IP Library Granted Patent US 10,979,568
Granted Patent B1
US 10,979,568 · App. 16/816,472 · Granted Apr 13, 2021

Graphical rendering for interactive voice response (IVR)

Inventors: Cindy Han Lu (San Jose, CA); Thai Quoc Tran (San Jose, CA); Srinivas R. Brahmaroutu (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H04M3/5166G06F3/0482G06F3/0484G06F3/04817H04M3/42059H04M2203/252H04M2203/551
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,979,568
App. No.
16/816,472
Granted
Apr 13, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method, computer system, and a computer program product for dynamic graphical rendering of call options is provided. The present invention may include receiving, by an interactive voice response (IVR) system, a phone call from a telephonic device. The present invention may include determining that the telephonic device includes a visual menu device type. The present invention may include generating a visual prompt menu having a visual representation of a set of call options included in the IVR system. The present invention may include transmitting the generated visual prompt menu to a display of the telephonic device. The present invention may include receiving, from the telephonic device, at least one selected call option from the generated visual prompt menu. The present invention may include processing, by the IVR system, a call sequence based on the received at least one selected call option from the generated visual prompt menu.

Claims (81)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by an interactive voice response (IVR) system, a phone call from a telephonic device;

determining that the telephonic device includes a visual menu device type;

generating a visual prompt menu, wherein the generated visual prompt menu includes a visual representation of a set of call options included in the IVR system;

transmitting the generated visual prompt menu to a display of the telephonic device;

receiving, from the telephonic device, at least one call option selected from the generated visual prompt menu;

processing, by the IVR system, a call sequence based on the received at least one call option selected from the generated visual prompt menu;

in response to detecting a dropped call, recording a last connected call option in the processed call sequence; and

in response to receiving a subsequent phone call from the telephonic device, automatically directing the received subsequent phone call to the recorded last connected call option.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the IVR system, a device identifying information from the telephonic device associated with the received phone call;

determining, based on the received device identifying information, that the telephonic device does not include the visual menu device type; and

transmitting, to the telephonic device, an audio prompt menu including the set of call options included in the IVR system.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing a set of IVR metadata associated with the IVR system;

determining, based on the accessed set of IVR metadata, an information linking the set of call options to a corresponding keypad input;

indicating, in the generated visual prompt menu, the corresponding keypad input for the set of call options.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from the telephonic device, a plurality of call options selected concurrently from the generated visual prompt menu; and

dynamically generating the call sequence for the received plurality of call options.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

optimizing the dynamically generated call sequence for the received plurality of call options based on a criteria selected from the group consisting of an option availability and an option dependency.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

in response to the optimized call sequence, automatically prioritizing an available option over an unavailable option; and

in response to the optimized call sequence, automatically processing an independent option prior to processing a dependent option depending from the independent option.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing a stored caller data linked to the telephonic device associated with the received phone call;

determining, based on the accessed caller data, a previously selected call option by the telephonic device; and

dynamically highlighting the determined previously selected call option in the generated visual prompt menu.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating the visual prompt menu as a tree structure including a plurality of branching paths, wherein each branching path includes at least one node associated with a corresponding call option of the set of call options.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

generating a graphical icon representing the at least one node of the tree structure, wherein the generated graphical icon textually indicates the corresponding call option; and

in response to receiving a selection of the generated graphical icon, executing the corresponding call option.

