Directory assistance with data processing station
First Claim
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1. A method for providing directory assistance information in a public telecommunication network via a toll-free number, the method comprising:
- receiving a request for directory assistance information for a specific provider of goods or services from a customer station at a data processing station;
examining the request for directory assistance information to identify a category associated with the specific provider of goods or services, including looking up the requested directory assistance information in a database to determine the category;
selecting an advertisement categorized within the identified category associated with the specific provider of goods or services; and
forwarding the selected advertisement, retrieved from a stored media, to the custom station as a short message service (SMS) text message wherein the SMS text message contains a hyperlink or other executable command to retrieve additional information regarding the specific provider of goods or services.
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Abstract
The current invention is a system for providing directory assistance service in which a user sends a request to the system and the system will, based on the request, return advertisements, which may be in a visible or audible form. The advertisements are selected from a databank, which may include any number advertisements categorized within the category associated with the service, according to selection criteria. After the advertising announcement is completed, the directory assistance call is processed as usual.
115 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for providing directory assistance information in a public telecommunication network via a toll-free number, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for directory assistance information for a specific provider of goods or services from a customer station at a data processing station; examining the request for directory assistance information to identify a category associated with the specific provider of goods or services, including looking up the requested directory assistance information in a database to determine the category; selecting an advertisement categorized within the identified category associated with the specific provider of goods or services; and forwarding the selected advertisement, retrieved from a stored media, to the custom station as a short message service (SMS) text message wherein the SMS text message contains a hyperlink or other executable command to retrieve additional information regarding the specific provider of goods or services. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for providing access to directory assistance information for a public telecommunications network via a toll-free number, the system comprising:
a data processing station that operates to; receive a request for directory assistance information for a specific provider of goods or services from a customer station, examine the request for directory assistance information to identify a category associated with a specific provider of goods or services, including to lookup the requested directory assistance information in a database to determine the category, select an advertisement from a plurality of advertisements categorized within the identified category associated with the specific provider of goods or services, retrieve the selected advertisement from a stored media, and forward the selected advertisement to the customer station as a short message service (SMS) text message wherein the SMS text message contains a hyperlink or other executable command to retrieve additional information regarding the specific provider of goods or services. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
Specification