Technique for effectively controlling communication links to an information assistance service

• US 20030185374A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, Nathan Bryant
• Granted Patent: US 7,149,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4935 Connection initiated by DAS system

Abstract

It is typical that a user calls an information assistance service provider to request information, e.g., a destination telephone number desired by the user, and chooses to be connected to the destination number. It is also typical that the information assistance service provider offers enhanced assistance service features, e.g., a StarBack feature. In prior art, to provide the enhanced service features, the user'"'"'s call invariably continues to be connected to a servicing switch associated with the service provider after the user is connected to the destination number. To efficiently utilize the limited capacity of the servicing switch, in accordance with the invention, the user'"'"'s call may be selectively released from the servicing switch before the call is connected to the destination number. Such a call release depends on certain criteria for determining whether the user is a candidate for utilizing an enhanced service feature after the call is connected to the destination number.

Claims

1. A method for use in a system for providing an information assistance service, the system including a switch, comprising:

receiving a call from a user, the call being connected to the switch;

connecting the call to a communications device associated with a destination telephone number desired by the user; and

determining based on one or more criteria whether the call should continue to be connected to the switch in connecting the call to the communications device, thereby making available one or more features of the information assistance service after the call is connected to the communications device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising searching a database for the destination telephone number.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more criteria are established based on a profile of the user.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the profile includes a preference for utilizing the one or more features.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the preference is formulated based on at least personal information concerning the user.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the personal information includes an age of the user.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the personal information includes a profession of the user.

8. The method of claim 3 further comprising storing the profile in association with a telephone number of the user.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more criteria are a function of usage by the user of the information assistance service.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the usage concerns the number of calls by the user to access the information assistance service over a period.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the usage concerns a proportion of the calls by the user to access the information assistance service over a period which involves use of the one or more features.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more criteria are a function of a status of an account of the user.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the account includes an account for billing the user for the information assistance service.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more criteria are a function of a way of accessing the information assistance service.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the way of accessing depends on a method of payment for the call.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the method of payment involves a prepaid account.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the method of payment involves a credit account.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the way of accessing includes direct dialing.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the way of accessing includes calling a selected telephone number.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the selected telephone number corresponds to an information assistance service with provision of the one or more features.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the selected telephone number corresponds to an information assistance service without provision of the one or more features.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more features includes a StarBack feature.

23. A method for use in a system for providing an information assistance service, the system including a switch, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a user through a connection to the switch;

offering one or more features of the information assistance service which involve the connection;

connecting the call to a communications device associated with a destination telephone number desired by the user; and

determining based on one or more criteria whether the connection should be released before the call is connected to the communications device, thereby terminating offering the one or more features.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the connection includes a communication channel.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the connection includes a communication link.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the one or more criteria are established based on a profile of the user.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the profile includes a preference for utilizing the one or more features.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the preference is formulated based on at least personal information concerning the user.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the personal information includes an age of the user.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the personal information includes a profession of the user.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising storing the profile in association with a telephone number of the user.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein the one or more criteria are a function of usage by the user of the information assistance service.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the usage concerns the number of calls by the user to access the information assistance service over a period.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the usage concerns a proportion of the calls by the user to access the information assistance service over a period which involves use of the one or more features.

35. The method of claim 23 wherein the one or more criteria are a function of a status of an account of the user.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the account includes an account for billing the user for the information assistance service.

37. The method of claim 23 wherein the one or more criteria are a function of a way of accessing the information assistance service.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the way of accessing depends on a method of payment for the call.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the method of payment involves a prepaid account.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the method of payment involves a credit account.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the way of accessing includes direct dialing.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein the way of accessing includes calling a selected telephone number.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the selected telephone number corresponds to an information assistance service with provision of the one or more features.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the selected telephone number corresponds to an information assistance service without provision of the one or more features.

45. The method of claim 23 wherein the one or more features includes a StarBack feature.

46. A system for providing an information assistance service, the system comprising:

a switch for receiving a call from a user, the call being connected to the switch;

an interface for receiving a request for connecting the call to a communications device associated with a destination telephone number desired by the user; and

a control unit responsive to the request for selectively continuing to connect the call to the switch, based on one or more criteria, to provide one or more features of the information assistance service.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the interface includes an operator.

48. The system of claim 46 wherein the one or more criteria are established based on a profile of the user.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the profile includes a preference for utilizing the one or more features.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the preference is formulated based on at least personal information concerning the user.

51. The system of claim 48 further comprising a memory for storing the profile in association with a telephone number of the user.

52. The system of claim 46 wherein the one or more criteria are a function of usage by the user of the information assistance service.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein the usage concerns the number of calls by the user to access the information assistance service over a period.

54. The system of claim 52 wherein the usage concerns a proportion of the calls by the user to access the information assistance service over a period which involves use of the one or more features.

55. The system of claim 46 wherein the one or more criteria are a function of a status of an account of the user.

56. The system of claim 46 wherein the one or more criteria are a function of a way of accessing the information assistance service.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the way of accessing depends on a method of payment for the call.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein the method of payment involves a prepaid account.

59. The system of claim 57 wherein the method of payment involves a credit account.

60. The system of claim 56 wherein the way of accessing includes direct dialing.

61. The system of claim 56 wherein the way of accessing includes calling a selected telephone number.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the selected telephone number corresponds to an information assistance service with provision of the one or more features.

63. The system of claim 61 wherein the selected telephone number corresponds to an information assistance service without provision of the one or more features.

64. The system of claim 46 wherein the one or more features includes a StarBack feature.

65. A system for providing an information assistance service, the system comprising:

a switch for receiving a call from a user through a connection to the switch, one or more features of the information assistance service being offered which involve the connection;

an interface for receiving a request for connecting the call to a communications device associated with a destination telephone number desired by the user; and

a control unit responsive to the request for selectively releasing the connection based on one or more criteria before the call is connected to the communications device to terminate offering the one or more features.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein the connection includes a communication channel.

67. The system of claim 65 wherein the connection includes a communication link.

68. The system of claim 65 wherein the interface includes an operator.

69. The system of claim 65 wherein the one or more criteria are established based on a profile of the user.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein the profile includes a preference for utilizing the one or more features.

71. The system of claim 70 wherein the preference is formulated based on at least personal information concerning the user.

72. The system of claim 69 further comprising a memory for storing the profile in association with a telephone number of the user.

73. The system of claim 65 wherein the one or more criteria are a function of usage by the user of the information assistance service.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein the usage concerns the number of calls by the user to access the information assistance service over a period.

75. The system of claim 73 wherein the usage concerns a proportion of the calls by the user to access the information assistance service over a period which involves use of the one or more features.

76. The system of claim 65 wherein the one or more criteria are a function of a status of an account of the user.

77. The system of claim 65 wherein the one or more criteria are a function of a way of accessing the information assistance service.

78. The system of claim 77 wherein the way of accessing depends on a method of payment for the call.

79. The system of claim 78 wherein the method of payment involves a prepaid account.

80. The system of claim 78 wherein the method of payment involves a credit account.

81. The system of claim 77 wherein the way of accessing includes direct dialing.

82. The system of claim 77 wherein the way of accessing includes calling a selected telephone number.

83. The system of claim 82 wherein the selected telephone number corresponds to an information assistance service with provision of the one or more features.

84. The system of claim 82 wherein the selected telephone number corresponds to an information assistance service without provision of the one or more features.

85. The system of claim 65 wherein the one or more features includes a StarBack feature.