Information processing device, information processing system, information processing method and program

Abstract

To enable overall contents of choices to be accurately grasped when making a setting about voice guidance that is performed by presenting the choices.SOLUTION: An information processing unit 10 of an automatic telephone answering device 2 provides a user interface for allowing a user to generate a block displaying information about contents of choices, and a user interface for performing a list display of blocks generated by the user in a rearrangeable state for each choice that undergoes voice guidance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing system, and an information processing method, and in particular to an information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone answering, an information processing system including the information processing device and a terminal, an information processing method using the information processing device, and a program that are suitable for use in the information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, automated telephone answering systems that automatically respond by voice instead of human response when a call is made to a predetermined telephone number have been widely used (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this type of automated telephone answering system, when the automated voice response is made, a plurality of options are presented through voice guidance (hereinafter referred to as "option presentation guidance"), and when the caller selects one of the options, a process corresponding to that option is performed. As an example, when presenting options guidance, the automated telephone answering system uses voice guidance to convey information that "if you wish to be provided with predetermined information by voice, press 1 on the dial key, and if you wish to be connected to an operator, press 2," and when the caller presses either the dial key 1 or 2, the system performs a process corresponding to the pressed number.

[0003] To implement option presentation guidance using an automated telephone answering system, various settings (for example, settings for preparing options and settings related to the processing to be executed when an option is selected) are required, and these settings are usually made by the user of the automated telephone answering system in a predetermined manner. For example, the user may make the settings by informing a person in charge of the company that operates the automated telephone answering system of the settings via email, telephone, or other means, or by entering the necessary information into a screen for making the settings. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-88491 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In conventional automated telephone answering systems, because the option presentation guidance is provided by voice, there was a problem in that it was difficult to grasp the overall content of the options to be presented (what options have been prepared and what the content of each option is) when configuring the option presentation guidance. In other words, the voice guidance is provided as text, and it is necessary to understand from the text what options have been prepared and what the content of each option is, making it difficult to grasp the overall content of the options. In light of this, there is a need to be able to accurately grasp the overall content of the options when configuring an automated telephone answering system.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and aims to enable accurate understanding of the overall content of options when setting up voice guidance in which options are presented. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a user interface that allows the user to generate a block that displays information about the content of each option that is voice-guided, and a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by the user in a rearrangeable state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention configured as described above, when configuring voice guidance in which options are presented, the user can divide each option into blocks, and the blocks created by the user are displayed in a list with information about the content of the options. Therefore, by referring to the displayed list of blocks, the user can intuitively and quickly understand what options have been prepared and what the content of each option is. Furthermore, since the blocks can be rearranged, the user can rearrange the blocks in the order in which the options are presented in the voice guidance, making it easier for the user to grasp the overall content of the options. In other words, according to the above invention, the user can accurately grasp the overall content of the options when configuring voice guidance in which options are presented. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an automatic telephone answering device and a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rule group display screen. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rule setting screen. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a post-conversion rule setting screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rule group display screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a hierarchical structure of a first target and presented options. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rule group display screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rule group display screen. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rule group display screen. [Figure 11]FIG. 10 is a diagram used to explain user operations. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a selection display area. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a selection display area. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram used to explain user operations. [Figure 15] 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the automatic telephone answering device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rule group display screen. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a hierarchical structure of a first target and presented options. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a voice guidance sentence. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a terminal according to a second modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the information processing system 1 is configured to include an automatic telephone answering device 2 (corresponding to the "information processing device" in the claims) and one or more terminals 3. Both the automatic telephone answering device 2 and the terminals 3 are connectable to a network N including the Internet, a telephone network, and other communication networks.

[0011] Terminal 3 is a computer used by a user, and is connected to a display device 4 such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, or is configured to include a display device 4. In this embodiment, the term "user" refers to a person (including an organization (such as a company or organization) that uses these services) who uses the services provided by the automatic telephone answering device 2 (including at least the automatic telephone answering service and setting-related services described below). In the following description, the term "user" may refer to an individual who actually operates terminal 3, or an individual or organization (such as a company or organization) that uses the services provided by the automatic telephone answering device 2. Terminal 3 may be any type of computer equipped with a browser; for example, a desktop computer, a notebook computer, or a tablet computer (including a so-called smartphone) can function as terminal 3.

[0012] The automatic telephone answering device 2 is a server device with the terminal 3 as one of its clients. The automatic telephone answering device 2 provides at least an automatic telephone answering service and a setting-related service. The automatic telephone answering service is a service that automatically answers calls according to predetermined settings when a call is made to a telephone number assigned to a user. Hereinafter, the automatic answering provided by the automatic telephone answering device 2 will be referred to as the "automatic telephone answering." Furthermore, the telephone number assigned to a user will be referred to as the "user telephone number."

[0013] On the other hand, the setting-related service is a service that provides a means for making settings related to the automatic telephone answering system and accepts the settings. The processing of the automatic telephone answering system 2 and terminal 3 when providing the setting-related service will be described in detail later, along with the user's work and the user interface provided by the automatic telephone answering system 2. Note that while FIG. 1 shows the automatic telephone answering system 2 as a single block, the automatic telephone answering system 2 does not have to be a single server device, and may be configured, for example, by multiple server devices, or may be part of a predetermined system.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the automatic telephone answering device 2 and the terminal 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic telephone answering device 2 has, as its functional configuration, an information processing unit 10 and a communication unit 11. Furthermore, the terminal 3 has, as its functional configuration, a terminal control unit 12 and a terminal communication unit 13. The above-mentioned functional blocks 10 to 13 can be configured using any of hardware, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and software. For example, when configured using software, the above-mentioned functional blocks 10 to 13 are actually configured with a computer's CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., and are realized by the operation of a program stored in a recording medium such as RAM, ROM, a hard disk, or a semiconductor memory. Furthermore, the automatic telephone answering device 2 has a memory unit 14 as a storage means.

[0015] The communication unit 11 of the automatic telephone answering device 2 communicates with devices connected to the network N in accordance with a predetermined protocol. Hereinafter, detailed explanation of communication by the automatic telephone answering device 2 via the network N will be omitted, assuming that it is appropriately performed by the communication unit 11. The terminal communication unit 13 of the terminal 3 communicates with devices connected to the network N in accordance with a predetermined protocol. Hereinafter, detailed explanation of communication by the terminal 3 via the network N will be omitted, assuming that it is appropriately performed by the terminal communication unit 13.

[0016] As described above, the automatic telephone answering device 2 has the function of providing setting-related services. The following describes in detail the processing of the automatic telephone answering device 2 and the terminal 3 when providing setting-related services. In the following, it is assumed that a user who has not made any settings related to automatic telephone answering is making settings related to automatic telephone answering for the first time.

[0017] A user who wishes to receive a setting-related service launches the browser on the terminal 3 that he or she uses and instructs the user to access a predetermined URL on the automatic telephone answering device 2. In response to this instruction, the terminal control unit 12 of the terminal 3 accesses the predetermined URL using the browser's functions. When the predetermined URL is accessed, the information processing unit 10 of the automatic telephone answering device 2 authenticates the user using a predetermined method and then responds to the terminal 3 with an HTML file for displaying the main screen and other data. The terminal control unit 12 of the terminal 3 receives the HTML file and uses the browser's functions to display the main screen on the display device 4 based on the HTML file.

[0018] In the following, the detection of operations on various screens displayed on the "display device 4 of terminal 3" based on the HTML file transmitted from the information processing unit 10 of the automatic telephone answering device 2, the acquisition of information entered on various screens, the dynamic change of various screens, and various other screen-related processes are assumed to be appropriately executed by the information processing unit 10 using CGI, JavaScript (registered trademark), Ajax, DHTML, and other existing technologies, and will not be described in detail. Furthermore, the transmission of an HTML file by the information processing unit 10 of the automatic telephone answering device 2 to terminal 3 and displaying a screen based on the HTML file on the display device 4 of terminal 3 may be expressed as "the information processing unit 10 displays XX screen (user interface) on the display device 4 of terminal 3," or simply as "the information processing unit 10 displays XX screen (user interface)."

