Enhanced directory assistance system

• US 8,385,530 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2011
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Inventors: Pines, Robert, Baumeister, Christine, Blakeney, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry
• Application Number:
  US13/185,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20120183129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 379/218.01, 379/218.02, 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 705/14.4, 705/14.49, 705/14.58, 705/14.64, 705/14.67
• US Class Current: 379/218.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

An enhanced directory assistance system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from at least one caller desiring to receive directions. A direction module is configured to receive a desired destination information provided by the caller and the location of the caller. The direction module is further configured to provide directions to the caller based on the destination and the caller location information, where the system maintains a preferred destination listing configured to store a preferred destination information relating to a destination request frequently requested by the caller, such that when the system recognizes the caller, the desired destination is populated directly from the preferred destination information.

Claims

1. A system for providing directory assistance, said system comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive a plurality of incoming communications from at least one requester, said communications including requests for a contact information; and

said communication interface further configured to arrange, for each of said requests, a contact information, responsive to said requests for a contact information, to be delivered to said requesters, wherein said contact information includes a geographic location information; and

a database configured to store a plurality of advertising prompts, each having an associated selection criteria related to information contained in listings of contact information from which said contact information, responsive to said requests for a contact information is derived; and

an advertising module configured to arrange for the delivery of at least one advertising prompt to said requester for at least a some of said requests for a contact information, wherein said advertising prompt includes a second contact information other than said requested contact information, said second contact information being from an industry other than the industry associated with said requested contact information,

wherein said advertising prompt, including a second contact information other than said requested contact information, is for a business that is in geographic proximity to said requested contact information.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communication interface is configured to receiving incoming requests in a format selected from the group consisting of SMS (Short Message Service), WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), IM (Instant Message) and live chat.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said advertising prompt module arranges for delivery of said advertising prompt to said requester in a format selected from the group consisting of TTS (Text-To-Speech);

SMS (Short Message Service), WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), e-mail, voice mail and facsimile.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of said advertising prompts may be configured so that they are delivered to requesters only during a certain time of day.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of said advertising prompts may be configured so that they are delivered to requesters only during a certain day of the week.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system compiles information related to said requesters and wherein for any one requester said advertising prompt is selected based on information contained in said compiled information of that requester.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mapping and directions database configured to provide mapping, directions or both to said geographic location of said requested contact information.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said advertisement prompt delivered to said requester is along the provided map, directions or both.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said advertisement prompt delivered to said requester is not along the provided map, directions or both, but is within a defined radius from said map, directions or both.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein an entity corresponding to said second contact information in said advertising prompt can control said defined radius.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said advertising prompt module is remotely from a directory assistance system providing said directory assistance.