Disambiguation method and system for a voice activated directory assistance system

A directory assistance system, comprising:

• a searchable directory for storing directory information;
• a database of audio recordings, each audio recording comprising a name of a person audibly recorded in a voice of a person named and corresponding to an entry in said searchable directory;
• a query system for searching said directory for a particular entry based on received voice directory assistance requests;
• a speech recognition system for converting the voice directory assistance requests into computer-processable queries for processing by said query system;
• and
• a disambiguation system for retrieving and playing back selected ones of said audio recordings in said database responsive to said query system locating multiple entries during a directory search;
• said disambiguation system serially presenting the selected audio recordings when multiples entries are located in response to a query from a caller seeking directory assistance to enable the caller to select a name.

A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program for correcting ambiguations in a directory assistance system, said computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

• receiving and processing a voice directory assistance request from a caller;
• performing speech recognition on the voice directory assistance request;
• presenting audio information to said caller if the request results in an ambiguation of at least two names, said audio information comprising a serial presentation of audibly recorded alternative names, each name audibly recorded in a voice of a person named;
• and
• receiving from said caller a selection of a name, thereby resolving said ambiguation.