Loading patent…
AssigneeMetro One Telecommunications, Inc.
InventorsAdam J. McGrath, Nicholas J. Elsey, A. Peter Powell, Paul W. Filliger, Michael A. Kepler, Timothy A. Timmins, Patrick M. Cox
Estimating the term…
A user calls a directory assistance service provider to search for a desired telephone number and be connected to a party at the desired number. In one such connection, the user is afforded enhanced directory assistance upon a user command in the form of an out-of-band signaling message, e.g., SS7 signaling message. For example, the user may be afforded further operator assistance by pressing on the user telephone a predetermined key (e.g., “*” key), which is detectable by the directory assistance service provider as an SS7 signaling message.
An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance node and a directory assistance switch, the method comprising the steps:
An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance node and a directory assistance switch, the method comprising the steps:
An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance node and a directory assistance, the method comprising the steps:
An enhanced method of providing telephone directory assistance from a directory assistance center having a directory assistance node and a directory assistance switch, the method comprising the steps:
A method of generating an out-of-band signaling message affiliated with a customer command for enhanced directory assistance service issued from a customer telephonic device, the method comprising the steps of:
A method of processing an out-of-band signaling message affiliated with a customer command for enhanced directory assistance service issued from a customer telephonic device, the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges: semi-automatic systems, i.e. in which the numerical selection of the outgoing line is under the control of…
Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges: systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice…
Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised…:…
Term end not estimated
The present invention relates to systems for providing directory assistance services, and more particularly relates to the provision of directory assistance services in a network using out-of-band signaling.
Telephone directory assistance services have been available for the past century. While improvements have been made over the decades, such systems are still poorly suited for use by subscribers of wireless telephone services.
In prior art directory assistance services, a customer dials an operator and identifies the name and address of a party whose telephone number is desired. The operator then locates the number using printed directories or a computer database, and provides the number to the customer. (The provision of the number is sometimes done by the live operator, but more typically is done with a computerized voice response unit that provides connection to the operator is terminated.
FIGS. 1a-b are block diagrams depicting a prior art SS7 network.
FIG. 1c is a block diagram depicting call setup and initialization in a prior art SS7 network.
FIG. 2 depicts the components of a directory assistance center according to the invention.
The present invention contemplates a directory assistance center operating in conjunction with a SS7 network. Turning to FIG. 1a, a SS7 network by functional component is shown. A SS7 network is composed of a plurality of service switch points (SSP), signal transfer points (STP) and signal control points (SCP). An SSP is generally a telecommunications switch, access tandem or end office which can interact with the SS7 network for data base services. For purposes of the present invention, the SS7 network node of the directory assistance center disclosed herein operates as an SSP.
SSPs send signaling messages to other SSPs to setup, manage, and release voice circuits required to complete a call. An SSP may also send a query message to an SCP, which is a centralized database typically containing a routing table, to determine how to route a call. Network traffic between SSPs is typically routed via a STP (a packet switch or router). An STP routes each incoming message to an outgoing signaling link, such as an SSP or another STP, based on routing information contained in the SS7 message. STPs eliminate the need for direct links between signaling points.
As shown in FIG. 1b, SCPs and STPs are usually deployed in mated pair configurations, in separate physical locations to ensure network-wide service in the event of an isolated failure. Also, SS7 signaling data links (which connect the SSPs, STPs and SCPs) typically come in pairs for redundancy. Traffic is load shared between the link pairs. The link pairs are installed as physically distinct paths throughout their complete routes (i.e. they are diverse), generally placed on different interexchange carriers. This configuration ensures that a problem on one facility will not interfere with the normal traffic flow. The redundancy and diversity incorporated into a SS7 network reflects the SS7 signaling network's importance in call processing.