Method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous telephone calls
First Claim
1. A method to provide directory assistance to a caller attempting to place a telephone call to an unavailable telephone number, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting a caller'"'"'s telephone call to an unavailable number on a telephony notwork;
intercepting the telephone call on the telephony network to the unavailable number before initiating any action by the telephony network back to the caller, wherein the unavailable number includes non-existent numbers or numbers not implemented on the telephony network;
automatically routing the detected and intercepted telephone call to an automatic intercept system associated with a directory assistance service;
automatically routing the detected and intercepted telephone call from the automatic intercept system to the directory assistance service; and
providing at least one advertisement to the caller from the directory assistance service.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and a method for automatically routing calls made to an unavailable number to a directory assistance service for further assistance are disclosed herein. An intercept system intercepts these erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service then can inform the caller of the unavailable status of the telephone number the caller is attempting to dial. Likewise, the directory assistance service can provide any additional information associated with the unavailable subscriber associated with the unavailable number, such as alternate numbers. The directory assistance service also can provide information regarding other subscribers having similar characteristics to the unavailable subscriber that the caller is attempting to reach. Additionally, the directory assistance service can be adapted to provide general or targeted advertisements to the caller before, during, and/or after providing directory assistance to the caller.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method to provide directory assistance to a caller attempting to place a telephone call to an unavailable telephone number, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a caller'"'"'s telephone call to an unavailable number on a telephony notwork; intercepting the telephone call on the telephony network to the unavailable number before initiating any action by the telephony network back to the caller, wherein the unavailable number includes non-existent numbers or numbers not implemented on the telephony network; automatically routing the detected and intercepted telephone call to an automatic intercept system associated with a directory assistance service; automatically routing the detected and intercepted telephone call from the automatic intercept system to the directory assistance service; and providing at least one advertisement to the caller from the directory assistance service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for providing directory assistance to a caller attempting to place a telephone call to an unavailable telephone number, the system comprising:
- a directory assistance service; and
an intercept system coupled to the directory assistance service, wherein the intercept system is adapted to intercept the telephone call made to the unavailable telephone number and to route the erroneous telephone call to the directory assistance service; and
provide at least one advertisement to the caller. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
- a directory assistance service; and
Specification