Selection of a voice recognition data base responsive to video data

Claims

We claim:

1. A switching system including interconnected switching offices and stations connected to at least certain of said switching offices and a Common Channel Signaling System (CCSS) for controlling the connection of a calling station to a called station through said switching system;

a plurality of speech recognition resources connected to said switching system;

a calling station having a handset and having means associated therewith responsive to said calling station going off-hook for sensing an image and outputting a video signal containing information representative of said detected image;

a database associated with said CCSS having stored therein data corresponding to pre-established image information;

comparing means for comparing selected portions of the information represented by said digital signal with corresponding information in said database containing said data corresponding to pre-established image information and providing a signal representative of the degree of match;

means responsive at least partially to said degree of match to select at least one of said resources and to connect a signal from said calling station to said selected resource; and

means associated with said plurality of resources for outputting a signal responsive to a spoken command inputted to said calling station.

2. A switching system according to claim 1 including:

stadia means mounted on said handset at a predetermined distance apart for detection by said image sensing means to establish a known distance and provide a reference for establishing other distances represented in the image signal outputted by said sensing means.

3. A switching system according to claim 2 wherein said stadia means comprise radiation means.

4. A switching system according to claim 3 wherein said radiation means are mounted on said handset in a manner to protrude from at least one surface thereof to provide visibility from multiple directions including a direction parallel to said surface.

5. A switching system according to claim 2 wherein said image sensing means includes focusing means arranged to focus on said stadia means.

6. A switching means according to claim 5 wherein said image sensing means includes aiming means arranged to aim said image sensing means at said stadia means.

7. A switching means according to claim 2 including:

means for sensing loss of a direct line of sight between said image sensing means and said stadia means and for initiating a trigger signal to cause delivery to the handset of an audio prompt advising the user to face the station.

8. A switching system according to claim 1 including:

a database associated with said CCSS having stored therein biometric information;

means for addressing said database and accessing information therein in response to a caller holding said handset off-hook and sensing biometric input;

means responsive to said accessed information to at least partially contribute to the selection of at least one of said resources and to connect a signal from said calling station to said selected resource.

9. A switching system according to claim 1 including audio response means for generating a plurality of predetermined audio responses, wherein said audio response means generates an audio response responsive to said signal responsive to said spoken command.

10. A switching system according to claim 9 wherein said audio response requests a further spoken command from said calling station and including means associated with said plurality of resources for outputting a signal responsive to outputs from at least a pair of said resources operating in parallel.

11. A switching system according to claim 1 wherein said handset has mounted thereon sensing means for sensing biometric parameters and generating signals responsive to the parameters sensed; and

means for rendering the signal outputted by said plurality of resources at least partially responsive to said signals responsive to parameters sensed.

12. A switching system according to claim 1 including:

an operator station;

timing means;

means for initiating timing by said timing means at a pre-determined occurrence after said calling station goes off-hook;

means establishing a pre-determined time duration for timing by said timing means; and

means responsive to said timing means reaching said pre-determined time duration to cause connection of said calling station to said operator station.

13. A switching system according to claim 1 including:

a database associated with said CCSS having stored therein demographic information related to said stations connected to said switching stations;

means for addressing said database in response to a station going off-hook to access demographic information relating to said off-hook station;

means responsive to said accessed information to supply input to the selection of at least one of said resources and to connect a signal from said calling station to said selected resource for outputting a signal responsive to a spoken inputted command to said calling station.

14. A switching system according to claim 13 including audio response means for generating a plurality of predetermined audio responses, wherein said audio response means generates an audio response responsive to said signal responsive to said spoken command.

15. A switching system according to claim 14 wherein said audio response invites a further spoken command to said calling station, and including means associated with said plurality of resources for outputting a signal responsive to outputs from at least a pair of said resources.

16. A switching system including interconnected switching offices and stations connected to at least certain of said switching offices and a Common Channel Signaling System (CCSS) for controlling the connection of a calling station to a called station through said switching system;

a plurality of recognition resources connected to said switching system;

a calling station having a handset and having means associated therewith responsive to said calling station going off-hook for sensing an image and outputting a video signal containing information representative of said detected image;

a database associated with said CCSS having stored therein data corresponding to pre-established image information;

comparing means for comparing selected portions of the information represented by said digital signal with corresponding information in said database containing said data corresponding to pre-established image information and providing a signal representative of the degree of match;

means responsive at least partially to said degree of match to select at least one of said resources and to connect a signal from said calling station to said selected resource; and

means associated with said plurality of resources for outputting a signal responsive to a spoken command inputted to said calling station.

17. A switching system according to claim 16 including:

stadia means mounted on said handset at a predetermined distance apart for detection by said image sensing means to establish a known distance and provide a reference for establishing other distances represented in the image signal outputted by said sensing means.

18. A switching system according to claim 17 wherein said stadia means comprise radiation means.

19. A switching system according to claim 18 wherein said radiation means are mounted on said handset in a manner to protrude from at least one surface thereof to provide visibility from multiple directions including a direction parallel to said surface.

