Personalized information service system

• US 5,694,459 A
• Filed: 01/16/1997
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Petrelli, Robert, Ostroff, Barry Norman, Davenport, Esther Lee, Barrera, Claire Darcelle, Sonke, Susan Kay, Backaus, Marjorie Susan, Fahrer, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US08/785,424
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88, 379/97, 379/127, 379/142, 379/118, 379/120, 379/121, 379/201, 379/207, 379/213, 379/216, 379/233, 379/245, 379/246
• US Class Current: 379/127.01
• 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 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0428 Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0435 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A high-speed information service system is provided which uses a unique identifier received during call setup to retrieve automatically a personalized profile for an information service subscriber. The identifier uniquely identifies the subscriber, thereby allowing the information retrieval process to begin immediately after the call is setup. The system utilizes Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN) signaling and temporary, "out-of-band" signaling to improve information retrieval capability. ISDN signaling permits electronic addressing of information requested by the subscriber, thereby eliminating the delays which accompany DTMF signal processing. Communications between an information service provider and an individual information source are conducted using out-of-band signaling. That is, call setup and information request are processed using a channel other than the channel which carries data between the information service provider, the information source and the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for use with an information service system that provides different types of information to a subscriber in response to an information services request telephone call placed by the subscriber through a telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of

storing a record in accordance with a subscriber'"'"'s personal preference that identifies preselected types of information to be provided to the subscriber;

establishing, in the telecommunications network, the identity of the subscriber who initiated an information services request telephone call by dialing a telephone number uniquely assigned to the subscriber, the identity of the subscriber determined from the subscriber'"'"'s unique telephone number;

correlating the identity of the subscriber, as established from the subscriber'"'"'s unique telephone number, to a corresponding stored record to establish the personal preference of the subscriber initiating the information services request telephone call prior to completing set up of the call initiated by the subscriber to the information services system; and

completing set up of the call initiated by the subscriber to the information services system after the subscriber'"'"'s personal preference has been established to enable the subscriber to receive information in accordance with the subscriber'"'"'s personal preference.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the record is stored in the information services system.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the information corresponding the subscriber'"'"'s personal preference is automatically retrieved upon completion of set up of the call initiated the subscriber to the information services system.