IES80867B2 - A transaction processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A transaction processing system (1) has a central hub (2) which interconnects a high-spped database server (3), a voice processing server (5), and an interface server (6). The voice processing server (5) has a central processor and distributed processors including telephony interface circuits (5a), station interface circuits (5b), speech recognition DSPs (5c), and text-to-speech circuits (5d). The server (5) distributes processing in such a way that a user can make a telephone call to the system and convey data for a transaction by normal speech. The system uses this data to generate time recording speech records, which are used to generate transaction data. .

Description

“A Transaction Processing System” The invention relates to a transaction processing system.

One of the problems in management of business at present is that of processing relatively small transactions in an efficient manner. Such processing tends to add a proportionally high overhead to a business, and in many cases it is not done correctly.

The invention is therefore directed towards providing a transaction processing system which allows relatively small transactions to be handled efficiently.

According to the invention, there is provided a transaction processing system comprising:a central processor connected to telephony interface circuits, to a speech recognition circuit, and to a text-to-speech circuit; a high speed database server; a voice verification sub-system; means in the central processor to:control the telephony interface circuit and the text-to-speech to receive user speech, control the speech recognition circuit to recognise a user code in the user’s speech, direct user verification by the voice verification sub-system with reference to a stored user voice model, use data in the user record to control the text-to-speech circuit to generate prompts requesting user speech indicating time parameters, and -2record the speech and subsequently analyse the speech to generate transaction data indicating time parameters for the user and write the transaction data in a transaction record in the database server.

Preferably, the central processor comprises means for generating time recordal reports by retrieving transaction data and sorting according to user, and subsequently controlling the telephony interface circuit to transmit the report to a client system.

In one embodiment the system comprises an administration interface which automates selection of transaction data according to users speech.

In another embodiment the central processor comprises means for controlling storage of speech in speech records in a local storage device, and the system further comprises an interface server comprising means for retrieving transaction data from a database server and speech records from the central processor.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a transaction processing system of the invention; Fig. 2(a) and 2(b) are together a is a flow chart illustrating operation of a system; and Figs. 3,4, and 5 are plots showing voice verification parameters.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1 there is shown a transaction processing system 1 of the invention. -3The system 1 comprises a 100 Mbit/s hub 2 which controls TCP/IP communication between circuits within the system 1. It also comprises wide area network interface circuits for administration terminals. These terminals are used by staff in providing transaction processing services using the system 1.

The hub 2 is connected by lOOMbit/s UTP cable to a Bull Escala 204™ Unix mainframe symmetrical multi-processing system 3. This provides high speed access to an Integrated File System (IFS) database 4 which stores user and transaction records. The file search time is approximately 5ms and this time is stable because it is independent of the database size. There may be many millions of records in the database.

The system 1 also comprises a central controller 5 connected to the hub 2. The controller 5 comprises a central processor and distributed processors 5(a) to 5(d) connected to it by an internal system bus. The distributed processors are described in more detail below.

An NT™ interface server 6 is also connected to the hub 2, and is also directly connected to a data backup system 7. The interface server 6 is programmed to operate a an supervisor interface to the mainframe 3 and the central controller 5. It also operates to back up files on these devices. An important aspect of the interface server 6 is that it provides a central GUI interface to the storage structures of the mainframe 3 and the IFS 4 and the central controllers 5.

Referring again to the central controller 5, this comprises a set of ISDN digital telephony interface circuits 5(a). These circuits include Calling Line Identification (CLI) circuits to determine the source of a telephony connection. Station interface circuits 5(b) allow connection of users to a help desk. The connection is via a TDM bus. Speech recognition DSPs 5(c) are programmed for speech recognition of multiple languages. Finally, the controller 5 comprises a text to speech telephony circuit 5(d) with associated resources. -4The system 1 also comprises a voice verification sub-system 8 connected directly to the hub 2. The sub-system 8 comprises a processor programmed with user voice models to verify users who call via the ISDN telephony circuits 5(a).

Referring now to Fig. 2, operation of the system 1 is now described as a method 20. This method involves a user connecting with the system 1, being verified, and a transaction being performed. The system is suited to processing large volumes of transactions, thus removing a major administration workload from clients.

In step 21a user of a client establishes a telephony connection at an interface circuit 5(a). The call may be temporarily routed to a station interface circuit 5(b) if assistance is required. The central processor of the controller 5 directs the speech recognition DSP 5(c) to recognise and record a spoken user code such as an account number in step 22. This code is used in step 23 by the central processor of the controller 5 to retrieve auser record from the 1FS 4. This record includes a security level for the particular user. If this level is 00 as indicated by the decision step 24, the central processor immediately initiates a transaction (step 31) without verification. If the security level is not 00, in step 25 the .central processordetermines whether the user has yet been enrolled. If not, in step 26 the central processor directs the text to speech circuits 5(d) to generate a series of prompts for the user to speak. These are preferably digit pairs such as “57” or “21”. These voice, strings are used by the voice verification sub-system 8 to generate a user voice model. This model describes the user’s vocal tract on the basis of sound parameters with conversion from the time domain as illustrated in Fig. 3 to the frequency domain as illustrated in Fig. 4. Fig. 3 shows the amplitudes of four speech bursts, each one being a numeral. Fig. 4 shows a set of corresponding signatures for these speech bursts in the frequency domain.

