Directory assistance access to intercept telephone numbers
First Claim
1. In a public switched telephone network serving a plurality of subscriber stations and including a directory assistance operator service center for providing listed directory numbers to callers and an intercept system for intercepting telephone calls dialed to non-working directory numbers, a method for processing a telephone call dialed to said directory assistance operator service center comprising:
- connecting said telephone call to said directory assistance operator service center;
obtaining information from the caller comprising the name of an intended called party;
accessing a directory assistance data base for a listing related to the obtained information;
in response to data received in said accessing step that indicates a predetermined condition associated with said intended called party, transmitting a data message to said intercept system; and
communicating to said caller.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Directory assistance calls are routed to an operator tandem switch that distributes incoming directory assistance calls among available operator positions. For each call, the operator interacts with the caller to identify a directory listing sought by the caller and enters the listing information into the operator'"'"'s terminal to retrieve the requisite information from a data base. An interface is provided between the directory assistance system and an intercept system to handle listings for which a directory number is no longer operative. A flag set in the data base file for the old directory listing would indicate that the number was on intercept. The system can thus provide current information contained in the directory assistance data base or updated information as to the status of subscriber'"'"'s of non-working directory numbers, obtained from the intercept system data base.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. In a public switched telephone network serving a plurality of subscriber stations and including a directory assistance operator service center for providing listed directory numbers to callers and an intercept system for intercepting telephone calls dialed to non-working directory numbers, a method for processing a telephone call dialed to said directory assistance operator service center comprising:
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connecting said telephone call to said directory assistance operator service center; obtaining information from the caller comprising the name of an intended called party; accessing a directory assistance data base for a listing related to the obtained information; in response to data received in said accessing step that indicates a predetermined condition associated with said intended called party, transmitting a data message to said intercept system; and communicating to said caller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In a public switched telephone network serving a plurality of subscriber stations comprising:
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a directory assistance operator service center for providing listed directory numbers to callers, said service center having a data base associated therewith containing subscriber directory number listings, each said directory number listing including subscriber name and directory number; and an intercept system for intercepting telephone calls dialed to non-working directory numbers; a method for adapting said directory assistance operator service center to changes in status of subscribers that affect directory listings, comprising; setting an indicator in the data base directory number listing for a subscriber having a changed status; retaining the directory number listing having said indicator in the data base for a predetermined maximum period of time; and connecting a call, made to said directory assistance operator service center by a caller seeking the directory number for a listing for which an indicator has been set, to said intercept system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a public switched telephone network serving a plurality of subscriber stations and including a directory assistance operator service center for providing listed directory telephone numbers to callers, said service center having a first data base associated therewith containing subscriber directory number listings, each said directory number listing including subscriber name and telephone number, an intercept system for intercepting telephone calls dialed to non-working directory numbers, said intercept system having a second data base associated therewith containing an index of inactive telephone numbers, and an audio subsystem for providing announcements to callers, a method comprising:
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setting an indicator in the first data base listing for a subscriber having a changed status; retaining the listing having said indicator in the first data base for a predetermined maximum period of time; entering the telephone number for the changed status in said second data base; and in response to reassignment of the entered telephone number prior to expiration of said maximum period of time, deleting the retained listing from the first data base and purging the entered telephone number from the second data base. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification