DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS

摘要

An arrangement for obtaining directory assistance automatically and without the assistance of an operator. A customer (40, 42) requesting directory assistance is connected to an automatic speech recognition unit (ASRU 14) and is prompted to speak commands for identifying the requested directory number. The ASRU converts received speech signals from the customer into data signals for searching a directory number data base (57). If a directory listing is located, the number of that listing is announced to the customer and the customer is automatically prompted to speak a command indicating whether a call to that number should be automatically established. The telecommunications switching network (12) responds to a positive command by automatically establishing such a connection. Advantageously, such an arrangement provides directory assistance service automatically without requiring special customer equipment.