Abstract:
A system and method for voice operated communication assistance. Embodiments of the invention may include detecting a predetermined command from a first user making a call on a communication device; redirecting the call to a hosted application; and notifying the first user that the hosted application is ready to accept a command, receiving data from a second user; and converting the data from the second user to a voice signal and sending the voice signal to the first user. The commands may be a voice commands.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 61/691,254, filed Aug. 20, 2012, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Telephone systems for many years have employed assistants to help users of the systems access and utilize the systems effectively. For example, traditional analog telephone systems typically give users the opportunity to dial “0” to reach an operator if a user should need assistance in communicating with another telephone user, whether a business or an individual, such as for making a collect call, accessing directory assistance, and the like. Such assistance has typically been very limited. 
         [0003]    With access to the Internet now being widespread, some companies offer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) adapters, which allow residential analog telephone system customers to utilize the Internet for making phone calls by having users plug their existing analog telephones into the VoIP adapter. The adapter itself may then be connected to the Internet. The VoIP adapter converts the analog voice call into a data packet which is then transmitted over the Internet as data rather than voice. Eventually, the data is converted back into an analog voice signal so that a party making the call can talk to the party receiving the call. Such VoIP adapters have helped consumers lower their phone bills. However, there is typically no assistance offered to a user of a VoIP adapter when using the VoIP adapter to place a telephone call. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A method for voice operated communication assistance may include detecting a predetermined command from a first user making a call on a communication device; redirecting the call to a hosted application; and notifying the first user that the hosted application is ready to accept a command. The method may further include receiving data from a second user; and converting the data from the second user to a voice signal and sending the voice signal to the first user. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the command may be a voice command. The voice command may direct the hosted application to assist the user with communication. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the data may be a text message. The method may further include loading information into the hosted application, wherein the information is associated with the user. The information may include social network information related to the user. 
         [0005]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system for voice operated communication assistance may include a network adapter for detecting a predetermined command from a user making a call on a communication device and a hosted application for receiving the call. Embodiments of the present invention may be configured such that the network adapter may redirect the call to the hosted application and the hosted application may notify the user that the hosted application is ready to accept a voice operated communication assistance command. The predetermined command may be a voice command. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device may be a mobile telephone or may be an analog telephone. The hosted application may be configured to assist the user with communication, and may be configured to deliver a text message to the user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a voice operated communication assistance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a method for voice operated communication assistance according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows another method for a voice operated communication assistance according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows another method for a voice operated communication assistance according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    In the following description of preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0011]    A system for voice operated communication assistance  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  includes, for example, a subscriber communication device  20 , a network adapter  30  and a hosted application  40 . The subscriber communication device  20 , the network adapter  30  and the hosted platform  40  may be connected to a network  45 . The network  45  may be a public or private network, a local area network or a wide area network, or may be the Internet. 
         [0012]    The subscriber communication device  20  may be any type of communication device into which a subscriber may communicate with another person or another device. Alternatively, the subscriber communication device  20  may be a communication system. For example, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the subscriber communication device  20  may be a traditional analog telephone system. Alternatively, the subscriber communication device  20  may be a simple residential telephone, a cordless phone, a mobile telephone, a smartphone, or any other communication device into which can be spoken voice signals or voice commands. 
         [0013]    According to the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 , the subscriber communication device  20  may be communicatively coupled to the network adapter  30 . The network adapter  30  may be a Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) adapter, configured to accept voice or analog signals and convert such signals to data suitable for transmission over a data network. VoIP adapters are well-known in the art. The network adapter  30  is communicatively coupled to the network  45  such that the subscriber communication device  20 , through the network adapter  30 , may access the network  45 . 
