Technique for providing information assistance while maintaining connection information anonymity

• US 6,990,189 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
• Inventors: Ljubicich, Philip A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US10/403,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20040190707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 379/218.01, 379/201.01
• US Class Current: 379/218.01
• 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 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4935 Connection initiated by DAS system
• 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

In accordance with the invention, an indication of connection information anonymity is stored for each individual or entity that wants to have access information made available in response to a request for directory assistance respecting such individual or entity, but does not want their actual telephone number disclosed. The information assistance service may be accessed by a user using a wireline telephone, wireless telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or other communications device seeking information assistance. An operator (or automated unit) who attends to such an information assistance service receives a request for information assistance respecting a researched party whose connection information is designated anonymous, and transmits to the user an access telephone number which enables the user to call a researched party, without however providing the user with the actual telephone number of the researched party. Such information may be transmitted to the user via a short message service (SMS) or a wireless application protocol (WAP). It may also be transmitted by facsimile, email, paging, instant messaging, web connection or other communications.

Claims

1. A method for providing information assistance to a caller, comprising:

receiving a call from a caller, the call including a request for connection information concerning a researched party, wherein the connection information relates to the identification of a communications device associated with the researched party;

retrieving the connection information and access information in response to the request, wherein the access information enables the caller to effectuate a connection between the caller and the researched party through a provider of the information assistance;

transmitting to the caller the access information;

withholding from the caller the connection information;

storing the connection information in a record associated with the caller; and

providing to the caller an option for selection of at least one of the record and any other records associated with the caller when the caller communicates using the access information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection information includes a telephone number associated with the researched party.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the access information includes a telephone number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the access information is transmitted through a communication.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication includes a short message service (SMS).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a destination address of the communication is identified by an automatic number identification (ANI) of a communication device from which the call originates.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication includes a facsimile transmission.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication includes a communication pursuant to a wireless application protocol (WAP).

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication includes an email.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication includes paging.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication includes instant messaging.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication includes a web connection.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the record contains the connection information and the access information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the record is identifiable by an ANI of a communication device from which the call originates.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the record is stored for a predetermined duration.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising assessing a fee to the caller in response to receiving the request for said connection information.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising assessing a fee to the researched party in response to receiving the request for said connection information.

18. A method for connecting a user to a researched party through a provider of information assistance, comprising:

providing, to the user, data concerning one or more researched parties whose connection information was previously requested by the user and undisclosed thereto by the provider;

receiving an identifier associated with the user, and a request from the user to establish a communications connection with one of the researched parties selectable by the user based on the data;

identifying connection information associated with a selected researched party, based on the identifier and the request; and

attempting to connect the user with the selected researched party, using the connection information associated with the selected researched party.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the connection information associated with the selected researched party includes a telephone number.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the received request is transmitted through a communication.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the communication includes a short message service (SMS).

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the communication includes a communication pursuant to a wireless application protocol (WAP).

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the communication includes a telephone connection.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the data is stored in a device of the user.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the identifier includes an ANI of a communication device from which the received request originates.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising assessing a fee to the caller in response to receiving the request.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising assessing a fee to the researched party in response to receiving the request.

55. The method of claim 18 wherein the data includes names of the one or more researched parties.

56. The method of claim 18 wherein the data includes locations of the one or more researched parties.

57. The method of claim 24 wherein the device of the user includes a wireless communication device.

28. A system for providing information assistance to a caller, comprising:

an interface for receiving a call from a caller, the call including a request for connection information concerning a researched party, wherein the connection information relates to the identification of a communications device associated with the researched party; and

a processor programmed to retrieve the connection information and access information in response to the request, wherein the access information enables the caller to effectuate a connection between the caller and the researched party through a provider of the information assistance;

an output device for transmitting to the caller said access information, with said connection information withheld from the caller; and

storage for storing the connection information in a record associated with the caller, the caller being provided with an option for selection of at least one of the record and any other records associated with the caller when the caller communicates using the access information.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the connection information includes a telephone number associated with the researched party.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the access information includes a telephone number.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the access information is transmitted through a communication.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the communication includes a short message service (SMS).

33. The system of claim 32, wherein a destination address of the communication is identified by an automatic number identification (ANI) of a communication device from which the call originates.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the communication includes a facsimile transmission.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the communication includes a communication pursuant to a wireless application protocol (WAP).

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the communication includes an email.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the communication includes paging.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the communication includes instant messaging.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the communication includes a web connection.

40. The system of claim 28, wherein the record contains the connection information and the access information.

41. The system of claim 28, wherein the profile record is identifiable by an ANI of a communication device from which the call originates.

42. The system of claim 28, wherein the record is stored for a predetermined duration.

43. The system of claim 28, wherein a fee is assessed to the caller in response to receiving the request for said connection information.

44. The system of claim 28, wherein a fee is assessed to the researched party in response to receiving the request for said connection information.

45. A system for connecting a caller user to a researched party through a provider of information assistance, comprising:

an output device for providing, to the user, data concerning one or more researched parties whose connection information was previously requested by the user and undisclosed thereto by the provider;

an interface for receiving an identifier associated with the user and a request from the user to establish a communications connection with one of the researched parties selectable by the user based on the data; and

a processor programmed to identify connection information associated with a selected researched party, based on the identifier and the request; and

a mechanism for attempting to connect the caller with the researched party, using the connection information associated with the selected researched party.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the connection information associated with the selected researched party includes a telephone number.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the request received by the interface is transmitted through a communication.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the communication includes a short message service (SMS).

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the communication includes a communication pursuant to a wireless application protocol (WAP).

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the communication includes a telephone connection.

51. The system of claim 45, wherein the data is stored in a device of the user.

52. The system of claim 45, wherein the identifier includes an ANI of a communication device from which the received request originates.

53. The system of claim 45, wherein a fee is assessed to the caller in response to receiving the request.

54. The system of claim 45, wherein a fee is assessed to the researched party in response to receiving the request.

58. The system of claim 45 wherein the data includes names of the one or more researched parties.

59. The system of claim 45 wherein the data includes locations of the one or more researched parties.

60. The system of claim 51 wherein the device of the user includes a wireless communication device.