System and method for automatically processing a user's request by an automated assistant

Apparatus for providing automated directory assistance comprising:

• a recognizer that is to recognize a directory listing request received from a caller;
• a preliminary matcher that is to conduct a first search of a database for the recognized directory listing request;
• an output manager that is to prompt the user to provide at least one of a street address and category information for the recognized directory listing request;
• and
• a refined matcher that is to conduct a second search of the database using at least one of the street address and the category information provided by the user in response to the prompt by the output manager, wherein the output manager is to output a directory listing to the user if a match for the recognized directory listing request based on the second search is found.

A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of executable instructions, the plurality of instructions comprising instructions to:

• receive a directory listing request from a user;
• recognize the directory listing request;
• conduct a first search of a database for the recognized directory listing request;
• prompt the user to provide at least one of a street address and category information for the recognized directory listing request if more than one match for the recognized directory listing request is found in the database;
• conduct a second search of the database using at least one of the street address and the category information provided by the user in response to the prompting;
• and
• output a directory listing to the user if a match for the recognized directory listing request is found.

A method for providing automated directory assistance using an automated assistance system, comprising:

• receiving a directory listing request from a user;
• recognizing the directory listing request;
• conducting a first search of a database for the recognized directory listing request;
• prompting the user to provide additional information related to the recognized directory listing request if more than one match for the recognized directory listing request is found in the database;
• conducting a second search of the database using the additional information provided by the user in response to the prompt;
• and
• outputting a directory listing to the user if a match for the recognized directory listing request is found.

Apparatus for providing automated directory assistance, comprising:

• a recognizer that is to recognize a directory listing request;
• a preliminary matcher that is to conduct a first search of a database for the recognized directory listing request;
• an output manager that is to prompt the user to provide additional information related to the recognized directory listing request;
• a refined matcher that is to conduct a second search of the database using the additional information provided by the user in response to the prompt;
• wherein the output manager is to output a directory listing to the user if a match for the recognized directory listing request is found.