Automatic dialing of number received from directory assistance from within cellular system

• US 5,509,049 A
• Filed: 10/31/1994
• Issued: 04/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Voicetech Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Voicetech Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, Bruce M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chernoff, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US08/331,997
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/61, 379/355, 379/213, 379/212, 455/33.1, 381/41, 381/42, 381/43, 395/2.55, 395/2, 395/2.1
• US Class Current: 455/563
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for automatically completing a directory assisted call connection from within a cellular system. The method includes the steps of requesting a telephone number of a communication target by a cellular communication unit from directory assistance and voice recognizing each digit of an audio representation of the telephone number of the communication target returned by directory assistance. The method further includes the step of completing the call connection from the cellular communication unit to the communication target based upon the voice recognized returned number.

Claims

1. A method of automatically completing a directory assisted call connection from within a cellular system infrastructure comprising the steps of:

requesting a telephone number of a communication target by a cellular communication unit from directory assistance;

voice recognizing each digit of an audio representation of the telephone number of the communication target returned by directory assistance from within a local mobile telephone switching office; and

completing the call connection from the cellular communication unit to the communication target based upon the voice recognized returned number by re-routing the call connection from within the mobile telephone switching office.

2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of monitoring for indicia of the returned number.

3. The method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a call request based upon the returned number.

4. The method as in claim 3 further comprising the step of identifying a trunk group of the communication target by comparing the returned number with a routing table within a memory of the cellular system.

5. An apparatus for automatically completing a directory assisted call connection from within a cellular communication system infrastructure comprising:

means located within a local mobile telephone switching office for detecting a call to directory assistance from a cellular communication unit requesting a telephone number of a communication target;

a voice recognition unit located within a local mobile telephone switching office activated by the means for detecting for identifying each digit of an audio representation of the telephone number of the communication target returned by directory assistance;

means located within a local mobile telephone switching office operably interconnected with the voice recognition unit for completing the call connection from the cellular communication unit to the communication target based upon the identified returned digits.

6. The apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising means for detecting indicia of a returned number.

7. The apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising a cellular switch activated by the means for detecting for interconnecting the voice recognition unit to the directory assistance call.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the means for completing the call connection further comprises a controller within the voice recognition unit for receiving the identified digits, composing a call request, and communicating the call request to the cellular switch.

9. The apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the means for detecting further comprises a controller means of a mobile telephone switching office for comparing call requests with a routing table.

10. The apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the means for completing the call connection further comprises a controller means within a mobile telephone switching office for comparing the returned number with a routing table and composing a call request based upon the returned number and contents of the routing table.