[0019] From the main screen (or a screen that can be accessed from the main screen), the user can select a setting-related service as a service to be received from the automatic telephone answering device 2. When the user selects a setting-related service, the information processing unit 10 of the automatic telephone answering device 2 displays a rule group display screen 19 on the display device 4 of the terminal 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the rule group display screen 19. Fig. 3 particularly shows the rule group display screen 19 when settings related to automatic telephone answering have not yet been made.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the rule group display screen 19 displays a tab 20 for each rule group, and by selecting one of the tabs 20, one of the rule groups can be selected. The significance of the rule group will become clear later. In this embodiment, there are five rule groups, RG1 to RG5, and FIG. 3 shows that rule group RG1 has been selected. Hereinafter, the selected rule group will be specifically referred to as the "selected rule group."

[0021] A rule display area 21 for the selected rule group is displayed within the rule group display screen 19. FIG. 3 shows the rule display area 21 for the rule group GR1, which is a selected rule group. The rule display area 21 is provided with an application setting button 22 for setting whether to apply the selected rule group. A rule group that is set to be applied using the application setting button 22 is applied during automatic telephone answering. The user can use the application setting button 22 to set whether to apply the selected rule group. Note that one rule group must be applied exclusively; if a rule group is being applied and another rule group is set to be applied, the application of that rule group is canceled and the other rule group is applied.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the rule display area 21 (more precisely, the rule display area 21 for a selected rule group for which no rules are set) has a first rule setting start button 23 for starting setting rules for first response processing. First response processing is the response processing that the automatic telephone answering device 2 executes first when a call is made to the user's telephone number. Hereinafter, the rule for first response processing will be referred to as the "first rule." As will become clear later, the information processing unit 10 of the automatic telephone answering device 2 executes the first response processing in accordance with the first rule. For convenience, the concept including the first response processing and the first rule will be referred to as the "first target."

[0023] When the user starts setting a first rule for the selected rule group, the user selects (double-clicks or clicks) the first rule setting start button 23. When the first rule setting start button 23 is selected, the information processing unit 10 pops up a rule setting screen 24. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the rule setting screen 24. The rule setting screen 24 is a screen for setting the content of the first response process (i.e., the content of the response process to be executed first when a call is made to the user's phone number) as the first rule. Note that the rule setting screen 24 is used not only for setting the first rule but also for setting branch rules (described later).

[0024] As shown in Fig. 4, the rule setting screen 24 has a rule name input field 25. The rule name input field 25 is a field for inputting, as a character string, a name to be given to the rule being set on the rule setting screen 24 (in this example, the first rule). The user decides on the name of the first rule and inputs it into the rule name input field 25. Fig. 4 shows the state in which the character string "Introductory information" has been input into the rule name input field 25.

[0025] A response method selection area 26 is provided below the rule name input field 25 on the rule setting screen 24. The response method selection area 26 is an area for selecting the type of response processing. Hereinafter, the type of processing may be referred to as a "response method." In this embodiment, four types of response methods are provided: "voice guidance," "telephone forwarding," "SMS transmission," and "voice recording." Hereinafter, when the terms "voice guidance," "telephone forwarding," "SMS transmission," and "voice recording" are used as response methods, "<response method>" is added, such as "voice guidance <response method>," to distinguish them from when the terms are used in a general sense.

[0026] Voice guidance <response method> refers to providing voice guidance (voice guidance) as a response process. Call forwarding <response method> refers to forwarding a call as a response process. However, call forwarding <response method> includes forwarding a call after providing voice guidance to the effect that the call will be forwarded. SMS sending <response method> refers to sending a message via SMS addressed to the caller's phone number. However, SMS sending <response method> includes sending a message after providing voice guidance to the effect that a message will be sent via SMS. Voice recording <response method> refers to recording voice (assuming the caller's spoken voice). However, voice recording <response method> includes recording voice after providing voice guidance to the effect that the call will be recorded.

[0027] 4, the response method selection area 26 displays an icon for each of the four response methods, and the user can select one of the response methods by selecting one of the icons. Below, we will explain the processing of the automatic telephone answering device 2 when the voice guidance <Response Method> is selected, and then we will briefly explain the processing of the automatic telephone answering device 2 when another response method is selected.

[0028] When the voice guidance <Response Method> is selected, the information processing unit 10 converts the rule setting screen 24 to the screen shown in FIG. 5. Hereinafter, for convenience, the screen converted from the rule setting screen 24 by selecting a response method will be referred to as the "converted rule setting screen 24A." As shown in FIG. 5, the converted rule setting screen 24A has a voice content setting area 28, which has a voice file designation area 29 and a voice guidance text input field 30. The voice file designation area 29 is an area where a voice file prepared by the user is designated and uploaded to the automatic telephone answering system 2 when the user uses the voice file prepared by the user for voice guidance (i.e., when outputting the voice recorded in the voice file during voice guidance). The user uploads the voice file by dragging and dropping the voice file into a specific area within the voice file designation area 29 or by designating the voice file by designating the location where the voice file is located in the file system of the terminal 3.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 5, the voice content setting area 28 includes a voice guidance sentence input field 30. The voice guidance sentence input field 30 is an input field for inputting the sentence of the voice guidance (hereinafter referred to as "voice guidance sentence") as text. The sentence input into the voice guidance sentence input field 30 is output as voice during voice guidance. The user can freely set the content of the voice guidance sentence.

[0030] Here, in an automated telephone answering system, a voice guide presenting multiple options is sometimes played to prompt the caller to select an option, and when the caller selects one of the options, a response process corresponding to that option is executed. Hereinafter, the voice guide presenting multiple options is referred to as an "option presentation guide," and the options presented in the option presentation guide are referred to as "presented options." As an example, in the option presentation guide, a voice is output saying, "If you want ○, press 1; if you want ×, press 2," and when the caller operates either the dial key 1 or 2, a process corresponding to the operated number is executed.

[0031] In this embodiment, the presented options presented in the option presentation guide are represented by single-digit numbers (i.e., numbers "1" to "9") that can be specified using a dial key. In this embodiment, when specifically indicating the value of a presented option, the number is added to the number, such as "number 1" or "number 2." Dial keys include not only physical buttons but also software buttons (for example, buttons displayed on the touch screen of a smartphone). Note that the presented options are represented by single-digit numbers only for the sake of simplicity of explanation, and the presented options may also be numbers of two or more digits.

[0032] If the user intends to have the automated telephone answering device 2 provide option presentation guidance, it is assumed that the user will input a voice guidance sentence including a sentence presenting / guiding each of the options to be presented (hereinafter referred to as "option guidance sentence") into the voice guidance sentence input field 30. In this embodiment, the user is informed in advance that (1) the values ​​of the options to be presented should be increased by one starting from "number 1" and (2) the options to be presented / guided should be presented in ascending order of the values ​​of the options to be presented (the option guidance sentence should be such a sentence). Note that these points are conveyed to the user, for example, via a manual (including one provided as a web page or a downloadable file). However, information indicating the points to be noted may also be displayed near the voice guidance sentence input field 30 on the post-conversion rule setting screen 24A.

[0033] For example, in this embodiment, it is permissible to prepare {1, 2} or {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} as presented options, but it is not permissible to prepare {1, 3, 6} or {7, 8, 9}. Also, for example, the content of the option guide sentence is permissible as "In the case of A, select 1, in the case of B" or "In the case of A, select 1, in the case of B, select 2, in the case of C, select 3, in the case of D, select 4, in the case of E", but it is not permissible to write "In the case of A, select 1, in the case of B" or "In the case of A, select 2, in the case of B, select 1" (the presented options are not presented / guided in order of the smallest value of the presented option), or "In the case of A, select 7, in the case of B, select 8, in the case of C"

[0034] Based on the above, the voice guidance text set by the user (=text entered in the voice guidance text input field 30) may be, for example, as follows: For example, let's say the user runs a store that provides a specified service. In this case, the content of the voice guidance text may be, for example, "Thank you for calling. This is XX. For inquiries about services, press 1. If you don't know where the store is, press 2. For all other inquiries, press 3."

[0035] A voice confirmation button 31 is provided below the voice guidance sentence input field 30. When the voice confirmation button 31 is selected (double-clicked or clicked), the information processing unit 10 uses existing voice synthesis technology to synthesize the voice guidance sentence entered in the voice guidance sentence input field 30 into a voice file, and plays the voice file to output the sentence as voice from the speaker of the terminal 3.

[0036] A user can have audio guidance provided using only an audio file prepared by the user. In this case, the user uploads the audio file prepared by the user and enters only a period (.) in the audio guidance text input field 30. A user can also have audio guidance provided using only an audio file based on the text entered in the audio guidance text input field 30. In this case, the user does not upload the audio file prepared by the user, but instead enters the audio guidance text in the audio guidance text input field 30. A user can also have audio guidance provided using both an audio file prepared by the user and an audio file based on the text entered in the audio guidance text input field 30. In this case, the user uploads the audio file prepared by the user and enters the text in the audio guidance text input field 30. In this case, audio guidance is provided in the following order: "audio based on the audio file prepared by the user" → "audio based on the text entered in the audio guidance text input field 30."

[0037] If voice guidance is selected as the response method, the automatic telephone answering device 2 outputs the voice set in the voice content setting area 28 when a call is made to the user's telephone number.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 5, an outside business hours setting area 32 is provided below the voice confirmation button 31 on the post-conversion rule setting screen 24A. The outside business hours setting area 32 is an area for setting the response processing outside business hours when the user has business hours and outside business hours and wishes a different response processing to be executed outside business hours. As shown in Fig. 5, the outside business hours setting area 32 is provided with an outside business hours related specification area 33 for specifying whether a different response processing from the business hours should be executed outside business hours. The user uses the radio buttons in the outside business hours related specification area 33 to specify whether a different response processing from the business hours should be executed outside business hours.

[0039] Below the out-of-business-hours related specification area 33, an out-of-business-hours detailed setting area 34 is provided. The out-of-business-hours detailed setting area 34 is provided with a response method selection area 26 and a voice content setting area 28. When the user specifies that a different response process should be executed outside of business hours, the user sets the content of the response process using the response method selection area 26 and the voice content setting area 28. The user can set the business hours and out-of-business hours using a user interface (not shown) provided by the information processing unit 10. The processing of the automatic telephone answering device 2 when the voice guidance <response method> is selected has been described above, along with the user interface provided by the information processing unit 10 and the user's operations.

[0040] When call forwarding <response method> is selected in the response method selection area 26 of the rule setting screen 24, the information processing unit 10 converts the rule setting screen 24 into a screen (not shown) for making settings related to call forwarding. The converted rule setting screen 24 has an input field for inputting the forwarding destination phone number, a voice content setting area 28, and an after-hours setting area 32. When call forwarding <response method> is selected as the response method, the automatic telephone answering device 2 outputs the voice set in the voice content setting area 28 when a call is made to the user phone number, and also forwards the call to the set forwarding destination phone number.

[0041] When SMS sending <Response Method> is selected in the response method selection area 26 of the rule setting screen 24, the information processing unit 10 converts the rule setting screen 24 into a screen (not shown) for making settings related to SMS sending. The converted rule setting screen 24 is provided with an input field for inputting the content of the message to be sent by SMS as text, a voice content setting area 28, and an after-hours setting area 32. When SMS sending is selected as the response method, when a call is made to the user's phone number, the automatic telephone answering device 2 outputs the voice set in the voice content setting area 28 and sends the set message by SMS to the caller's phone number.

[0042] When voice recording <Response Method> is selected in the response method selection area 26 of the rule setting screen 24, the information processing unit 10 converts the rule setting screen 24 to a screen (not shown) for making settings related to voice recording. The converted rule setting screen 24 has a voice content setting area 28 and an after-business-hours setting area 32. When voice recording is selected as the response method, the automatic telephone answering device 2 outputs the voice set in the voice content setting area 28 when a call comes in to the user's phone number, and also outputs a voice informing the caller that recording will begin and that the caller should speak the requirements (for example, a voice saying, "Please state your requirements after the beep." The voice file for this voice is prepared separately). The automatic telephone answering device 2 then records the caller's voice.

[0043] The content entered into the rule setting screen 24 indicates the rule for the response process (first response process) that the automatic telephone answering device 2 will execute first when a call is made to the user's phone number, and this content corresponds to the "first rule." When input into the rule setting screen 24 (including screens converted from the rule setting screen 24) is complete, the user selects (double-clicks or clicks) the rule setting save button 35 at the bottom of the rule setting screen 24.

[0044] When the rule setting save button 35 is selected, the information processing unit 10 accesses the setting database 15 of the storage unit 14. The setting database 15 is a database in which records holding settings related to telephone automatic response are registered for each user phone number. After accessing the setting database 15, the information processing unit 10 identifies the record corresponding to the user's user phone number (the user phone number is identified during authentication) and updates the information in the record to reflect the content of the first rule entered by the user. Reflecting the content of the first rule also includes registering the necessary audio files. This completes the setting of the first rule. When performing response processing corresponding to the first target (i.e., the response processing to be performed first when a call is made to the user phone number), the information processing unit 10 refers to the setting database 15 to identify the record corresponding to the user phone number and performs response processing in accordance with the first rule based on the content of the record.

[0045] Furthermore, when the user selects (double-clicks or clicks) the rule setting save button 35 on the rule setting screen 24, the information processing unit 10 stops the pop-up display of the rule setting screen 24 and converts the rule group display screen 19 to a screen that reflects the completion of the setting of the most-prioritized rule. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the rule group display screen 19 that the information processing unit 10 displays after the setting of the most-prioritized rule is completed. As shown in FIG. 6, the information processing unit 10 displays a most-prioritized target block 38, which is a block (actually an area surrounded by a rectangular frame) corresponding to the most-prioritized rule, on the rule group display screen 19. The information processing unit 10 displays rule name information 39 in the most-prioritized target block 38, which indicates the name of the rule entered in the rule name input field 25 (in this example, the name of the most-prioritized rule). The information processing unit 10 also displays response method information 40 in the most-prioritized target block 38, which indicates the selected response method (voice guidance <Response Method> in the example of FIG. 6).

[0046] The user can edit the first rule by selecting (double-clicking or clicking) the first target block 38. That is, when the first target block 38 is selected, the information processing unit 10 pops up the rule setting screen 24 reflecting the current first rule. The user can edit the first rule using the rule setting screen 24 that pops up.

[0047] As described above, the user can have the automatic telephone answering device 2 present option guidance as a response process. In this case, it is assumed that the voice guidance sentence includes an option guidance sentence. In this embodiment, the user can have the options presented hierarchically. Hereinafter, "hierarchically presenting options" will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a hierarchical structure of the first option and the options presented. In FIG. 7, the first option is the 0th layer (root layer). Hereinafter, a case will be described in which the automatic telephone answering device 2 "hierarchically presents options" in accordance with the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 7.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 7, first, the automatic telephone answering device 2 presents options 1 (optional presentation S1), 2 (optional presentation S2), and 3 (optional presentation S3) as options to be presented in the first response process of the 0th layer (the first response process performed after a call is made to the user's phone number). These options to be presented are included in a group belonging to the first target (hereinafter referred to as a "lower-level group of the first target") in the layer (first layer) one layer below the layer of the first target (0th layer). When option 1 (optional presentation S1) is selected in response to the presentation of options S1, S2, and S3, the layer transitions to the first layer, and the automatic telephone answering device 2 presents options 1 (optional presentation S1-1) and 2 (optional presentation S1-2) as options to be presented. Options to be presented S1-1 and S1-2 are included in a group belonging to option to be presented S1 in the layer (second layer) one layer below the layer of option to be presented S1 (first layer). Hereinafter, a group that is one level below a certain presentation option and belongs to that presentation option will be referred to as a "lower level group of presentation options." Presentation options S1-1 and S1-2 are included in the lower level group of presentation option S1. When option 2 (presentation option S1-2) is selected from the presentation of presentation options S1-1 and S1-2, the hierarchy transitions to the second level, one level below, and automatic telephone answering device 2 presents options 1 (presentation option S1-2-1) and 2 (presentation option S2-2-2) as presentation options. These presentation options S1-2-1 and S2-2-2 are included in the lower level group of presentation option S1-2.

