Directory assistance

• US 20050036601A1
• Filed: 08/14/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Paley, Brian T., Petrunka, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,386,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/218.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

A directory assistance platform embodiment includes a directory assistant and a personalized cache. The personalized cache is accessible using voice recognition software to provide access to personalized contact information. The directory assistant can provide access to a number of directory information resources in compliment to the personalized cache.

Claims

1. A directory assistance platform, comprising:

a personalized cache accessible using voice recognition software to provide access to personalized contact information; and

a directory assistant to provide access to a number of directory information resources in compliment to the personalized cache.

2. The platform of claim 1, wherein the number of directory information resources include a configurable hierarchy of resources.

3. The platform of claim 1, wherein the directory assistance platform includes a directory assistance platform utilizing automatic speech recognition.

4. The platform of claim 1, wherein the directory assistance platform can be accessed using a Voice over Internet Protocol media path connection.

5. The platform of claim 1, wherein the directory assistance platform can be accessed over a wireless connection.

6. The platform of claim 1, wherein the personalized cache can accept information from the directory assistant.

7. The platform of claim 1, wherein the directory assistant provides access to a configurable hierarchy of information resources in compliment to the personalized cache.

8. A directory assistance network, comprising:

a number of directory information resources;

a directory assistance platform in communication to the number of directory information resources;

a personalized cache in communication with the directory assistant, the cache to receive directory information from the directory assistant and to provide access to personalized contact information; and

means for connecting a call to a contact number found within the network.

9. The directory assistance network of claim 8, further including means for updating a contact number to the personalized cache.

10. The directory assistance network of claim 8, wherein the means for connecting includes automated prompts for voice response.

11. The directory assistance network of claim 10, wherein the automated prompts for voice response includes automated prompts for voice response to verbally select between a choice of numbers in a directory.

12. The directory assistance network of claim 8, wherein the means for connecting a call includes means for connecting to connect the call via release link trunking protocol.

13. The directory assistance network of claim 8, further including means to categorize the number of directory information choices in a hierarchy from most likely choice to least likely choice.

14. A method for accessing directory information from a directory assistance platform, the method comprising:

receiving a request for directory information including user identification information;

identifying a personalized cache corresponding to the user identification information received;

accessing the personalized cache to identify if the requested directory information is present in the personalized cache; and

providing the requested directory information for access by the user.

15. The method of claim 14, further including accessing an additional resource if the requested directory information is not present in the personalized cache.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein accessing an additional resource includes accessing a restricted access company cache accessible by employees of a company having information within the restricted access company cache.

17. The method of claim 14, further including accessing a restricted access company cache having a personalized cache within the restricted access company cache.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving a request for directory information includes receiving a voice request with an interactive voice response (IVR) system.

19. A method for accessing directory information from a directory assistance platform, the method comprising:

receiving a voice communication requesting directory information including user identification information;

identifying a user requesting the directory information;

identifying a personalized cache corresponding to the user identification information received;

accessing the personalized cache to identify if the requested directory information is present in the personalized cache;

accessing an additional resource to identify if the requested directory information is present in the additional resource; and

providing the requested directory information for access by the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving a voice communication requesting directory information includes receiving requested directory information via a Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) media path.

21. The method of claim 19, further including obtaining an access number from the requested directory information and connecting the user to a target user based upon the access number obtained.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein obtaining an access number includes obtaining an access number that is a telephone number.

23. The method of claim 19, further including accessing an additional resource if the requested directory information is not present in the personalized cache.

24. The method of claim 23, further including storing the requested directory information to the personalized cache.

25. A computer readable medium having instructions for causing a device to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a voice communication requesting directory information using an automatic speech recognition engine;

accessing a personalized cache based on the voice communication;

accessing an additional resource if the requested directory information is not present in the personalized cache and saving the requested directory information to the personalized cache; and

connecting a call to a target based upon the requested directory information.

26. The computer readable of claim 25, wherein the method includes accessing an additional resource via a communications link.

27. The computer readable of claim 25, wherein the method includes connecting a call to a target via a release link trunking protocol.

28. The computer readable of claim 25, wherein the method includes receiving the name of a target to be contacted.