Network server platform telephone directory white-yellow page services
First Claim
1. A method of providing automated telephone directory assistance comprising, in combination:
- a. inputting a directory assistance query to a telecommunications device;
b. transmitting said directory assistance query to a computerized directory assistance server over a local loop network;
c. searching a directory assistance database based on at least said directory assistance query;
d. transmitting the results of said directory assistance database search over said local loop network from said directory assistance server to said telecommunication device; and
e. presenting a plurality of directory assistance listings to a directory assistance caller, said listings including said results of said directory assistance database search sorted based upon the geographic proximity of each listed establishment to the location from which said query originated.
19 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A local loop access network providing high-speed access at a committed data delivery rate and natural language processing of spoken directory assistance queries. A user'"'"'s spoken natural language query is processed and a directory assistance database is searched at the network server platform based on the contents of the query. Search results are provided to the user either through an audio interface or as text on a screen. The user is provided with the option of obtaining more information about certain listings and may select a listing to be automatically dialed. Search results are prioritized based on any listings previously selected to be automatically dialed and based on the geographical proximity between the establishments in the results list and the address from which the directory assistance query was initiated.
198 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of providing automated telephone directory assistance comprising, in combination:
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a. inputting a directory assistance query to a telecommunications device; b. transmitting said directory assistance query to a computerized directory assistance server over a local loop network; c. searching a directory assistance database based on at least said directory assistance query; d. transmitting the results of said directory assistance database search over said local loop network from said directory assistance server to said telecommunication device; and e. presenting a plurality of directory assistance listings to a directory assistance caller, said listings including said results of said directory assistance database search sorted based upon the geographic proximity of each listed establishment to the location from which said query originated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for providing automated telephone directory assistance comprising, in combination:
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a. means for receiving a directory assistance query input to a telecommunication device; b. means for transmitting said directory assistance query to a computerized directory assistance server over a local loop network; c. means for searching a directory assistance database based on at least said directory assistance query; d. means for transmitting the results of said directory assistance database search over said local loop network from said directory assistance server to said telecommunication device; and e. means for presenting a plurality of directory assistance listings to a directory assistance caller, said listings including said results of said directory assistance database search prioritized based upon the geographic proximity of the location of the listed establishments to the address from which said query was input. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for providing automated telephone directory assistance comprising, in combination:
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a. a telecommunication device for receiving a directory assistance query; b. an intelligent services director coupled to said telecommunication device; c. a facilities management platform coupled to said intelligent services director; d. a network server platform coupled to said facilities management platform via a local loop network, said network server platform including, at least i. a telephone directory assistance database; ii. a processor for searching said directory assistance database based upon said directory assistance query; iii. means for transmitting the results of said directory assistance database search to said telecommunication device; and iv. means for presenting a plurality of directory assistance listings to a directory assistance caller, said listings including said search results prioritized based on the geographic proximity between the establishments found by said search and the address from which the directory assistance query was initiated. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification