Automatic routing and information system for telephone services

• US 6,608,892 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NeuStar Information Services, Inc. (Neustar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Murex Securities Limited (Wallsgrove Ltd.)
• Inventors: Moore, George G., Shaffer, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US10/066,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20020106069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 379/201.02, 379/912, 379/127.01, 379/142.03, 379/207.02, 379/230, 379/211.01
• US Class Current: 379/207.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/15 Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• 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 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42306 Number translation services, e.g. premium-rate, freephone or vanity number services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• 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: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13352 : Self-routing networks, real-time routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13353 : Routing table, map memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 : Operator, emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 : Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13378 : Speech recognition, speech analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 : routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 : subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 : Traffic distributors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/665 : Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 : Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 : Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A system and method for automatically and seamlessly routing telephone calls across a telephone network. The system includes a telephone network interface box having a computer, a master file and client file stored in the computer. The master file is dynamically linked to the client file at routing time to produce a selected client location telephone number which is transmitted across the telephone network. In one embodiment, the system utilizes Automatic Number Identification to identify the calling party. The master file has a plurality of records having a telephone number and a spatial key and is updated frequently. The client file has a plurality of records having a spatial key and a client telephone number. Another embodiment utilizes a spatial coordinate of an instantaneous location of a caller'"'"'s mobile device as an input to a real-time process which identifies one or more client service locations corresponding to the location of the caller'"'"'s device.

Claims

1. A method of determining information related to a location of a mobile device in a mobile network comprising:

obtaining a spatial location corresponding to a position on the earth of the mobile device;

receiving a request from the mobile device for service location information;

accessing a service location database over the mobile network, the service location database containing service location information including spatial location data for a plurality of service locations;

selecting zero or more service locations from the service location database based on the obtained spatial location and the received request; and

sending service location information related to the zero or more selected service locations to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises one of:

a cellular telephone, a personal communications system (PCS) telephone, a satellite telephone, a marine telephone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining a spatial location corresponding to a position on the earth of the mobile device comprises obtaining a spatial coordinate corresponding to a location of the mobile device at predetermined intervals of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial location is a single number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial location is a quad-tree.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial location is a latitude/longitude value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial location is a number pair.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial location is a latitude and longitude pair.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request from the mobile device comprises receiving a request based on a dialed number from the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating the request from the mobile device and if the request is invalid then prompting the mobile device for a new request.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting zero or more service locations from the service location database comprises selecting zero or more service locations based on whether the obtained spatial location is within a service area.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the service area is an area encompassing the location of the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the service area is a shape around a service location.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining a spatial location corresponding to a location of the mobile device comprises obtaining a spatial coordinate corresponding to a destination location of the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein obtaining a spatial location corresponding to a destination location of the mobile device comprises obtaining a telephone number associated with the destination location.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to a selected service location.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein enabling the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to a selected service location comprises connecting a telephone call to the mobile device to connect a telephone call.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the service location information related to the zero or more selected service locations to the mobile device comprises sending an address of at least one selected service location to the mobile device.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the service location information related to the zero or more selected service locations to the mobile device comprises sending a telephone number of at least one selected service location to the mobile device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the service location information related to the zero or more selected service locations to the mobile device comprises sending directions for at least one selected service location to the mobile device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the service location information related to the zero or more selected service locations to the mobile device comprises sending information related to days of business operation for at least one selected service location to the mobile device.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the service location information related to the zero or more selected service locations to the mobile device comprises sending information related to hours of business operation for at least one selected service location to the mobile device.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the service location information related to the zero or more selected service locations to the mobile device comprises sending information related to inventory information for at least one selected service location to the mobile device.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the service location information related to the zero or more selected service locations to the mobile device comprises sending information related to product order information for at least one selected service location to the mobile device.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the service location database is selected from a plurality of service location databases based on the request from the mobile device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the service location database is selected from a plurality of service location databases based on a number dialed on the mobile device.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for an order from the mobile device.

