Method and system for specifying and processing telephony sessions
A method and system of controlling telephony sessions, the method comprising the steps of providing a platform server operated by a service provider, the platform server programmed to perform the steps of, providing an interface for use by a developer associated with a first client for specifying at least one interactive telephony (IT) application in a scripted language that includes application program interface (API) extensions associated with different IT functions, receiving input via the interface selecting and ordering the IT functions to specify at least a first IT application, storing the at least a first IT application in a database, receiving a call from a first customer, running the first IT application to elicit information from the first customer independent of the first client and in response to input received from the first customer, linking the first customer to a specific phone extension associated with the first client.
1. A method of controlling telephony sessions for telephony clients that are independent of a service provider, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a platform server operated by the service provider;
providing an interface for use by at least a first application developer associated with a first client for specifying at least a first interactive telephony (IT) application in a scripted language that includes application program interface (API) extensions associated with different IT functions;
receiving input via the interface at least selecting and ordering the IT functions to specify at least the first IT application associated with a first calling number;
storing the at least a first IT application in a database accessible by the platform server;
receiving a call from a first customer to the first calling number;
running the first IT application that is associated with the first number to elicit information from the first customer independent of the first client; and
in response to input received from the first customer, linking the first customer to a specific phone extension associated with the first client.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the scripting language is a multi-paradigm scripting language.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the scripting language is the LUA language.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the interface includes a display for presenting scripting language code entered by the first developer.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the interface includes a graphical user interface and wherein the step of receiving input includes receiving graphical input via the interface that specifies at least a portion of the IT application.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the interface includes a visual flow space and a programming function toolbar, the toolbar including function blocks representing IT functional modules, the method further including the steps of receiving developer input via the interface selecting functional modules from the toolbar to instantiate function instances in the flow space.
7. The method of claim 6 further including the steps of receiving developer input via the interface linking the instantiated function instances together to specify at least a portion of the complete IT application.
8. The method of claim 7 further including the steps of compiling the linked function instances to generate scripted language code.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the scripted language code comprises the IT application.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of receiving input further includes presenting the scripted language code to the developer via an interface display screen and receiving user input modifying the scripted language code to generate the IT application.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the code is modified by adding to the compiled scripted language code.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of receiving user input further includes querying the user for at least one variable property associated with at least one of the instantiated functional modules.
13. A method of specifying telephony sessions for telephony clients that are independent of a service provider, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a platform server operated by the service provider, the platform server programmed to perform the steps of, during an interactive telephony (IT) application development process:
providing an interface for use by at least a first application developer associated with a first client for specifying IT applications, the interface including a first display screen;
receiving input via the interface at least selecting and ordering IT functions to specify at least a portion of a first IT application associated with the first client;
providing a calling number to the developer for testing the at least a portion of a first IT application;
receiving a call to the calling number from a phone used by the developer;
running the at least a portion of a first IT application to communicate with the developer via the phone; and
while running the at least a portion of a first IT application, presenting information on the first display screen indicating the step in the IT application currently being performed.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the interface includes an input device and enables the developer to directly input scripted language program code specifying the IT application.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the scripted language program code is a multi-paradigm scripting language that includes predefined API extensions to specify IT application code.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the interface includes a visual flow space and a programming function toolbar, the toolbar including function blocks representing IT functional modules, the step of receiving input including the steps of receiving developer input via the interface selecting functional modules from the toolbar to instantiate function instances in the flow space and compiling the function instances to generate scripted language code.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of receiving input further includes receiving developer input via the interface that links the function instances in the flow space together to form a tree structure prior to compiling.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of presenting information on the first display screen includes presenting at least a portion of the tree structure and visually distinguishing a function block instantaneously associated with an application step being performed by the platform server.
19. A system for controlling telephony sessions for telephony clients that are independent of a service provider that performs the method, the system comprising:
a platform server operated by the service provider, the platform server programmed to perform the steps of:
providing an interface for use by at least a first client application developer associated with a first client for specifying at least one interactive telephony (IT) application in a scripted language that includes application program interface (API) extensions associated with different IT functions;
receiving input via the interface at least selecting and ordering the IT functions to specify at least a first IT application associated with a first calling number that is associated with the first client;
storing the at least a first IT application in a database accessible by the platform server;
receiving a call from a first customer to the first calling number;
running the first IT application that is associated with the first number to elicit information from the first customer independent of the first client; and
in response to input received from the first customer, linking the first customer to a specific phone extension associated with the first client.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the scripting language is a multi-paradigm scripting language.