Technique for providing information assistance while maintaining connection information anonymity

• US 20040190707A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
• Inventors: Ljubicich, Philip A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,990,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/218.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

In accordance with the invention, an indication of connection information anonymity is stored for each individual or entity that wants to have access information made available in response to a request for directory assistance respecting such individual or entity, but does not want their actual telephone number disclosed. The information assistance service may be accessed by a user using a wireline telephone, wireless telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or other communications device seeking information assistance. An operator (or automated unit) who attends to such an information assistance service receives a request for information assistance respecting a researched party whose connection information is designated anonymous, and transmits to the user an access telephone number which enables the user to call a researched party, without however providing the user with the actual telephone number of the researched party. Such information may be transmitted to the user via a short message service (SMS) or a wireless application protocol (WAP). It may also be transmitted by facsimile, email, paging, instant messaging, web connection or other communications.

Claims

1. A method for providing information assistance to a user, comprising:

receiving a communication from a user, the communication including a request for connection information concerning a researched party, wherein the connection information relates to the identification of a communications device associated with the researched party;

retrieving the connection information and access information in response to the request, wherein the access information enables the user to effectuate a connection between the user and the researched party through a provider of the information assistance;

transmitting to the user the access information; and

withholding from the user the connection information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection information includes a telephone number associated with the researched party.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the access information includes a telephone number that is associated with the connection information respecting the researched party.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the access information is transmitted through a second communication.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second communication includes a short message service (SMS).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a destination address of the second communication is identified by an automatic number identification (ANI) of a communication device from which the communication originates.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the second communication includes a facsimile transmission.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication includes a second communication pursuant to a wireless application protocol (WAP).

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the second communication includes an email.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the second communication includes paging.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the second communication includes instant messaging.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the second communication includes a web connection.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a profile record for storing the connection information and the access information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the profile record is identifiable by an ANI of a communication device from which the communication originates.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the profile record is stored for a predetermined duration.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising assessing a fee to the user in response to receiving the request for said connection information.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising assessing a fee to the researched party in response to receiving the request for said connection information.

18. A method for connecting a user to a researched party through a provider of information assistance, comprising:

receiving an identifier associated with the user, and a request from the user to establish a communications connection with a party;

identifying connection information, based on the identifier, wherein the connection information was previously requested by the user and undisclosed thereto by the provider; and

connecting the user with the researched party, using the connection information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the connection information includes a telephone number associated with the researched party.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the received request is transmitted through a second communication.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second communication includes a short message service (SMS).

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the second communication includes a communication pursuant to a wireless application protocol (WAP).

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the second communication includes a telephone connection.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising accessing a profile record for identifying the connection information.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the profile record is identifiable by an ANI of a communication device from which the received request originates.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising assessing a fee to the user in response to receiving the request.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising assessing a fee to the researched party in response to receiving the request.

28. A system for providing information assistance to a user, comprising:

an interface for receiving a communication from a user, the communication including a request for connection information concerning a researched party, wherein the connection information relates to the identification of a communications device associated with the researched party; and

a processor for;

retrieving the connection information and access information in response to the request, wherein the access information enables the user to effectuate a connection between the user and the researched party through a provider of the information assistance;

transmitting to the user said access information; and

withholding from the user said connection information.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the connection information includes a telephone number associated with the researched party.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the access information includes a telephone number that is associated with the connection information respecting the researched party.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the access information is transmitted through a second communication.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the second communication includes a short message service (SMS).

33. The system of claim 32, wherein a destination address of the second communication is identified by an automatic number identification (ANI) of a communication device from which the communication originates.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the second communication includes a facsimile transmission.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the second communication includes a communication pursuant to a wireless application protocol (WAP).

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the second communication includes an email.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the second communication includes paging.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the second communication includes instant messaging.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the second communication includes a web connection.

40. The system of claim 28, further comprising a storage for storing a profile record for storing the connection information and the access information.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the profile record is identifiable by an ANI of a communication device from which the communication originates.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the profile record is stored for a predetermined duration.

43. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further configured for assessing a fee to the user in response to receiving the request for said connection information.

44. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further configured for assessing a fee to the researched party in response to receiving the request for said connection information.

45. A system for connecting a user to a researched party through a provider of information assistance, comprising:

an interface for receiving an identifier associated with the user and a request from the user to establish a communications connection with a party; and

a processor for identifying connection information, based on the identifier, wherein the connection information was previously requested by the user and undisclosed thereto by the provider, and for connecting the user with the researched party, using the connection information.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the connection information includes a telephone number associated with the researched party.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the request received by the interface is transmitted through a second communication.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the second communication includes a short message service (SMS).

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the second communication includes a second communication pursuant to a wireless application protocol (WAP).

51. The system of claim 48, wherein the second communication includes a telephone connection.

52. The system of claim 45, wherein the processor is further configured for accessing a profile record for identifying the connection information.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the profile record is identifiable by an ANI of a communication device from which the received request originates.

54. The system of claim 45, wherein the processor is further configured for assessing a fee to the user in response to receiving the request.

55. The system of claim 45, wherein the processor is further configured for assessing a fee to the researched party in response to receiving the request.

47. (not entered)