Technique for invoking information assistance and services during a call
OwnerNathan Bryant Bakerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A caller and a called party are connected via an information assistance call center. The call center monitors the connection for a signal such as a DTMF tone made by either party depressing the “0,” “#,” or “*” key. Once such a signal is detected, an operator joins the call and provides additional information assistance services to the parties. The call is routed via the information assistance call center, which is able to provide concierge-type services, such as making restaurant and movie reservations, and information management services, such as accessing call participants' profiles and folders containing, for example, call participants' preferences, appointment calendars, and contacts.
Claims75
A method for providing an information assistance service, comprising:
- receiving, by an information assistance service provider, a call from a caller, the call including an information service request;
- obtaining connection information responsive to the information service request;
- disconnecting the caller from the information assistance service provider and connecting the caller to a destination party based on the connection information;
- monitoring a connection between the caller and the destination party for a predetermined signal initiated by one of the caller and the destination party;
- and
- joining the connection by the information assistance service provider upon detection of the predetermined signal to provide a selected information assistance service to at least one of the caller and the destination party.
A method for providing an information assistance service comprising:
- receiving a call from a caller, the call including an information service request;
- obtaining first connection information responsive to the information service request;
- connecting the caller to a destination party based on the first connection information;
- monitoring a connection between the caller and the destination party for at least a predetermined signal initiated by the destination party;
- and
- joining the connection to provide a selected information assistance service upon detection of the predetermined signal, the selected information assistance service being provided based on second connection information.
A system for providing an information assistance service, comprising:
- an interface for receiving, by an information assistance service provider, a call from a caller, the call including an information service request;
- at least one database for obtaining therefrom connection information responsive to the information service request;
- a mechanism for disconnecting the caller from the information assistance service provider and connecting the caller to a destination party based on the connection information;
- and
- a processor for monitoring a connection between the caller and the destination party for a predetermined signal initiated by one of the caller and the destination party;
- the information service provider joining the connection upon detection of the predetermined signal to provide a selected information assistance service to at least one of the caller and the destination party.
A system for providing an information assistance service comprising:
- an interface for receiving a call from a caller, the call including an information service request;
- at least one database for obtaining therefrom first connection information responsive to the information service request;
- a mechanism for connecting the caller to a destination party based on the first connection information;
- and
- a processor for monitoring a connection between the caller and the destination party for at least a predetermined signal initiated by the destination party;
- an information assistance service provider joining the connection to provide a selected information assistance service upon detection of the predetermined signal, the selected information assistance service being provided based on second connection information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.