.  
         [0017]     Examples of additional applications are far too numerous to contemplate, much less list here. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a process flow chart for the method steps in the import process of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a process flow chart for the method steps in the voice mail retrieval process of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram which represents the preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of data contained within database  1  of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of data contained within database  2  of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of data contained within database  3  of the preferred embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]     The Dynamically Configured Voice Mail System is identified generally by  FIG. 3 , a block diagram for the Dynamically Configured Voice Messaging System (DCVMS).  
         [0025]     Generally, the process begins when a message import file  120  is received by DCVMS system  140 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . First, the message import file is sent by a transmitting entity (“customer”)  100  to DCVMS  140  for processing, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In the preferred embodiment, DCVMS  140  will allow for message import file  120  to be received from a customer  100  by ERP, Accounting, Data Warehouse, or other data system, and message import file  120  may be in any of the following formats: ASCII Flat File, XML, EDI, or any other data format files available or requested by the customer.  
         [0026]     In the preferred embodiment, DCVMS  140  will receive message import file  120  either by providing an FTP web site in which customers  100  may log on and place message import files  120  in their allotted DCVMS  140  directory, or by pro-actively obtaining message import file  120  at customer-defined intervals, giving customer  100  the option of scheduling DCVMS  140  system to go to a particular Internet site or customer&#39;s Intranet to retrieve message import file  120 .  
         [0027]     DCVMS  140  will persistently observe customer&#39;s FTP web site folders for arriving message import files  120  for processing. In the preferred embodiment, DCVMS  140  will process message import file  120  in batches when DCVMS  140  sees that message import file  120  has arrived.  
         [0028]     Upon receiving message import file  120 , DCVMS  140  finds a message header ( 1 . 04 ), as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Next, DCVMS  140  attempts to validate the message header in order to process message import file  120  properly ( 1 . 06 ). If message header is invalid, then DCVMS  140  re-attempts next message header location and validation ( 1 . 06 ).  
         [0029]     Upon message header validation, DCVMS  140  next attempts validation of the information within message import file  120  ( 1 . 08 ). If message information is not valid, then DCVMS  140  attempts to find next message header ( 1 . 04 ), repeating the previous steps as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . However, if said message information is valid, DCVMS  140  parses message information to determine message destination ( 1 . 10 ), as described below.  
         [0030]     Upon receiving and initially processing message import file  120 , as previously described, DCVMS  140  opens, reads, and processes message import file  120  ( 1 . 10 ). DCVMS  140  allocates data within message import file  120  to three databases: database  1 , database  2 , and database  3  ( 1 . 10 ).  
         [0031]     In the preferred embodiment, database  1  will store the mailbox user&#39;s name and user ID or password, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Consequently, database  1  will notify DCVMS  140  if user  200  has any messages when message retrieval process is undertaken by user  200 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0032]     Database  2 , in the preferred embodiment, receives message or information to be conveyed to user  200 , a customer-defined message tree hierarchy whereby messages are to be presented to user  200  in a customer-prescribed order ( 1 . 12 ), and action option information pertaining to choices (“action messages”) to be presented to user  200  upon receipt of any one unit of information. In this process, DCVMS  140  parses message import file  120  into message text as well as one or more action messages (up to 99), as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Thus, database  2  will contain both message text and one or more action messages with each options tree message to be presented to user  200  upon message retrieval, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0033]     Once data from message import file  120  is received and initially processed by DCVMS  140 , information to be presented to user  200  is converted into voice-synthesized audio messages, using known technology, that will be loaded to the correct location in the users voice mail in box options tree ( 1 . 14 ).  
         [0034]     DCVMS will configure user&#39;s  200  voice mail in box with selectable options per the information from the customer&#39;s data file, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0035]     Database  3 , in the preferred embodiment, will instruct DCVMS  140  as to the chosen action when user  200  is listening to a message and presses a key on the phone keypad  180 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 &amp; 6 . In the preferred embodiment, DCVMS  140  will use Boolean logic to open message import file  120 , read through message import file  120 , and load data within message import file  120  into database  1 , database  2 , or database  3 , creating retrievable records.  
