Location relevant directory assistance

• US 20050265540A1
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Creamer, Thomas E., Moore, Victor S., Jaiswal, Peeyush
• Granted Patent: US 8,548,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/218.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for location relevant directory assistance through a PSTN. The method can include receiving a directory assistance request from a calling party over the PSTN and retrieving an address for the calling party from the PSTN. Location relevant directory information can be identified based upon the retrieved address. Subsequently, the directory assistance request can be handled using the identified location relevant directory information. The method further can include the steps of prompting the calling party with the identified location relevant directory information. In response, a selection from the calling party from among the identified location relevant directory information can be received from the calling party. Consequently, the responding step can be performed using the selection. Alternatively, the responding step can be performed without location restriction if the calling party does not select from among the identified location relevant directory information.

Claims

1. A method for providing location relevant directory assistance in a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a directory assistance request from a calling party over the PSTN;

retrieving an address for said calling party from the PSTN;

identifying location relevant directory information based upon said retrieved address; and

,

responding to said directory assistance request using said identified location relevant directory information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

prompting said calling party with said identified location relevant directory information;

receiving a selection from said calling party from among said identified location relevant directory information; and

,

performing said responding step using said selection.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of performing said responding step without location restriction if said calling party does not select from among said identified location relevant directory information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said retrieving step comprises the steps of querying a line item database (LIDB) through a name resolution adapter disposed in the PSTN for names associated with said identifying information.

5. A system for providing location relevant directory assistance in a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the system comprising:

a telephone subscriber database disposed in a switch in the PSTN;

a name resolution adapter disposed in the PSTN and coupled to said telephone subscriber database; and

,

a directory assistance system disposed externally to the PSTN and communicatively linked to said name resolution adapter over a data communications network.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a location listing processor disposed in said directory assistance system.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said telephone subscriber database is a line item database (LIDB).

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising an interactive voice response system disposed in said directory assistance system and configured for interaction with calling parties.

9. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for providing location relevant directory assistance in a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions which when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform the steps of:

receiving a directory assistance request from a calling party over the PSTN;

retrieving an address for said calling party from the PSTN;

identifying location relevant directory information based upon said retrieved address; and

,

responding to said directory assistance request using said identified location relevant directory information.

10. The machine readable storage of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

prompting said calling party with said identified location relevant directory information;

receiving a selection from said calling party from among said identified location relevant directory information; and

,

performing said responding step using said selection.

11. The machine readable storage of claim 10, further comprising the step of performing said responding step without location restriction if said calling party does not select from among said identified location relevant directory information.

12. The machine readable storage of claim 9, wherein said retrieving step comprises the steps of querying a line item database (LIDB) through a name resolution adapter disposed in the PSTN for names associated with said identifying information.