VOICEMAIL INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE FOR INSTANT APPOINTMENT BOOKING

摘要

A system and method are provided that transforms the typical voicemail interaction into one in which the client does not feel that their voice messages could be easily ignored. Instead of being prompted in the traditional manner to simply leave a message, the client is asked to choose from a list of available times, each representing a potential time for the service provider to call the client back. The system is aware of both the service provider's calendar appointments and the times that they have made available for client appointments. Once the client chooses a time slot, the service provider's calendar will be updated with the new appointment details. When that time arrives, the provider's calendar system will alert them of their impending appointment and they will be reminded to telephone back their client at the scheduled time.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving a voice call from a caller seeking to speak to a callee; transferring the voice call to an interactive voice response session if the callee does not answer; playing out to the caller audio announcing that the caller can be directed into a callback appointment scheduling process or can leave a voice mail message; communicating with a calendar subsystem to request available appointment times for the callee to call back the caller; receiving from the calendar subsystem a response with available appointment times of the callee; playing out audio announcing the available appointment times to the caller along with a prompt to the caller to choose an appointment time from the available appointment times; receiving a selected appointment time from the caller; and communicating with the calendar subsystem to book the selected appointment time with the callee.