Method for providing directory assistance services via an alphanumeric page

• US 6,473,612 B1
• Filed: 02/12/1999
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
• Inventors: Cox, Patrick M., Kepler, Michael A., Filliger, Paul W., Timmons, Timothy A., Powell, Adrian P.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/249,417
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 455/31.1, 455/414, 455/416, 455/417, 455/89, 379/114, 379/212, 379/88.01, 379/97.1, 379/200, 379/201.01, 379/84, 379/90.01, 379/93.07, 379/144.06, 379/213.01, 707/200, 340/7.25
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• 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 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/424 Arrangements for automatic redialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• 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: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4933 with operator assistance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4935 Connection initiated by DAS system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/60 Semi-automatic systems, i.e. in which the numerical selection of the outgoing line is under the control of an operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A mobile telephone, or personal communication services 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 known 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., providing further directory assistance). If a busy signal or non-answering party is detected, a customer is given a plurality of options including leaving a recorded message or page, or a predetermined alphanumeric message or page for the called party. In this case, the system automatically tries, repeatedly, to deliver the recorded message or page and, optionally, confirms successful or failed message delivery to the calling party.

Claims

1. A method of providing information assistance, comprising:

locating a destination telephone number of a desired party wanted by a caller;

initiating a telephone call between the caller and the destination telephone number;

monitoring the telephone call for a predetermined call status;

providing at least one option to the caller based on the call status, wherein the at least one option includes returning the caller to information assistance;

taking action relating to the telephone call based on a selection of the at least one option; and

sending a page to the caller in response to the predetermined call status, the page containing information relating to the desired party.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the at least one option also includes leaving a message for the desired party.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the at least one option also includes receiving the telephone number associated with the desired party.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the at least one option also includes to further attempt to initiate the call with the desired party.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the further initiated call is made at a predetermined interval.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the at least one option also includes paging a device associated with the desired party.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the call is not connected, the at least one option also includes to continue holding for an answer by the desired party.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein a ringing tone is played while the caller continues to hold for an answer.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one option also includes to terminate the call between the caller and the desired party.

2. A method of providing information assistance, comprising:

locating a destination telephone number of a desired party wanted by a caller;

initiating a telephone call between the caller and the destination telephone number;

monitoring the telephone call for a predetermined call status, wherein the call status is a busy signal;

providing at least one option to the caller based on the call status;

taking action relating to the telephone call based on a selection of the option; and

sending a page to the caller in response to the predetermined call status, the page containing information relating to the desired party.

16. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes leaving a message for the desired party.

17. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes receiving the telephone number associated with the desired party.

18. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes to further attempt to initiate the call with the desired party.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the further initiated call is made at a predetermined interval.

20. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes paging a device associated with the desired party.

21. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the call is not connected, the option includes to continue holding for an answer by the desired party.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein a ringing tone is played while the caller continues to hold for an answer.

23. The method according to claim 2, wherein the option includes to terminate the call between the caller and the desired party.

3. A method of providing information assistance, comprising:

locating a destination telephone number of a desired party wanted by a caller;

initiating a telephone call between the caller and the destination telephone number;

monitoring the telephone call for a predetermined call status, wherein the call status is a ring-no answer condition;

providing at least one option to the caller based on the call status;

taking action relating to the telephone call based on a selection of the option; and

sending a page to the caller in response to the predetermined call status, the page containing information relating to the desired party.

24. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes leaving a message for the desired party.

25. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes receiving the telephone number associated with the desired party.

26. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes to further attempt to initiate the call with the desired party.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the further initiated call is made at a predetermined interval.

28. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes paging a device associated with the desired party.

29. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the call is not connected, the option includes to continue holding for an answer by the desired party.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein a ringing tone is played while the caller continues to hold for an answer.

31. The method according to claim 3, wherein the option includes to terminate the call between the caller and the desired party.

4. A method of providing information assistance, comprising:

locating a destination telephone number of a desired party wanted by a caller;

initiating a telephone call between the caller and the destination telephone number;

monitoring the telephone call for a predetermined call status;

providing at least one option to the caller based on the call status, wherein the call status indicates a connection between the caller and the desired party;

taking action relating to the telephone call based on a selection of the option; and

sending a page to the caller in response to the predetermined call status, the page containing information relating to the desired party.

32. The method according to claim 4, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes leaving a message for the desired party.

33. The method according to claim 4, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes receiving the telephone number associated with the desired party.

34. The method according to claim 4, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes to further attempt to initiate the call with the desired party.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the further initiated call is made at a predetermined interval.

36. The method according to claim 4, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes paging a device associated with the desired party.

37. The method according to claim 4, wherein when the call is not connected, the option includes to continue holding for an answer by the desired party.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein a ringing tone is played while the caller continues to hold for an answer.

39. The method according to claim 4, wherein the option includes to terminate the call between the caller and the desired party.

5. A method of providing information assistance, comprising:

locating a destination telephone number of a desired party wanted by a caller;

initiating a telephone call between the caller and the destination telephone number;

monitoring the telephone call for a predetermined call status;

providing at least one option to the caller based on the call status;

taking action relating to the telephone call based on a selection of the option; and

sending a page to the caller in response to the predetermined call status, wherein the page includes an alphanumeric message and contains information relating to the desired party.

40. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes leaving a message for the desired party.

41. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes receiving the telephone number associated with the desired party.

42. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes to further attempt to initiate the call with the desired party.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the farther initiated call is made at a predetermined interval.

44. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes paging a device associated with the desired party.

45. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the call is not connected, the option includes to continue holding for an answer by the desired party.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein a ringing tone is played while the caller continues to hold for an answer.

47. The method according to claim 5, wherein the option includes to terminate the call between the caller and the desired party.

6. A method of providing information assistance, comprising:

locating a destination telephone number of a desired party wanted by a caller;

initiating a telephone call between the caller and the destination telephone number;

monitoring the telephone call for a predetermined call status;

providing at least one option to the caller based on the call status;

taking action relating to the telephone call based on a selection of the option; and

sending a page to the caller in response to the predetermined call status, the page containing information relating to the desired party, wherein the information includes the destination telephone number.

48. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes leaving a message for the desired party.

49. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes receiving the telephone number associated with the desired party.

50. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes to further attempt to initiate the call with the desired party.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein the further initiated call is made at a predetermined interval.

52. The method according to claim 6, wherein, when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes paging a device associated with the desired party.

53. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the call is not connected, the option includes to continue holding for an answer by the desired party.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein a ringing tone is played while the caller continues to hold for an answer.

55. The method according to claim 6, wherein the option includes to terminate the call between the caller and the desired party.

7. A method of providing information assistance, comprising:

locating a destination telephone number of a desired party wanted by a caller;

initiating a telephone call between the caller and the destination telephone number;

monitoring the telephone call for a predetermined call status;

providing at least one option to the caller based on the call status;

taking action relating to the telephone call based on a selection of the option; and

sending a page to the caller in response to the predetermined call status, the page containing information relating to the desired party, wherein the information includes a name associated with the desired party.

56. The method according to claim 7, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes leaving a message for the desired party.

57. The method according to claim 7, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes receiving the telephone number associated with the desired party.

58. The method according to claim 7, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes to further attempt to initiate the call with the desired party.

59. The method according to claim 58, wherein the further initiated call is made at a predetermined interval.

60. The method according to claim 7, wherein when the initiated call is not connected, the option includes paging a device associated with the desired party.

61. The method according to claim 7, wherein when the call is not connected, the option includes to continue holding for an answer by the desired party.

62. The method according to claim 61, wherein a ringing tone is played while the caller continues to hold for an answer.

63. The method according to claim 7, wherein the option includes to terminate the call between the caller and the desired party.