Apparatus and method for obtaining information in a wide-area telephone system with digital data transmission between a local exchange and an information storage site

• US 5,052,038 A
• Filed: 04/12/1990
• Issued: 09/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cognitronics Corp. (ThinkEngine Networks, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cognitronics Corp. (ThinkEngine Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shepard, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US07/508,961
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88, 379/89, 379/97, 379/213, 379/214, 379/235
• US Class Current: 379/88.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

A telephone system wherein any one of a large number of telephones is connectible to a local directory-assistance request processor. The name of a subscriber whose telephone number is sought is entered through a connected telephone by spelling out the subscriber'"'"'s name with the standard telephone push-buttons, using the grouped alphabetic designators on those buttons. The resulting decimal signals are stored in the request processor, and also are forwarded by a digital transmission system to the appropriate one of a number of directory processors each having a subscriber data base in alphanumeric code. A look-up is carried out to locate the alphanumeric code data identifying the subscriber'"'"'s name corresponding to the originally-entered decimal request signals, and the located alphanumeric information including name and telephone number is sent back through the digital transmission system to the request processor. The alphanumeric code data is used at that processor to control a voice-response unit which directs to the originating telephone corresponding speech signals identifying the subscriber'"'"'s name and telephone number.

Claims

1. The method of obtaining information stored in alphanumeric code in at least one location in a geographical region by operating a telephone in a telephone system of the kind including a plurality of local exchanges located remotely from each other in said geographical region with each local exchange being connectable by respective voice-grade channels to any of a corresponding set of telephones associated with that local exchange, said telephones including keying means for producing decimal signals, said keying means comprising a set of touch-type push-buttons which when pressed produce a respective distinctive signal of decimal character, each push-button designating a group of alphabetic letters and an associated numeral so that the decimal signals produced by each of said set of push-buttons can be used to represent the corresponding alphabetic group or the associated numeral;

said keying means being operable with said telephone system to effect voice-transmitting connection between any one of said telephones associated with any of said local exchanges to any other of said telephones;

the telephone system further including a non-voice-grade digital data transmission network connecting all of said local exchanges to said one location where said alphanumerically coded information is stored;

said method comprising the steps of;

operating said push-buttons at any one of said telephones of any of said sets of telephones to produce a request signal in the form of a plurality of decimal signals representing a corresponding sequence of alphanumeric characterist identifying the information desired from that stored in said one location;

directing said decimal signals through the respective voice-grade channel from said one telephone to the corresponding local exchange;

storing said decimal signals of said request signal at a request processor at said corresponding local exchange;

directing signals corresponding to said request signal in digital decimal signal format through said digital data transmission network to an information retrieval processor at said one location, said information retrieval processor including storage means storing alphanumerically-coded data identifying information of potential interest;

storing said decimal-signals request signal in a request storage unit at said information retrieval processor;

carrying out a look-up of said stored information at said information retrieval processor to locate the alphanumerically-coded data desired as identified by the decimal signals stored in said request storage unit;

directing back through said digital data transmission network, from said information retrieval processor to said corresponding local exchange, digital alphanumeric signals representing said particular information;

storing in a response storage unit at said request processor at said corresponding local exchange alphanumeric reply signals corresponding to said alphanumeric signals sent back through said digital data transmission network;

operating a multiplexed voice-response unit at said corresponding local exchange in accordance with said stored alphanumeric reply signals to develop multiplexed speech signals identifying said particular information; and

directing said developed multiplexed speech signals through said respective voice-grade channel back to said one telephone to furnish the requested information to the person operating said one telephone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information sought is the telephone number of a party.