US 6,842,767 B1 · Method and apparatus for content personalization over a telephone interface with adaptive personalization

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing personalized information content over telephones is described. The creation of a voice portal is supported by the invention. Embodiments of the invention use telephone identifying information such as the calling party's number to identify, or create, user profiles for customization. The personalized content is specific to that user based on her/his telephone identifying information and may be further customized based on the current time, current date, the calling party's locales, and/or the calling party's dialect and speech patterns. Also, the telephone identifying information may support targeted advertising, content, and purchasing recommendations specific to that user. The system may use a voice password and/or touch-tone login system when appropriate to distinguish the caller or verify the caller's identity for specific activities. Typically, embodiments of the invention will immediately present a caller personalized content based on her/his profile using the appropriate dialect as well as the caller's preferred content. Profiles can be constructed as the caller uses embodiments of the invention as well as through explicit designation of preferences. For example, as the user selects topics, as well as particular content, a record of actions can be maintained. This record of actions can be used to provide suggestions and direct the personalization of the system for the user.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of presenting personalized content over a voice portal, comprising:

receiving telephone identifying information on a first computer from a telephone interface;
identifying a corresponding user profile having an associated at least one telephone identifying information matching said telephone identifying information on said first computer from said telephone interface;
generating content relating to at least one topic included in said corresponding user profile;
selecting a qualified voice character as a function of said user profile and a voice characteristic of said user;
presenting content relating to said at least one topic included in said corresponding user profile, formatted in said qualified voice character, over said telephone interface;
including a record of actions in said corresponding user profile;
presenting a suggestion for updating said corresponding user profile over said telephone interface based on said record of actions, said suggestion comprising at least one of a second topic and a sub-topic of said at least one topic;
receiving a response to said suggestion;
and
adding said second topic or said sub-topic to said user profile according to said response to said suggestion, wherein topics and sub-topics in said user profile are user selectable, and wherein said first computer represents content relating to a topic or sub-topic in said user profile over said telephone interface in response to a user-selection of a topic or sub-topic in said user profile.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for content personalization over a telephone interface with adaptive personalization

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for content personalization over a telephone interface with adaptive personalization

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12