System and method for directory services and e-commerce across multi-provider networks

• US 7,340,048 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Context Connect LLC
• Inventors: Stern, Robert A, Ahn, Sunny, Drury, Rod
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischer, Andrew J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AGWUMEZIE, CHARLES C
• Application Number:
  US10/332,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20040132433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,423 Days
• Field of Search: 705/50, 379/27, 379/218, 455/415, 455/428, 455/437
• US Class Current: 379/218.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

The present invention solves the problem of cross-provider access proprietary information between unaffiliated and competing network providers, but not allow that information to be disclosed to competing providers. The invention provides a system that allows increased utilization and revenue by allowing information from one provider to be accessed and used to complete a transaction or make a connection with subscribers in another carrier or network system without that information being disclosed. The description of the invention for use in wireless or cellular directory assistance is for convenience and illustration of the features of the invention. It is to be understood that the invention has many embodiments and can be applied to any system where confidential and secure access to an entity or services are needed.

Claims

1. A method for directory service and e-commerce across multi-provider networks, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a first list of secure identity keys at a call center, wherein a secure identity key is assigned to each subscriber and has associated thereto at least one context of the respective subscriber, wherein the at least one context is a predetermined characteristic of the respective subscriber, and wherein the secure identity key includes information identifying a service provider of the respective subscriber;

establishing a second list of respective secure identity keys at the service provider of each respective subscriber, wherein each secure identity key at the service provider of each respective subscriber has associated thereto a contact number or address of the respective subscriber;

receiving a call at the call center from a user requesting access to a targeted subscriber by providing at least one context associated to the targeted subscriber;

performing a search of the first list at the call center using the at least one context provided by the user and identifying from the first list the secure identity key associated with the at least one context; and

forwarding the identified secure identity key to the service provider identified by the secure identity key, wherein the service provider identified by the secure identity key uses the identified secure identity key to search the second list and retrieve from the second list a contact number or address of the targeted subscriber associated with the identified secure identity key, without requiring exposure of the contact number or address of the targeted subscriber to the call center, whereby the service provider facilitates a communication connection between the user and the targeted subscriber.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the context does not include the contact number or address of the targeted subscriber.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contact number or address of the targeted subscriber is not released to the call center.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the targeted subscribers are cellular telephone subscribers and the contact number of the targeted subscriber is a cellular telephone number.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service provider identified by the secure identity key is a communication provider network of the targeted subscriber.

2. A method for providing a user with a communication connection to a subscriber over a communication network, the network including:

a call center in communication with a contextual database, the contextual database storing a secure identity key for each respective subscriber and at least one context associated with each secure identity key, wherein each secure identity key includes information identifying a service provider of the respective subscriber; and

at least one service provider in communication with a subscriber database, the subscriber database storing subscriber contact information associated with each secure identity key, the at least one service provider also communicating with the call center;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) receiving from a user at the call center a context for a targeted subscriber;

(b) using the call center to search for the context and retrieve the associated secure identity key from the contextual database without requiring use of, and without requiring exposure of, contact information of the targeted subscriber;

(c) forwarding the retrieved secure identity key to the service provider identified by the retrieved secure identity key;

(d) using the service provider identified by the retrieved secure identity key to retrieve from the subscriber database contact information of the targeted subscriber corresponding to a search for the retrieved secure identity key; and

(e) providing the user a communication connection to the targeted subscriber without requiring that the subscriber contact information be released to the user, and without requiring that the subscriber contact information be released to the call center.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the context does not include contact information of the targeted subscriber.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the contact information for the targeted subscriber is not released from the service provider identified by the retrieved secure identity key.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the respective subscribers are cellular telephone subscribers and the contact information of the targeted subscriber is a cellular telephone number.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein, in step (e), the communication connection is not provided to the targeted subscriber by the call center.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the service provider identified by the retrieved secure identity key is a communication provider network of the targeted subscriber.

19. The method according to claim 2, wherein, in step (e), the communication connection is provided to the targeted subscriber by the service provider identified by the secure identity key.

8. A communication system for providing a user with a communication connection to a subscriber, the system including:

a call center adapted to receive a context for a targeted subscriber as provided by a user, the call center including a contextual database which stores a secure identity key for each respective subscriber and at least one context associated with each secure identity key, the secure identity key including information identifying a service provider of the respective subscriber, whereby, in response to a context received, the call center searches for the context and retrieves the associated secure identity key from the contextual database without requiring use of, and without requiring exposure of, contact information of the targeted subscriber; and

a service provider which is in communication with a subscriber database storing subscriber information and with the call center, whereby, in response to the retrieved secure identity key, the service provider searches for the secure identity key and retrieves from the subscriber database contact information of the targeted subscriber facilitating a communication connection of the user to the targeted subscriber, without requiring that the contact information of the targeted subscriber be released to the user, and without requiring that the contact information of the targeted subscriber be released to the call center.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the context does not include contact information of the targeted subscriber.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the contact information for the targeted subscriber is not released from the service provider.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the respective subscribers are cellular telephone subscribers and the contact information of the targeted subscriber is a cellular telephone number.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the communication connection is not provided to the targeted subscriber by the call center.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein the service provider is a communication provider network of the targeted subscriber.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein the communication connection is provided to the targeted subscriber by the service provider.