         [0014]    The network adapter  30  may be configured so that it, upon receiving a predetermined command from the subscriber communication device  20 , the network adapter  30  redirects a subscriber using the subscriber communication device  20  to the hosted application  40 . The predetermined command could take a variety of forms. For example, if the subscriber communication device  20  is a mobile telephone, the predetermined command could take the form of a subscriber to the hosted application  40  by depressing the “0” key on the mobile telephone. In this way, the subscriber would be mimicking the “dial 0” protocol historically associated with traditional analog telephone systems when a user of such systems needed operator assistance. Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, the subscriber communication device  20  may be configured such that the subscriber need only speak the words “dial zero” into the subscriber communication device  20  for the network adapter  30  to redirect the subscriber&#39;s call to the hosted application  40 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the network adapter  30  may be configured such that the subscriber communication device  20  is redirect to the hosted application  40  using session initiation protocol (SIP). 
         [0015]    The hosted application  40  shown in  FIG. 1  may be a software program that resides on a computer system. For example, the hosted application  40  may reside on a computer system having a processor coupled to a memory, storage, a network interface and an I/O interface. The processor may be or include one or more microprocessors as well as other logic circuits. The memory may include RAM, ROM, DRAM, SRAM and the like, and may include firmware, such as static data or fixed instructions, BIOS, system functions, configuration data, and other routines used during the operation of the processor. The memory may also provide a storage unit for data and instructions associated with applications and data handled by the processor. The storage unit provides non-volatile long term storage of data or instructions in the computer system. The storage unit may take the form of a disk, optical storage, SAN, tape, CD, DVD, or other reasonably high capacity addressable storage medium. 
         [0016]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the hosted application  40  may be implemented as a website resident on a server computer. For example, the server computer may be programmed such that the application generates a website available to subscribers over a network. According to an embodiment of the present invention, subscribers to the hosted application  40  may access the application hosted by the server computer via a website on the Internet. 
         [0017]    The hosted application  40  may be configured such that it accepts users or subscribers. According to an embodiment of the present invention, subscribers may enroll with the hosted application  40  and enter information about themselves. Such information may include, for example, a contact list, an email address, social network account information, phone numbers and the like. For example, a subscriber may enter the account information for the user&#39;s TWITTER and FACEBOOK accounts so that the hosted application  40  will have this information readily available when the subscriber contacts the hosted application  40 . 
         [0018]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the hosted application  40  may be configured such that when the network adapter  30  redirects the subscriber communication device  20  to the hosted application  40 , the hosted application  40  connects to the subscriber communication device  20  via the network  45  and logs into the subscriber account. The hosted application  40  may log on to the subscriber account using a “caller ID,” “media access control (mac) ID,” or other identification mechanism associated with the subscriber communication device  20  as are well-known in the art. 
         [0019]    A method of voice operated communication assistance according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 2 , while also referring back to  FIG. 1 , at step  50 , the network adapter  30  detects a “dial 0” type of command entered by the subscriber. In other words, the subscriber has entered some type of predetermined command, with some physical act such as depressing the “0” key or a voice instruction or some other type of command, which has been detected by the network adapter  30  or by the subscriber communication device  20  connected the network adapter  30 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the subscriber may say “operator” or, for example, may say “VOICE ASSIST.” Upon receipt of this command, at step  60  the network adapter  30  redirects the call to the hosted application  40 . At step  70 , the hosted application  40  accepts the communication from the network adapter  30  and the subscriber communication device  20  and logs in to the subscriber account. At step  80 , the hosted application  40  loads information associated with the subscriber, such as contact information, social networking account information, and the like. At step  90 , the hosted application  40  sends a signal back to the subscriber communication device  20  to notify the subscriber that the hosted application  40  is now ready to accept a voice operated communication assistance command from the subscriber. 
         [0020]    At step  100 , the subscriber communication device  20  accepts a command from the user. Because the network adapter  30  has redirected the call to the hosted application  40 , the command is sent to the hosted application  40 . The hosted application  40  then takes the direction dictated by the command at step  110 . 
         [0021]    The command sent to the hosted application  40  may be any of numerous commands. For example, a subscriber may say “call” followed by any name in the subscribers address book to make calls without dialing. Alternatively, according to another embodiment of the present invention, a subscriber may say “send a text message” followed by any name in the subscriber&#39;s address book to send a text by voice without typing. 
