Patent ID: 8521527

Claim:
A system for processing audio in a voice response environment, comprising: a database of host scripts each comprising signature files of audio phrases and actions to take when one of the audio phrases is recognized; a processor to execute modules, comprising: a generation module to generate at least one signature for each of a plurality of audio phrases, comprising: a reference module to select a specific portion of each such audio phrase as a reference portion; a selection module to separate the reference portion and a portion of each such audio phrase preceding the reference portion into a plurality of samples, generate a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) for each of the plurality of samples, and enable a user to select one of the DFTs for one of the samples for the reference portion as the signature for each such audio phrase based upon an auditory comparison of the samples for the reference portion with the samples preceding the reference portion; and a file module to save the signature in the signature file of each such audio phrase; a load module to load the host scripts and initiate a call to a voice mail server; a buffer module to receive during the call, incoming audio buffers from voice messages stored on the voice mail server and to process the incoming audio buffers; a signature module to create at least one signature data structure for each audio buffer; an instruction module to maintain instruction labels, each instruction label associated with instructions to compare the signature data structure with one or more of the signatures of expected phrases in the host scripts; a comparison module to compare the signature data structure with signatures of the expected phrases in the host scripts according to the instructions associated with at least one of the instruction labels; and an action module to execute one or more of the actions stored in the host scripts when the signature data structure matches the signature of the expected phrase.