[0049] Hereinafter, the response processing executed by the automatic telephone answering device 2 when an option presentation guide is provided in the automatic telephone answering device and a presented option is selected will be referred to as a "branching response processing." Furthermore, the rules related to the branching response processing (i.e., the settings to be followed when executing the branching response processing) will be referred to as a "branching rule." In this embodiment, the user can use the user interface provided by the information processing unit 10 to accurately set branching rules for the options to be presented (for all options in all hierarchies, if the options are presented hierarchically). Hereinafter, assuming that the user intends to have the options presented according to the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 7 and has made settings in accordance with this, the processing of the automatic telephone answering device 2 will be described together with the user interface provided by the automatic telephone answering device 2 and the operations performed by the user.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 6, on the rule group display screen 19 after the first rule has been set, an option display area 41 is provided below the first target block 38, and an add option button 42 is provided below the option display area 41. The add option button 42 is a button that is selected when setting a branching rule for one presented option and starting to generate an option block B (described later). Hereinafter, setting a branching rule for (one) presented option and generating an option block B may be referred to as "preparing (one) presented option." Below, a case where the user prepares a presented option S1 (see FIG. 7) will first be described.

[0051] To prepare the presented option S1, the user selects (double-clicks or clicks) the add option button 42 on the rule group display screen 19 (FIG. 6) after the first rule has been set. When the add option button 42 is selected, the information processing unit 10 pops up a rule setting screen 24 (see FIG. 4). The user sets the branching rule for the presented option S1 in the same manner as the first rule by making the necessary inputs on the rule setting screen 24 (that is, the content input on the rule setting screen 24 becomes the branching rule for the presented option S1). That is, the user inputs the name of the branching rule in the rule name input field 25, selects a response method, makes the necessary inputs on the screen that is converted depending on the selected response method, and selects (double-clicks or clicks) the save rule setting button 35.

[0052] Here, part or all of the rule setting screen 24 corresponds to "a user interface for setting the processing to be executed when an option corresponding to a block is selected" or "a user interface for setting the processing to be executed when an option corresponding to a block is selected, divided into business hours and non-business hours" in the claims.

[0053] When the branching rule for the presented option S1 is set (=when the rule setting save button 35 is selected), the information processing unit 10 stops the pop-up display of the rule setting screen 24. Furthermore, the information processing unit 10 generates an option block B-S1, which is a block corresponding to the presented option S1, in an option display area 41 formed below the first target block 38 on the rule group display screen 19. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the rule group display screen 19 after the branching rule for the presented option S1 has been set. In FIG. 8, a newly generated "option block B-S1 related to the presented option S1" has been generated in the option display area 41.

[0054] When adding a newly generated choice block B to the choice display area 41, the information processing unit 10 adds it according to the following rules. That is, the information processing unit 10 adds the newly generated choice block B below the block located at the bottom among the choice blocks B of the "first layer" (= the lower-layer group for the first target) that are already present in the choice display area 41. As will become clear later, it is possible to intuitively tell from appearance which layer the choice block B belongs to. At the stage when the choice block B related to the presented choice S1 is generated, there is not a single choice block B in the choice display area 41, so the information processing unit 10 displays one "choice block B related to the presented choice S1" in the choice display area 41.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 8, option block B displays option value information 43 indicating the value of the option to be presented (hereinafter referred to as "option value"). When the information processing unit 10 generates an option block B for one option to be presented, it automatically assigns an option value to the one option to be presented in accordance with the following rules. That is, the information processing unit 10 assigns an option value of the same value as the order (meaning the number counting from the top) of option block B in the "first layer" (= the lower-level group of the first target) in the option display area 41. In the example of FIG. 8, the order of option block B of option to be presented S1 in the "first layer" of the option display area 41 is "No. 1." Therefore, the information processing unit 10 assigns "No. 1" as the option value of option to be presented S1, and displays information indicating "No. 1" as option value information 43 in option block B of option to be presented S1.

[0056] Additionally, option block B displays rule name information 39 indicating the name of the branching rule entered in the rule name input field 25. It is assumed that the name of the branching rule is a phrase representing the presented option S1 by the user. Furthermore, option block B displays response method information 40 indicating the selected response method (voice guidance <Response Method> in the example of FIG. 8). The information displayed in option block B here indicates the name of the branching rule set by the user and the response method selected by the user. By referring to this information, the content of the presented option (content of the branching rule) can be intuitively and accurately understood. Therefore, the information displayed in option block B corresponds to "information regarding the content of the presented option" in the claims. Furthermore, part or all of the rule setting screen 24 corresponds to "a user interface for the user to generate option block B" in the claims. Through the above-described user operations, the presented option S1 is prepared.

[0057] Next, a case where the user prepares the presentation option S2 (see FIG. 7) will be described. When preparing the presentation option S2, the user selects (double-clicks or clicks) the add option button 42 on the rule group display screen 19 shown in FIG. 8. When the add option button 42 is selected, the information processing unit 10 pops up the rule setting screen 24 (see FIG. 4). The user specifies the content of the branching rule for the presentation option S2 in the same manner as for the first rule by making necessary inputs on the rule setting screen 24. When the save rule setting button 35 is selected, the information processing unit 10 appropriately updates the corresponding record in the setting database 15 of the storage unit 14.

[0058] When the branching rule for the presentation option S2 is set (=when the rule setting save button 35 is selected), the information processing unit 10 stops the pop-up display of the rule setting screen 24. Furthermore, the information processing unit 10 generates an option block B-S2, which is a block corresponding to the presentation option S2, in the option display area 41 of the rule group display screen 19. FIG. 9 shows an example of the rule group display screen 19 after the branching rule for the presentation option S2 has been set following the branching rule for the presentation option S1. As shown in FIG. 9, the option block B-S2 related to the presentation option S2 displays option value information 43 indicating the option value of the presentation option S2, rule name information 39 indicating the name of the branching rule, and response method information 40 indicating the selected response method.

[0059] As described above, when the information processing unit 10 adds a newly generated choice block B to the choice display area 41, it adds the newly generated choice block B below the bottommost choice block B of the "first layer" (= the lower-level group of the most immediately targeted choice) that is already present in the choice display area 41. Based on this, the information processing unit 10 adds a choice block B-S2 related to the presented choice S2 below the choice block B related to the presented choice S1. Also, as described above, the information processing unit 10 assigns the newly added choice block B (presented choice) a choice value that is the same as the order of the choice block B in the "first layer" (= the lower-level group of the most immediately targeted choice) of the choice display area 41. Based on this, the information processing unit 10 assigns "No. 2" as the choice value of the presented choice S2, and displays information indicating "No. 2" as choice value information 43 in the choice block B-S2 of the presented choice S2.

[0060] The processing of the automatic telephone answering device 2 when preparing the presentation options S1 and S2 has been described above, along with the displayed user interface and the user's operations. The user similarly prepares the presentation options S3, S1-1, S1-2, S2-1, S2-2, S1-2-1, and S1-2-2 in this order. FIG. 10 shows the rule group display screen 19 displayed by the information processing unit 10 after all the presentation options have been prepared. In FIG. 10, the option display area 41 displays option blocks B corresponding to the presentation options S1, S2, S3, S1-1, S1-2, S2-1, S2-2, S1-2-1, and S1-2-2 in this order. Note that in this embodiment, for the option block B of the presentation options shown in FIG. 7, for ease of explanation, the rule name information 39 of the option block B includes the symbol (S1, etc.) assigned to the presentation option at the beginning of the text.

