TECHNIQUE FOR CONTINUALLY ASSISTING A USER DURING AN INFORMATION ASSISTANCE CALL

• US 20130163743A1
• Filed: 06/27/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary E. Henry
• Original Assignee: Gary E. Henry
• Inventors: Henry, Gary E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,666,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/218.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/552 Call annotations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

Telephone users desiring directory assistance services are connected via standard telephone procedures to a directory assistance provider, such as an operator. An operator provides the destination number and initiates a connection to that number. Once that connection is initiated, the connection is monitored for the occurrence of a predetermined condition, such as a busy signal. If no such condition is detected, the caller proceeds with the call in the normal manner. If, however, such a condition is detected, the caller is automatically transferred to a directory assistance provider for further help.

Claims

1. A method for providing an information assistance service, comprising:

receiving a communication from a requester, the communication including an information assistance request;

conducting a search on a database in response to the request;

retrieving a result based on said search on said database including connection data for connecting said requester to a communications device associated with a desired party;

storing a result of the search in association with the call, wherein said information assistance request and said retrieved result of connection data for connecting said requester to a communications device associated with said desired party constitutes an information exchange stored in said result;

reviewing said information exchange in said stored result, corresponding to at least a portion of the call transcript to derive a context of said information assistance request, said context being derived from, but not explicitly contained in said information exchanges in the call, wherein said context relates to, but is not the same as, said information assistance request and said connection data for connecting said requester to said communications device associated with said desired party; and

delivering at least one advertisement to said requester based on said derived context.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the requester is reconnected to the information assistance provider after detection of a predetermined signal initiated by the requester.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the search result includes a telephone number associated with the desired party.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the information assistance request concerns a purchase of a product or a service.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the desired party includes a provider of the product or the service.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of reviewing a stored requester profile containing requester preferences, wherein said advertisement delivered to said requester based on said derived context is further informed by said requester preferences.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of reviewing location information relating to said result, wherein said advertisement delivered to said requester based on said derived context is further informed by said location information relating to said result.