Directory device implementable electronic telephone directory

• US 8,468,456 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2009
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Masih, Meena Michelle
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdul-Ali, Omar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang, Haimei
• Application Number:
  US12/648,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20100104084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 715/739
• US Class Current: 715/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/554 Data synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment

Abstract

A system for providing directory information is disclosed. The system includes a computer and a directory device connected to the computer. The directory device includes a memory storage device for storing directory information and telecommunications information obtained from the computer. The telecommunications services information includes information on establishing telephone service.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from a directory device, a URL address entered, via the directory device, as an instruction to obtain directory information from a directory server, wherein the directory device comprises a processor, a display interface, an input device, search functionality for searching information on the directory device via a keyword, and a memory storage device for storing directory information and telecommunications services information obtained from the directory server, the telecommunications services information comprising information for establishing telephone service, billing information, repair information, and operator services information;

displaying, via the display interface, a menu with selectable options for selecting the telecommunications services information, wherein the telecommunications services information includes information for establishing telephone service, billing information, repair information, and operator services information;

dialing an access number to access a network via a gateway;

establishing a connection with the directory server; and

receiving, over the network, the directory information and telecommunications services information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising searching information via a keyword.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the received directory information and the telecommunications services information received.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network includes at least one of a local area network, a wide area network, an intranet, or an internet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the directory server includes a web server.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting instructions corresponding to the URL address entered from the directory device to a local device, wherein the local device dials the access number, establishes the connection, and receives the directory information and telecommunications services.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the local device is a computer configured to retrieve and transfer directory information from at least one of a storage medium or from the directory server via the network.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the local device stores compressed telecommunications services information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the directory device receives the compressed telecommunications services information from the local device and selectively decompresses the telecommunications services information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving directory information and telecommunications information from a storage medium wherein the directory information and the telecommunications information is pre-stored in the storage medium.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information received over the network updates the information pre-stored in the storage medium.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the URL address is a URL address of a page of information stored on the directory server.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is a wireless network in communication with a wireless gateway.

14. A directory device comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory having executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving a URL address entered, via the directory device, as an instruction to obtain directory information from a directory server, wherein the directory device comprises a processor, a display interface, an input device, search functionality for searching information on the directory device via a keyword, and a memory storage device for storing directory information and telecommunications services information obtained from the directory server, the telecommunications services information comprising information for establishing telephone service, billing information, repair information, and operator services information;

displaying, via the display interface, a menu with selectable options for selecting the telecommunications services information, wherein the telecommunications services information includes information for establishing telephone service, billing information, repair information, and operator services information;

dialing an access number to access a network via a gateway;

establishing a connection with the directory server; and

receiving, over the network, directory information and telecommunications service information stored in the directory server.

15. The directory device of claim 14, the operations further comprising transmitting instructions corresponding to the URL address entered from the directory device to a local device, wherein the local device dials the access number, establishes the connection, and receives the directory information and telecommunications services.

16. The directory device of claim 15, wherein the local device is a computer configured to retrieve and transfer directory information from at least one of a storage medium or from the directory server via the network.

17. The directory device of claim 15, the operations further comprising receiving compressed telecommunications services information from the local device and selectively decompresses the telecommunications services information.

18. The directory device of claim 14, wherein the information received over the network updates information pre-stored in the memory.

19. The directory device of claim 14, wherein the URL address is a URL address of a page of information stored on the directory server.

20. The directory device of claim 14, wherein the network is a wireless network in communication with a wireless gateway.

21. A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

receiving, from a directory device, a URL address entered, via the directory device, as an instruction to obtain directory information from a directory server, wherein the directory device comprises a processor, a display interface, an input device, search functionality for searching information on the directory device via a keyword, and a memory storage device for storing directory information and telecommunications services information obtained from the directory server, the telecommunications services information comprising information for establishing telephone service, billing information, repair information, and operator services information;

displaying, via the display interface, a menu with selectable options for selecting the telecommunications services information, wherein the telecommunications services information includes information for establishing telephone service, billing information, repair information, and operator services information;

dialing an access number to access a network via a gateway;

establishing a connection with the directory server; and

receiving, over the network, the directory information and telecommunications services information.