Voice Application Network Platform

What is this patent about?

’127 is related to the field of systems and methods for providing voice services to users, particularly those utilizing speech recognition. Traditional Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems rely on centralized, high-end computing devices to handle voice application processing, requiring dedicated telephone connections and expensive infrastructure. This approach suffers from limitations in scalability, personalization, and cost-effectiveness, hindering the rapid deployment of new applications and efficient billing mechanisms.

The underlying idea behind ’127 is to distribute voice application execution to a local device situated at the user's premises, such as a home or office. This device, equipped with a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities, interacts with a remote management system to deliver personalized voice applications. By shifting processing away from a centralized server, the system reduces the need for dedicated telephone lines and expensive telecom equipment, enabling a more scalable and cost-effective solution.

The claims of ’127 focus on a local device comprising a memory, at least one processor, an operating system, a network interface, an audio and signaling layer with at least one audio I/O device interface, and a voice services software client . The voice services software client is configured to run on the at least one processor and to communicate with one or more servers of a voice services provider (VSP), wherein the voice services software client also is configured to start and manage one or more processes and/or threads, wherein each process and/or thread is configured to perform or respond to voice service instruction that is either received from a server of the VSP or that is based on information received from a server of the VSP, wherein each voice service instruction relates to one or more voice services, and wherein the voice services software client is configured to manage connectivity between the at least one audio I/O device interface and one or more processes and/or threads; wherein the local device includes one or more configuration materials and/or settings configured to be controlled by the VSP.

In practice, the local device receives voice service instructions from a remote server, which are tailored based on user characteristics and environmental factors. The local device then executes these instructions, managing the audio input/output and performing speech recognition locally. This distributed architecture allows for greater personalization, as the system can dynamically adapt voice applications to individual user preferences and device capabilities. The local device also sends information regarding its state and events to the VSP, enabling the VSP to dynamically adjust the voice service instructions.

This distributed approach contrasts with prior centralized IVR systems by eliminating the need for a dedicated, persistent voice connection to a central computer. Instead, the local device communicates with the remote server over a data network, such as the Internet, allowing for more efficient use of network resources and reduced telecommunications costs. Furthermore, the distributed architecture enhances scalability and reliability, as the system can easily accommodate new users and devices without requiring significant infrastructure upgrades. The system also enables new voice applications and services that were previously impossible with centralized platforms, such as personalized advertising and rapid data collection from a large number of users.