         [0036]     The action options may range, for example, from retrieving and hearing additional information to be reported audibly, recording a message to be conveyed to some third party, causing a data file to be transmitted to user  200  (such as by fax, e-mail, etc.) or to some third party, or to place a telephone call to a particular individual of relevance to the information or task at hand, and/or any other action options task that the transmitter  100  has conveyed via the message import file  120 .  
         [0037]     The following description expounds the message retrieval process in the preferred embodiment, as illustrated by  FIG. 2 . In the preferred embodiment, in order to access messages, user  200  will key in their user ID and corresponding user password ( 2 . 02 ). In response, DCVMS  140  will search database  1  for unread messages for user  200  ( 2 . 04 ). If DCVMS  140  locates a record in database  1  ( 2 . 06 ), DCVMS  140  will then read said audio record to user  200  and provide user  200  with response options ( 2 . 08 ). After listening to their options, user  200  will then request DCVMS  140  to retrieve unheard messages ( 2 . 10 ). DCVMS  140  will then open database  2 , searching for all records which contain user&#39;s ID ( 2 . 12 ). Next, DCVMS  140  will prioritize and sort all record types for message retrieval ( 2 . 14 ) in order to present hierarchical audio messages to user  200  in the hierarchical order dictated by the message import file  120 . DCVMS  140  will then read options tree audio messages to user  200  ( 2 . 16 ). User will then respond by selecting one of several action messages ( 2 . 18 ). When user  200  selects action message by pressing a key or multiple keys on phone pad  180 , DCVMS  140  will then open database  3  and perform the required action ( 2 . 20 ). The receiving message process, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , will continue until user  200  hangs up or has deleted all messages ( 2 . 22 ). In the preferred embodiment, DCVMS  140  will be hosted as an ASP solution and sold as a product offering that a 3rd party can run on their servers. The DCVMS  140  will also be sold as shrink wrap software to the general consumer public for private home/business use.  
         [0038]     The present system allows an information transmitter (employer, consultant, secretary, company home office, family member, friend, etc.) to send a file, in the DCVMS file layout (format), from, for example, an Accounting, ERP, Data Warehouse, web page input, and any other data systems. The DCVMS is configured whereby the transmitter dictates intended recipients of particular information. The transmitter dictates, via the message import file layout, the allocation of messages to respective intended recipients, the hierarchical organization of messages to be presented (prescribed in the voice mail hierarchy tree), and which information/messages are to be converted to speech for audible delivery.  
         [0039]     Furthermore, DCVMS allows the transmitter to prescribe action options for recipients upon receiving initial information delivery (i.e. what actions the system will take when the user  200  presses a key or keys on the phone keypad). As an example, the transmitter can export information regarding Expense issues from their accounting system. The transmitter can then transmit file(s) to DCVMS which creates messages for intended recipients that “there are Expense issues to resolve” as well as provides options or actions that the caller may take after hearing the message. As an example, after hearing there are Expense issues the caller could then be presented with the below options: 
        a. “Press #1 to hear the details on the Expense issues”    b. “Press #2 to forward an e-mail to Accounting to request a detail report on the Expense issues”    c. “Press #3 to delete this message”       
 
         [0043]     The present system allows users to alert their employees, associates, friends, or family members in a real time manner, of any information, business issue, personal reminder, or business process that requires attention. This frees all such people from desks, or even Internet-linked laptop computers as a means, not just for learning of important (or merely convenient) information/issues, but taking appropriate action in response to such information, all simply by placing a telephone call and following instructions. As another example, a mobile executive may be responsible for payment of a particular invoice. His or her assistant could forward invoice information via the DCVMS system whereby the executive would be alerted to the issue, would be able to listen to all the details of the invoice, and then select an action option whereby payment of the invoice is approved and an appropriate message is sent to accounts payable. Another provided action option may be to place a call to the vendor, if there is an issue to be resolved prior to payment.  
         [0044]     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.