[0061] The user can edit the branching rule by selecting (double-clicking or clicking) option block B. That is, when option block B is selected, the information processing unit 10 pops up a rule setting screen 24 that reflects the current branching rule. The user can edit the branching rule using the pop-up rule setting screen 24. The rule setting screen 24 also has a button for deleting the presented option, and the user can use this button to delete the presented option. When a presented option is deleted, the corresponding option block B is also deleted by the information processing unit 10.

[0062] The user can use the option blocks B displayed in the option display area 41 to assign one option block B to a lower-level group of another option block B. Referring to FIG. 7, the presented option S1-1 belongs to a lower-level group of the presented option S1. The user performs the following operations to assign the presented option S1-1 to a lower-level group of the presented option S1. FIG. 11 is a diagram used to explain the operations. As shown in FIG. 11(A), the user drags the option block B-S1-1 of the presented option S1-1 and moves it toward the option block B-S1 of the presented option S1. Furthermore, the user makes sure that the area of ​​the option block B-S1 of the presented option S1 and the area of ​​the option block B-S1-1 of the presented option S1-1 overlap by a certain amount or more, as shown in FIG. 11(B).

[0063] When the information processing unit 10 detects that the area of ​​the option block B of the presented option S1 and the area of ​​the option block B of the presented option S1-1 overlap by a certain amount or more, it displays a lower level mark 44 below the option block B-S1 of the presented option S1 (between the option block B-S1 of the presented option S1 and the option block B-S2 of the presented option S2) as shown in Fig. 11(B) indicating that "if the option block B-S1-1 is dropped in this state, the presented option S1-1 will belong to a lower level group of the presented option S1." The user checks this lower level mark 44 and drops the option block B-S1-1 of the presented option S1-1. As a result, the presented option S1-1 becomes part of the lower-level group of the presented option S1, and the option block B-S1-1 of the presented option S1-1 is displayed below the option block B-S1 of the presented option S1, one level lower in the left-right direction from the option block B-S1 of the presented option S1 (a position shifted a certain amount to the right), as shown in Fig. 11(C). As shown in Fig. 11(C), it is clear from the appearance of the option display area 41 that the presented option S1-1 belongs to the lower-level group of the presented option S1.

[0064] When adding one choice block B to a lower-level group of another choice block B, the information processing unit 10 adds it according to the following rule. That is, the information processing unit 10 adds the one choice block B below the bottommost choice block B among the choice blocks B already present in the lower-level group of the other choice block B. Furthermore, when the information processing unit 10 adds one choice block B to the lower-level group of the other choice block B, it automatically assigns a choice value to the one choice block B according to the following rule. That is, the information processing unit 10 assigns a choice value that is the same as the order (i.e., the position when counted from the top) of the choice block B in the lower-level group of the other choice block B. In the example of FIG. 11(C), in the lower-level group of the presented option S1, the order of the choice block B-S1-1 of the presented option S1-1 is "No. 1." Therefore, the information processing unit 10 assigns "No. 1" as the choice value of the presented option S1-1, and displays information indicating "No. 1" in the choice block B-S1-1 of the presented option S1-1 as choice value information 43.

[0065] Furthermore, as the presentation option S1-2 now belongs to the lower-level group of the presentation option S1, the presentation option S1-2 is removed from the lower-level group (first layer) of the most targeted option. In light of this, the information processing unit 10 changes the option values ​​for each of the presentation options included in the "lower-level group of the most targeted option" so that the order of the option blocks B in the lower-level group of the most targeted option matches the option values, and changes the content of the option value information 43 to be displayed.

[0066] 7, the option S1-2 belongs to a lower-level group of the option S1, and has an option value of "2" in that lower-level group. To achieve this state, the user moves the option block B-S1-2 of the option S1-2 so that the option block B-S1-2 of the option S1-2 and the option block B-S1 of the option S1 overlap by a certain amount, and then drops the option block B-S1-2 of the option S1-2 in this state. This places the option S1-2 in a state one level below the option S1, and the option display area 41 in the state shown in FIG. 12 (the information processing unit 10 displays the option display area 41 shown in FIG. 12). As described above, the option value of the option S1-2 is updated according to the rules.

[0067] The user also assigns presented options S2-1 and S2-2 to presented option S2, and further assigns presented options S1-2-1 and S1-2-2 to presented option S1-2. As a result, the state of the option display area 41 becomes the state shown in FIG. 13 (the information processing unit 10 displays the option display area 41 shown in FIG. 13). It is apparent from the appearance that the hierarchical structure of presented options in the option display area 41 in FIG. 13 follows the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 7. As described above, the information processing unit 10 provides a user interface that displays a list of option blocks B in a manner that allows them to be hierarchically organized in accordance with the hierarchical structure of options when options are presented hierarchically by voice guidance.

[0068] Furthermore, the user can freely rearrange the option blocks B within the same lower-level group using the option blocks B. For example, when the option display area 41 is in the state shown in Fig. 13 (i.e., in accordance with the hierarchical structure shown in Fig. 7), suppose the user wants to swap the presented option S2 and the presented option S3, that is, change the option value of the presented option S2 to "No. 3" and the option value of the presented option S3 to "No. 2." In this case, as shown in Fig. 14(A), the user drags and moves the option block B-S3 of the presented option S3 so that the center of gravity of the option block B-S3 of the presented option S3 is above the option block B-S2 of the presented option S2 and in the gap between the option block B-S2 of the presented option S2 and the option block B-S1-2-2 of the presented option S1-2-2.

[0069] When the information processing unit 10 detects that the center of gravity of the option block B of the presented option S3 is located in the gap, it displays a same-level marker 45 in the gap, indicating that "if the option block B-S3 is dropped in this state, the presented option S3 will be ranked above the presented option S2 in the same virtual group." The user checks the same-level marker 45 and drops the option block B-S3 of the presented option S3. Then, as shown in FIG. 14(B), the option block B-S3 of the presented option S3 is displayed above the option block B-S2 of the presented option S2 as a block in the same lower-level group as the option block B-S2 of the presented option S2 (the information processing unit 10 displays it in this way).

[0070] As described above, the rule group display screen 19 includes a user interface that displays the choice blocks B selected by the user in a rearrangeable state. That is, the information processing unit 10 provides a user interface that displays a list of the choice blocks B (blocks) created by the user in a rearrangeable state.

[0071] Hereinafter, the branching rules and hierarchical structure for all prepared options are referred to as the comprehensive branching rule. After the user has prepared all presented options and completed the construction of the hierarchical structure, he or she selects the save button 46 on the rule group display screen 19. When the information processing unit 10 detects that the save button 46 has been selected, it accesses the setting database 15 of the storage unit 14 and updates the contents of the record corresponding to the user's user telephone number so that the branching rules set for all presented options and the hierarchical structure for all presented options are reflected. This completes the setting of the comprehensive branching rule.

[0072] When automatically answering a call, the information processing unit 10 of the automatic telephone answering device 2 refers to the setting database 15 and executes the automatic telephone answering process while reflecting the comprehensive branching rule. For example, it is assumed that the comprehensive branching rule conforms to the rule shown in FIG. 7. In this case, when a call is made to the user's telephone number, the information processing unit 10 first executes the first-response process according to the first-response rule. In this first-response process, options 1 (presented option S1), 2 (presented option S2), and 3 (presented option S3) are presented (the user sets such voices).

[0073] When No. 1 is selected in the first response processing, the information processing unit 10 executes branch response processing in accordance with the branching rule of presentation option S1, when No. 2 is selected, it executes branch response processing in accordance with the branching rule of presentation option S2, and when No. 3 is selected, it executes branch response processing in accordance with the branching rule of presentation option S3. Here, in the branch response processing related to presentation option S1, No. 1 and No. 2 are presented as presentation options. When No. 2 is selected, the information processing unit 10 executes branch response processing in accordance with the branching rule of presentation option S1-2, and presents options No. 1 and No. 2, and when No. 2 is selected, the information processing unit 10 executes branch response processing in accordance with the branching rule of presentation option S1-2-2.

