Methods and system for enhanced directory assistance using wireless messaging protocols

• US 20040023644A1
• Filed: 07/30/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Local.com
• Original Assignee: Interchange Corporation (Local Corporation)
• Inventors: Montemer, William A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,200,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/15 Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

Directory assistance provides telephone number look up services to callers based on the business or caller name as listed in a telephone directory. In the prior art, directory assistance provides a value-added service to telephone users and an expense that must be charged back to telephone callers or absorbed by telephone carriers. In enhanced directory assistance (EDA) services as described in the disclosure, EDA is further developed to deliver a keyword targeted advertising service to telephone listing owners and advertisers. The present invention provides a method and system to extend EDA services to the wireless messaging systems used by telecommunications operators. The invention further discloses methods to support both one-way and two-way communications on these devices, as well as systems to support the distributed EDA Transaction business model.

Claims

1. A method of sharing directory listings via a wireless messaging system in a distributed environment using a computer network comprising:

(a) Maintaining a database including a plurality of directory listings, wherein each listing is associated with a referral phone number, at least one search term and a dynamic, controllable index;

(b) Receiving a directory assistance request in the form of a keyword from the customer;

(c) Identifying the directory listings having keyword terms generating a match with the request;

(d) Ordering the identified directory listings into a phone number result list in accordance with the values of some controllable index for the identified directory listings;

(e) Translating phone number result list into a format that is compatible with a wireless messaging standard;

(f) Transmitting the translated result list through a wireless messaging system back to the requesting customer'"'"'s wireless messaging device;

(g) Enabling the receiving message device to automatically callback the directory listing provider requesting a telephone referral;

(i) Receiving the message phone callback and authenticating the caller;

(j) Correlating the callback to a previous request and result set;

(k) Transferring the callback phone call to the corresponding telephone referral number;

(1) Initiating a business transaction to generate billing and revenue transactions for the paid referral.