US6035190A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for monitoring the connection between the subscriber and the destination telephone and providing directory assistance upon demand
Assignee: Grape Technology Group Inc
•
Filing: 1998-08-17
•
Granted: 2000-03-07
•
Expires: 2018-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A cellular telephone subscriber who wishes directory assistance services is connected in the conventional manner to an operator who identifies a destination telephone number desired by the subscriber. As in the prior art, the operator then initiates a call connecting the subscriber to the destination telephone number. In a preferred embodiment, the operator locates a desired destination telephone number in a computer database, and can select automatic dialing of the located number. Further, rather than dropping all further involvement with the call, the preferred embodiment of the present invention continually monitors the connection thereby established for a predetermined DTMF signal issued by the customer, such as that obtained by pressing the "*" button. If such a signal is detected, the customer is transferred to a directory assistance operator, who can then provide whatever further assistance is needed (e.g. redialing a busy number, or providing further directory assistance). This feature can be disabled, manually or automatically, if the destination number makes its own use of the DTMF signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick M. Cox
- 👤 Adrian P. Powell
- 👤 Paul W. Filliger
- 👤 Michael A. Kepler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/487; H04M3/493; H04M3/4931; H04M3/50; H04M3/51; H04M3/60; H04W4/16; H04W76/00; H04W76/10; H04M15/00; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/40; H04M2201/60; H04M2207/00; H04M2207/18; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/32; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/22; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42059; H04M3/42085; H04M3/42102; H04M3/424; H04M3/48; H04M3/4933; H04M3/4935; H04M3/523; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M3/58; H04M7/00; H04M7/12; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/72; H04W4/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance service from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance switch for monitoring a telephonic connection with a customer, the method comprising the steps: (a) receiving a customer call through a first network switch from a customer telephone in an external telephone network; (b) connecting the customer telephone through the first network switch to the directory assistance switch over a first link between the directory assistance switch and the first network switch; (c) maintaining the connection from the customer telephone through the first network switch to the directory assistance switch for the duration of the customer call; (d) connecting the customer telephone to a directory assistance operator; (e) determining a destination telephone number of a desired party wanted by the customer in a computer database; (f) initiating a telephonic connection between the customer telephone and the destination telephone over a second link between the directory assistance switch and a second network switch, said telephonic connection being responsive to operator selection of the destination telephone number and one of a plurality of connection options, at least one of the connection options including the following steps (g)-(i); (g) allocating one or more detectors in the directory assistance switch to monitor said customer call for a command to reconnect to an operator issued by the customer telephone; (h) detecting at the directory assistance switch one or more instances of the command; and (i) automatically reconnecting the customer to an operator upon said detection of one or more instances of the command.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance service from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance switch for monitoring a telephonic connection with a customer, the method comprising the steps: (a) receiving a customer call through a first network switch from a customer telephone in an external telephone network; (b) connecting the customer telephone through the first network switch to the directory assistance switch over a first link between the directory assistance switch and the first network switch; (c) maintaining the connection from the customer telephone through the first network switch to the directory assistance switch for the duration of the customer call; (d) connecting the customer telephone to a directory assistance operator; (e) determining a destination telephone number of a desired party wanted by the customer in a computer database; (f) initiating a telephonic connection between the customer telephone and the destination telephone over a second link between the directory assistance switch and a second network switch, said telephonic connection being responsive to operator selection of the destination telephone number and one of a plurality of connection options, at least one of the connection options including the following steps (g)-(i); (g) allocating one or more detectors in the directory assistance switch to monitor said customer call for a command to reconnect to an operator issued by the customer telephone; (h) detecting at the directory assistance switch one or more instances of the command; and (i) automatically reconnecting the customer to an operator upon said detection of one or more instances of the command.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 in which step (f) comprises sending a digit sequence of the destination telephone number contained in the computer database to a switch host to initiate the telephonic connection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 in which step (a) comprises receiving a customer call originated with a wireless telephone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 wherein step (f) further comprises initiating the telephonic connection without a voiced recitation of the destination telephone number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 3 in which at least one of the connection options includes the step of maintaining the directory assistance operator as a conferenced party to the initiated telephonic connection to monitor whether the connection is completed satisfactorily.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 3 in which at least one of the connection options includes the step of reattempting to establish connection between the customer and the destination telephone party upon request by the customer following detection of said one or more instances of the command.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 which includes repeating steps (e) through (g) for a different desired party following step (i).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 wherein step (f) further comprises providing the destination telephone number to the customer by a voice recording unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of initiating a follow-on call at the completion of a successfully completed call.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
222 words
