System and method for wireless directory assistance

• US 6,381,325 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Operator Service Co.
• Inventors: Hanson, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US09/158,399
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 379/260, 379/88.01, 379/67.1, 379/218.01, 379/201.01, 379/219, 379/242, 379/262, 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 379/223, 379/229, 379/233, 379/114.01, 379/114.05, 379/114.2, 379/114.17, 379/114.24
• US Class Current: 379/218.01
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4935 Connection initiated by DAS system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 Interworking of session control protocols

Abstract

A method of providing wireless directory assistance service includes the steps of receiving a call placed by a caller at a telecommunications carrier switch, routing the call to a call management platform coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch. A directory assistance service provider is contacted via the telecommunications carrier switch or via a frame relay network. The call is then split from the call to the directory assistance service provider. The call management platform then receives a destination number from the directory assistance service provider and supplies it to the caller in a voice announcement. The destination number may be received in-band or via the frame relay network. The call management platform waits a predetermined time period and then automatically connects the call to the destination number via the telecommunications carrier switch if the call has not been disconnected within the predetermined time period.

Claims

1. A method of providing directory assistance service, said method comprising in sequence:

a call management platform receiving from a separate telecommunications carrier switch an origination call placed by a caller;

said call management platform connecting the origination call to a directory assistance service provider separate from the telecommunications carrier switch via an extension call between the call management platform and the directory assistance provider through the telecommunications carrier switch;

said call management platform splitting the origination call from the extension call to the directory assistance service provider so that the caller no longer has an end-to-end connection with the directory service provider;

said call management platform receiving a destination number from the directory assistance service provider via the extension call and then disconnecting the extension call to the directory assistance service provider; and

said call management platform providing the destination number to the caller in the origination call.

2. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the destination number comprises receiving the destination number in-band.

3. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the destination number comprises receiving the destination number via a data network.

4. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of connecting the origination call to a directory assistance service provider comprises originating the extension call by calling a 1-800 number.

5. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

said call management platform automatically connecting the origination call to the destination number via the telecommunications carrier switch if the origination call has not been disconnected within a predetermined time period from said call management platform providing the destination number.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

starting a call duration timer;

monitoring the origination call automatically connected to the destination number for the call duration timer reaching the maximum allowable call duration or disconnection of the origination call by the caller;

disconnecting the origination call in response to the call duration timer reaching the maximum allowable call duration;

determining an amount expended by the origination call immediately in response to call disconnection; and

immediately deducting the amount from the customer account balance.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

looking up customer account balance associated with the origination call in a customer data database; and

determining the maximum allowable call duration in response to the customer account balance.

8. The method of claim 5, and further comprising said call management platform preparing a call record for the directory assistance service and, if the origination call was automatically connected to the destination number, the automatic connection service.

9. A call management platform providing directory assistance, comprising:

means for receiving from a separate telecommunications carrier switch an origination call placed by a caller;

means for connecting the origination call to a directory assistance service provider separate from the telecommunications carrier switch via an extension call between the call management platform and the directory assistance provider through the telecommunications carrier switch;

means for splitting the origination call from the extension call to the directory assistance service provider so that the caller no longer has an end-to-end connection with the directory service provider;

means for receiving a destination number from the directory assistance service provider via the extension call after splitting the origination and extension calls and for then disconnecting the extension call to the directory assistance service provider; and

means for providing the destination number to the caller in the origination call.

10. The call management platform of claim 9, and further comprising:

means for automatically connecting the origination call to the destination number via the telecommunications carrier switch if the origination call has not been disconnected within a predetermined time period from said call management platform providing the destination number.

11. The call management platform of claim 9, further comprising:

means for starting a call duration timer;

means for monitoring the origination call automatically connected to the destination number for the call duration timer reaching the maximum allowable call duration or disconnection of the origination call by the caller;

means for disconnecting the origination call in response to the call duration timer reaching the maximum allowable call duration;

means for determining an amount expended by the origination call immediately in response to call disconnection; and

means for immediately deducting the amount from the customer account balance.

12. The call management platform of claim 11, further comprising:

means for looking up customer account balance associated with the origination call in a customer data database; and

means for determining the maximum allowable call duration in response to the customer account balance.

13. The call management platform of claim 9, and further comprising means for preparing a call record for the directory assistance service and, if the origination call was automatically connected to the destination number, the automatic connection service.

14. The call management platform of claim 9, wherein the means for receiving the destination number comprises means for receiving the destination number in-band.

15. The call management platform of claim 9, wherein the means for receiving the destination number comprises means for receiving the destination number via a data network.

16. The call management platform of claim 9, wherein the means for connecting the origination call to a directory assistance service provider comprises means for originating the extension call by calling a 1-800 number.

17. A system, comprising:

a call management platform according to claim 9; and

a separate telecommunications carrier switch coupled to said call management platform.