Technique for continually providing directional assistance over a communication network to a user

• US 6,816,727 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
• Inventors: Cox, Patrick M., Filliger, Paul W., Huey, Christopher A., Powell, A. Peter, Kepler, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US10/426,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20030216145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/456.2, 455/416, 455/417, 701/24, 701/201, 701/208, 701/209, 340/905
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• 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 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/424 Arrangements for automatic redialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• 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 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4933 with operator assistance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4935 Connection initiated by DAS system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/60 Semi-automatic systems, i.e. in which the numerical selection of the outgoing line is under the control of an operator
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services

Abstract

A wireless telephone subscriber who wishes directory assistance in the form of directions from one specified location to another is connected to a directory assistance agent. The subscriber identifies a destination location and any requested travel criteria. The directory assistance agent collects the subscriber'"'"'s travel parameters and a routing algorithm on the server draws upon geographic, transportation, and related information stored on the server to generate an appropriate route to the destination location. The selected route may be divided into multiple segments. Directions according to each segment are provided to the subscriber. The subscriber may remain connected to the directory assistance center for all or any portion of the travel, may disconnect and reconnect as necessary, or may receive the entire route of travel in a single communication. Upon reconnection to a directory assistance agent while travelling, the subscriber is recognized as a travelling subscriber based on his MIN, ESN, or unique traveller identification number, and the agent is furnished with the subscriber'"'"'s travel information and current location. The route of travel may be updated or amended as desired or as made necessary due to closed routes of travel, congestion, etc.

Claims

1. A method for use in a system for communicating to a user directions to a location through successive communication connections, at least one of the communication connections includes a telephone call, the method comprising:

planning a route to reach the location;

dividing the planned route into a plurality of segments thereof in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion;

communicating a first segment of the planned route to the user through a first communication connection; and

carrying out the following (a)-(e) with or without repetition thereof;

(a) establishing a second communication connection with the user;

(b) retrieving from a memory a reference indicating a segment of the planned route lastly communicated to the user;

(c) selecting a second segment of the planned route based on the reference;

(d) communicating the selected segment of the planned route to the user through the second communication connection; and

(e) updating the reference.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined criterion concerns a predetermined length of time estimated to travel each segment.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined criterion concerns changes in direction in traveling the planned route.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined criterion concerns changes in mode of travel in traveling the planned route.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference includes a pointer.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising deriving a location of the user from data in a call stream provided by a switch establishing the telephone call before the route is planned.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the telephone call is initiated using a wireless telephone, the method further comprising identifying a cell site from which the telephone call originates to determine a location of the user before the route is planned.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a trunk in a telephone network over which the telephone call is established to determine a location of the user before the route is planned.

2. A method for use in a system for communicating to a user directions to a location through successive communication connections, the method comprising:

planning a route to reach the location;

dividing the planned route into a plurality of segments thereof in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion, wherein the planned route is stored in association with an identifier for identifying the user;

communicating a first segment of the planned route to the user through a first communication connection; and

carrying out the following (a)-(e) with or without repetition thereof;

(a) establishing a second communication connection with the user;

(b) retrieving from a memory a reference indicating a segment of the planned route lastly communicated to the user;

(c) selecting a second segment of the planned route based on the reference;

(d) communicating the selected segment of the planned route to the user through the second communication connection; and

(e) updating the reference.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the communication connections includes a telephone call, and the identifier including a telephone number of a telephone initiating the telephone call.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the telephone number is derived from data in a call stream in establishing the telephone call.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein the predetermined criterion concerns a predetermined length of time estimated to travel each segment.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein the predetermined criterion concerns changes in direction in traveling the planned route.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein the predetermined criterion concerns changes in mode of travel in traveling the planned route.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein the reference includes a pointer.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising deriving a location of the user from data in a call stream provided by a switch establishing the telephone call before the route is planned.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the telephone call is initiated using a wireless telephone, the method further comprising identifying a cell site from which the telephone call originates to determine a location of the user before the route is planned.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising identifying a trunk in a telephone network over which the telephone call is established to determine a location of the user before the route is planned.