Importance

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Abstract

A system and method for a packet Voice Response Unit (VRU) which directly utilize packet network protocols, such as those of the H.323 standard, to provide enhanced services via a packet network. The packet VRU generally operates within the packet network and is not required to provide data format translation or multiple device-type access. The packet VRU may be built entirely in software running on a network server with a standard packet network connection such as Ethernet or token-ring. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the packet VRU redirects the media stream from a source so that it is sent directly to a destination, instead of passing through the packet VRU. Alternatively, if the packet VRU must perform processing on the message contents, the packets may be sent to both the destination and to the packet VRU. The packet VRU may still retain call control over the media streams by maintaining the signaling and user input components of the call. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a gateway may convert user input indication signals received from a party connected via the gateway into user input indication messages in an out-of-band channel to be read by the packet VRU, separate from the redirected media streams. The packet VRU may generally provide the existing enhanced services of a synchronous VRU but in a packet network environment, and in addition provide enhanced services for multimedia communications.

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First Claim