Method for providing additional information to a telephone customer having a non-published telephone number

• US 6,738,468 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2000
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Lanny
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US09/484,165
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88-6-, 379/142.01, 379/210.01, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/217.01, 379/218.01, 370/351-354, 370/400, 370/401
• US Class Current: 379/218.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

A method and system for notifying a non-published customer of a telephone network the number and possibly the identity of callers who have been attempting to obtain their non-published number from directory assistance. When a calling party calls for directory assistance, it is determined whether the telephone number sought is a non-published. If so, the call is forwarded to a service package application on a service node where at least a telephone number, and preferably also the name, of the calling party is obtained. A notification call is then placed to the non-published customer and the customer is provided with at least the telephone number and possibly the name of the calling party.

Claims

1. A method of informing a non-published customer of the number of a calling party who has attempted to obtain their non-published telephone number from directory assistance, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a call for directory assistance from the calling party;

(b) determining whether a telephone number for which directory assistance is requested is associated with a non-published customer;

(c) if the telephone number is associated with a non-published customer forwarding the call to a service node;

(d) obtaining at least a telephone number of the calling party;

(e) placing a notification call to the non-published customer;

(f) notifying the non-published customer of at least the telephone number of the calling party, and

(g) when authorized, calling back the calling party and informing the calling party of the telephone number belonging to the non-published customer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining the name of the calling party and notifying the non-published customer of the name of the calling party.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a service package application on the service node implements at least one of steps (a)-(f).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising announcing to the calling party that the telephone number is non-published.

5. A system for informing a non-published customer of the identity of a calling party requesting directory assistance for the non-published customer'"'"'s telephone number, the system comprising a service node connected to a telephone network and operable to receive calls forwarded from a directory assistance node, the service node being capable of determining at least one of a telephone number and a name of the calling party, wherein the service node places a notification call to the non-published customer and notifies the non-published customer of the at least one of the calling party'"'"'s telephone number and name, and wherein, when authorized, the service node call the calling party back and informs the calling party of the non-published customer'"'"'s telephone number.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a service package application on the service node is capable of determining the telephone number and name of the calling party.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising a lookup table for associating the calling party'"'"'s name with the calling party'"'"'s telephone number.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the service node is operated by a telephone company.