Interactive voice response apparatus capable of distinguishing between user's incoming voice and outgoing conditioned voice prompts
US6603836B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 16, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 5, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 16, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2201/60
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An interactive apparatus allows the user to interrupt an outgoing prompt and remove component which is normally found in the users' responses (e.g., a frequency band) from the outgoing output prompt. An input signal analysis unit in the apparatus is able to detect the response of the user (and distinguish it from an echo of the outgoing prompt) by noting the presence of the component which is lacking from the outgoing prompt. As an alternative, the apparatus may force spaced timeslots in the outgoing signal to silence. In that case, the input signal analysis unit can detect the presence of the user's signal over a predetermined time interval. As well as being applicable to apparatuses which involve the user in prompt/response dialogues, the invention is also useful in relation to the interruption of messages being replayed by voice-controllable answerphones of the like.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.