Method and apparatus for providing information in response to the grant of a subscriber's permission

• US 8,718,605 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited, LLC
• Original Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited
• Inventors: Roach, Peter O. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Assistant Examiner(s): Behnamian, Shahriar
• Application Number:
  US11/336,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20060166646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,028 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/414
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Confirmation of a mobile subscriber'"'"'s permission to release their personal information is completed prior to transmitting the information to a requesting party. The mobile subscriber can view the requesting party'"'"'s identity prior to making a decision to release their directory information. In the alternative, the mobile subscriber can contact the requesting party directly without a release of their personal information. Other types of information, such as location information, can also be communicated to a requesting party by this permission grant methodology.

Claims

1. A method for offering information services, the method comprising:

receiving a query from a requesting device for requested information about a subscriber of a mobile telephone network;

responsive to the query, issuing a permission release request to a subscriber device associated with the subscriber, the permission release request comprising a connect option and a release option;

releasing the requested information for distribution to the requesting device if a permission release response is received from the subscriber device pursuant to the release option, the permission release response providing permission for communication of the requested information to the requesting device;

establishing a voice connection between the subscriber device and the requesting device if a connection response is received from the subscriber device pursuant to the connect option;

presenting an offer to the requesting device for a delayed response to the query if the subscriber device does not provide a response to the permission release request within a predetermined time period;

storing contact information corresponding to the requesting device if an affirmative response to the offer is received from the requesting device; and

releasing the requested information for distribution to the requesting device via the stored contact information if a delayed permission release response is received from the subscriber device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a status of the subscriber device by obtaining status information from a customer data base maintained by the mobile telephone network, in advance of issuing the permission release request, to facilitate communications with the subscriber device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining an appropriate manner for communicating with the subscriber device based on the status information obtained from the customer data base.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested information comprises directory assistance information relevant to the subscriber, the directory assistance information comprising at least one of location information, telephone number, address, and other information specific to the subscriber.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the permission release request comprises at least one of an identity of a requesting party associated with the requesting device and a telephone number for the requesting party.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the permission release response is output by the subscriber device in response to an automated decision made by logic of the subscriber device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the permission release response is output by the subscriber device in response to a decision made by the subscriber based on interactions with a user interface of the subscriber device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the permission release response is output by the subscriber device in response to a decision made by the subscriber as a result of a presentation by a user interface of the subscriber device, the presentation providing an identity of a requesting party associated with the requesting device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested information is distributed to the requesting device and the requested information comprises one of:

a text message transmitted to the requesting device;

an integrated voice response device (IVR) speaking the requested information to a requesting party via the requesting device, an operator calling the requesting device with the requested information;

a web page presenting the requested information;

a video message transmitted to the requesting device;

a multimedia message transmitted to the requesting device; and

an electronic mail message presenting the requested information.

10. A method for communicating information, the method comprising:

receiving a query at a directory assistance system from a requesting device for requested information about a subscriber of a mobile telephone network,

determining that the requested information is not available at the directory assistance system;

issuing a query to an information system from the directory assistance system for the requested information, the information system operating independent of the directory assistance system and the mobile telephone network;

responsive to the query issued by the directory assistance system, issuing a permission release request from the information system to a subscriber device associated with the subscriber, the permission release request comprising a connect option and a release option;

releasing the requested information from the information system to the directory assistance system, for distribution to the requesting device, if a permission release response is received from the subscriber device pursuant to the release option, the permission release response providing permission for communication of at least a portion of the requested information to the requesting device;

establishing a voice connection between the requesting device and the subscriber device if a connection response is received from the subscriber device pursuant to the connect option;

presenting an offer to the requesting device for a delayed response to the query if the subscriber device does not provide a response to the permission release request within a predetermined time period;

storing contact information corresponding to the requesting device if an affirmative response to the offer is received from the requesting device; and

releasing the requested information for distribution to the requesting device via the stored contact information if a delayed permission release response is received from the subscriber device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the requested information comprises directory assistance information relevant to the subscriber, the directory assistance information comprising at least one of location information, telephone number, address, and other information specific to the subscriber.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the permission release request comprises at least one of an identity of a requesting party associated with the requesting device and a telephone number for the requesting party.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the permission release response is output by the subscriber device in response to an automated decision made by logic of the subscriber device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the permission release response is output by the subscriber device in response to a decision made by the subscriber based on interactions with a user interface of the subscriber device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the permission release response is output by the subscriber device in response to a decision made by the subscriber as a result of a presentation by a user interface of the subscriber device, the presentation providing an identity of a requesting party associated with the requesting device.

16. A system for offering information services, the system comprising:

a receiver component configured to receive one or more queries from a requesting device for requested information associated with a subscriber of a mobile telephone network,

a processor configured to generate one or more permission requests for a subscriber device associated with the subscriber, wherein each permission request comprises a connect option and a release option;

a database storing the information associated with the subscriber;

an information release component configured to retrieve the information associated with the subscriber from the database and further configured to transmit the information associated with the subscriber to the requesting device if a release response is received from the subscriber device pursuant to the release option;

a delayed response offer component configured to present an offer to the requesting device for a delayed response to the queries if the subscriber device does not provide a response to the permission requests within a predetermined time period;

a delayed response release component configured to store contact information corresponding to the requesting device if an affirmative response to the offer is received from the requesting device and further configured to release the requested information for distribution to the requesting device via the stored contact information if a delayed permission release response is received from the subscriber device; and

a voice conferencing component configured to establish a voice connection between the requesting device and the subscriber device if a connection response is received from the subscriber device pursuant to the connect option.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the information associated with the subscriber comprises at least one of location information, telephone number, address, and other information specific to the subscriber.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a mobile equipment functionality database storing functionality information associated with the subscriber device.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a formatting component configured to format the permission requests based on the functionality information associated with the subscriber device.