Technique for providing personalized information and communications services
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user may utilize a communication device, e.g., a wireless phone, mobile device or personal digital assistant (PDA), to contact an information/call center where an operator provides personalized information and communications services to the user in accordance with the invention. Such services include, e.g., providing listing information, contacts information, appointments information, etc. To provide effective connectivity, for example, when a user locates a phone number in his/her private directory using a web browser, the user may utilize a direct connect feature of the invention to initiate a phone call to the desired number over the Internet. In addition, the invention allows for delivery of the appointments information to the user not only via voice connection, but also SMS, email, facsimile, PDA, etc. It also allows for rendering a calendaring service in combination with such services as a TeleConcierge® service which helps the user to plan a future event, e.g., making a restaurant reservation. An appointment record concerning the future event is automatically incorporated into the user'"'"'s calendar once it is successfully planned. To personalize the services, at least one profile associated with the user is used which specifies the subscribed services and the preferred ways of receiving them. For example, the profile may specify use of a special skilled operator, methods of delivery of information to the user, etc.
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Citations
153 Claims
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1-25. -25. (cancelled).
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26. A directory system for use by a user associated with a selected telephone number comprising:
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an interface for locating a second telephone number associated with a party in a directory;
a device for initiating communications between the user and the party; and
a switching subsystem for establishing a first communication connection to the second telephone number, and a second communication connection to the selected telephone number, and for bridging the first communication connection to the second communication connection to realize the communications between the user and the party. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30-68. -68 (cancelled).
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69. A system for connecting a calling party to a called party comprising:
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an interface for receiving through a first communication link communications to an agent, the communications including a request for connecting the calling party to the called party, the agent in response to the request causing an issuance of a call to the called party;
a processor for establishing a second communication link in issuing the call;
a device for inputting at least one message for transmission to the called party for the called party to consider before answering the call; and
a switch for bridging the first communication link to the second communication link. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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80-101. -101 (cancelled).
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102. A method for providing a directory for a user associated with a selected telephone number, the method comprising:
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locating a second telephone number associated with a party in the directory;
initiating communications between the user and the party;
establishing a first communication connection to the second telephone number, and a second communication connection to the selected telephone number; and
bridging the first communication connection to the second communication connection to realize the communications between the user and the party. - View Dependent Claims (103, 104, 105)
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106-142. -142 (cancelled).
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143. A method for use in a system for connecting a calling party to a called party, the method comprising:
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receiving through a first communication link communications to an agent, the communications including a request for connecting the calling party to the called party, the agent in response to the request causing an issuance of a call to the called party;
establishing a second communication link in issuing the call;
inputting at least one message for transmission to the called party for the called party to consider before answering the call; and
bridging the first communication link to the second communication link. - View Dependent Claims (144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153)
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Specification