         [0022]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, a subscriber may say “read my email” or “reply to email” or “send a new email” or “copy or forward an email.” The subscriber may then listen to the subscriber&#39;s email messages, or reply to the subscriber&#39;s email messages, and the like, all using voice commands, without typing and without using a computer or smart phone. 
         [0023]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, a subscriber may post to a social network, such as TWITTER or FACEBOOK, for example simply by entering or voicing the predetermined command to be redirected to the hosted application  40 , then saying “post to TWITTER” or “post to FACEBOOK,” and then dictating a message. The hosted application  40  will then convert the message from voice into data and post the text into the social network site as if it had been typed by the subscriber. 
         [0024]    Another method of voice operated communication assistance according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 3 , while also referring back to  FIG. 1 , at step  120 , the hosted application  40  receives data from a recipient of the subscriber call. At step  130 , the hosted application  40  converts the data into a voice signal. At step  140 , the hosted application  40  calls the subscriber communication device  20  via the network  45  and the network adapter  30 . When the subscriber answers the subscriber communication device  20 , the hosted application  40  plays aloud the voice signal converted from the data received from the recipient so that the subscriber may hear it. In this way, embodiments of the present invention allow subscribers to send and receive text messages without a mobile phone, a personal computer, or the like. 
         [0025]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, subscribers may say a voice command that causes the hosted application  40  to engage a live, human operator. For example, upon entering a predetermined command into the subscriber communication device  20  that causes the network adapter  30  to redirect the subscriber&#39;s call to the hosted application  40 , the subscriber may say something like “live assist,” “live assistance please,” or the like. Upon receiving this command, the hosted application  40  connects the subscriber to a live operator. The live operator may be highly educated and may have access to a variety of tools, such as high speed Internet, for example, and may be capable of helping the subscriber with a variety of requests. For example, the live operator may help the subscriber with ordering food, renewing prescriptions, checking the weather, getting groceries delivered, scheduling a doctor appointment, getting medical advice and the like. 
         [0026]    A method of voice operated communication assistance according to yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 4 , a method of incorporating voice operated communication assistance with Internet search is shown. Embodiments of the present invention allow a subscriber to interact with the hosted platform  40  using voice communication so that enhanced content becomes available to the subscriber. For example, in  FIG. 4 , while also referring back to  FIG. 1 , at step  200 , a subscriber may initiate a call using the subscriber communication device  20  and may give the subscriber communication device  20  a predetermined command that causes the network adapter  30  to direct the call to the hosted application  40 . 
         [0027]    At step  210 , the subscriber may engage in a discussion with the hosted application  40 , wherein the subscriber asks questions to or gives commands to the hosted application  40 . The hosted application  40  may be configured so that, in turn, it responds to the subscriber&#39;s questions or commands. The response from the hosted application  40  may be a question for the subscriber or may be an action taken. 
         [0028]    For example, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the subscriber may ask the hosted application  40 , “What&#39;s for dinner?” In response, the hosted application  40  may be configured such that it responds by saying, “What kind of food would you like to eat?” The subscriber may then say, for example, “I&#39;d like Italian food.” The hosted application  40  may then say, for example, “Do you want to cook or do you want to go out?” The subscriber may then say, “I&#39;d like to cook.” The hosted application  40  may then say, “Do you want a recipe with chicken, veal, pasta, steak or just vegetables?” The subscriber may then respond with, “I&#39;d like chicken.” The hosted application  40  may then say, “How about chicken marsala or chicken cacciatore?” The subscriber may then respond with, “I&#39;d like chicken marsala.” The hosted application  40  may then say, “Got it, would you like me to text a list of groceries to your phone and email you the recipe?” The subscriber may then respond with, “Yes,” after which the hosted application  40  may send a grocery list and recipe to the subscriber communication device  20 , such as the subscriber&#39;s smartphone or other device as determined by the subscriber. The hosted application  40  may then say, “Grocery list and recipe sent.” 
