Method, system, and computer-readable media for performing speech recognition of indicator tones

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for conducting an outdial telephone campaign, the method comprising at least the following:

• a) selecting at least one target telephone number from a plurality of target telephone numbers;
• b) requesting a dialing of the at least one target telephone number;
• c) identifying a status resulting from the dialing, wherein identifying a status includes:
• receiving an indicator signal resulting from the dialing of the at least one target telephone number and a message associated with the indicator signal;
• and
• requesting an automatic conversion of the message to a text equivalent;
• d) associating the status with the at least one target telephone number;
• and
• e) repeating a) through d) until the outdial campaign is complete.

Apparatus for conducting an outdial telephone campaign, the apparatus comprising at least the following:

• a) means for selecting at least one target telephone number from a plurality of target telephone numbers;
• b) means for requesting a dialing of the at least one target telephone number;
• c) means for identifying a status resulting from the dialing, wherein the means for identifying a status includes:
• means for receiving an indicator signal resulting from the dialing of the at least one target telephone number and a message associated with the indicator signal;
• and
• means for requesting an automatic conversion of the message to a text equivalent;
• d) means for associating the status with the at least one target telephone number;
• and
• e) means for repeating a) through d) until the outdial campaign is complete.

A system for conducting an outdial telephone campaign, the system comprising at least the following:

• a first data store containing a plurality of target telephone numbers;
• an application program executing on a general purpose computer system, communicating with the first data store and the speech recognition engine, and being configured to perform a method including at least the following:
• a) receiving at least one target telephone number from the first data store;
• b) requesting a dialing of the at least one target telephone number;
• c) identifying a status resulting from the dialing, wherein identifying a status includes:
• receiving an indicator signal resulting from the dialing of the at least one target telephone number and a message associated with the indicator signal;
• and
• requesting an automatic conversion of the message to a text equivalent;
• d) associating the status with the at least one target telephone number;
• and
• e) repeating steps b) through d) until the outdial campaign is complete;
• an automated dialer communicating with the application program to receive a request to dial the at least one target telephone number and being adapted to:
• dial the at least one target telephone number in response to the request;
• receive a signal representing the status resulting from the dialing;
• and
• send the signal to the application program;
• a speech recognition engine adapted to convert automatically an input speech waveform into a corresponding text equivalent in response to a request from the application program;
• and
• at least a second data store communicating with the application program and storing data corresponding to the status resulting from the dialing.