In step 27 the central processor 5 determines a “password” status for the user from the user record. If negative, in step 28, the central processor directs the circuits 5(d) to generate speech prompting user speech strings for voice verification. These are again -5typically digit pairs. The inputs used for comparison with the voice model are either the spoken user code received in step 22 if the password status is “yes” or the digit pairs received in step 28 if the password status is “no”.

The voice verification sub-system 8 then performs voice verification in step 29 using the voice model for the user.

There are only four possible outputs of the sub-system 8, namely “accept”, “reject”, “error”, or “uncertain”. Referring to Fig. 5, the manner in which these outputs are determined is shown. Fig. 5 is a plot of single-sided probability as a function of score. If the verification output is in the region 50 then the output is “accept”. If in the region of 51 the output is “reject”. If in the region of 52 the output is “uncertain”. Finally, the output is “error” if no meaningful user speech was received.

The maimer in which the central processor handles the verification outputs is illustrated by the steps 30 to 36 in Fig. 2(b). An “accept” output results in a transaction being initiated in step 31. If “reject”, as indicated by the decision step 32, the central processor in step 33 shuts down the user connection in an appropriate manner. If “error”, as indicated by the decision step 34 the processor transmits an error message in step 35 and shuts down the connection in step 33.

The central processor processes an “uncertain” output according to the user’s security level, which is determined from the user record. The security level indicates if such a verification output should be converted to “accept” or “reject”. The level may indicate that additional interactivity is required such as prompting additional speech inputs or discussion with a staff member.

To initiate a transaction (step 31), the central processor directs the mainframe 3 to create a transaction record on the IFS 4. A variety of different transactions may be performed. -6An important feature of the system 1 is that it has the capability to record the user’s speech. This forms the basis of many types of transactions. In a two-way transaction, the speech is processed to generate transaction data. This may be automatic, manual, or a combination. For example, for manual processing a staff member listens and inputs data very quickly using a pointing device to select displayed options. An example is apportioning time of the user to different jobs for time recording. In this case a GUI allows very quick linking of time to jobs without the need to use a keyboard. The speech is stored in a speech record on the controller 5, which is cross referenced to the transaction record on the IFS 4. The speech is stored as an ALAW algorithm encoded, silence compressed sound file in 8 bit and 8 kHz format.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a simple and effective approach to time recording. Data for time spent on any particular job or client may be called in daily and updated on :the system. This replaces time-consuming paper-based time sheet or card systems. There is no need for the users to have access to software or a computer. The system therefore allows a service to be provided which allows the client to have up-todate information on projects and it allows them to plan resources more effectively. Businesses can also -improve cash flow by virtue of the accurate information which is available to them. Of course, considerable administration time is also saved.

Quality control in the system is achieved by the central processor inserting a flag in transaction records at regular intervals, such as every 20 records. These flags are used by a supervisor to retrieve these records and check that the data is correct according to the recorded speech.

The interface server 6 operates to interrogate the transaction record on the IFS 4 and the corresponding speech records on the controller 5. It thus acts as a central data retrieval and processing node which has equal access to data and speech records. This is very important for generation of reports for clients which include data relating to many users. For example, monthly time recording reports may be provided. The server 6 also -7controls backup of data using the backup system 7. Again, it does this by retrieving data from both the IFS 4 and the voice processing server 5. It has been found that by distributing the processing across the various processors of the voice central controller 5, the mainframe 3 and the IFS 4, and the interface server 6, the system 1 has a very large processing capacity. Indeed, it has been found that many millions of transaction records in the IFS 4 may be handled without any appreciable delay in response time. The central processor of the voice processing server 5 acts to co-ordinate the distributed processing in a very effective manner in conjunction with the mainframe 3.

It has been found that by recording speech to activate transactions, a comprehensive range of types of transactions may be processed. The system 1 allows a service to be provided to clients whereby users (typically employees of the client) do not need to familiarise themselves with any new technology or procedures. It is only necessary that they dial a particular number and speak in the normal manner to initiate a transaction. In this way, a huge administration overhead is taken off the clients and therefore, the system 1 may be used to provide a very valuable service. Also, because voice is stored, integrity of the data can be ensured because a record is available. Of course, the quality control check using the flags to retrieve records also helps to ensure integrity. Another advantage of the system 1 is the manner in which users are verified, which allows a large degree of flexibility. The procedure ranges from immediate activation of transactions to comprehensive “digit pair” voice verification before access is allowed.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but may be varied in construction and detail within the scope of the claims

Claims (5)

Claims

1. A transaction processing system comprising:a central processor connected to telephony interface circuits, to a speech recognition circuit, and to a text-to-speech circuit; a high speed database server; a voice verification sub-system; means in the central processor to:control the telephony interface circuit and the text-to-speech to receive user speech, control the speech recognition circuit to recognise a user code in the user’s speech, direct user verification by the voice verification sub-system with reference to a stored user voice model, use data in the user record to control the text-to-speech circuit to generate prompts requesting user speech indicating time parameters, and record the speech and subsequently analyse the speech to generate transaction data indicating time parameters for the user and write the transaction data in a transaction record in the database server.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central processor comprises means for generating time recordal reports by retrieving transaction data and sorting according to user, and subsequently controlling the telephony interface circuit to transmit the report to a client system. -93. A system as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the system comprises an administration interface which automates selection of transaction data according to users speech.

3. 4. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the central processor comprises means for controlling storage of speech in speech records in a local storage device, and the system further comprises an interface server comprising means for retrieving transaction data from a database server and speech records from the central processor.

4.

5. A system substantially as described with reference to and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.