Web-based generation of telephony-based interactive voice response applications

Abstract

A method of analyzing a menu structure associated with an interactive voice system that supports interactive voice response users is disclosed. A graphical representation of the menu structure is generated and communicated to an on-line user. The graphical representation is used by the on-line user to select graphical menu items corresponding to interactive voice response prompts.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 analyzing a menu structure associated with an interactive voice response system that supports interactive voice response users;    generating a graphical representation of the menu structure,    communicating said graphical representation to an on-line user, said graphical representation being used by said on-line user to select graphical menu items corresponding to interactive voice response prompts.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising connecting the on-line user to another party, the party corresponding to the user's selection of at least one choice on the graphical representation of the interactive voice response menu.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising connecting the on-line user to another party, the party corresponding to the user's selection of at least one choice on the graphical representation of the interactive voice response menu by a telephone connection.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the telephone connection is an Internet telephony connection.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of connecting further comprises the step of replicating responses to interactive voice response prompts.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of connecting further comprises the step of bypassing interactive voice response prompts.  
     
     
         7 . A method comprising: 
 analyzing a menu structure that supports interactive voice response users;    generating a representation of the menu structure using the analysis, the representation being usable for on-line users;    connecting an on-line user to a choice on the representation of the menu structure by a telephone connection.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the telephone connection is an Internet telephony connection.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of connecting further comprises the step of replicating responses to interactive voice response prompts.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of connecting further comprises the step of bypassing interactive voice response prompts.  
     
     
         11 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving selection of one or more graphical links on a web page from an on-line user, said links corresponding to prompts contained in a menu structure, said menu structure supporting interactive voice response users;    placing a call to an interactive voice system;    correlating the on-line selection of graphical links to corresponding interactive voice response prompts; and    automatically responding to the corresponding interactive voice response prompts.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of automatically responding further comprises the step of replicating responses to interactive voice response prompts.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of automatically responding further comprises the step of bypassing interactive voice response prompts.