IP Library Granted Patent US 8,453,071
Granted Patent B2
US 8,453,071 · App. 11/348,900 · Granted May 28, 2013

Method of providing phone service menus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,453,071
App. No.
11/348,900
Granted
May 28, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for facilitating the navigation of menu trees offered by service providers is provided. The method of facilitating menu tree options at a menu tree facilitator includes the steps of receiving a customer request from a customer at a menu tree service center, the request including a customer identification, and determining one menu tree from a plurality of menu trees based on the customer request, wherein each of the plurality of menu trees is associated with a service provider. The method also includes determining at least a portion of the determined menu tree based on the customer request; and sending the portion of the determined menu tree to the customer based on the determination. The menu tree facilitator is a separate entity from the service provider.

Claims (12)

1. A method of facilitating menu tree options, the method comprising:

receiving from a customer, customer subscription data at a menu tree service center prior to receiving a customer request from the customer, wherein the customer subscription data comprises at least one linked customer number linked to a spoken word or phrase, the linked customer number and spoken word or phrase stored on a database at the menu tree service center;

receiving the customer request from a customer at the menu tree service center, the customer request including a customer identification;

determining one menu tree from a plurality of menu trees based on the customer request, wherein each of the plurality of menu trees is associated with a service provider;

determining at least a portion of the determined menu tree based on the customer request, wherein the portion is further determined based on at least one of a customer menu tree navigation record and a predetermined menu tree provided to the menu tree service center by the service provider and stored at the menu tree service center server;

sending the portion of the determined menu tree to the customer based on the portion;

receiving a response from the customer at the menu tree service center based on the portion;

transmitting the response from the menu tree service center to the service provider;

sending a service provider request for the linked customer number to the customer via the menu tree service center;

receiving a verbal response from the customer at the menu tree service center, wherein the verbal response comprises the spoken word or phrase;

retrieving the linked customer number from the menu tree service center server based on the verbal response; and

sending the linked customer number to the service provider.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2021
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: KYNDRYL, INC.
Reel/Frame 057885/0644 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2006
From: BERSTIS, VIKTORS; GILZEAN, CANDICE B.; GILLARD, SONIA M.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017523/0756 →