Personal address updates using directory assistance data

• US 6,870,915 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Decker, John Jeffrey, Stillman, Scott T.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US10/393,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20030179866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/88.03, 379/88.04, 379/142.01, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/207.02, 379/207.11, 379/207.15, 379/213.01, 379/218.01, 379/355.04, 704/270, 704/270.1, 704/275
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for storing directory assistance information in a subscriber'"'"'s electronic address book for future use. If a directory number associated with the desired called party is not in the subscriber'"'"'s address book, a voice services node initiates a call to a directory assistance service to obtain a directory number for the called party. If the subscriber would like to have the obtained number added to the subscriber'"'"'s address book, the directory number, name and address associated with the requested directory assistance may be added to the subscriber'"'"'s address book for future use by the subscriber when the subscriber needs the directory number associated with the called party.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining directory assistance information and for storing the obtained directory assistance information in a subscriber address book, comprising:

placing a call at a calling party switch for voice interactive services;

routing the call to a network component for voice interactive services;

receiving a request at the network component to connect the call to a called party;

querying a calling party address book for a directory number associated with the called party;

if the directory number associated with the called party is located in the calling party address book, returning the directory number to the network component;

if the directory number associated with the called party is not located in the calling party address book, connecting the calling party to a directory assistance services for obtaining a directory number for the called party; and

prior to the step of routing the call to a network component for voice interactive services, triggering a query from the calling party switch to a service control point for call routing instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, after the step of triggering a query from the calling party switch to a service control point for call routing instructions, further comprising determining at the service control point that the call requires voice interactive services.

3. The method of claim 2, whereby the step of determining at the service control point that the call requires voice activated services includes determining at the service control point that the call requires voice activated dialing services.

4. A method for obtaining directory assistance information and for storing the obtained directory assistance information in a subscriber address book, comprising:

placing a call at a calling party switch for voice interactive services, including entering a dialing code at the calling party switch associated with voice interactive services;

routing the call to a network component for voice interactive services;

receiving a request at the network component to connect the call to a called party;

querying a calling party address book for a directory number associated with the called party;

if the directory number associated with the called party is located in the calling party address book, returning the directory number to the network component;

if the directory number associated with the called party is not located in the calling party address book, connecting the calling party to a directory assistance services for obtaining a directory number for the called party; and

whereby receiving the dialing code at the calling party switch causes triggering a query to a service control point.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising, prior to the step of triggering a query from the calling party switch to a service control point for call routing services, provisioning an off-hook delay trigger at the calling party switch associated with voice interactive services.

6. The method of claim 5, whereby the step of provisioning an off-hook delay trigger at the calling party switch associated with voice interactive services included provisioning an off-hook delay trigger at the calling party switch associated with voice activated dialing services.

7. The method of claim 5, whereby the step of triggering a query from the calling party switch to a service control point for call routing services includes firing the off-hook delay trigger at the calling party switch in response to receiving the call at the calling party switch.

8. A method for obtaining directory assistance information and for storing the obtained directory assistance information in a subscriber address book, comprising:

placing a call at a calling party switch for voice interactive services;

routing the call to a network component for voice interactive services;

receiving a request at the network component to connect the call to a called party querying a calling party address book for a directory number associated with the called party;

if the directory number associated with the called party is located in the calling party address book, returning the directory number to the network component;

if the directory number associated with the called party is not located in the calling party address book, connecting the calling party to a directory assistance services for obtaining a directory number for the called party; and

after the step of connecting the calling party to a directory assistance service, requesting by the directory assistance service from the calling party the name and address of the called party;

recording by the network component the name and address provided by the calling party to the directory assistance service;

recording by the network component a directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service to the calling party; and

at the network component, performing a digit recognition on the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service to determine whether the directory number provided by the directory assistance service is a valid directory number.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising converting the name an address provided by the calling party from an audio format to a digital format;

and

converting the recorded directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service to the calling party from an audio format to a digital format; and

storing the name of the called party provided by the calling party and the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service in the calling party address book database for subsequent use.

10. The method of claim 9, prior to storing the name of the called party provided by the calling party and the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service in the calling party address book database, prompting the calling party from the network component to determine whether the calling party desires that the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service be stored in the calling party address book database for subsequent use.

11. The method of claim 9, after storing the name of the called party provided by the calling party and the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service in the calling party address book database, connecting the calling party to the called party via the directory number provided for the called party by the directory assistance service.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising;

connecting the calling party to the called party includes passing from the network component the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service to the service control point for call routing instructions;

at the service control point instructing the calling party switch to route the call from the calling party to the called party via the directory number provided for the called party by the directory assistance service; and

receiving instructions at the calling party switch from the service control point to forward the call from the calling party to the called party via the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service and passed to the service control point from the network component.

13. A system for obtaining directory assistance information and for storing the obtained directory assistance information in a subscriber address book, comprising:

a voice interactive services node operative;

to receive a request to connect the call to a called party;

to query a calling party address book for a directory number associated with the called party;

to receive the directory number from the calling party address book if the directory number associated with the called party is located in the calling party address book;

to connect the calling party to a directory assistance service for obtaining a directory number for the called party if the directory number associated with the called party is not located in the calling party address book; and

whereby the voice interactive services node is further operative

to record a name and address provided by the calling party to the directory assistance service;

to record a directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service to the calling party; and

to perform a digit recognition on the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service to determine whether the directory number provided by the directory assistance service is a valid directory number.

14. The system of claim 13, whereby the voice interactive services node is further operative

to convert a name and address provided by the calling party to the directory assistance service from an audio format to a digital format;

and

to convert the recorded directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service to the calling party from an audio format to a digital format; and

to store the name of the called party provided by the calling party and the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service in the calling party address book database for subsequent use.

15. A method for obtaining directory assistance information and for storms the obtained directory assistance information in a subscriber address book, comprising:

receiving a call at a voice services node of a telecommunications system for voice activated dialing services;

receiving a request at the voice services node to connect the call to a called party;

querying a calling party address book for a directory number associated with the called party;

if the directory number associated with the called party is located in the calling party address book, returning the directory number to the voice services node;

if the directory number associated with the called party is not located in the calling party address book, connecting the calling party to a directory assistance service for obtaining a directory number for the called party; and

after the step of connecting the calling party to a directory assistance service, further comprising;

recording by the voice services node a name and address provided by the calling party to the directory assistance service;

recording by the voice services node a directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service to the calling party; and

at the voice services node, performing a digit recognition on the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service to determine whether the directory number provided by the directory assistance service is a valid directory number.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the name of the called party provided by the calling party and the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service in the calling party address book database for subsequent use.

17. The method of claim 16, prior to storing the name of the called party provided by the calling party and the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service in the calling party address book database, prompting the calling party from the voice services node to determine whether the calling party desires that the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service is to be stored in the calling party address book database for subsequent use.

18. The method of claim 16, after storing the name of the called party provided by the calling party and the directory number for the called party provided by the directory assistance service in the calling party address book database, connecting the calling party to the called party via the directory number provided for the called party by the directory assistance service.