Technique for identifying status of users and status of subscribers' accounts in a communications system
First Claim
1. A method of operating a communications system, comprising:
- receiving signals in establishing a communication with a user, the signals containing an identifier;
determining if the user is a subscriber to the system based, at least in part, on the identifier; and
handling the communication based, at least in part, on whether the user is a subscriber to the system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system and method for handling a call to the system based on whether the caller is a subscriber. In one example, in an information assistance service communications system, if the user is a subscriber, the call may be directed to a first operator device for directory assistance, while if the caller is a non-subscriber, the call may be directed to a special operator device discuss billing and subscription options, for example. In another communications system and method, calls to the system by subscribers are handled based on the status of parameters of the calling subscriber'"'"'s account, such as usage limits and expiration date of the caller'"'"'s subscription, for example. In another communications system and method, expiration dates are monitored and notices about the expiration dates are sent to subscribers by a method chosen by the subscriber. Features of these systems and methods may be used together or separately.
24 Citations
82 Claims
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1. A method of operating a communications system, comprising:
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receiving signals in establishing a communication with a user, the signals containing an identifier;
determining if the user is a subscriber to the system based, at least in part, on the identifier; and
handling the communication based, at least in part, on whether the user is a subscriber to the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A communications system comprising:
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an interface to receive signals to establish a communication with a user, the signals containing an identifier;
memory storing identifying information of subscribers to the system; and
a processor coupled between the memory and the interface, the processor being programmed to determine if the user is a subscriber based, at least in part, on the identifier and the identifying information in the memory;
wherein the system handles the communication based, at least in part, on whether the user is a subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A communications system comprising:
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receiving means for receiving signals for establishing a communication with a user, the signals containing an identifier;
determining means for determining if the user is a subscriber to the system based, at least in part, on the identifier; and
handling means for handling the communication based, at least in part, on whether the user is a subscriber to the system.
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25. A method of operating a communications system, wherein a subscriber to the system has a subscriber account with the system, the method comprising:
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receiving signals to establish a communication with a subscriber to the system, the signals containing an identifier;
identifying the subscriber based on the identifier; and
handling the communication based, at least in part, on a status of at least one parameter of the subscriber'"'"'s account. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A communications system, wherein a subscriber to the system has a subscriber account with the system, the system comprising:
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an interface to receive signals to establish a communication with a subscriber to the system, the signals containing an identifier;
memory storing identifying information of subscribers to the system; and
a processor coupled between the memory and the interface, the processor being programmed to determine the identity of a subscriber based on the identifier;
wherein the system handles the communication based, at least in part, on a status of at least one parameter of a subscriber'"'"'s account. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 53)
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52. A communications system, wherein a subscriber to the system has a subscriber account with the system, the system comprising:
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means for receiving signals to establish a communication with a subscriber to the system, the signals containing an identifier;
means for identifying the subscriber based on the identifier;
means for handling the communication based, at least in part, on a status of at least one parameter of the subscriber'"'"'s account.
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54. A method of operating a communications system, wherein at least some users of the system are subscribers having subscriptions to the system, the subscriptions having expiration dates, the method comprising:
informing a subscriber of an expiration date by a contact preference method selected by the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A communications system, wherein at least some users are subscribers having subscriptions to the system, the subscriptions having expiration dates, the system comprising:
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memory storing subscriber information, the information comprising an expiration date and a contact preference method selected by the subscriber; and
a processor programmed to inform a subscriber of an expiration date via the contact preference method stored in memory. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A communications system, wherein at least some users are subscribers having subscriptions to the system, the subscriptions having expiration dates, the system comprising:
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means for receiving signals to establish a communication with a user; and
means for informing a subscriber of an expiration date by a contact preference method selected by the subscriber.
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77. A method of operating communications system, comprising:
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establishing a communication with a user;
determining if the user is a subscriber to the system based, at least in part, on a voice print of the user; and
handling the communication based, at least in part, on whether the user is a subscriber to the system.
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78. A method of operating an information assistance service communications system, comprising:
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establishing a communication with a user making an information assistance call to the information assistance service communications system;
determining if the user is a subscriber to the information assistance service communications system based, at least in part, on an identifier received after the communication is established; and
handling the communication based, at least in part, on whether the user is a subscriber to the information assistance service communications system. - View Dependent Claims (79)
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80. A method of operating a communications system, wherein a subscriber to the system has a subscriber account with the system, the method comprising:
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establishing a communication with a subscriber to the system;
identifying the subscriber based on a voice print of the subscriber; and
handling the communication based, at least in part, on a status of at least one parameter of the subscriber'"'"'s account.
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81. A method of operating an information assistance service communication system, wherein a subscriber to the system has a subscriber account, the method comprising:
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establishing a communication with a user making an information assistance service call to the information assistance service center;
identifying the subscriber based, at least in part, on an identifier received after the communication is established; and
handling the communication based, at least in part, on a status of at least one parameter of the subscriber'"'"'s account. - View Dependent Claims (82)
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Specification