Computer, internet and telecommunications based network

摘要

A method and apparatus for a computer and telecommunication network which can receive, send and manage information from or to a subscriber of the network, based on the subscriber's configuration. The network is made up of at least one cluster containing voice servers which allow for telephony, speech recognition, text-to-speech and conferencing functions, and is accessible by the subscriber through standard telephone connections or through internet connections. The network also utilizes a database and file server allowing the subscriber to maintain and manage certain contact lists and administrative information. A web server is also connected to the cluster thereby allowing access to all functions through internet connections.

主权项

1. A method for managing user-related communications by a voice-enabled system driven by natural voice commands received from users, involving the user-related communications including at least a telephone call, a facsimile message, an e-mail message and a message containing data, the method comprising:
receiving respective user-related communications, via a network, relating to the users at one or more servers in a collection of servers, at least one of the user-related communications including a natural speech input from a respective user, the one or more servers configured to receive and transmit the respective user-related communications via at least one of a telephone connection and an internet connection in accordance with a plurality of network protocols; providing access to data at a database, the database associated with the collection of servers, and the data associated with a respective user account, the respective user account resident at the database; recognizing and interpreting the natural speech input at a speaker-independent speech recognition functionality resident at the one or more servers, by comparing the natural speech input to a plurality of stored commands to select a voice-enabled function from a plurality of voice-enabled functions, each of the plurality of stored commands being an alternative intuitive description of a voice-enabled function and executing the voice-enabled function selected for an operation relating to the data, the voice-enabled function based at least in part on the natural speech input and configured to generate and transmit at least one of a message and a notification relating to the operation over at least one of the telephone connection and the internet connection that is not the connection over which the respective user's user-related communication is received; and receiving a DTMF signal from one of electronic communication devices associated with the respective user and executing the voice-enabled function based at least in part on the DTMF signal.