Method and system for directory assistance services having messaging or paging capability

• US 6,754,486 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• 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: Timmons, Timothy A., Powell, Adrian P., Cox, Patrick M., Kepler, Michael A., Filliger, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US10/261,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/409, 379/88.1, 379/218.01, 379/142.01
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• 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 directory assistance to a caller comprising:

locating a destination telephone number associated with a desired party;

initiating a telephone call between the caller and the desired party;

determining if a predefined condition relating to the status of said telephone call exists; and

if said predefined condition occurs, providing the ability to send a page to a page recipient, said page recipient comprising said caller, wherein content of the page is generated by said caller, and wherein said page comprises said destination telephone number.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said predefined condition comprises a non-answering desired party condition.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said non-answering desired party condition comprises a busy signal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said non-answering desired party condition comprises a ring-no-answer condition.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said page is sent automatically after the occurrence of said predefined condition.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said predefined condition comprises call termination.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said call termination is effectuated by the caller.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein an option to have said page sent is offered to said caller after the occurrence of said predefined condition.

2. A method of providing directory assistance to a caller comprising:

locating a destination telephone number associated with a desired party;

initiating a telephone call between the caller and the desired party;

determining if a predefined condition relating to the status of said telephone call exists; and

if said predefined condition occurs, providing the ability to send a page to a page recipient, said page recipient comprising said caller, wherein content of the page is generated by said caller, and wherein said page comprises a name of said desired party.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein said predefined condition comprises a non-answering desired party condition.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said non-answering desired party condition comprises a busy signal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said non-answering desired party condition comprises a ring-no-answer condition.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein said page is sent automatically after the occurrence of said predefined condition.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein said predefined condition comprises call termination.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said call termination is effectuated by the caller.

21. The method of claim 2, wherein an option to have said page sent is offered to said caller after the occurrence of said predefined condition.

3. A method of providing directory assistance to a caller comprising:

locating a destination telephone number associated with a desired party;

initiating a telephone call between the caller and the desired party;

determining if a predefined condition relating to the status of said telephone call exists; and

if said predefined condition occurs, providing the ability to send a page to a page recipient, said predefined condition comprising a non-answering desired party condition, wherein content of the page is generated by said caller, and wherein an option to have said page sent is offered to said caller after the occurrence of said non-answering desired party condition.

22. The method of claim 3, wherein said page recipient comprises the desired party.

23. The method of claim 3, wherein said non-answering desired party condition comprises a busy signal.

24. The method of claim 3, wherein said non-answering desired party condition comprises a ring-no-answer condition.

25. The method of claim 3, wherein said page recipient comprises said caller.

4. A method of providing directory assistance to a caller comprising:

locating a destination telephone number associated with a communications device of a desired party;

initiating a telephone call between the caller and the desired party; and

sending a page to the caller with information regarding said desired party after completion of said telephone call.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said information comprises a name of said desired party.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said information comprises the destination telephone number.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising monitoring said telephone call for an indication that said telephone call has been completed.