IVR Requirements??

[Prasad Babu. J]

Dear All,


I like to know what are all the pre-requisties for implementing IVR technology. ie

1. What are all the s/w needed?
2. Do I need any h/w component?
3. Any support from service provider? etc

[Tim Holloway]

Welcome to the JavaRanch, Prasad.

IVR means "Integrated Voice Response"? I thought there was a similar acronym used to refer to Independent Vendors or something like that in the mobile industry, so I'm confused.

If you're looking for Voice Recognition, the hardware required is a microphone and optionally a speaker. Standard equipment on your average cellphone.

There's 2 types of audio recognition available on cellphones. My phone can voice dial by doing a pattern match against a pre-recorded image stored in the phone itself. My wife's phone forwards the audio input to the cellphone service provider, which does the job on their own equipment - and charges extra for it. Not that her phone lacks the hardware or computing capacity, but that's just how the OS was set up by the service provider.

[Prasad Babu. J]

Thanks for your response Tim..

I like to know about "Interactive Voice Response".

As a PoC, I like to implement a J2ME application to handle IVR request/responses.

1. If I dial a <<number>>, then my cellphone should get connected to my J2ME application.
2. Then application should respond with some voice messages for further process. Say.. Press "1" to do...., Press "2" to do.... etc
3. Based on response provided, specific functionalities needs to be done. Say... For "1" - getting Account Details, For "2" - getting Balance etc

As of now, I dont have any idea to implement the above functionalities. Please let me know how to proceed and what are all the things I should look after....

[Tim Holloway]

Normally, the way this kind of stuff works would be that you'd dial a number that connected you to a Voice Server appliance, which is configured (typically) with a special type of XML file where the menus, responses and actions are defined. I think the standard is "VXML", but I forget. There'd be no need for JME, or even a Java-enabled phone. Any phone (cell or landline) would be able to use the app.

You can actually build your own Voice Server. A basic PC with a modem card capable of digitizing incoming voice is the only really unique thing about it. But unless you're under really tight constraints or just want to say you did it yourself, it's probably better to buy one already set up for you.

[Prasad Babu. J]

Thanks Tim... I ll work on that and get back to you if I found any difficulties...

Thanks once again... Have a nice day...

[Prasanna Balaraman]

Prasad,

you would need to buy at least 2 port dialogic card to interface landline with your computer then some IVR platform. Cheap one would be MS speech server. These are the minimum things you need to run an IVR app.

-Prasanna

[Tim Holloway]

Prasanna Balaraman wrote:Prasad,
Cheap one would be MS speech server.
-Prasanna

Cheaper one would be Asterisk. It's free. And very probably more popular, if the Help Wanted ads in my town mean anything.