System and method for enhanced directory assistance including commercial features

• US 20080215442A1
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan Sunners, Faith Mcgary, Michael Bates
• Original Assignee: Alan Sunners, Faith Mcgary, Michael Bates
• Inventors: Bates, Michael, McGary, Faith, Sunners, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,700,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4933 with operator assistance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method for enhanced commercial activities to a mobile device user includes providing a user with an application for use on a mobile wireless device and receiving an incoming communication from the wireless device via the application at an enhanced services platform of a directory assistance center. Stored account information, associated with the user is retrieved and a coded information is received from the wireless device, where the coded information is generated by the application based on input uploaded onto the wireless device by the user obtained from any one of the group selected from a product advertisement, a product price tag and digital image of a product. The coded information is parsed at the enhanced services platform, options are retrieved related to a product corresponding to the coded information and the user is provided with options relating to the product.

Claims

1. A method for providing enhanced commercial activities to a mobile device user, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a user with an application for use on a mobile wireless device;

receiving an incoming communication from said wireless device via said application at an enhanced services platform of a directory assistance center;

retrieving stored account information associated with said user;

receiving a coded information from said wireless device, said coded information generated by said application based on input uploaded onto said wireless device by said user obtained from any one of the group selected from a product advertisement, a product price tag and digital image of a product;

parsing said coded information at said enhanced services platform;

retrieving options related to a product corresponding to said coded information; and

providing said user with options relating to said product.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said application is an advertiser supported widget supported by said enhanced services platform.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said account information includes billing/shipping information and payment method authorizations.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coded information generated by said application is based on information from an RFID tag in an advertisement.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coded information generated by said application is based on information scanned from a product bar code.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coded information generated by said application is based on a digitized image data of a product.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of providing said user with options relating to said product is based on a cooperative arrangement between the directory assistance center and a commercial enterprise that makes said product.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of providing said commercial enterprise with a report, including demographic data on said user that sent said coded information relating to said product to said enhanced services platform.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of providing said user with options relating to said product include options selected from the group consisting of offer to buy said product now, offer to buy said product in the future, and offer to provide information about said product.

10. A method for providing enhanced connectivity activities to a mobile device user, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a user with an application for use on a mobile wireless device;

receiving an incoming communication from said wireless device via said application at an enhanced services platform of a directory assistance center;

retrieving stored account information associated with said user, including a contact list; and

offering options to said user for managing said contact list, said options selected from the group consisting of, updating said contact list and contacting a member of said contact list through said application.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said updating of said contact list is performed by said directory assistance center in a manner that updates stored contact information versus contact information for the same contacts available through a directory assistance listing database.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said step of updating said contact list is performed by linking to an existing web based contact list.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said step of contacting a member of said contact list through said application includes a group connect feature allowing two or more other contacts to communicate with one another via corresponding application on their mobile devices as well as said enhanced services platform.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said group connect features includes displaying geographic locations of said user and said contacts on their said applications.

15. A method for providing enhanced commercial activities to a mobile device user, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a user with an application for use on a mobile wireless device;

receiving an incoming communication from said wireless device via said application at an enhanced services platform of a directory assistance center;

retrieving stored account information associated with said user;

providing an option to said user for purchasing access to an event run by a commercial enterprise;

retrieving access codes for said event from said commercial enterprise and storing said codes in said stored account;

delivering said access codes to said user'"'"'s application upon request when said user is attending said event.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said event is selected from the group consisting of a concert and a tradeshow.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said step of retrieving access codes for said event from said commercial enterprise, includes retrieving multiple access codes, each of which are for different access points within said event.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the use of said access codes and the geographic location of said user at said event is tracked by said enhanced services platform and reported to said commercial enterprise.

19. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein further comprising the step of allowing said user to view the geographic location of other users at said event in said user'"'"'s contact list through said application.

20. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein further comprising the step of accepting requests for commercial transactions for products sold or advertised at said event through said application.