Speech to dual-tone multifrequency system and method

1. An electronic communication method comprising the steps of:

providing a communication device;

using the communication device, determining when a communication is initiated;

upon detecting initiation of the communication, automatically launching a speech-to-tone application on the communication device;

using the speech-to-tone application, during the communication, determining when pre-defined words are spoken;

performing one or more of converting the pre-defined words to a signal comprising a tone using the communication device and converting a stored key sequence to a signal comprising a tone using the communication device;

using the communication device running machine detection to determine whether a machine is waiting for a DTMF response or the machine is connected to the communication; and

using the communication device, transmitting the signal to the machine,

wherein the step of detecting initiation of the communication comprises detecting one or more of initiating a dialing application, a number being dialed, when a phone application is launched, launching a communication application, dialing a phone number, when a communication is established between the communication device and another device, when information is transmitted to a speaker on the communication device using the communication application, and after an initial communication is established, determining a silent period greater than a predetermined time during the established communication.

2. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined words consist of words corresponding to numbers and symbols.

3. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined words consist of words corresponding to keypad numbers and symbols.

4. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the sequence is stored on the communication device.

5. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the sequence is stored on a remote device.

6. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined words comprise words corresponding to symbols.

7. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein an operating system on the communication device comprises the application.

8. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining when a communication is initiated comprises detecting a number being dialed.

9. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining when a communication is initiated comprises determining when a communication is established between the communication device and another device.

10. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining when a communication is initiated comprises determining when information is transmitted to a speaker on the communication device using the communication application.

11. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining when a communication is initiated comprises determining when a phone application is launched.

12. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing a database comprising the key sequence and an associated phone number; and

detecting when the phone number is dialed.

13. A communication device comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing program instructions that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

determine when a communication is initiated;

upon detecting initiation of the communication, automatically launching a speech-to-tone application on the communication device;

determine when pre-defined words are spoken;

perform one or more of converting the pre-defined words to a signal comprising a tone using the communication device and converting a stored key sequence to a signal comprising a tone using the communication device;

using the communication device running machine detection to determine whether a machine that is waiting for a DTMF response or the machine is connected to the communication; and

transmit the signal to the machine,

wherein detecting initiation of the communication comprises detecting one or more of initiating a dialing application, a number being dialed, when a phone application is launched, launching a communication application, dialing a phone number, when a communication is established between the communication device and another device, when information is transmitted to a speaker on the communication device using the communication application, and after an initial communication is established, determining a silent period greater than a predetermined time during the established communication.

14. The communication device of claim 13 , further comprising a database comprising the key sequence.

15. The communication device of claim 14 , wherein the database comprises a phone number corresponding to the key sequence.

16. A system comprising the communication device of claim 13 .

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising an interactive voice response server.

18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a database comprising the key sequence.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a network coupled between the communication device and a DTMF-enabled system.

20. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a server comprising the database.

21. The electronic communication method of claim 1 , wherein the machine is an Interactive voice response (IVR) system.