Directory assistance method and apparatus

• US 7,142,659 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• 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: Kepler, Michael A., Filliger, Paul W., Cox, Patrick M., Powell, Adrian P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu, Benny Quoc
• Application Number:
  US10/685,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20040082320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.22, 379/207.02, 379/209.01, 379/218.01, 379/265.02, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 4554561-4563
• US Class Current: 379/218.01
• 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

Abstract

A cellular telephone 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 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. redialing a busy number, or providing further directory assistance). This feature can be disabled, manually or automatically, if the destination number makes its own use of the DTMF signals.

Claims

1. A method for use in a system for delivering a plurality of instructions over a communications network, comprising:

storing the instructions in a record, and an indicator;

delivering the instructions in the record in a selected order over the communications network in at least first and second sessions;

halting a delivery of the instructions at the end of the first session;

adjusting the indicator to indicate the instruction last delivered in the first session;

monitoring for a request; and

in response to the request, initiating the second session in which at least one instruction following the last delivered instruction is delivered, the at least one instruction being retrieved based on the indicator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicator includes a pointer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the instructions include directions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the request includes a signal detectable by the system.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the signal includes a DTMF signal.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the signal is initiated by pressing one or more keys on a device for receiving the plurality of instructions.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the device includes a telephonic device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications network includes a telephone network.

9. A method for use in an information assistance system, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a user, the call including information concerning a location of the user and a desired destination;

providing directions based on the received information, in at least first and second installments, to a user device;

adjusting an indicator to indicate the last direction provided in the first installment; and

monitoring for a triggering event initiated by the user device to start providing at least one direction in the second installment, the at least one direction being selected based on the indicator.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first installment of directions is provided by a first information assistance provider and the second installment of directions is provided by a second information assistance provider.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one of the first and second information assistance providers includes an operator.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the call is on hold between provisions of the first and second installments of directions.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the indicator includes a pointer.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the directions are provided via voice media.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the triggering event includes a signal detectable by the system.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the signal includes a DTMF signal.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the signal is initiated by pressing one or more keys on the user device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the user device includes a telephonic device.

19. An information assistance system, comprising:

an interface for receiving a call from a user, the call including information concerning a location of the user and a desired destination;

an output device for providing directions based on the received information, in at least first and second installments, to a user device, an indicator being adjusted to indicate the last direction provided in the first installment; and

a processor for monitoring for a triggering event initiated by the user device to start providing at least one direction in the second installment, the at least one direction being selected based on the indicator.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first installment of directions is provided by a first information assistance provider and the second installment of directions is provided by a second information assistance provider.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein at least one of the first and second information assistance providers includes an operator.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the call is on hold between provisions of the first and second installments of directions.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the indicator includes a pointer.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein the directions are provided via voice media.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein the triggering event includes a signal detectable by the processor.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the signal includes a DTMF signal.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the signal is initiated by pressing one or more keys on the user device.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the user device includes a telephonic device.