Method and apparatus for context based querying

• US 7,908,261 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Getchius, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vital; Pierre M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casanova; Jorge A
• Application Number:
  US11/246,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20060282412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,981 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/8, 707/3, 707/1, 707/10, 707/706, 707/769, 707/999.001, 707/999.002, 707/999.008, 707/999.01, 707/999.104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/72 by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7036 Administer via user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• 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 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/919 Geographic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

This invention provides methods and apparatus for context based querying to more efficiently provide directory services. In particular, methods and apparatus for querying a database to resolve contact information, e.g., a phone number, based on the context of the query are provided. By querying based on context, the query may be searched using a smaller field of search. Moreover, a context based query allows private phone numbers to be provided when the context of the query has been authenticated and approved for disclosure of the private phone number. Thus, when processing a query for a phone number, the present invention evaluates the context of the query in addition to the query itself to determine what results to provide to a user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a query request to find information for a destination from a user;

determining a context for the query request using previously stored information associated with the user, including at least one of incoming calls to the user and outgoing calls to the user, the context for the query request indicating a geographic location of the user;

obtaining information from a directory, the information related to the destination and based on the query request and the context of the query request; and

providing the obtained information to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining information from the directory includes:

determining a plurality of candidates stored in the directory satisfying the query request; and

determining at least one of the plurality of candidates being consistent with the context of the query request.

3. A processor-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor and configured to perform the method of claim 1 when executed by the processor.

4. A method, comprising:

receiving an information request from a requester, the information request including query parameters;

comparing requester identifying information to previously stored subscriber information to determine whether the requester is a service subscriber;

determining a context for the information request when it is determined that the requester is a service subscriber, wherein the context is determined based at least in part on the previously stored subscriber information, and wherein the context indicates a geographic location associated with the information request;

searching stored directory information using the query parameters and the context to identify matching directory information of the stored directory information;

providing a response to the requester, the response including the matching directory information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the requester identifying information is obtained using a caller ID lookup.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the information request from the requester includes:

receiving a message from the requester over a data network from a terminal associated with the requester.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein providing the response to the requester includes:

sending a message to the requester over a data network to a terminal associated with the requester.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the message is provided using a web page.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the stored directory information includes information related to contact information.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the previously stored subscriber information includes at least one of a subscriber home address, a subscriber work address, a subscriber home phone number, and recent information requests by the subscriber.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the context is further determined based at least in part on call signaling messages.

12. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

obtaining the requester identifying information over a data network.

13. A processor-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor and configured to perform the method of claim 4 when executed by the processor.

14. A system comprising:

a subscriber database storing subscriber information;

a directory database storing information related to contact information for a plurality of destinations; and

a server system, communicatively coupled to the subscriber database, the directory database, and a data network over which the server system may receive an information retrieval request containing query parameters from a requester, the server system including

a context processor configured to determine context information associated with the information retrieval request, the context information including a geographic location associated with the information retrieval request, and

a query server coupled to the context processor and configured to receive the information retrieval request, determine identification information associated with the requester, determine whether the requester is a subscriber using the identification information and the subscriber database, and when the requester is a subscriber

retrieve subscriber information of the requester from the subscriber database,

obtain the context information from the context processor, provide a query request to the directory database, the query request including the query parameters and the context information,

obtain a response to the query request from the directory database, and

provide the response to the requester, wherein the context information is determined at least in part based on the subscriber information of the requester.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the subscriber information of the requester includes at least one of a subscriber home address, a subscriber work address, a subscriber home phone number, and recent information requests by the subscriber.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the subscriber information of the requester includes at least one of incoming calls to the subscriber and outgoing calls to the subscriber.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the query server is further configured to provide the subscriber information of the requester to the context processor.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the response includes contact information for at least one of the plurality of destinations.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

the data network.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the server system further includes a web server, and wherein the response is provided to the requester via the data network using a web page.