Method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous telephone calls

• US 7,573,993 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blake Bookstaff
• Original Assignee: Blake Bookstaff
• Inventors: Bookstaff, Blake
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US11/805,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20070253544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/211.03, 379/213.01, 379/204.01, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/218.01, 370/331, 370/328, 370/401, 370/356, 370/352, 455/567, 705/14
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4874 Intercept announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

A system and a method for automatically routing Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls made to an unavailable number to a directory assistance service for further assistance. An intercept system intercepts these erroneous VoIP calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service can provide any additional information 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 number that the caller is attempting to reach. Additionally, the directory assistance service can provide general or targeted advertisements to the caller before, during, and/or after providing directory assistance to the caller.

Claims

1. A method to provide directory assistance to a caller attempting to place a telephone call to an unavailable telephone number using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a caller'"'"'s VoIP telephone call to an unavailable number on a telephony network;

intercepting the caller'"'"'s VoIP 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 VoIP telephone call to an automatic intercept system associated with a directory assistance service;

automatically routing the detected and intercepted VoIP 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 via VoIP.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the directory assistance service is one of a group consisting of:

a local directory service, a regional directory service, a national directory service, an international directory service, and a specialized directory service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one advertisement includes at least one generalized advertisement.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one advertisement includes at least one targeted advertisement.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephony network includes a data network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data network includes the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the VoIP telephone call is made via a digital subscriber line.

8. A system for providing directory assistance to a caller attempting to place a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone call to an unavailable telephone number over a data telephony network, the system comprising in combination:

a directory assistance service for accepting a detected and intercepted VoIP telephone cell to an unavailable number from an automatic intercept system and for providing at least one advertisement to the caller from the directory assistance service via VoIP; and

an automatic intercept system coupled to the directory assistance service, wherein the automatic intercept system is adapted to intercept the VoIP telephone call made to the unavailable telephone number and to route the erroneous telephone call to the directory assistance service, that provides at least one advertisement to the caller via VoIP and for detecting a caller'"'"'s VoIP telephone call to an unavailable number on a telephony network, for intercepting the caller'"'"'s VoIP 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, and for automatically routing the detected and intercepted VoIP telephone call to an automatic intercept system associated with a directory assistance service.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the directory assistance service is one of a group consisting of:

a local directory service, a regional directory service, a national directory service, an international directory service, and a specialized directory service.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one advertisement includes at least one generalized advertisement.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the VoIP call is made via a digital subscriber line.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the data telephony network includes the Internet.