57. The method as in any one of claims 27, 31, 35, and 51 above, wherein the order is for a service.

58. The method as in any one of claims 27, 31, 35, and 51 above, wherein the order is for a product.

59. The method as in any one of claims 27, 31, 35, and 51 above, wherein the order is for food.

60. The method as in any one of claims 27, 31, 35, and 51 above, wherein the order is for pizza.

61. The method as in any one of claims 27, 31, 35, and 51 above, wherein the order is for delivery.

62. The method as in any one of claims 27, 31, 35, and 51 above, wherein the order is received by a call processing location and communicated to a selected service location.

63. The method of claim 12, wherein the service area is defined by a radius from the location of the mobile device.

64. The method as in any one of claims 1, 28, and 35, further comprising determining an index value based on the obtained spatial location, and wherein selecting zero or more service locations from the service location database comprises selecting zero or more service locations based on the determined index value and the received request.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the index value is a spatial key.

66. The method as in any one of claims 1, 28, and 35, wherein obtaining a spatial location comprises obtaining latitude and longitude values, and further comprising determining an index value based on the obtained latitude and longitude values, and wherein selecting zero or more service locations from the service location database based on the obtained spatial location and the received request comprises selecting zero or more service locations from the service location based on the determined index value and the received request.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein determining an index value based on the obtained latitude and longitude values comprises combining the obtained latitude and longitude values.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein determining an index value based on the obtained latitude and longitude values comprises combining and truncating the obtained latitude and longitude values.

69. The method of claim 66, wherein determining an index value based on the obtained latitude and longitude values comprises combining and rounding the obtained latitude and longitude values.

70. The method as in any one of claims 1, 28, and 35, wherein receiving a request from the mobile device comprises receiving a voice command.

71. The method as in any one of claims 1, 28, and 35, wherein receiving a request from the mobile device comprises receiving a keypad entry.

28. A method of enabling a mobile device to communicate over a mobile network to a relatively near service location comprising:

obtaining a spatial location corresponding to a position on the earth of the mobile device;

accessing a service location database over the mobile network, the service location database containing service location information including spatial location data for a plurality of service locations;

identifying at least one relatively near service location from the service location database based on the obtained spatial location;

receiving a request from the mobile device for connection to one of the at least one relatively near service location;

enabling the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to the requested service location.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein enabling the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to the requested service location comprises enabling the mobile device to connect a telephone call.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein enabling the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to the requested service location comprises sending product order information from the mobile device to the requested service location.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein enabling the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to the requested service location comprises enabling the mobile device to request an order from the requested service location.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein identifying at least one relatively near service location from the service location database comprises identifying at least one relatively near service location based on the whether the obtained spatial location is within a service area.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein receiving a request from the mobile device comprises receiving a request based on a number dialed by the mobile device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the index value is a spatial key.

35. A method of enabling a mobile device to place an order over a mobile network to a relatively near service location comprising:

obtaining a spatial location corresponding a position on the earth of the mobile device;

accessing a service location database over the mobile network, the service location database containing service location information including spatial location data for a plurality of service locations;

identifying at least one relatively near service location from the service location database based on the obtained spatial location; and

receiving a request from the mobile device for an order to one of the at least one relatively near service location.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising enabling the mobile device to connect over the mobile network to a selected service location.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein enabling the mobile device to connect to a selected service location comprises enabling the mobile device to connect a telephone call.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein selecting zero or more service locations from the service location database comprises selecting zero or more service locations based on the whether the obtained spatial location is within a service area.

