Technique for providing personalized information and communications services
First Claim
1. A communications system for providing a service comprising:
- an interface configured to;
receive a directory assistance call from a caller seeking a desired listing from among a plurality of available desired listing;
a processor configured to;
obtain a stored profile associated with the caller, the profile including at least one delivery preference set by said caller relating to the format in which said caller desires to have said desired listing delivered; and
a device configured to;
provide a telephone number associated with the desired listing to the caller, in response to the directory assistance call, in accordance with said preference proscribed by said caller in said profile and then connecting the caller to the second listing number associated with the directory listing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user may utilize a communication device, e.g., a wireless phone, mobile device or personal digital assistant (PDA), to contact an information/call center where an operator provides personalized information and communications services to the user in accordance with the invention. Such services include, e.g., providing listing information, contacts information, appointments information, etc. To provide effective connectivity, for example, when a user locates a phone number in his/her private directory using a web browser, the user may utilize a direct connect feature of the invention to initiate a phone call to the desired number over the Internet. In addition, the invention allows for delivery of the appointments information to the user not only via voice connection, but also SMS, email, facsimile, PDA, etc. It also allows for rendering a calendaring service in combination with such services as a TeleConcierge® service which helps the user to plan a future event, e.g., making a restaurant reservation. An appointment record concerning the future event is automatically incorporated into the user'"'"'s calendar once it is successfully planned. To personalize the services, at least one profile associated with the user is used which specifies the subscribed services and the preferred ways of receiving them. For example, the profile may specify use of a special skilled operator, methods of delivery of information to the user, etc.
35 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A communications system for providing a service comprising:
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an interface configured to; receive a directory assistance call from a caller seeking a desired listing from among a plurality of available desired listing; a processor configured to; obtain a stored profile associated with the caller, the profile including at least one delivery preference set by said caller relating to the format in which said caller desires to have said desired listing delivered; and a device configured to; provide a telephone number associated with the desired listing to the caller, in response to the directory assistance call, in accordance with said preference proscribed by said caller in said profile and then connecting the caller to the second listing number associated with the directory listing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing a service, the method comprising:
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receiving a directory assistance call from a caller seeking a desired listing from among a plurality of available listings; obtaining a stored profile associated with the caller, the profile including at least one delivery preference set by said caller relating to a format in which said caller desires to have said desired listing delivered; and providing a telephone number associated with the listing to the caller, in response to the directory assistance call, in accordance with said preference proscribed by said caller in said profile and then connecting the caller to the second listing number associated with the directory listing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for providing a service, comprising:
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receiving a call from a caller, the call comprising a request relating to a directory listing; obtaining a profile associated with the caller, the profile comprising at least one delivery preference set by said caller specifying a format in which said caller desires to receive delivery of first contact information of said directory listing; obtaining second contact information comprising a second listing number associated with said directory listing; and delivering at least a portion of said second contact information by the format specified by said caller in the profile and then connecting the caller to the second listing number associated with the directory listing. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification