Technique for monitoring and attempting to connect destination telephone and providing information assistance upon detection of unsatisfactory connection
First Claim
1. A method for managing, by an information assistance service provider, a call received through a first carrier network not controlled by the information assistance service provider, the call being connectable to a desired party through a second carrier network also not controlled by the information assistance service provider, the method comprising:
- receiving the call by a caller through the first carrier network;
receiving from the caller an information assistance request for a suggestion of a goods or service provider, which is unaffiliated with the information assistance service provider;
searching a database for search results including a telephone number associated with a communications device which satisfy the request;
establishing a connection for connecting the caller to the communications device through the second carrier network; and
allowing the caller to be connected to an information assistance service provided by the information assistance service provider before the caller terminates the call.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cellular telephone subscriber who wishes directory assistance services is connected in the conventional manner to an operator who identifies a destination telephone number desired by the subscriber. As in the prior art, the operator then initiates a call connecting the subscriber to the destination telephone number. In a preferred embodiment, the operator locates a desired destination telephone number in a computer database, and can select automatic dialing of the located number. Further, rather than dropping all further involvement with the call, the preferred embodiment of the present invention continually monitors the connection thereby established for a predetermined DTMF signal issued by the customer, such as that obtained by pressing the “*” button. If such a signal is detected, the customer is transferred to a directory assistance operator, who can then provide whatever further assistance is needed (e.g. redialing a busy number, or providing further directory assistance). This feature can be disabled, manually or automatically, if the destination number makes its own use of the DTMF signals.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method for managing, by an information assistance service provider, a call received through a first carrier network not controlled by the information assistance service provider, the call being connectable to a desired party through a second carrier network also not controlled by the information assistance service provider, the method comprising:
-
receiving the call by a caller through the first carrier network;
receiving from the caller an information assistance request for a suggestion of a goods or service provider, which is unaffiliated with the information assistance service provider;
searching a database for search results including a telephone number associated with a communications device which satisfy the request;
establishing a connection for connecting the caller to the communications device through the second carrier network; and
allowing the caller to be connected to an information assistance service provided by the information assistance service provider before the caller terminates the call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for providing an information assistance service, the method comprising:
-
receiving by an information assistance service provider a call from a caller over a first carrier network;
receiving from the caller an information assistance request for a suggestion of a goods or service provider, which is unaffiliated with the information assistance service provider;
searching a database for a selected goods or service provider satisfying the request and the connection information concerning the selected goods or service provider;
attempting to connect the caller over a second carrier network to the selected goods or service provider based on the connection information; and
allowing the caller to be connected to an information assistance service provided by the information assistance service provider when an indication that the caller will not be able to communicate with the selected goods or service provider is received. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification