Operating a directory assistance call center based upon directory assistance database and caller ID data

• US 9,247,045 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Denenberg, Jack E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deane, Jr., William
• Application Number:
  US13/690,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20130090095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 379/218.01, 379/201.01, 379/88.18, 379/207.13, 370/352, 455/412.1, 455/415
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/354 Reverse directory service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A system and method is provided to operate a directory assistance call center based upon data stored in a directory assistance database and a line information database (LIDB). A caller can access a directory assistance call center to request phone listing information about a particular party. The directory assistance call center can send a query to a directory assistance database for the requested information. Moreover, if the requested information is not found, then the directory assistance call center can send a query to a LIDB or CNAM database provider. The LIDB or CNAM database provider can forward the query to a local LIDB or CNAM database and to other remote LIDB or CNAM database providers to find the requested information.

Claims

1. A method for providing subscriber information associated with a telephone number, comprising:

receiving, from a calling party, by a directory assistance call center, a request for a directory assistance;

sending, by the directory assistance call center, an automated menu to the calling party to select an option;

receiving, by a service transfer point (STP) through a service switching point and from the calling party, a reverse lookup request including the telephone number having an area code and an exchange,

querying, by a service control point (SCP), an exchange lookup database associated with the area code of the telephone number for geographic information corresponding to the exchange of the telephone number if directory assistance information associated with the telephone number of the reverse lookup request cannot be identified;

querying, by the SCP, whether the telephone number is associated with a private branch exchange (PBX); and

determining, by the SCP, the subscriber information for the PBX if the telephone number is associated with a PBX.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying, by the SCP, a directory assistance database for the directory assistance information corresponding to the telephone number.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising querying, by the SCP, a caller identification service database for caller identification information corresponding to the telephone number, when no directory assistance information corresponding to the telephone number is found in the directory assistance database.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising querying, by the SCP, another caller identification service database for the caller identification information corresponding to the telephone number, when no caller identification information corresponding to the telephone number is found in the caller identification service database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic information in the subscriber information is provided to a user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the geographic information in the subscriber information provided to the user comprises a city name.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the geographic information in the subscriber information provided to the user comprises a state name.

8. A system for providing subscriber information associated with a telephone number, comprising:

a service switching point configured to receive a reverse lookup request including the telephone number having an area code and an exchange;

a service control point configured to query an exchange lookup database; and

the exchange lookup database, wherein the exchange lookup database associated with the area code is queried for geographic information corresponding to the exchange of the telephone number if information associated with the telephone number of the reverse lookup request cannot be identified, and the subscriber information for a private branch exchange (PBX) is retrieved if it is determined that the telephone number is associated with the PBX.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a directory assistance database is queried for directory assistance information corresponding to the telephone number.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a caller identification service database is queried for caller identification information corresponding to the telephone number, when no directory assistance information corresponding to the telephone number is found in the directory assistance database.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein another caller identification service database is queried for the caller identification information corresponding to the telephone number, when no caller identification information corresponding to the telephone number is found in the caller identification service database.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the geographic information in the subscriber information is provided to a user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the geographic information in the subscriber information is provided to the user comprises a city name.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the geographic information in the subscriber information is provided to the user comprises a state name.

15. A method for providing subscriber information associated with a telephone number, comprising:

receiving, from a calling party, by a directory assistance call center, a request for a directory assistance;

sending, by the directory assistance call center, an automated menu to the calling party to select an option;

receiving, by a service transfer point (STP) through a service switching point and from the calling party, a reverse lookup request including the telephone number having an area code and an exchange;

querying, by a service control point (SCP), a caller identification service database for caller identification information corresponding to the telephone number, wherein an exchange lookup database associated with the area code is queried for geographic information corresponding to the exchange of the telephone number, when no caller identification information corresponding to the telephone number is found in the caller identification service database;

querying, by the SCP, whether the telephone number is associated with a private branch exchange (PBX); and

determining, by the SCP, subscriber information for the PBX if the telephone number is associated with a PBX.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising querying, by the SCP, another caller identification service database for the caller identification information corresponding to the telephone number when no caller identification information corresponding to the telephone number is found in the caller identification service database.