Intelligent voice response system with navigator database

A method for facilitating access to predetermined services via an intelligent voice response (IVR) unit coupled to a public switched telephone network, said method comprising the steps of:

• configuring said IVR unit to provide an IVR menu having navigational paths to said predetermined services for accessing by a user, said user providing selection signals exclusively within a telephone call established via said public switched telephone network;
• storing menu definitions of respective navigational paths in a navigator database;
• said user initiating a request to said navigator database to provide a digital representation of at least one of said navigational paths, said request identifying at least one desired navigational path, a desired format for said digital representation, and a destination for delivering said digital representation;
• generating said digital representation in response to said desired navigational path and said desired format;
• and
• electronically transmitting said digital representation to said destination independently of said user accessing said predetermined services.

Apparatus comprising:

• an intelligent voice response (IVR) unit for coupling to a public switched telephone network and providing predetermined services to a user according to an IVR menu having navigational paths to said predetermined services, said user providing selection signals to said IVR unit via a corresponding telephone call in said public switched telephone network to access said predetermined services;
• a navigator database storing menu definitions of respective navigational paths, said navigator database responsive to a request from said user to provide a digital representation of at least one of said navigational paths, said request identifying a desired navigational path, a desired format for said digital representation, and a destination for delivering said digital representation, wherein said navigator database detects when at least one of said menu definitions has been updated and automatically initiates a transmission of an updated digital representation to said user according to a preconfigured desired format and a preconfigured destination;
• an electronic delivery system for transmitting said digital representation in said desired format to said destination independently of said telephone call;
• and
• a user database identifying subscribed users and corresponding navigation paths, each of said subscribed users receiving said updated digital representation whose identified navigation paths match said updated menu definitions.

A method for facilitating access to predetermined services via an intelligent voice response (IVR) unit coupled to a public switched telephone network, said method comprising the steps of:

• configuring said IVR unit to provide an IVR menu having navigational paths to said predetermined services for accessing by a user, said user providing selection signals within a telephone call established via said public switched telephone network;
• storing menu definitions of respective navigational paths in a navigator database;
• said user initiating a request to said navigator database to provide a digital representation of at least one of said navigational paths, said request identifying at least one desired navigational path, a desired format for said digital representation, and a destination for delivering said digital representation;
• generating said digital representation in response to said desired navigational path and said desired format;
• electronically transmitting said digital representation to said destination independently of said telephone call;
• said navigator database detecting when at least one of said menu definitions has been updated;
• configuring a user database identifying subscribed users and corresponding navigation paths, so that each of said subscribed users can receive said updated digital representation whose identified navigation paths match said updated menu definitions;
• automatically initiating a transmission of an updated digital representation to said user according to a preconfigured desired format and a preconfigured destination.