Toll-free directory assistance with category search
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for providing directory assistance information comprising:
- at the customer station, dialing a telephone number used for accessing the call processing station;
setting up a call connection from the customer station to the call processing station;
providing a request for information relating goods or services;
at the call processing station, receiving the request for information from the customer station;
examining the request for information to identify a category associated with the goods or services;
automatically selecting information to be played back that is categorized within the category;
retrieving the selected information to be played back from a stored media;
forwarding the selected advertisement to the customer station; and
at the customer station, receiving the selected advertisement.
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Abstract
The current invention is a system for providing telephone directory assistance service in which a telephone user calls to the system and the system will, based on the requested category of business or product, such as in a yellow pages search, hear a recorded advertisement. The advertisements are selected from a databank, which may include any number advertisements categorized within the category associated with the service, according to selection criteria. After the advertising announcement is completed, the directory assistance call is processed as usual. The selection criteria can include the use of SIC codes.
106 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for providing directory assistance information comprising:
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at the customer station, dialing a telephone number used for accessing the call processing station;
setting up a call connection from the customer station to the call processing station;
providing a request for information relating goods or services;
at the call processing station, receiving the request for information from the customer station;
examining the request for information to identify a category associated with the goods or services;
automatically selecting information to be played back that is categorized within the category;
retrieving the selected information to be played back from a stored media;
forwarding the selected advertisement to the customer station; and
at the customer station, receiving the selected advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for providing access to directory assistance information for a public network via a toll-free number, the system comprising:
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a customer station including call connection circuitry; and
a call processing station that operates to receive a request for information from the customer station, examine the request for information to identify a category associated with goods or services, automatically select an advertisement categorized within the category and selectively forward the selected advertisement to the customer station. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification