Method and system for extended directory service

• US 20050165914A1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Gunasekar, Guna D., Lawson-Shanks, Phillip E., Moore, Richard G., Shaw, Darryl W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 Store & forward, messaging systems email H04Q2213/13375

Abstract

An approach is disclosed for providing an extended directory service over a communication system including a data network and a telephony network. A subscriber submits a request for directory information to the communication system according to a first communication mode. The system accesses a directory among multiple directories in response to the request, wherein the directories include an internal directory associated with the subscriber and an external directory not associated with the subscriber. The directory information from the selected directory is retrieved and forwarded to the subscriber according to a second communication mode.

Claims

1. A method for providing directory services over a communication system including a data network and a telephony network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for directory information from a subscriber of the communication system, the subscriber submitting the request according to a first one of a plurality of communication modes;

accessing one of a plurality of directories in response to the request, wherein the directories include an internal directory associated with the subscriber and an external directory not associated with the subscriber;

retrieving the directory information from the selected directory; and

forwarding the directory information to the subscriber according to a second one of the communication modes.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

concurrently forwarding the directory information to the subscriber according to the first communication mode.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first communication mode is different from the second communication mode.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the first communication mode is electronic mail and the second communication mode is instant messaging.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a profile of the subscriber, the profile specifying the second communication mode.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the subscriber receives the directory information via a web interface.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of the directories provides a telephone directory assistance service.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing to the subscriber a menu of options corresponding to the directories according with a profile of the subscriber.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the subscriber is a directory system.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a response message to the request, wherein the response message specifies identity and location of a user, a communication mode associated with the user, and availability of the user via the communication mode.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the response message further specifies a route for reaching the user via the communication mode.

12. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for providing directory services over a communication system including a data network and a telephony network, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving a request for directory information from a subscriber of the communication system, the subscriber submitting the request according to a first one of a plurality of communication modes;

accessing one of a plurality of directories in response to the request, wherein the directories include an internal directory associated with the subscriber and an external directory not associated with the subscriber;

retrieving the directory information from the selected directory; and

forwarding the directory information to the subscriber according to a second one of the communication modes.

13. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, further comprising instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform the step of:

concurrently forwarding the directory information to the subscriber according to the first communication mode.

14. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the first communication mode is different from the second communication mode.

15. A computer-readable medium according to claim 14, wherein the first communication mode is electronic mail and the second communication mode is instant messaging.

16. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, further comprising instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform the step of:

accessing a profile of the subscriber, the profile specifying the second communication mode.

17. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the subscriber receives the directory information via a web interface.

18. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein one of the directories provides a telephone directory assistance service.

19. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, further comprising instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform the step of:

providing to the subscriber a menu of options corresponding to the directories according with a profile of the subscriber.

20. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the subscriber is a directory system.

21. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, further comprising instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform the step of:

generating a response message to the request, wherein the response message specifies identity and location of a user, a communication mode associated with the user, and availability of the user via the communication mode.

22. A computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the response message further specifies a route for reaching the user via the communication mode.

23. A system for providing extended directory services, the system comprising:

a web server configured to receive a request for directory information from a subscriber of the directory services, the subscriber submitting the request according to a first one of a plurality of communication modes, the web server being further configured to select one of a plurality of directories in response to the request,

wherein the directories include an internal directory associated with the subscriber and an external directory not associated with the subscriber, the web server retrieving the directory information from the selected directory and forwarding the directory information to the subscriber according to a second one of the communication modes.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the web server concurrently forwards the directory information to the subscriber according to the first communication mode.

25. A system according to claim 23, wherein the first communication mode is different from the second communication mode.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the first communication mode is electronic mail and the second communication mode is instant messaging.

27. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a database coupled to the web server and configured to store a profile of the subscriber, the profile specifying the second communication mode.

28. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a telephony directory assistance database coupled to the web server and configured to support one of the directories.

29. A system according to claim 23, wherein the web server provides to the subscriber a menu of options corresponding to the directories according with a profile of the subscriber.

30. A system according to claim 23, wherein the subscriber is a directory system.

31. A system according to claim 23, wherein, in response to the request, the web server generates a response message that specifies identity and location of a user, a communication mode associated with the user, and availability of the user via the communication mode.

32. A system according to claim 31, wherein the response message further specifies a route for reaching the user via the communication mode.

33. A device for accessing directory services supported by a communication system including a data network and a telephony network, the device comprising:

means for sending a request by a subscriber to the communication system for directory information to the communication system according to a first one of a plurality of communication modes, wherein the communication system selects one of a plurality of directories in response to the request, wherein the directories include an internal directory associated with the subscriber and an external directory not associated with the subscriber, the communication system retrieving the directory information from the selected directory; and

means for receiving the directory information according to a second one of the communication modes.

34. A device according to claim 33, further comprising:

means for concurrently receiving the directory information according to the first communication mode.

35. A device according to claim 33, wherein the first communication mode is different from the second communication mode.

36. A device according to claim 35, wherein the first communication mode is electronic mail and the second communication mode is instant messaging.

37. A device according to claim 33, wherein the communication system accesses a subscriber profile specifying the second communication mode.

38. A device according to claim 33, wherein one of the directories provides a telephone directory assistance service.

39. A device according to claim 33, further comprising:

means for providing to the subscriber a menu of options corresponding to the directories according with a subscriber profile.

40. A device according to claim 33, wherein the subscriber is a directory system.

41. A device according to claim 33, further comprising:

means for generating a response message to the request, wherein the response message specifies identity and location of a user, a communication mode associated with the user, and availability of the user via the communication mode.

42. A device according to claim 41, wherein the response message further specifies a route for reaching the user via the communication mode.