[0074] Next, an information processing method by the automatic telephone answering device 2 (information processing device) will be described using a flowchart. Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the automatic telephone answering device 2. As shown in Fig. 15, the information processing unit 10 of the automatic telephone answering device 2 provides a user interface for the user to generate an option block B (block) displaying information related to the content of the presented option for each presented option (option) to be voice-guided (step SA1). The information processing unit 10 provides a user interface that displays a list of the option blocks B generated by the user in a rearrangeable state (step SA2).

[0075] As described above, the information processing unit 10 of the automatic telephone answering device 2 according to this embodiment provides a user interface for the user to generate an option block B (block) displaying information about the content of the presented option for each presented option (option) that is voice-guided, and a user interface that displays a list of the option blocks B generated by the user in a rearrangeable state.

[0076] According to this embodiment, when configuring voice guidance in which presented options are presented, the user can divide the presented options into blocks, and the option blocks B created by the user are displayed in a list with information about the contents of the presented options. Therefore, by referring to the listed option blocks B, the user can intuitively and quickly understand what options have been prepared as presented options and what the contents of each presented option are. Furthermore, because the option blocks B can be rearranged, the user can rearrange the blocks in the order in which the presented options are announced in the voice guidance, making it easier for the user to grasp the overall contents of the presented options. In other words, according to this embodiment, when configuring voice guidance in which presented options are presented, the user can accurately grasp the overall contents of the presented options.

[0077] In this embodiment, the presented options that are guided by voice are represented by numbers that can be specified using dial keys. When an option block B is generated, the information processing unit 10 displays options in the option block B with the same value as the order of the option block B in the list (the order within the lower-level group that is the first target), and when the listed option blocks B are rearranged, the information processing unit 10 changes the value of the option displayed in the option block B for each option block B so that the order of the option block B matches the value of the option.

[0078] According to this configuration, the user can simply rearrange the order of the choice blocks B to assign to the presented choices option values ​​that are consistent with the rearranged order of the choice blocks B, which is highly convenient for the user.

[0079] <First Modification> Next, a first modified example of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 16(A) is a diagram showing an example of a rule group display screen 19 according to this modified example. As shown in FIG. 16(A), a lock switch 48 is provided at the top of the rule group display screen 19 according to this embodiment. After completing the setting of the general branch rule, the user operates the lock switch 48 to turn on the lock and enter a locked state. In the locked state, the information processing unit 10 executes the following processing. Note that with respect to this modified example, the information processing unit 10 basically executes the same processing as in the above embodiment, except that the lock switch 48 is provided on the rule group display screen 19 and that the information processing unit 10 executes the following processing in the locked state.

[0080] Assume here that the hierarchical structure of the presented options is as shown in Fig. 17(A) (i.e., the state of the option display area 41 is as shown in Fig. 16(A)). Fig. 18(A1) is a diagram showing an example of the content of the first targeted voice guidance sentence at this time. When the hierarchical structure of the presented options is as shown in Fig. 17(A), it is assumed that the voice guidance sentence includes a sentence guiding the presented options SB1 to SB4.

[0081] Here, the user is informed in advance that when option presentation guidance is provided in the response process, the voice guidance sentence should be formatted as follows. That is, for each presented option, the user is informed that the symbol "" should be placed at the beginning of a series of sentences providing guidance about the presented option (hereinafter referred to as a "single guidance sentence") and the symbol "'" should be placed at the end of the sentence. Furthermore, the single guidance sentence will include option values ​​(words indicating the options), and the user is informed that the option values ​​in the single guidance sentence should be placed at the beginning and ">" should be placed at the end. Furthermore, the user is informed that ""," "'," "<," and ">" should not be used in the voice guidance sentence for purposes other than those mentioned above. The above points to note are, for example, written as sentences in a predetermined position on the rule setting screen 24 (for example, above or below the voice guidance sentence input field 30).

[0082] Referring to FIG. 18(A1), the "voice guidance sentence related to the first target" illustrated in FIG. 18(A1) has four single guidance sentences W1 to W4, each of which is enclosed in "'' and "'". In each of the single guidance sentences, the words indicating the option value are enclosed in "<" and ">". More specifically, the first single guidance sentence W1 is "If XX, <1> The second single instruction sentence W2 is "In the case of XX, <2> The third single instruction sentence W3 is "In the case of △△, <3> The fourth single instruction sentence W4 is "In the case of □□, <4> , "." Referring to Figures 16(A) and 17(A), single guidance sentence W1 corresponds to presented option SB1 and option block B-SB1, single guidance sentence W2 corresponds to presented option SB2 and option block B-SB2, single guidance sentence W3 corresponds to presented option SB3 and option block B-SB3, and single guidance sentence W4 corresponds to presented option SB4 and option block B-SB4.

[0083] Furthermore, when the hierarchical structure of the presentation options is as shown in FIG. 17(A), the voice guidance sentence for the presentation option SB2 includes sentences that guide the presentation options SB2-1 and SB2-2 (it is assumed that the user sets such voice guidance sentences). FIG. 18(A2) shows an example of the contents of the voice guidance sentence for the presentation option SB2. In FIG. 18(A2), the first single guidance sentence W2-1 is "In the case of ABC, <1> The second single instruction W2-2 is, "In the case of DEF, <2> 16(A) and 17(A), the single guidance sentence W2-1 corresponds to the presented option SB2-1 and the option block B-SB2-1, and the single guidance sentence W2-2 corresponds to the presented option SB2-2 and the option block B-SB-2.

[0084] Now, suppose that the user operates the lock switch 48 to lock the option display area 41, and then edits the state of the option display area 41 from the state shown in FIG. 16(A) to the state shown in FIG. 16(B). Specifically, the "option block B-SB3 of the presented option SB3," which was originally third from the top in the first target lower-level group, becomes the second option block B from the top, and accordingly, the "option block B-SB2 of the presented option SB2," which was originally second from the top, becomes the third option block B from the top. In addition, the option block B of the presented option SB4 has been deleted. Furthermore, in the lower-level group of the presented option SB2, the order of the "option block B of the presented option SB2-1" and the "option block B of the presented option SB-2" has been swapped. At this time, the hierarchical structure of the presented options changes from FIG. 17(A) to FIG. 17(B).

[0085] When the option display area 41 is edited and the save button 46 is selected, the information processing unit 10 executes the following process. That is, when the listed option blocks B are rearranged, the information processing unit 10 changes the order of the single guidance sentences included in the input voice guidance sentence so as to reflect the change in the order of the option blocks B. Furthermore, when the listed option blocks B are rearranged, the information processing unit 10 changes the value of the option value information 43 displayed in the option block B for each option block B so that the order of the option blocks B in the same lower group matches the value of the presented option, and also changes the option value (wording indicating the option) included in the input voice guidance sentence so as to reflect the change in the value of the option value information 43.

[0086] 18(B1), the information processing unit 10 changes the position of the single guidance sentence W3 related to the presentation option SB3, which was originally third in the voice guidance sentence, so that it becomes the second single guidance sentence, and changes the option value in the single guidance sentence W3 related to the presentation option SB3 from "3" to "2." Furthermore, the information processing unit 10 changes the position of the single guidance sentence W2 related to the presentation option SB2, which was originally second in the voice guidance sentence related to the first target, so that it becomes the third single guidance sentence, and changes the option value in the single guidance sentence W2 related to the presentation option SB2 from "2" to "3." Furthermore, the information processing unit 10 deletes the single guidance sentence W4 related to the presentation option SB4, which was originally fourth in the voice guidance sentence related to the first target.

[0087] 18(B2), the information processing unit 10 changes the position of the single guidance sentence W2-2 related to the presentation option SB2-2, which was originally the second in the voice guidance sentence, so that it becomes the first single guidance sentence, and changes the option value in the single guidance sentence W2-2 related to the presentation option SB2-2 from "2" to "1." Furthermore, the information processing unit 10 changes the position of the single guidance sentence W2-1 related to the presentation option SB2-1, which was originally the first in the voice guidance sentence related to the presentation option SB2, so that it becomes the second single guidance sentence, and changes the option value in the single guidance sentence W2-1 related to the presentation option SB2-1 from "1" to "2."