10. A computer system for dynamic graphical rendering of call options, comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage media, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, wherein the computer system is capable of performing a method comprising:

receiving, by an interactive voice response (IVR) system, a phone call from a telephonic device;

determining that the telephonic device includes a visual menu device type;

generating a visual prompt menu, wherein the generated visual prompt menu includes a visual representation of a set of call options included in the IVR system;

transmitting the generated visual prompt menu to a display of the telephonic device;

receiving, from the telephonic device, at least one call option selected from the generated visual prompt menu;

processing, by the IVR system, a call sequence based on the received at least one call option selected from the generated visual prompt menu;

in response to detecting a dropped call, recording a last connected call option in the processed call sequence; and

in response to receiving a subsequent phone call from the telephonic device, automatically directing the received subsequent phone call to the recorded last connected call option.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving, by the IVR system, a device identifying information from the telephonic device associated with the received phone call;

determining, based on the received device identifying information, that the telephonic device does not include the visual menu device type; and

transmitting, to the telephonic device, an audio prompt menu including the set of call options included in the IVR system.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

accessing a set of IVR metadata associated with the IVR system;

determining, based on the accessed set of IVR metadata, an information linking the set of call options to a corresponding keypad input;

indicating, in the generated visual prompt menu, the corresponding keypad input for the set of call options.

13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving, from the telephonic device, a plurality of call options selected concurrently from the generated visual prompt menu; and

dynamically generating the call sequence for the received plurality of call options.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:

optimizing the dynamically generated call sequence for the received plurality of call options based on a criteria selected from the group consisting of an option availability and an option dependency.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

in response to the optimized call sequence, automatically prioritizing an available option over an unavailable option; and

in response to the optimized call sequence, automatically processing an independent option prior to processing a dependent option depending from the independent option.

16. A computer program product for dynamic graphical rendering of call options, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage media and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to receive, by an interactive voice response (IVR) system, a phone call from a telephonic device;

program instructions to determine that the telephonic device includes a visual menu device type;

program instructions to generate a visual prompt menu, wherein the generated visual prompt menu includes a visual representation of a set of call options included in the IVR system;

program instructions to transmit the generated visual prompt menu to a display of the telephonic device;

program instructions to receive, from the telephonic device, at least one call option selected from the generated visual prompt menu;

program instructions to process, by the IVR system, a call sequence based on the received at least one call option selected from the generated visual prompt menu;

program instructions to, in response to detecting a dropped call, recording a last connected call option in the processed call sequence; and

program instructions to, in response to receiving a subsequent phone call from the telephonic device, automatically directing the received subsequent phone call to the recorded last connected call option.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 , further comprising:

program instructions to receive, by the IVR system, a device identifying information from the telephonic device associated with the received phone call;

program instructions to determine, based on the received device identifying information, that the telephonic device does not include the visual menu device type; and

program instructions to transmit, to the telephonic device, an audio prompt menu including the set of call options included in the IVR system.

18. The computer program product of claim 16 , further comprising:

program instructions to access a set of IVR metadata associated with the IVR system;

program instructions to determine, based on the accessed set of IVR metadata, an information linking the set of call options to a corresponding keypad input;

program instructions to indicate, in the generated visual prompt menu, the corresponding keypad input for the set of call options.

19. The computer program product of claim 16 , further comprising:

program instructions to receive, from the telephonic device, a plurality of call options selected concurrently from the generated visual prompt menu; and

program instructions to dynamically generate the call sequence for the received plurality of call options.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY FROM IBM RESEARCH AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINED CORPORATION AND TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY FROM ZEPHYR BUYER L.P. TO ZEPHYR BUYER, L.P. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66795 FRAME: 858. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 20, 2024
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: ZEPHYR BUYER, L.P.
Reel/Frame 066838/0157 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66796 FRAME: 188. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 20, 2024
From: ZEPHYR BUYER, L.P.
To: THE WEATHER COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 067188/0894 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2024
From: IBM RESEARCH AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
To: ZEPHYR BUYER L.P.
Reel/Frame 066795/0858 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2024
From: ZEPHYR BUYER L.P.
To: THE WEATHER COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 066796/0188 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2024
From: THE WEATHER COMPANY, LLC
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066404/0122 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2020
From: LU, CINDY HAN; TRAN, THAI QUOC; BRAHMAROUTU, SRINIVAS R.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052094/0830 →
Cited By (4)
US 12,500,979 US 12,647,516 US 12,676,943 US 12,712,971