Saving information from information retrieval systems
A method and system for allowing a calling party to save information obtained from an information retrieval system. The caller may select options to save the information to a memory location, e.g., the caller's own network-based voice mail system or a temporary voice mailbox provided for the caller by the information provider, from which the caller can subsequently retrieve and review the information. The information may be saved to an Internet-based website from which the caller may subsequently retrieve the information. The information may be forwarded to a separate telephone directory number for receipt by a third person or for storing on a remote voice mail system. Additionally, the information may be electronically mailed to the caller's electronic mail address for subsequent retrieval. Discussions with a live attendant may be recorded and stored, as audio files or as converted to text, for access by or delivery to the caller.
1. A method of saving information obtained from a telephony-based information retrieval system, the method comprising:
receiving a call from a calling party to a called party for communication with a live attendant to obtain information;
initiating recording of the communication with the live attendant through an information retrieval system associated with the called party;
saving an audio file of the recording to a designated memory location, for subsequent access by the calling party;
providing a default delivery option to the calling party for accessing the recording;
wherein a web site is a default site previously designated for delivery of the audio file;
giving the calling party an option to designate a different delivery option instead of the default option for accessing the recording;
giving the calling party an option to designate a different web site, instead of the default site, for delivery of the audio file;
making the memory location available for subsequent accessing of the saved recording by the calling party; and
delivering the audio file to a designated Internet-based web site for subsequent access and playback of the audio file by the calling party.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering the audio file to a designated electronic mail address for subsequent access and playback of the audio file by the calling party.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising preparing a machine translation of the recorded communication to produce a text file; and
making the text file available for subsequent access by the calling party.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising delivering the text file of the machine translation to a designated electronic mail address for subsequent access by the calling party.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising delivering the text file of the machine translation to a designated Internet-based web site for subsequent access by the calling party.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the called party has the option of initiating the recording of the communication with the live attendant.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calling party has the option of initiating the recording of the communication with the attendant.
8. A system for saving information obtained from a telephony-based information retrieval system, comprising:
an information retrieval system associated with a called party and operative:
to receive a call from a calling party to a called party for communication with a live attendant to obtain information;
to initiate recording of the communication with the live attendant through an information retrieval system associated with the called party;
to save an audio file of the recording to a designated memory location, for subsequent access by the calling party;
to provide a default information delivery option to the calling party for accessing the recording;
to deliver the audio file to a default web site in response to a previous designation of the default web site for delivery of the audio file
to give the calling party an option to designate a different delivery option instead of the default option for accessing the recording;
to give the calling party an option to designate a different web site, instead of the default site, for delivery of the audio file;
to make the memory location available for subsequent accessing of the saved recording by the calling party; and
to deliver the audio file to a designated Internet-based web site for subsequent access and playback of the audio file by the calling party.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the information retrieval system delivers the audio file to a designated electronic mail address for subsequent access and playback of the audio file by the calling party.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the information retrieval system prepares a machine conversion of the recorded communication to produce a text file; and
makes the text file available for subsequent access by the calling party.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the information retrieval system delivers the text file of the machine conversion to a designated electronic mail address for subsequent access by the calling party.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the information retrieval system delivers the text file of the machine conversion to a designated Internet-based web site for subsequent access by the calling party.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the information retrieval system gives the calling party the option of initiating the recording of the communication with the live attendant.