An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance service comprising the steps: (a) receiving a customer call from a first network switch from a customer telephone in a first external telephone network; (b) connecting the customer telephone through the first network switch to a directory assistance switch in a directory assistance service center over a first switch link established between the first network switch and the directory assistance switch; (c) maintaining the connection from the customer telephone through the first network switch to the directory assistance switch for the duration of the customer call; (d) determining a destination telephone number of a destination telephone associated with a desired party wanted by the customer in a computer database; (e) establishing a telephonic connection between the customer telephone and the destination telephone in a second external telephone network, through the first switch link, the directory assistance switch, and a second switch link between the directory assistance switch and a second network switch, responsive to operator selection of the destination telephone number; (f) assigning one or more detectors to monitor said customer call at the directory assistance switch for a command issued by the customer telephone to reconnect to an operator; (g) detecting said command at the directory assistance switch; and (h) automatically reconnecting the customer to an operator upon said detection of the command.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
222 words
An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance service comprising the steps: (a) receiving a customer call from a first network switch from a customer telephone in a first external telephone network; (b) connecting the customer telephone through the first network switch to a directory assistance switch in a directory assistance service center over a first switch link established between the first network switch and the directory assistance switch; (c) maintaining the connection from the customer telephone through the first network switch to the directory assistance switch for the duration of the customer call; (d) determining a destination telephone number of a destination telephone associated with a desired party wanted by the customer in a computer database; (e) establishing a telephonic connection between the customer telephone and the destination telephone in a second external telephone network, through the first switch link, the directory assistance switch, and a second switch link between the directory assistance switch and a second network switch, responsive to operator selection of the destination telephone number; (f) assigning one or more detectors to monitor said customer call at the directory assistance switch for a command issued by the customer telephone to reconnect to an operator; (g) detecting said command at the directory assistance switch; and (h) automatically reconnecting the customer to an operator upon said detection of the command.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the assigning step comprises dedicating a DTMF receiver in the directory assistance switch to the customer call for the entire duration of the customer call.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 wherein step (e) further comprises initiating the telephonic connection without providing the destination telephone number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10 in which step (e) comprises sending a digit sequence of the destination telephone number contained in the computer database to a switch host to initiate the telephonic connection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 in which step (a) comprises receiving a customer call originated with a wireless telephone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 wherein step (e) further comprises providing the destination telephone number to the customer by a voice recording unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of maintaining a directory assistance operator as a conferenced party to the telephonic connection to monitor whether the telephonic connection is completed satisfactorily.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
212 words
An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance service from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance switch comprising the steps: receiving a customer call from a first external network switch from a customer telephone in a first external telephone network; connecting the customer telephone through the first external network switch to the directory assistance switch over a first communication link established between the first external network switch and the directory assistance switch; maintaining the connection from the customer telephone through the first external network switch to the directory assistance switch for the duration of the customer call; connecting the customer telephone to a directory assistance operator; transferring the customer call to a destination telephone in a second external telephone network through a second communication link established between the directory assistance switch and a second external network switch to establish a telephonic connection between the customer telephone and a destination telephone; monitoring the connection between the customer telephone and the directory assistance switch with a detector in the directory assistance switch for one or more commands issued by the customer to reconnect to the operator; detecting one or more commands at the directory assistance switch; and automatically reconnecting the customer to a directory assistance operator upon the detection of the command.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
212 words
An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance service from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance switch comprising the steps: receiving a customer call from a first external network switch from a customer telephone in a first external telephone network; connecting the customer telephone through the first external network switch to the directory assistance switch over a first communication link established between the first external network switch and the directory assistance switch; maintaining the connection from the customer telephone through the first external network switch to the directory assistance switch for the duration of the customer call; connecting the customer telephone to a directory assistance operator; transferring the customer call to a destination telephone in a second external telephone network through a second communication link established between the directory assistance switch and a second external network switch to establish a telephonic connection between the customer telephone and a destination telephone; monitoring the connection between the customer telephone and the directory assistance switch with a detector in the directory assistance switch for one or more commands issued by the customer to reconnect to the operator; detecting one or more commands at the directory assistance switch; and automatically reconnecting the customer to a directory assistance operator upon the detection of the command.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 in which the monitoring commences when the customer call is transferred.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the monitoring step comprises dedicating a detector in the directory assistance switch to the customer call from the transfer of the customer call to the customer telephone going on-hook.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 17 in which the transferring step includes sending a digit sequence of the destination telephone number contained in the computer database to a switch host to initiate the telephonic connection.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 in which the receiving step includes receiving a customer call originated with a wireless telephone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of initiating a follow-on call at the completion of a successfully completed call.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-07 | 2003-09-06 | 2004-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-07 | 2007-09-06 | 2008-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-07 | 2011-09-06 | 2012-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |