Method for providing enhanced directory assistance upon command using out-of-band signaling
First Claim
1. An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance node and a directory assistance switch, the method comprising the steps:
- (a) receiving a customer call through a first network switch from a customer telephonic device in an external telephone network;
(b) receiving signaling data associated with the customer call through a network node;
(c) connecting the customer call through the first network switch to the directory assistance switch over a first voice connection between the directory assistance switch and the first network switch;
(d) connecting the signaling data associated with the customer call to the directory assistance node over a data connection between the directory assistance node and the network node;
(e) connecting the customer call to a directory assistance operator;
(f) determining a destination telephonic device number of a desired party wanted by the customer in a computer database;
(g) initiating a telephonic connection between the customer telephonic device and the destination telephonic device over a second voice connection between the directory assistance switch and a second network switch, the telephonic connection being responsive to one of a plurality of connection options, at least one of the connection options including the following steps (h)-(i);
(h) detecting at the directory assistance node one or more instances of a command issued by the customer; and
(i) performing a predetermined function upon detection of one or more instances of the command.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user calls a directory assistance service provider to search for a desired telephone number and be connected to a party at the desired number. In one such connection, the user is afforded enhanced directory assistance upon a user command in the form of an out-of-band signaling message, e.g., SS7 signaling message. For example, the user may be afforded further operator assistance by pressing on the user telephone a predetermined key (e.g., “*” key), which is detectable by the directory assistance service provider as an SS7 signaling message.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance node and a directory assistance switch, the method comprising the steps:
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(a) receiving a customer call through a first network switch from a customer telephonic device in an external telephone network;
(b) receiving signaling data associated with the customer call through a network node;
(c) connecting the customer call through the first network switch to the directory assistance switch over a first voice connection between the directory assistance switch and the first network switch;
(d) connecting the signaling data associated with the customer call to the directory assistance node over a data connection between the directory assistance node and the network node;
(e) connecting the customer call to a directory assistance operator;
(f) determining a destination telephonic device number of a desired party wanted by the customer in a computer database;
(g) initiating a telephonic connection between the customer telephonic device and the destination telephonic device over a second voice connection between the directory assistance switch and a second network switch, the telephonic connection being responsive to one of a plurality of connection options, at least one of the connection options including the following steps (h)-(i);
(h) detecting at the directory assistance node one or more instances of a command issued by the customer; and
(i) performing a predetermined function upon detection of one or more instances of the command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance node and a directory assistance switch, the method comprising the steps:
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(a) receiving a customer call from a first network switch from a customer telephonic device in an external telephone network;
(b) receiving signaling data associated with the customer call from a network node;
(c) connecting the customer call through the first network switch to the directory assistance switch over a first voice link between the directory assistance switch and the first network switch;
(d) connecting the signaling data associated with the customer call to the directory assistance node over a data link between the directory assistance node and the network node;
(e) connecting the customer call to a directory assistance operator;
(f) determining a destination telephonic device number associated with a desired party wanted by the customer in a computer database;
(g) initiating a telephonic connection between the customer telephonic device and the destination telephonic device over a second voice connection between the directory assistance switch and a second network switch, said telephonic connection being responsive to one of a plurality of connection options, at least one of the connection options including the following steps (h)-(j);
(h) detecting at the directory assistance node one or more instances of a command for conferencing issued by the customer;
(i) determining an additional destination telephonic device number of an additional desired party wanted by the customer in a computer database; and
(j) initiating a conferencing telephonic connection between the additional destination telephonic device and the connection between the customer telephonic device and the destination telephonic device, over a third voice connection between the directory assistance switch and a third network switch. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance node and a directory assistance, the method comprising the steps:
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(a) receiving a customer call through a first network switch from a customer telephonic device in an external telephone network;
(b) connecting the customer call through the first network switch to the directory assistance switch over a first voice link between the directory assistance switch and the first network switch;
(c) connecting the customer call to a directory assistance operator;
(d) determining a destination telephonic device number of a desired party wanted by the customer in a computer database;
(e) initiating a telephonic connection between the customer telephonic device and the destination telephonic device over a second voice link between the directory assistance switch and a second network switch;
(f) initiating a signaling data connection associated with the telephonic connection over a data link between the directory assistance node and a network node;
(h) upon detection at the directory assistance node of one or more instances of a predetermined signaling event associated with the telephonic connection between the customer telephone and the destination telephone, taking a predetermined action. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance node and a directory assistance switch, the method comprising the steps:
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(a) maintaining an attribute database of preferred services associated with individual customers of the directory assistance center;
(b) receiving a customer call through a first network switch from a customer telephonic device in an external telephone network;
(c) receiving signaling data associated with the customer call through a network node;
(d) connecting the customer call through the first network switch to the directory assistance switch over a first voice connection between the directory assistance switch and the first network switch;
(e) connecting the signaling data associated with the customer call to the directory assistance node over a data connection between the directory assistance node and the network node;
(f) connecting the customer call to a directory assistance operator;
(g) determining a destination telephonic device number of a desired party wanted by the customer in a computer database;
(h) determining the preferred service associated with the customer from the attribute database;
(i) initiating a telephonic connection between the customer telephonic device and the destination telephonic device over a second voice connection between the directory assistance switch and a second network switch, the telephonic connection being responsive to one of a plurality of connection options, at least one of the connection options including the following steps (j)-(k);
(j) detecting at the directory assistance node one or more instances of a command issued by the customer for the preferred service associated with the customer; and
(k) performing the preferred service upon detection of one or more instances of the command. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A method of generating an out-of-band signaling message affiliated with a customer command for enhanced directory assistance service issued from a customer telephonic device, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting the customer command for enhanced directory assistance service issued from the customer telephonic device;
generating a first data field containing routing information for the out-of-band signaling message;
generating a second data field identifying the enhanced directory service sought by the customer; and
generating a third data field identifying a protocol of the customer device. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73)
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74. A method of processing an out-of-band signaling message affiliated with a customer command for enhanced directory assistance service issued from a customer telephonic device, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving the out-of-band signaling message affiliated with the customer command for enhanced directory assistance service issued from the customer telephonic device;
processing a first data field of the out-of-band signaling message to obtain the enhanced directory service sought by the customer; and
processing a second data field of the out-of-band signaling message to obtain a protocol of the customer device. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76)
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Specification