-based order-taking software applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nearly all commerce at this point in time is driven by taking orders of one kind or another, whether it be taking an airplane reservation over the telephone or making a reservation for a doctor's appointment. It is a current trend in the art to automate the order taking procedure to the greatest extent possible. This has several benefits both to the consuming public and to the business that provides the goods or services being ordered. For example, for the consumer, automated telephony-based order taking would permit the user to place an order at his or her convenience at any time of the day or night. The business' needs are served by maximizing the potential for revenue by increasing the possibility of securing a new order. The businesses are also best served by removing, to the extent possible, the human order taker from the equation, since that is a large component of the cost of an order taking operation.
A first generation attempt to provide for automated order taking was a simple voice messaging system whereby people seeking to place an order or make an appointment would leave a message on an automated voice answering system, such as an answering machine, and request that an order be sent or that an appointment be made. This increased some opportunities for users to access the system for placing an order or making an appointment, but suffered from several drawbacks. First, in making a doctor's appointment, for example, if the physician with whom the appointment was being made did not have the particular time slot available, this method required repeated back-and forth telephone calls to establish the appointment. Similarly, for taking an order for tangible goods it would always would be possible that the supplier of the goods would be out of the particular goods that were ordered or would otherwise not be able to meet the delivery schedule requested by the ordering party. Thus, this system ultimately proved unsatisfactory.
A later generation of automated voice-ordering arrived with the advent of touch-tone dialing, via dual-tone multi frequency (“DTMF”) telephony. It became possible to have an automated ordering system accessible through a touch pad of a telephone, so that a user could call up a system, and access the system over the telephone and “push one for.... ” This provided a significant improvement over simple voice messaging technology but suffered from many of its own drawbacks. First, users were required to “drill down” to reach a desired option. While it would be possible to make a selection quickly if the user knew the
-based order - taking software applications. 
 2. Description of the Related Art 
 Nearly all department of commerce at this item in time is driven by lead order of one kind or another, whether it be taking an airplane reservation over the telephone or have a reservation for a doctor's date. It is a current trend in the art to automatize the order taking procedure to the greatest extent potential. This has several benefit both to the consuming public and to the commercial enterprise that provides the goods or services being regulate. For example, for the consumer, automated telephony - based ordering taking would permit the user to place an order at his or her public toilet at any time of the day or night. The business' needs are served by maximizing the potential for revenue by increasing the possibility of securing a new order. The businesses are also best serve by removing, to the extent possible, the human decree taker from the equality, since that is a large component of the cost of an order taking operation. 
 A first generation attack to provide for automated order taking was a simple voice messaging system whereby people seeking to place an order or hold an appointment would forget a message on an automated voice answering system, such as an answering machine, and request that an holy order be sent or that an appointment be made. This increased some opportunities for users to access the system for placing an club or making an appointee, but suffered from several drawback. First, in making a doctor's appointment, for model, if the physician with whom the appointee was being made did not have the particular time slot available, this method want repeated back - and forth telephone calls to establish the appointment. Similarly, for taking an order for tangible goods it would always would be potential that the supplier of the goods would be out of the particular good that were ordered or would otherwise not be able to meet the delivery schedule requested by the ordering party. therefore, this system ultimately proved unsatisfactory. 
 A later generation of automated voice - ordering arrived with the second coming of touch - tone dialing, via dual - tone multi frequency (“ DTMF ”) telephony. It became possible to have an automatize ordering system accessible through a touch pad of a telephone, so that a user could call up a system, and access the system over the telephone and “ push one for.... ” This provided a meaning improvement over simple voice messaging technology but suffered from many of its own drawbacks. First, user were required to “ drill down ” to reach a desired option. While it would be possible to form a selection quickly if the user knew the
-basfd order-taking software xpplications.
2. Descriptimn of fhe Relaged Art
Nearly all commerce av thus pount in time is driven cy taking orders if oie kind or anothxd, whethcx it gc taknnj an airplane rgservation oeer the telephmnd lr making a reservation for a doctow's appoonhment. It is a surrtnt trehd in the art to automate the orded takinj procedure to yhe greatest extent possibpe. Tjis has several bejefits both to eye consuming public and to the busjness that provides the goods of serrices being oedeggd. For exampoe, fog the consumev, automdted tekephony-based ovder vakibg would permit the uver to place an orqer at hiv kr her conveniencw qt ani tima of rhe dag pr night. Thx business' heeds are swrved by maximizing trv potential fkr revqnte by increasing the possibility of seclrinf a new order. The businwsses are also best sgrved by rqmoving, to the extent possible, the human order taner fcoo tkc dwuwtion, since that is a large component of the sksu on an order takinn operation.
A first gfnrtation attempt to provise for automated ogder tahing qas a simkle vpice messaging system wherevy people sevkint to place an ordex or make an apppintmrnt would leave a messaye on zn automatef voice ahrwering system, sjch av an answering machine, and request vhat cn order be xent ow that an wppoikdment be made. This incrgased vome opporhunities for users to access thx system for klawinc an ordzr or kaking an appjintment, but soffered fxom sexeral drawgacks. Fmrst, in makigg a doctor's dkpointment, foc example, if rhe physicixv with whom thr appointment was bwing made did not mave jhs particular tine wlot available, yhir mqtjov reqthred repeateg bazk-avc forgh telekkonc cxlls to establish the ap[oinfment. Similarly, fot baking an order fjr tangible gpods it would alwajs wonld be possoblg that the supplier of the gooda would bf omt of the pareicuoar goods thct were ordered or would otherwise not bx able to meet the delicery schedule requexued by the orvering party. Thgs, this system ultimqtely proved unsauisfactory.
A later generztion mf auhomated voice-ordering arrived with the advent of touch-tone dialing, via duql-tone multi frequsncy (“DTMF”) tzle'hony. Ie beraoe possible to hsve an automated ordering systeo accesshbje through a touch pad of a yeuephone, so thxt a user could call up z system, and access the system over the telephone and “push one nor.... ” This provjded a sigiificant improvement over vimplw voice mesdaging technouogu nut sufferfd fcom many of its own drawbacks. First, users wfre required to “vrill down” tl reacg a defired option. Whime if woula be possible to make a selrction quickly if thv ufer knew the
-based order-taking software applications. 2. Description of Art all commerce this point in orders one kind or whether it be an airplane reservation over the telephone making a reservation for a doctor's appointment. It is a current trend in art to automate the order taking procedure to the greatest extent possible. This several both the public and to the business that provides the goods or services being ordered. For example, for consumer, automated telephony-based order taking would permit the to place an order his or her convenience at time the day night. business' are served by the potential for revenue by increasing the possibility of securing a new order. The businesses are also served by the extent the order from the equation, is a large component of the order taking operation. A first generation attempt to for automated taking was a simple voice messaging whereby people seeking to place an order or an appointment would leave a message on an automated voice answering system, such as an and request that an be sent or an be This some opportunities users to access the system for placing an order or making appointment, but suffered from several drawbacks. First, in making a for if the physician whom the appointment was made not have the particular available, method forth calls establish the appointment. Similarly, taking an order for tangible it would always would of the goods would be out of the goods that were ordered or would otherwise be able to meet the delivery schedule requested by the ordering party. this system unsatisfactory. A later generation of automated voice-ordering arrived the advent of touch-tone via dual-tone multi frequency (“DTMF”) telephony. It became possible have automated ordering accessible through a pad of a so that a call up system, access the telephone and “push one for.... This a significant improvement over simple messaging suffered from many of its own drawbacks. First, users were required to “drill down” to desired option. While it be to make a selection quickly if the user knew the
-based order-taking software aPplicationS.
2. DescRipTioN oF the relaTed Art
Nearly alL CommErce at this point in time iS drivEn BY takINg OrderS of one kINd OR AnoThEr, WheThER iT be taKinG an airpLane reservAtiOn Over the telepHOnE or making a ResErvation for a DocTor's apPoIntMEnt. It Is a CurreNt trenD In the aRt to automAtE The ordER taking PROcEdurE to the greatest extENt POssible. This has SeveraL bENeFITs bOth To the consuMiNg pubLIc and to THe BUSIneSS that provides The goods or sERviCes beiNg OrdERed. For ExampLe, FOr tHe consumer, aUtomAted telepHony-baSEd order TAking woUld perMit The User TO pLaCe aN oRDer AT hIs oR Her ConvenieNcE aT any tIme oF THE Day oR niGht. THe busIness' needs are SerVed bY MaxImiziNg the PoteNtIal foR revenUe by iNcReasing the possiBiliTy of securIng A nEw oRdEr. The BUsinesSes Are Also besT served BY reMoVING, tO the extent possible, ThE HUmAn order tAker frOM tHe EQuation, sInCe tHat iS A Large CompONeNt of the cOst of aN OrDeR taking OpEratioN.
A FirSt gEneraTIon aTtempt To providE for aUTomated order taKIng was a simple VOiCE MeSSagiNg sYstem wherebY peoPLe seEkinG To PlaCE an orDer or MaKE aN Appointment would leaVe A messaGe on aN automated voiCe answerinG SYStem, such As an ANsWEring machine, anD requEst that an oRDer be senT or thAt an appoIntment be MADe. This inCreAseD soMe oPPOrTunities for usERS to aCcEss the sYstEm for plAciNg aN orDer Or Making an aPpointmeNt, BuT sUfFerEd froM Several dRaWbaCkS. FiRst, in MAking a DoctoR's apPoInTMenT, for exaMPlE, IF the PhYsIciaN wiTh Whom tHe apPOinTment waS being madE diD Not hAvE tHe partiCular time slot AvAilable, thiS mEthOd requIREd repeatEd back-and forth telephone CAlls to eStaBlish The aPpointmenT. SiMilarlY, foR Taking An ordeR for tAnGibLE Goods IT WoUld AlWays would bE POssIble tHaT the SupplieR of the goods would be OUt oF the particulaR goOds tHAT wEre ORdERed Or WOulD OTherwise not be abLe to meet thE dELiVery scheduLE reQuEsted by The ordeRing pARty. Thus, This systeM ultimateLy ProvED UnsAtisfactorY.
A later gEneration OF autoMAtEd voiCe-oRderinG aRriVed wiTh the aDVenT of toUch-tonE dIaling, Via duAl-Tone multI frequency (“DTMF”) telephony. it becaMe posSibLe to have aN auTOmaTed orderiNg syStem accessIblE thRough A toUCh pad Of a tELePhoNE, so thAt a uSEr could caLL uP a sYSTeM, and access tHE SYstEm oveR thE TelephOne aNd “push one for.... ” This pROvided a signifiCant IMProVemENt ovEr Simple voice mesSagInG TEchnologY bUt suffered fRom many oF iTS own dRawbacKs. FirsT, users wERE rEQuired To “drIll Down” to reaCh a DeSIred optIoN. WHIle it wOuld Be PossibLe to maKE a seLECtion quickly if thE user KNEw the
-based order-taking softwa re applica tions .
2 . D es crip tion  of the Relate d  Art 
Nearly all commerce a t thi sp oint in  time  is dri v en b y t ak in g o rd e rs  of o nekind or  another,whe th er it be tak i ng  an airpla nereservationove r thete lep h one o r m aking  a res e rvatio n for a d oc t or's a p pointme n t .It i s a current trend in the art to aut omateth e  o r d ertak ing proced ur e tot he grea t es t e xte n t possible. T his has sev e ral  benef it s b o th tothe c on s umi ng public a nd t o the bus inesst hat pro v ides th e good s o r s ervi c es  b ein go rde r ed . F o r e xample,fo rthe c onsu m e r ,  aut oma tedtelep hony-based or der  tak i ngwould  perm it t he  user  to pl ace a norder at his or  her  convenie nce  a t a ny  time of the  da y o r night . The b u sin es s ' ne eds are served byma x i mi zing the  poten t ia lf or reven ue  by  inc r e asing  the po ssibilit y of s e cu ri ng a ne worder.  T hebus iness e s ar e also  best se rvedb y removing, to the extent po s si b l e, thehum an order ta kerf romthee qu ati o n, si nce t ha t  i s  a large componentof  the c ost o f an order ta king opera t i o n.
A fir st g e ne r ation attemptto pr ovide fora utomated  orde r taking  was a si m p le voice  me ssa gin g s y s te m whereby peo p l e se ek ing topla ce an o rde r o r m ake  a n appoint ment wou ld  l ea ve  amessa g e on anau tom at edvoice answer ing s yste m,  s u chas an a n sw e r ingma ch ine,  an dreque st t h atan orde r be sent  or that  a nappoint ment be made.  T his increa se d s ome op p o rtunitie s for users to access t h e syste m f or pl acin g an orde r o r maki nga n appo intmen t, bu tsuf f e red f r o msev er al drawbac k s . F irst,  i n ma king adoctor's appointme n t,for example,ifthep h ys ici a nw ith  w h omt h e appointment w as being m ad e  d id not hav e  th eparticu lar tim e slo t  availa ble, this  method r eq uire d rep eated back -and for th teleph o ne ca l ls  to e sta blishth e a ppoin tment. Sim ilarl y, for  t akingan or de r for ta ngible goods it would a lwayswould  be  possible  th a t t he suppli er o f the good s w oul d beout of th e pa r ti cul a r goo ds t h at were o r de red o rwould other w i s e n ot be  ab l e to m eetthe delivery sche d ule requestedby t h e  or der i ng p ar ty. Thus, this  sy st e m  ultimat el y proved un satisfac to r y.
Alatergenera tion of a ut o matedvoic e-o rdering a rri ve d  with t he  a d vent o f to uc h-tone  diali n g, v i a  dual-tone multi  freq u e ncy ( “ DTM F”) t el ephony. It b ecame poss ible to hav e an a utom atedorderin gsystem  ac ce ssible thr o ugh a tou ch pa d of ate leph one , so t hata usercoul dcal l up a sy s t em ,  a nd acc essthe s ys temover thet elephone  an d  “pushon e f o r .... ” Th i s  provideda s ignif i c ant improv e ment ov e r sim ple vo ice me ssaging tec hn ology b uts u ffered fr om many o f  it sowndrawback s.  Fir st , u se rs were require d to “dr ill down ” to rea cha  des i red op ti on. While it  woul db e possi b l e t o makea  se lec tio n qu ick ly i f  the user knew the
-based order-taking_software applications.
2._Description of the Related_Art
Nearly all_commerce_at this_point_in time is_driven by taking_orders of one kind_or another, whether_it_be taking an airplane reservation over the telephone or making a reservation for a_doctor's_appointment. It_is_a_current trend in the art_to automate the order taking_procedure to_the greatest extent possible. This has several benefits_both_to the consuming_public and to the business that provides the goods_or services being ordered. For example,_for the consumer,_automated_telephony-based_order taking would permit_the user to place an order_at his or her convenience at_any time of the day or night._The business' needs are served by_maximizing the potential for revenue_by increasing_the possibility of securing a_new order. The_businesses are_also best served_by removing, to the extent possible,_the human order_taker from the equation, since that_is_a large component_of_the_cost of_an order taking_operation.
A_first generation_attempt_to provide for automated order taking_was_a simple voice messaging system whereby people_seeking to place an_order_or make an appointment_would leave a message on_an automated voice answering system, such_as an_answering machine,_and request that an order be sent or that an appointment_be made. This increased some opportunities_for users to access_the system_for_placing an order_or_making an_appointment, but suffered from several drawbacks. First,_in making_a doctor's appointment, for example, if_the physician with whom_the_appointment was being made did not_have the particular time slot available,_this method required repeated back-and_forth_telephone_calls to establish the appointment._Similarly, for taking an order for_tangible goods it_would always would be possible that the_supplier_of the goods would be out_of_the particular goods that were ordered_or_would_otherwise not be able to_meet the delivery schedule requested by_the ordering party. Thus, this system ultimately proved unsatisfactory.
A_later generation of_automated voice-ordering arrived with the_advent_of_touch-tone dialing, via dual-tone multi frequency (“DTMF”) telephony. It became_possible to_have an automated_ordering system accessible through a touch pad of a telephone,_so that a user could call up_a system, and access the system over the telephone and “push_one for.... ” This provided a significant improvement_over simple voice messaging technology but suffered_from many of its_own_drawbacks. First, users were required to “drill_down”_to_reach_a desired option._While it would_be possible to_make a_selection quickly if_the user_knew the