Method and system for providing quick directions

• US 20050018822A1
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Inventors: Berry, Joseph Jamal, Bruce, Les, Mullarkey, Michael F., Sinder, Michael Jay
• Granted Patent: US 7,916,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.180
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096822 where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing

Abstract

A method and system for providing a telephone caller information assistance such as driving directions from a starting location to a destination location. To obtain information assistance, the caller places a telephone call to access the system. If the geographical location of the caller can be determined by an automatic location identification system it is displayed on an operator console where the caller'"'"'s request is transferred to be handled by a live operator. The operator receives the caller'"'"'s destination request and queries the system for the street route driving instructions to the requested destination. After obtaining the street route driving instructions, the call can be transferred to an audio box having an interactive user interface capable of replaying the desired information to the caller. In an illustrative embodiment, the interactive user interface is capable providing functions to stop, start, pause, and replay the information to the caller.

Claims

1. A method for communicating route instructions to a caller, the method comprising:

with an interactive user interface, communicating route instructions to a caller, wherein the route instructions comprise a plurality of steps and wherein the interactive user interface allows the caller to issue a command to control playback of the route instructions after a step of the route instructions has been communicated; and

if no command has been given within a timeout period after a step of the route instructions has been communicated, automatically continue to a next step of the route instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a repeat command.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a pause command.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a continue command.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a backup command.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is given by depressing a key on DTMF keypad.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a voice command.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a starting location of the route instructions is identified by a calling party telephone number.

9. A method for communicating route instructions to a caller, the method comprising:

with an interactive user interface, communicating route instructions to a caller, wherein the route instructions comprise a plurality of steps, wherein each step is identified by a step number; and

with the interactive user interface, before each step is communicated, communicating a step number of the step.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a starting location of the route instructions is identified by a calling party telephone number.

11. A method for communicating route instructions to a caller, the method comprising:

with an interactive user interface, communicating route instructions to a caller;

receiving a request from the caller to spell a name of a street contained in the route instructions; and

with the interactive user interface, spelling out the name of the street contained in the route instructions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a starting location of the route instructions is identified by a calling party telephone number.

13. A method for communicating route instructions to a caller, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a caller for route instructions, wherein the caller is associated with a calling telephone number;

creating a call record comprising station type of the calling telephone number and a location of the caller; and

communicating route instructions to the caller.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the call record further comprises the calling telephone number.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the call record further comprises a called telephone number.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein an interactive user interface communicates the route instructions to the caller.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the route instructions comprise a plurality of steps, and wherein the interactive user interface allows the caller to issue a command to control playback of the route instructions after a step of the route instructions has been communicated.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein if no command has been given within a timeout period after a step of the route instructions has been communicated, the interactive user interface automatically continues to a next step of the route instructions.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the route instructions comprise a plurality of steps, wherein each step is identified by a step number, and wherein the method further comprises communicating a step number of a step before that step is communicated.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising spelling out a name of a street contained in the route instructions.