[0088] The information processing unit 10 executes the above process in the following manner. That is, when the information processing unit 10 is locked by the lock switch 48, it identifies which option block B corresponds to each of the single guidance sentences included in the voice guidance sentence (hereinafter referred to as "the correspondence between the single guidance sentence and the option block B"). Note that the single guidance sentences are enclosed in "'' and "''", so the information processing unit 10 identifies the above symbols by performing a string search to identify the single guidance sentences in the voice guidance sentence.

[0089] For example, the information processing unit 10 determines that, for the voice guidance sentence related to the first target shown in FIG. 18(A1) and the option block B in the option display area 41 shown in FIG. 16(A), the top single guidance sentence W1 in the voice guidance sentence corresponds to the top option block B-SB1 in the "lower group of the first target" in the option display area 41. Similarly, the information processing unit 10 determines that the second single guidance sentence W2 corresponds to the second option block B-SB2, the third single guidance sentence W3 corresponds to the third option block B-SB3, and the fourth single guidance sentence W4 corresponds to the fourth option block B-SB4. After determining the correspondence between the single guidance sentences and the option blocks B, the information processing unit 10 registers information indicating the correspondence in a record corresponding to the user telephone number in the setting database 15 of the storage unit 14 (updates the information to the latest information if it already exists).

[0090] It is possible that the content of the voice guidance sentence or the state of the option display area 41 is inappropriate due to a mistake in the description of the voice guidance sentence or a mistake in the setting of the option display area 41, making it impossible to identify the correspondence between the single guidance sentence and the option block B. For example, this may be the case when a single guidance sentence exists but no option block B corresponding to that single guidance sentence exists. In light of this, if the information processing unit 10 is unable to identify the correspondence between the single guidance sentence and the option block B, it displays a warning to notify the user.

[0091] Then, when the information processing unit 10 rearranges the order of option blocks B in a certain lower-level group after entering the locked state, it rearranges the single guidance sentences corresponding to the option blocks B that have been rearranged in the same manner within the voice guidance sentence. As a result, in accordance with the editing from Fig. 16(A) to Fig. 16(B), the single guidance sentences relating to the first target are rearranged from Fig. 18(A1) to Fig. 18(B1), and further the single guidance sentences relating to presented option SB2 are rearranged from Fig. 18(A2) to Fig. 18(B2).

[0092] As described in the above embodiment, the information processing unit 10 changes the value of the option value information 43 for the rearranged option block B according to the order within the same lower-level group. The information processing unit 10 then changes the value of the option values ​​of the single guidance sentences that have been rearranged (all single guidance sentences whose order in the voice guidance text has been changed as a result) so that they are consistent with the changed order (i.e., the changed option values) of the corresponding option block B. Note that in a single guidance sentence, the option values ​​are enclosed between "<" and ">", so the information processing unit 10 identifies the above symbols through a string search to identify the option values ​​(words indicating the option values) in the single guidance sentence.

[0093] As a result, in accordance with the editing from Figure 16(A) to Figure 16(B), the option value in single guidance sentence W3 in Figure 18(A1) changes from "3" to "2" as shown in Figure 18(B1), and the option value in single guidance sentence W2 in Figure 18(A1) changes from "2" to "3" as shown in Figure 18(B1). Also, the option value in single guidance sentence W2-2 in Figure 18(A2) changes from "2" to "1" as shown in Figure 18(B2), and the option value in single guidance sentence W2-1 changes from "1" to "2" as shown in Figure 18(B2).

[0094] The information processing unit 10 also deletes from the voice guidance sentence the single guidance sentence corresponding to the deleted choice block B. As a result, in accordance with the editing from Figure 16(A) to Figure 16(B), the information processing unit 10 deletes the single guidance sentence W4 (the single guidance sentence corresponding to the deleted choice block B-SB4) from the voice guidance sentence of Figure 18(A1).

[0095] After the information processing unit 10 has completed the change in the content of the voice guidance sentence associated with the editing of the option display area 41, it accesses the setting database 15 of the memory unit 14 and updates the information for the record corresponding to the user telephone number so that the editing of the option display area 41 and the change in the content of the voice guidance sentence are reflected.

[0096] As described above, in this embodiment, the information processing unit 10 provides a user interface that allows input of text for voice guidance, including guidance for each option, and when the listed option blocks B (blocks) are rearranged, the input text for voice guidance is changed to reflect the rearrangement of the option blocks B.

[0097] According to this configuration, when the user wants to change the order of the presented options, he or she only needs to rearrange the option blocks B, and there is no need to edit the voice guidance text, which is highly convenient for the user.

[0098] In this modified example, the rule group display screen 19 is provided with a lock switch 48, and when the block B is rearranged after being locked by the lock switch 48, the information processing unit 10 automatically changes the content of the voice guidance sentence. In this regard, a configuration may be adopted in which the lock switch 48 is not provided (i.e., there is no lock state). In this configuration, the information processing unit 10 executes, for example, the following process. That is, the user inputs the voice guidance sentence, sets the option block B in the option display area 41, and operates the save button 46 to temporarily save it. At this time, the information processing unit 10 identifies the correspondence between the single guidance sentence and the option block B. Thereafter, the content of the option display area 41 is edited, and when the save button 46 is selected, the information processing unit 10 automatically edits the voice guidance sentence to be consistent with the content of the option display area 41. The above configuration may also be adopted. In this case, a separate update button may be provided in addition to the save button 46 to explicitly instruct editing of the voice guidance sentence (to be consistent with the content of the option display area 41).

[0099] <Second Modification> Next, a second modified example will be described. In the above embodiment (including the first modified example), the automatic telephone answering device 2 functions as an "information processing device" and provides various user interfaces. On the other hand, this modified example has the following configuration. In the following description, the same elements as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0100] FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a terminal 3A according to this modification. As shown in FIG. 19, the terminal 3A includes a terminal control unit 12A, a terminal communication unit 13, and a terminal storage unit 50. The terminal storage unit 50 is a storage medium for storing various data. In this modification, a dedicated program 51 (application) is downloaded in advance. As an example, the dedicated program 51 is provided by the company that operates the automatic telephone answering device 2 and is downloaded using an application download service (although it may, of course, be downloaded by other methods). As with the first embodiment, the type of terminal 3A may be any; for example, a tablet computer (including a so-called smartphone), a notebook computer, or a desktop computer can function as the terminal 3A.

[0101] In this modification, terminal 3A functions as an "information processing device," and terminal control unit 12A functions as an "information processing unit," and terminal control unit 12A of terminal 3A displays the various user interfaces described in the first embodiment on display device 4 using the functions of dedicated program 51 (application) downloaded in advance. When displaying the user interface on display device 4, terminal control unit 12A may communicate with automatic telephone answering device 2 or other external device to obtain necessary data (for example, an HTML file for screen display).

[0102] In addition, in this modified example, when it becomes necessary for the terminal 3A to notify the automatic telephone answering device 2 of information (for example, when it becomes necessary to update the setting database 15), the terminal control unit 12A uses the function of the dedicated program 51 to send the necessary information and appropriate security to the automatic telephone answering device 2.

[0103] Although one embodiment of the present invention (including modifications) has been described above, the above embodiment is merely an example of a specific implementation of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereby. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist or main characteristics thereof.

[0104] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the automatic telephone answering device 2 is configured to include the storage unit 14. In this regard, the storage unit 14 may be provided in another device that can communicate with the automatic telephone answering device 2, and the automatic telephone answering device 2 may access the other device as appropriate.

[0105] Furthermore, although various screens have been described in the above embodiments, it is possible to regard part or all of a screen as a user interface, and multiple screens as one user interface. In other words, the user interface is not a concept that refers to only the entire screen, only part of the screen, only a single screen, or only a collection of multiple screens.

[0106] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the automatic telephone answering device 2 is a server device connected to a global network N including the Internet, but the automatic telephone answering device 2 does not have to be a server device connected to the global network N. As an example, it may be a server device provided in a local network of an organization to which the user belongs. In this case, the automatic telephone answering device 2 provides various services to terminals 3 connected to the local network as clients.

