Patent ID: 7454005

Claim:
A method for controlling user interaction with an automated voice response system, the method comprising: providing a plurality of task options to a user, each of the plurality of task options corresponding to a call forwarding task to be completed by a user via an automated voice response system; receiving a task selection input from the user; responsive to the task selection input, if the task selection input fails to correspond to a valid selection of one of the plurality of task options: incrementing an error counter, and if the error counter exceeds a predetermined limit, disconnecting the user, otherwise, repeating the step of receiving a task selection input from the user; receiving at least one required input from the user for completion of the task corresponding to the task selection input, the required input corresponding to a telephone number; responsive to the required input, if the required input corresponds to the user's home telephone number: incrementing an error counter, and if the error counter exceeds a predetermined limit, disconnecting the user, otherwise, repeating the step of receiving a required input from the user; and completing the task corresponding to the task selection input using the at least one required input.