20. A switching system according to claim 17 wherein said image sensing means includes focusing means arranged to focus on said stadia means.

21. A switching system according to claim 20 wherein said image sensing means includes aiming means arranged to aim said image sensing means at said stadia means.

22. A switching means according to claim 17 including:

means for sensing loss of a direct line of sight between said image sensing means and said stadia means and for initiating a trigger signal to cause delivery to the handset of an audio prompt advising the user to face the station.

23. A switching system according to claim 16 including:

a database associated with said CCSS having stored therein biometric information;

means for addressing said database and accessing information therein in response to a caller holding said handset off-hook and sensing biometric input;

means responsive to said accessed information to at least partially contribute to the selection of at least one of said resources and to connect a signal from said calling station to said selected resource.

24. A switching system according to claim 16 including audio response means for generating a plurality of predetermined audio responses, wherein said audio response means generates an audio response responsive to said signal responsive to said spoken command.

25. A switching system according to claim 24 wherein said audio response requests a further spoken command from said calling station, and including means associated with said plurality of resources for outputting a signal responsive to outputs from at least a pair of said resources operating in parallel.

26. A switching system according to claim 16 wherein said handset has mounted thereon sensing means for sensing biometric parameters and generating signals responsive to the parameters sensed; and

means for rendering the signal outputted by said plurality of resources at least partially responsive to said signals responsive to parameters sensed.

27. A switching system according to claim 16 including:

an operator station;

timing means;

means for initiating timing by said timing means at a pre-determined occurrence after said calling station goes off-hook;

means establishing a pre-determined time duration for timing by said timing means; and

means responsive to said timing means reaching said pre-determined time duration to cause connection of said calling station to said operator station.

28. A switching system according to claim 16 including:

a database associated with said CCSS having stored therein demographic information related to said stations connected to said switching stations;

means for addressing said database in response to a station going off-hook to access demographic information relating to said off-hook station;

means responsive to said accessed information to supply input to the selection of at least one of said resources and to connect a signal from said calling station to said selected resource for outputting a signal responsive to a spoken command inputted to said calling station.

29. A switching system according to claim 28 including audio response means for generating a plurality of predetermined audio responses, wherein said audio response means generates an audio response responsive to said signal responsive to said spoken command.

30. A switching system according to claim 29 wherein said audio response invites a further spoken command to said calling station, and including means associated with said plurality of resources for outputting a signal responsive to outputs from at least a pair of sensors.

31. In a switching system including interconnected switching offices and stations having handsets connected to at least certain of said switching offices, a Common Channel Signaling System (CCSS) for controlling the connection of a calling station to a called station through said switching system, and a plurality of recognition resources connected to said switching system; a method comprising the steps of:

responsive to a calling station going off-hook, sensing an image in a field of view adjacent to said calling station and generating a video signal containing information representative of said detected image;

comparing said information from said digital signal with prestored data corresponding to pre-established image information, and providing a signal representative of the degree of match;

at least partially responsive to said degree of match selecting at least one of said resources and connecting a signal from said calling station to said selected resource;

responsive to a spoken command from said calling station outputting from said plurality of resources a signal representative thereof.

32. A method according to claim 31 including the steps of:

providing on said handset of said calling station stadia means mounted a pre-determined distance apart and detecting said stadia means by an image sensing means to establish a known distance and provide a reference for establishing other distances represented in the image signal outputted by said sensing means.

33. A method according to claim 32 including the step of providing radiation from said stadia means for detection by said image sensing means.

34. A method according to claim 33 including the step of providing said radiation from said stadia means in at least two mutually perpendicular planes over sectors of a least 270 degrees in each plane.

35. A method according to claim 32 including the step of focusing said image sensing means on said stadia means.

36. A method according to claim 32 including the step of aiming said image sensing means at said stadia means.

37. A method according to claim 32 including the steps of:

sensing loss of a direct line of sight between said image sensing means and said stadia means; and

delivering to the handset of said calling station an audio prompt advising the user to face the station.

38. A method according to claim 31 including the steps of:

storing in a database associated with said CCSS biometric information;

addressing said database and accessing biometric information therein in response to a caller holding said handset at said calling station off-hook; and

selecting at least one of said resources and connecting a signal from said calling station to said selected resource at least partially on the basis of said biometric information.

39. A method according to claim 31 including the steps of:

storing a plurality of pre-determined audio responses; and

delivering to said calling party one of said prestored audio responses in response to said spoken command.

40. A method according to claim 39 including the steps of:

requesting a further spoken command from said calling station; and

delivering to said calling party an audio signal responsive to outputs from at least a pair of said resources operating in parallel.

41. A method according to claim 31 including the steps of:

timing the call commencing with the off-hook condition; and

connecting said calling station to an operator station at the termination of a pre-determined interval.

42. A method according to claim 31 including the steps of:

establishing a database associated with said CCSS having stored therein demographic information related to said stations connected to said switching st