[0107] In addition, in the above embodiment, the automatic telephone answering device 2 provides an automatic telephone answering service and setting-related services, but it may also be configured not to provide an automatic telephone answering service (the automatic telephone answering service is performed by a separate device).

[0108] In the above embodiment, the information processing unit 10 is configured to dynamically change the option values ​​of the presented options in accordance with the rearrangement of the option blocks B by the user, but such processing may not be performed. In this case, the information processing unit 10 may be configured to set an option value for each option block B (=for each presented option).

[0109] The following modified example may also be configured. That is, the user creates the voice guidance sentence without using control symbols such as "" and "<". Then, the information processing unit 10 analyzes the voice guidance sentence and the state of the option display area 41 using the function of a pre-prepared model (module), and identifies the correspondence between the single guidance sentence and the option block B. Furthermore, when the option display area 41 is edited, the information processing unit 10 analyzes the state of the option display area 41 using the function of the model, and changes the content of the voice guidance sentence. The above configuration may also be used. In this case, the model may be a trained model trained using a predetermined machine learning method. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 1. Information Processing Systems 2. Automatic telephone answering machine (information processing device) 4. Terminal 10 Information Processing Section

Claims

1. An information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone answering, an information processing unit that provides a user interface for a user to generate a block displaying information about the content of each option that is voice-guided, and a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by the user in a rearrangeable state; The options announced by voice are represented by numbers that can be specified using the dial keys. The information processing unit When the block is generated, options with the same value as the order of the block in the list are displayed in the block, When the blocks displayed in the list are rearranged, the values ​​of the options displayed in the blocks are changed so that the order of the blocks matches the values ​​of the options for each of the blocks.

1. An information processing device comprising:

2. An information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone answering, an information processing unit that provides a user interface for a user to generate a block displaying information about the content of each option that is voice-guided, and a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by the user in a rearrangeable state; The information processing unit A user interface is provided that allows input of a voice guidance sentence including guidance for each option, When the blocks displayed in the list are rearranged, the input voice guidance text is changed to reflect the rearrangement of the blocks.

1. An information processing device comprising:

3. The information processing unit When the blocks displayed in the list are rearranged, the order of the sentences that guide the options, which are included for each option in the input voice guidance sentence, is changed so that the change in the order of the blocks is reflected.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

4. The information processing unit When the block is generated, options with the same value as the order of the block in the list are displayed in the block, When the blocks displayed in the list are rearranged, the values ​​of the options displayed in the blocks are changed so that the order of the blocks matches the values ​​of the options for each of the blocks, and the wording indicating the options included in the input voice guidance sentence is changed so that the change in the value of the option is reflected.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

5. An information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone answering, comprising: an information processing unit that provides a user interface for a user to generate a block displaying information about the content of each option that is voice-guided, and a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by the user in a rearrangeable state; the information processing unit provides a user interface for setting a process to be executed when a block is designated from the blocks displayed in a list and an option corresponding to the designated block is selected; The information processing unit provides a user interface for setting a process to be executed when a block is designated from the blocks displayed in a list and an option corresponding to the designated block is selected, separately for business hours and non-business hours.

1. An information processing device comprising:

6. An information processing system comprising: an information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone answering; and a terminal that can communicate with the information processing device, The information processing device includes: an information processing unit that provides the terminal with a user interface for a user to generate a block displaying information about the content of each option that is voice-guided, and a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by the user in a rearrangeable state; The options announced by voice are represented by numbers that can be specified using the dial keys. The information processing unit When the block is generated, options with the same value as the order of the block in the list are displayed in the block, When the blocks displayed in the list are rearranged, the values ​​of the options displayed in the blocks are changed so that the order of the blocks matches the values ​​of the options for each of the blocks. An information processing system comprising:

7. An information processing system comprising: an information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone answering; and a terminal that can communicate with the information processing device, The information processing device includes: an information processing unit that provides the terminal with a user interface for a user to generate a block displaying information about the content of each option that is voice-guided, and a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by the user in a rearrangeable state; The information processing unit A user interface is provided that allows input of a voice guidance sentence including guidance for each option, When the blocks displayed in the list are rearranged, the input voice guidance text is changed to reflect the rearrangement of the blocks. An information processing system comprising:

8. An information processing system comprising: an information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone answering; and a terminal that can communicate with the information processing device, The information processing device includes: an information processing unit that provides the terminal with a user interface for a user to generate a block displaying information about the content of each option that is voice-guided, and a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by the user in a rearrangeable state; the information processing unit provides a user interface for setting a process to be executed when a block is designated from the blocks displayed in a list and an option corresponding to the designated block is selected; The information processing unit provides a user interface for setting a process to be executed when a block is designated from the blocks displayed in a list and an option corresponding to the designated block is selected, separately for business hours and non-business hours. An information processing system comprising:

9. An information processing method by an information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone response, comprising: an information processing unit of the information processing device providing a user interface for a user to generate a block displaying information about the content of each option to be voice-guided; the information processing unit of the information processing device provides a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by a user in a rearrangeable state; The options announced by voice are represented by numbers that can be specified using the dial keys. The information processing unit When the block is generated, options with the same value as the order of the block in the list are displayed in the block, When the blocks displayed in the list are rearranged, the values ​​of the options displayed in the blocks are changed so that the order of the blocks matches the values ​​of the options for each of the blocks. An information processing method comprising:

10. An information processing method by an information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone response, comprising: an information processing unit of the information processing device providing a user interface for a user to generate a block displaying information about the content of each option to be voice-guided; the information processing unit of the information processing device provides a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by a user in a rearrangeable state; The information processing unit A user interface is provided that allows input of a voice guidance sentence including guidance for each option, When the blocks displayed in the list are rearranged, the input voice guidance text is changed to reflect the rearrangement of the blocks. An information processing method comprising:

11. An information processing method by an information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone response, comprising: an information processing unit of the information processing device providing a user interface for a user to generate a block displaying information about the content of each option to be voice-guided; the information processing unit of the information processing device provides a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by a user in a rearrangeable state; the information processing unit provides a user interface for setting a process to be executed when a block is designated from the blocks displayed in a list and an option corresponding to the designated block is selected; The information processing unit provides a user interface for setting a process to be executed when a block is designated from the blocks displayed in a list and an option corresponding to the designated block is selected, separately for business hours and non-business hours. An information processing method comprising:

12. A computer-readable program for controlling an information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone answering, comprising: The computer functioning as an information processing unit that provides a user interface for a user to generate a block displaying information about the content of each option to be voice-guided, and a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by the user in a rearrangeable state; The options announced by voice are represented by numbers that can be specified using the dial keys. The information processing unit When the block is generated, options with the same value as the order of the block in the list are displayed in the block, When the blocks displayed in the list are rearranged, the values ​​of the options displayed in the blocks are changed so that the order of the blocks matches the values ​​of the options for each of the blocks. A program characterized by:

13. A computer-readable program for controlling an information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone answering, comprising: The computer functioning as an information processing unit that provides a user interface for a user to generate a block displaying information about the content of each option to be voice-guided, and a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by the user in a rearrangeable state; The information processing unit A user interface is provided that allows input of a voice guidance sentence including guidance for each option, When the blocks displayed in the list are rearranged, the input voice guidance text is changed to reflect the rearrangement of the blocks. A program characterized by:

14. A computer-readable program for controlling an information processing device that provides a user interface for configuring settings related to automatic telephone answering, comprising: The computer functioning as an information processing unit that provides a user interface for a user to generate a block displaying information about the content of each option to be voice-guided, and a user interface that displays a list of the blocks generated by the user in a rearrangeable state; the information processing unit provides a user interface for setting a process to be executed when a block is designated from the blocks displayed in a list and an option corresponding to the designated block is selected; The information processing unit provides a user interface for setting a process to be executed when a block is designated from the blocks displayed in a list and an option corresponding to the designated block is selected, separately for business hours and non-business hours. A program characterized by:

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