Alternative means for public telephone information services

• US 7,149,294 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mr O'Donnell, Christopher Noel
• Original Assignee: Christopher O'Donnell
• Inventors: O'Donnell, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/449,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20040240646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.15, 379/114.2, 379/114.23, 379/114.24, 379/114.25, 379/114.26, 379/144.01, 379/218.01, 379/222, 379/223, 379/114.1, 379/114.12, 379/114.13, 379/114.21, 455/406, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3
• US Class Current: 379/114.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2083 Confirmation by serviced party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42306 Number translation services, e.g. premium-rate, freephone or vanity number services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• 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

Abstract

A method is described to provide an alternative telephone information service implemented by a service provider other than the telecommunication service used in the connection of the call. This independent information service provides the caller information services at a minimal or at no cost to the caller. The cost of the call to the caller is subsidized or entirely paid by promotion message sponsors in exchange for the caller listening, with possible interaction by the caller and rewards to the caller, to at least one sponsored promotional message prior to connection to the requested information. This service information includes telephone listings, weather, date/time, local/national news, traffic conditions, airplane schedules, text to voice translated caller e-mail, account member mailbox messages or other information of interest to the local or national caller.

Claims

1. A method of an alternative telephone information service to provide a telephone caller with caller requested information comprising:

identifying a unique card number and a first voice telephone number and a second voice telephone number on one of many publicly distributed access cards where each access card exhibits a unique card number;

placing a call using said first voice telephone number to the alternative telephone information service using a telephone service company other than the alternative telephone information service and said first voice telephone number, and

registering and recording a unique caller account comprising said unique card number, a caller specified unique password and a monetary amount;

placing a call using said second voice telephone number to the alternative telephone information service using a telephone service company other than the alternative telephone information service;

authorizing use of registered unique caller account;

requesting caller requested information of the alternative telephone information service;

hearing predetermined promotional message content;

receiving caller requested information;

recording the occurrence of the caller event in the unique caller account; and

terminating the call.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 where said first voice telephone number is a toll free number and said second voice telephone number is a toll free number.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 where said first voice telephone number and second voice telephone number is the same telephone number.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 where said monetary amount comprises no amount of money.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 where said monetary amount is paid by the caller.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 where said monetary amount is identified on the card.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 where said authorizing use of registered unique caller account comprises matching caller provided unique password to the password stored in said unique caller account.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 where said unique password comprises a word or phrase spoken by the caner for voice recognition or voice print.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 where said password comprises the caller origination telephone number.

10. A method as claimed in claim 7 where said password comprises telephone touch pad DTMF sequence and limited quantity by the caller.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 where said recording further comprises debiting said unique caller account for a monetary amount identified to the caller by the telephone information service for each completed call.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 where the alternative telephone information service is accessed through a Public Switched Telephone Network and wireless voice telephone systems.