39. A method of determining information about a service location relatively near a mobile device based on information derived from the United States Census Bureau Topological Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) files, the method comprising:

receiving a location identifier corresponding to a location of a mobile device;

linking the received location identifier to a relatively spatially near service location selected from a plurality of possible service locations based on information obtained at least in part from the TIGER files;

retrieving information associated with the relatively spatially near service location in accordance with the linking; and

providing the retrieved information to the mobile device.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein linking the received location identifier to a relatively spatially near service location comprises linking to a list of relatively spatially near service locations.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein linking based on information obtained at least in part from the TIGER files comprises using data from a file derived from the TIGER files.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein linking based on information obtained at least in part from the TIGER files comprises using information from the TIGER files to obtain information associated with at least one of:

the location identifier corresponding to the location of the mobile device and the relatively spatially near service location.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the information associated with the relatively spatially near service location includes an address.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the information associated with the relatively spatially near service location includes directions to the service location.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein the information associated with the relatively spatially near service location includes a telephone number.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising connecting a telephone call with the mobile device.

47. The method of claim 39, wherein retrieving information associated with the relatively spatially near service location includes generating a list of service locations relatively near the location of the mobile device.

72. The method as in any one of claims 39 and 48, wherein the location identifier corresponds to coordinate data.

73. The method as in any one of claims 39 and 48, wherein the location identifier corresponds to a street address.

74. The method as in any one of claims 39 and 48, wherein the location identifier is provided by network infrastructure associated with the mobile device.

75. The method as in any one of claims 39 and 48, wherein the location identifier is provided by the mobile device.

76. The method as in any one of claims 39 and 48, wherein retrieving information associated with a relatively spatially near service location includes determining if the location identifier is inside a service area.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the service area comprises a center point and a radius.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the center point is based on the location of the mobile device.

48. A method of determining information about a service location relatively near a mobile device, comprising:

receiving a location identifier corresponding to a location of a mobile device;

selecting a relatively spatially near service location from a plurality of possible service locations using the received location identifier and information obtained at least in part from a file containing street links along with latitude and longitude coordinates at each end of the street links;

retrieving information associated with the selected relatively spatially near service location; and

providing the retrieved information to the mobile device.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the file containing the street links includes street names and address ranges for the street links.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the file containing the street links comprises a United States Census Bureau Topological Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) file.

51. The method of claim 48, further comprising receiving an order from the mobile device.

52. The method of claim 48, further comprising enabling the mobile device to connect a telephone call to a selected service location.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein linking the received location identifier to a relatively spatially near service location comprises linking to a list of relatively spatially near service locations.

54. The method of claim 48, further comprising receiving a request for a relatively spatially near service location from the mobile device.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the request for the relatively spatially near service location comprises receiving a voice command.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the request for the relatively spatially near service location comprises receiving a keypad entry.

79. A mobile device for use in a mobile network, wherein the mobile network provides access to a service location database containing service location information including spatial location data for a plurality of service locations, and wherein the mobile network provides access to a system configured to select one or more service locations from the service location database based on a spatial location of the mobile device, the mobile device comprising:

a module configured to obtain a spatial location corresponding to a position on the earth of the mobile device;

a module configured to accept a request for service location information;

a module configured to send the request to the mobile network;

a module configured to receive service location information related to the request from the mobile network; and

a module configured to provide the received service location information to a user of the mobile device.

80. The mobile device of claim 79, further comprising a module configured to receive a voice command and a module configured to convert the voice command into a request for relatively near service location information.

81. The mobile device of claim 79, further comprising a module configured to receive a keypad entry and a module configured to convert the keypad entry into a request for relatively near service location information.

82. The mobile device of claim 79, further comprising a module configured to enable the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to a selected service location.

83. The mobile device of claim 82, wherein the module configured to enable the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to a selected service location is configured to enable the mobile device to connect a telephone call.

84. The mobile device of claim 82, wherein the module configured to enable the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to a selected service location enables the mobile device to place an order.

85. The mobile device of claim 79, wherein the spatial location is a latitude and longitude pair.

86. The mobile device of claim 85, further comprising a module configured to convert the spatial location to a single number.

87. A mobile device for use in a mobile network, wherein the mobile network provides access to a service location database containing service location information including spatial location data for a plurality of service locations, and wherein the mobile network provides access to a system configured to select one or more service locations from the service location database based on a spatial location of the mobile device, the mobile device comprising:

means for obtaining a spatial location corresponding to a position on the earth of the mobile device;

means for accepting a request for service location information;

means for sending the request to the mobile network;

means for receiving service location information related to the request from the mobile network; and

means for providing the received service location information to a user of the mobile device.

88. The mobile device of claim 87, further comprising means for receiving a voice command and means for converting the voice command into a request for relatively near service location information.

89. The mobile device of claim 87, further comprising means for receiving a keypad entry and means for converting the keypad entry into a request for relatively near service location information.

90. The mobile device of claim 87, further comprising means for enabling the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to a selected service location.

91. The mobile device of claim 90, wherein the means for enabling the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to a selected service location includes means for enabling the mobile device to connect a telephone call.

92. The mobile device of claim 90, wherein the means for enabling the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to a selected service location enables the mobile device to place an order.

93. The mobile device of claim 87, wherein the spatial location is a latitude and longitude pair.

94. The mobile device of claim 93, further comprising means for converting the spatial location to a single number.

95. A mobile device for use in a mobile network, wherein the mobile network includes a service location database containing service location information including spatial location data for a plurality of service locations, and wherein the mobile network is configured to select one or more service locations from the service location database based on a spatial location of the mobile device, the mobile device comprising:

a module configured to obtain a spatial location corresponding to a position on the earth of the mobile device;

a module configured to accept a request for service location information;

a module configured to send the request to the mobile network;

a module configured to receive service location information related to the request from the mobile network;

a module configured to provide the received service location information to a user of the mobile device; and

a module configured to enable the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to a service location based on the received service location information.

96. A mobile device for use in a mobile network, wherein the mobile network includes a service location database containing service location information including spatial location data for a plurality of service locations, and wherein the mobile network is configured to select one or more service locations from the service location database based on a spatial location of the mobile device, the mobile device comprising:

means for obtaining a spatial location corresponding to a position on the earth of the mobile device;

means for accepting a request for service location information;

means for sending the request to the mobile network;

means for receiving service location information related to the request from the mobile network;

means for providing the received service location information to a user of the mobile device; and

means for enabling the mobile device to communicate over the mobile network to a service location based on the received service location information.

97. A system for providing relatively near service location to a mobile device in a mobile network, the system comprising:

a module configured to obtain a spatial location corresponding to a position on the earth of the mobile device;

a module configured to receive a request over the mobile network from the mobile device for service location information;

a module configured to access a service location database, the service location database containing service location information including spatial location data for a plurality of service locations;

a module configured to select zero or more relatively near service locations from the service location database based on the obtained spatial location and the received request; and

a module configured to send service location information related to the zero or more selected relatively near service locations to the mobile device over the mobile network.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein the spatial location is a latitude and longitude pair.

99. The system of claim 97, further comprising a module configured to convert the spatial location to a single number.

100. The system of claim 97, wherein the module configured to select zero or more relatively near service locations from the service location database based on the obtained spatial location and the received request is configured to select service locations based on a service area around the mobile device.

101. The system of claim 97, wherein the module configured to send service location information related to the zero or more relatively near selected service locations to the mobile device over the mobile network is configured to send directions for at least one selected service location to the mobile device.

102. The system of claim 97, wherein the module configured to receive a request over the mobile network from the mobile device is configured to receive a request for an order from the mobile device.

103. A system for providing relatively near service location information to a mobile device in a mobile network comprising:

means for obtaining a spatial location corresponding to a position on the earth of the mobile device;

means for receiving a request over the mobile network from the mobile device for service location information;

means for accessing a service location database, the service location database containing service location information including spatial location data for a plurality of service locations;

means for selecting zero or more relatively near service locations from the service location database based on the obtained spatial location and the received request; and

means for sending service location information related to the zero or more selected relatively near service locations to the mobile device over the mobile network.