Method and system for providing quick directions

• US 9,247,053 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Inventors: Bruce, Les, Mullarkey, Michael F., Berry, Joseph Jamal, Snyder, Michael Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Application Number:
  US13/034,251
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.17, 379/218.02, 37926501-2661, 455/456.5, 382/229, 382/231, 701/455
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096822 where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• 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 3/523 with call distribution or queueing

Abstract

A method and system for providing a telephone caller information assistance such as driving directions from a starting location to a destination location. To obtain information assistance, the caller places a telephone call to access the system. If the geographical location of the caller can be determined by an automatic location identification system it is displayed on an operator console where the caller'"'"'s request is transferred to be handled by a live operator. The operator receives the caller'"'"'s destination request and queries the system for the street route driving instructions to the requested destination. After obtaining the street route driving instructions, the call can be transferred to an audio box having an interactive user interface capable of replaying the desired information to the caller. In an illustrative embodiment, the interactive user interface is capable providing functions to stop, start, pause, and replay the information to the caller.

Claims

1. A method of communicating route instructions to a calling party, comprising:

receiving, by a system, a calling party destination address identified based on white page directory listings;

communicating, by the system, route instructions to the calling party via an interactive user interface to guide the calling party to the calling party destination address;

providing, by the system, options to the calling party at each demarcation point during the route instructions, the options comprise a pause command, repeat command, backup command, and continue command; and

when a command is not received within a predefined period of time, communicating, by the system, a next route instruction after a communicated route instruction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a starting location of the route instructions is identified by the calling party'"'"'s telephone number.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request, by the system, from the calling party to spell a name of a street contained in the route instructions; and

spelling out, by the system, the name of the street contained in the route instructions via the interactive user interface.

3. A system for communicating route instructions to a calling party, comprising:

an interactive user interface coupled with a telephone network configured to;

receive a calling party destination address identified based on white page directory listings,

communicate route instructions to the calling party to guide the calling party to the calling party destination address,

provide options to the calling party at each demarcation point during the route instructions, the options comprise a pause command, repeat command, backup command, and continue command, and

when a command is not received within a predefined period of time, communicate a next route instruction after a communicated route instruction.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein a starting location of the route instructions is identified by the calling party'"'"'s telephone number.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for communicating route instructions to a calling party, the computer readable medium comprising computer program code configured to cause a processor to:

receive a calling party destination address identified based on white page directory listings;

communicate route instructions to the calling party via an interactive user interface to guide the calling party to the calling party destination address;

provide options to the calling party at each demarcation point during the route instructions, the options comprise a pause command, repeat command, backup command, and continue command; and

when a command is not received within a predefined period of time, communicate a next route instruction after a communicated route instruction.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein a starting location of the route instructions is identified by the calling party'"'"'s telephone number.