Method for providing additional information to a telephone customer having a non-published telephone number
First Claim
1. A method of informing a non-published customer the number of a calling party who has been attempting to obtain their non-published number from directory assistance, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving a call for directory assistance from the calling party;
(b) determining whether the telephone number is associated with a non-published customer;
(c) if the telephone number is associated with a non-published customer forwarding the call to a service node;
(d) obtaining at least a telephone number of the calling party;
(e) placing a notification call to the non-published customer; and
(f) notifying the non-published customer of at least the telephone number of the calling party.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for notifying a non-published customer of a telephone network the number and possibly the identity of callers who have been attempting to obtain their non-published number from directory assistance. When a calling party calls for directory assistance, it is determined whether the telephone number sought is a non-published. If so, the call is forwarded to a service package application on a service node where at least a telephone number, and preferably also the name, of the calling party is obtained. A notification call is then placed to the non-published customer and the customer is provided with at least the telephone number and possibly the name of the calling party.
17 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of informing a non-published customer the number of a calling party who has been attempting to obtain their non-published number from directory assistance, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a call for directory assistance from the calling party;
(b) determining whether the telephone number is associated with a non-published customer;
(c) if the telephone number is associated with a non-published customer forwarding the call to a service node;
(d) obtaining at least a telephone number of the calling party;
(e) placing a notification call to the non-published customer; and
(f) notifying the non-published customer of at least the telephone number of the calling party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of authorizing the release of a non-published telephone number, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a call from a calling party requesting a telephone number;
(b) determining whether the telephone number is non-published;
(c) obtaining a telephone number associated with the calling party;
(d) calling the customer having the non-published telephone number and notifying the customer of the telephone number associated with the calling party;
(e) requesting authorization from the customer to release the non-published telephone number; and
(f) placing a call to the calling party and notifying the calling party of the non-published number. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for establishing a telephone connection between a non-published customer and a calling party, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a directory assistance request from the calling party for a non-published telephone number associated with the non-published customer;
(b) determining a telephone number associated with the calling party;
(c) informing the non-published customer of the calling party'"'"'s telephone number; and
(d) upon request by the non-published customer, placing a call to the calling party thereby connecting the non-published customer to the calling party. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for responding to a request for a non-published customer'"'"'s telephone number, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving the request;
(b) identifying a calling party making the request and placing the calling party on hold;
(c) calling the non-published customer and informing the non-published customer of the identity of the calling party; and
(d) requesting authorization to one of (i) releasing the non-published customer'"'"'s telephone number to the calling party and (ii) connecting a telephone call between the non-published customer and the calling party. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of collecting information for a non-published customer, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a request for non-published data associated with the non-published customer;
(b) determining who made the request;
(c) contacting the non-published customer; and
(d) notifying the non-published customer of at least one of (i) an occurrence of a request and (ii) who made the request. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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- 28. A system for informing a non-published customer of the identity of a calling party requesting directory assistance for the non-published customer'"'"'s telephone number, the system comprising a service node connected to a telephone network and operable to receive calls forwarded from a directory assistance node, the service node being capable of determining at least one of a telephone number and a name of the calling party, wherein the service node places a notification call to the non-published customer and notifies the non-published customer of the at least one of the calling party'"'"'s telephone number and name.
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33. A system for collecting information for a non-published customer, comprising a service node in communication with a central office and a directory assistance node of a telephone network, the service node being programmed to (a) receive a request for non-published data associated with the non-published customer, (b) determine who made the request, (c) contact the non-published customer;
- and (d) notify the non-published customer of at least one of (i) an occurrence of a request and (ii) who made the request.
- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A service package application operating on a service node comprising:
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(a) a routine that receives a request for non-published data associated with a non-published customer;
(b) a routine that determines who made the request;
(c) a routine that contacts the non-published customer; and
(d) a routine that notifies the non-published customer of at least one of (i) an occurrence of a request and (ii) who made the request. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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Specification