Method and system for collecting and authenticating updates to a network-based directory service

• US 6,000,031 A
• Filed: 05/01/1997
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bingaman, Keith B., Vogel, Gerald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Iqbal, Nadeem
• Application Number:
  US08/847,068
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 395/186, 395/182.11, 395/182.18, 395/183.07, 395/183.19, 395/200, 379/88, 379/93.14, 379/67, 379/89, 379/95, 379/355, 380/4, 380/23, 380/48, 714/4, 714/18, 714/20, 714/47, 714/48, 713/200, 713/201
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for authenticating on-line updates to listings maintained by a network-based directory service. An exemplary method for authenticating updates submitted on-line includes: (1) receiving an on-line update for a listing; (2) receiving origination information associated with a telephone call initiated by a user of a phone line corresponding to the listing; and (3) detecting a match between the origination information and at least a portion of the listing to authenticate the update. In one embodiment of the present invention, the origination information is a telephone number common to both the phone line from which the user is calling and the listing.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating on-line updates to listings in a network-based directory, comprising the steps of:

receiving an on-line update for a listing;

receiving origination information associated wiffi a telephone call initiated from a phone line corresponding to said listing; and

detecting a match between said origination information and at least a portion of said listing to authenticate said update.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said origination information is a telephone number.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said origination information is an automatic number identification (ANI).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

time stamping said update;

storing said time stamp; and

after said step of detecting, announcing said time stamp to said user.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

after said step of detecting, announcing said update to said user.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

after said step of detecting, requesting said user to enter a predetermined code to confirm said update.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving includes receiving an on-line update for the listing from a user of a computer via the internet.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving includes receiving an on-liie update for the listing from a user of a computer via the public switched telephone network.

7. A system for authenticating on-line updates to listings in a network-based directory service, comprising:

a memory device for storing an on-line update for a listing;

a processor in communication with said memory device, said processor configured to receive origination information associated with a telephone call initiated from a phone line corresponding to said listing and detecting a match between said origination information and at least some portion of said listing to authenticate said update.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said origination information is a telephone number.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said origination information is an automatic number identification (ANI).

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said update includes a time stamp and further comprising:

a voice response unit for announcing said time stamp to said user after said processor has detected said match.

11. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a voice response unit for announcing said update to said user after said processor has detected said match.

12. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a voice response unit for requesting said user to enter a predetermined code to confirm said update after said processor has detected said match.

13. A system for authenticating on-line updates to listings in a network-based directory service, comprising:

means for receiving an on-line update for a listing;

means for receiving origination information associated with a telephone call initiated from a phone line corresponding to said listing; and

means for detecting a match between said origination information and at least a portion of said listing to authenticate said update.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said origination information is a telephone number.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said origination information is an automatic number identification (ANI).

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for time stamping said update;

means for storing said time stamp; and

means for announcing said time stamp to said user after said means for detecting has detected said match.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for announcing said update to said user after said means for detecting has detected said match.

18. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

means for requesting said user to enter a predetermined code to confirm said update after said means for detecting has detected said match.