         [0029]    At step  220 , the hosted application  40  may determine if there is information available on the Internet or some other information source from which the hosted application  40  may access that may be helpful to the subscriber based on the discussion or conversation the hosted application  40  had with the subscriber at step  210 . For example, using the example described above, because the hosted application  40  has just had a discussion with the subscriber about a “chicken dinner,” the hosted application  40  may take the action to search the Internet for coupons related to chicken and send them to the subscriber&#39;s subscriber communication device  20  at step  230 . As another example, the hosted application  40  may search the Internet for information on a wine or side dish that complements chicken marsala and send that information to the subscriber&#39;s subscriber communication device  20 . 
         [0030]    As another example according to embodiments of the present invention, the hosted application  40  may forward advertisements to the subscriber via the subscriber communication device  40 . In addition, such advertisements may be related to content the subscriber has been listening to or may be based on a conversation or discussion the hosted application  40  has had with the subscriber. Using the example described above, because the hosted application is aware that the subscriber was interested in having an Italian dinner, the hosted application  40  may determine what Italian restaurants are in the vicinity of the subscriber and may send any information found by the hosted application  40  on the network  45  that may be valuable to the subscriber to the subscriber communication device  20 , such as, for example, menus, restaurant reviews, and the like. 
         [0031]    For example, if the subscriber is driving in the subscriber&#39;s car and happens to be near an Italian restaurant, the hosted application  40  determine the proximity of the subscriber to the Italian restaurant using location information available to the hosted application  40  through the subscriber communication device  20 . For example, the subscriber communication device  20  may be equipped with a GPS system or other location identifying system and may make this information available to the hosted application  40 . Then, the hosted application  40  may contact the subscriber communication device  20  via the network  45  and network adapter  30  and say to the subscriber, “Just to let you know, there is an Italian restaurant approximately two miles ahead on the right. The restaurant is offering a dinner special for chicken marsala tonight. Would you like to go there for dinner instead of cooking tonight?” The subscriber may respond by saying “yes” or “no.” If the subscriber says “no,” the hosted application  40  may be configured such that it either ends the dialog with the subscriber or the hosted application  40  may search for other advertisements or content to send to the subscriber. If the subscriber says “yes,” the hosted application  40  may guide the subscriber to the restaurant or take some other action that would be helpful to the subscriber, such as, for example, connecting the subscriber to the restaurant or making reservations at the restaurant for the subscriber. 
         [0032]    As another example according to an embodiment of the present invention, a subscriber may initiate a call using the subscriber communication device  20  and may give the subscriber communication device  20  a predetermined command that causes the network adapter  30  to direct the call to the hosted application  40 . Once the subscriber is in communication with the hosted application  40 , the subscriber may say something like “Order pizza” or may give a similar command. The hosted application  40  may respond by saying, “What kind of pizza would you like?” The subscriber may then say, for example, “I&#39;d like pepperoni, mushrooms and black olives.” The hosted application  40  may then, for example, respond with “When would you like it delivered?” The subscriber may then say, “I&#39;d like the pizza delivered in 45 minutes.” The hosted application  40  may then respond with “Do you want me to order from the usual place or search for local coupons on the web?” The subscriber may then say, “Search for coupons on the web.” 
         [0033]    After receiving the command to search for coupons on the web, the hosted application  40  may then search on the network  45  for coupons, discounts or other information that may be available to the subscriber. If, for example, the hosted application  40  should happen to find a coupon for pizza, the hosted application  40  may announce to the subscriber, “Coupon found for fifty percent off, would you like to apply this coupon to your order?” The subscriber may then say, “Yes.” In response, for example, the hosted application  40  may say “Thank you, your order has been submitted—goodbye” or may respond with some other statement or take some other action that would be appropriate for the circumstances. 
         [0034]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments shown and described and that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.