Method and system for providing quick directions

• US 7,916,852 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Inventors: Berry, Joseph Jamal, Bruce, Les, Mullarkey, Michael F., Sinder, Michael Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee; MD S
• Application Number:
  US10/864,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20050018822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,485 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/72, 379 8817- 8818, 379/88.19, 379/88.23, 379/201.06, 379/207.12, 379/76, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.21, 379/218.01, 37926501-2661, 379/218.02, 455/456.2, 342/357.09, 704/275, 701/1, 701/23, 701/27, 701200-216, 701/83, 701/217, 340/995.21
• US Class Current: 379/218.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096822 where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• 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 3/523 with call distribution or queueing

Abstract

A method and system for providing a telephone caller information assistance such as driving directions from a starting location to a destination location. To obtain information assistance, the caller places a telephone call to access the system. If the geographical location of the caller can be determined by an automatic location identification system it is displayed on an operator console where the caller'"'"'s request is transferred to be handled by a live operator. The operator receives the caller'"'"'s destination request and queries the system for the street route driving instructions to the requested destination. After obtaining the street route driving instructions, the call can be transferred to an audio box having an interactive user interface capable of replaying the desired information to the caller. In an illustrative embodiment, the interactive user interface is capable providing functions to stop, start, pause, and replay the information to the caller.

Claims

1. A method for communicating route instructions to a caller with a system comprising a human operator and an interactive user interface, the method comprising:

identifying a caller destination address using the human operator;

with the interactive user interface, communicating route instructions to the caller to guide the caller to the caller destination address, wherein the route instructions comprise a plurality of segments and wherein the interactive user interface allows the caller to issue a command to control playback of the route instructions after a segment of the route instructions has been communicated; and

if no command has been given within a timeout period after a segment of the route instructions has been communicated, automatically continuing to a next segment of the route instructions,

wherein the caller destination address is identified based on white page directory listings.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a repeat command.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a pause command.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a continue command.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a backup command.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is given by depressing a key on a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) keypad.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a voice command.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a starting location of the route instructions is identified by a calling party telephone number.

9. A method for communicating route instructions to a caller with a system comprising a human operator and an interactive user interface, the method comprising:

identifying a caller destination address using the human operator;

with the interactive user interface, communicating route instructions to the caller to guide the caller to the caller destination address, wherein the route instructions comprise a plurality of segments, wherein each segment is identified by a segment number; and

with the interactive user interface, before each segment is communicated, communicating a segment number of the segment,

wherein the caller destination address is identified based on white page directory listings.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a starting location of the route instructions is identified by a calling party telephone number.

11. A method for providing driving route instructions to a user from a calling location where the user originates a wireless telephone call to a destination location, comprising:

receiving the wireless telephone call from the user at an operator station;

receiving location information at the operator station for automatically identifying the calling location;

receiving at the operator station a selection of one of a plurality of services offered via the operator station, the plurality of services including a directory service and a driving route service;

when the driving route is selected;

determining the destination location based on white page directory listings;

determining the driving route instructions from the calling location to the destination location via a mapping database, wherein the driving route instructions are segment-by-segment driving instructions which have been demarcated at each segment of the instructions to allow for manipulation of the driving route instructions during playback; and

playing back the driving route instructions to the user in response to playback commands and without interaction from the operator station, wherein the playback commands include a command to return to the operator station, when the directory service is selected.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein driving route instructions include a trip distance.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein driving route instructions are determined based on route times.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein driving route instructions are further determined based on at least one of:

route traffic, road conditions, and route weather conditions.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the location information includes information generated by a GPS location system.