Patent ID: 8437453

Claim:
A multiple server based interactive voice response (IVR) system for use by a caller with a first telephone not part of the system, the multiple server based IVR comprising: a general purpose computer programmed with a database of individual IVR strings, each individual IVR string associated with at least a self-identification telephone number and a first server connection to an external server, the multiple server based IVR system telephone accessible by each individual IVR string's self-identification telephone number; a first telephone number identifier operative to receive a first telephone number from a Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS) when such first telephone calls the multiple server based IVR system at a first one of the self-identification telephone numbers; the first telephone number identifier further operative to compare the first telephone number received to each of the telephone numbers associated with the individual IVR strings; the first telephone number identifier operative to activate the first server connection to the external server of the individual IVR string associated with the self-identification telephone number matching the first telephone number: wherein the individual IVR strings each further comprise: a first greeting message associated with the individual IVR string; at least one set of at least two individual interactive responses available in the individual IVR string; a second post-response message associated with the individual IVR string and further associated with at least one of the individual interactive responses; and wherein the multiple server based IVR system further comprises: a string executor operative to play the messages of the individual IVR string when the individual IVR string is activated; wherein: the database further comprises at least two individual IVR strings both associated with the same self-identification telephone number; the database further comprises a second telephone number associated with the individual IVR string; and further comprising a second telephone number identifier operative to receive therein a second telephone number from an Automatic Number Identification (ANI) service when the first telephone calls the multiple server based IVR system; and wherein the second telephone number identifier is further operative to compare the second telephone number to each of the second telephone numbers associated with the individual IVR strings; and wherein the connection is further operative to activate the first server connection to the external server of the individual IVR string associated with the second telephone number received from the ANI service as well as the self-identification telephone number matching the first telephone number.