Optional services provisioning systems and methods

• US 9,001,988 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Fitch, Philip K.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US10/418,873
• Time in Patent Office: 4,372 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 37926501-26514, 37926601-2661, 379/88.17, 379/207.02
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6081 Service authorization mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing

Abstract

A system and method can respond to a network user request for information by offering optional services to the user. The system and method can obtain the user request and determine a response to the user request. Based on user information available from the network and the determined response, the system and method can determine the optional services available to the user. The system and method can provide the user with a listing or menu of the optional services available for selection by the user. Once the user has made a selection, the system and method can transfer the user to a platform appropriate for delivery of the selected service.

Claims

1. A system for providing at least one optional service to a user making a request for information from a network, comprising:

a processor to receive the request,

at least one database including the requested information, the processor accessing the at least one database to obtain the information,

a system database for storing the obtained information,

a services selector,

a table of response categories and first optional services associated with the categories, the services selector comparing the obtained information to categories in the table to determine second optional services associated with the obtained information,

user identification data, the services selector comparing the second option services associated with the obtained information to user eligibility criteria of the user identification data to determine third optional services available to the user, and

at least one service provider platform to deliver the at least one optional service selected by the user from the third optional services available to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a routing means for connecting the user to the system and transferring the user between the processor, the services selector and the at least one service provider platform.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user identification data comprises at least one of a user identification database including eligibility criteria indexed by user number and a user identification table of eligibility criteria and user numbers associated with the eligibility criteria.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the network is a voice communication network,

the routing means is a Traffic Office Position System switch,

the processor is an operator workstation, and

the at least one service provider is a concierge workstation.

5. The system of claim 4, comprising an announcement control process connected to the Traffic Office Position System switch to provide options to the user for selecting the at least one optional service.

6. The system of claim 5, comprising a voice feature node connected to the Traffic Office Position System switch to provide the obtained information to the user.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the voice communication network is a wireless communication network comprising a mobile telephone switching office for connecting the user to the system.

8. The system of claim 7, comprising an automated language selector connected to the Traffic Office Position System switch to provide language options for communicating with the user.