CA2129302C - Technique for returning to directory assistance or information services provider upon command - Google Patents

Technique for returning to directory assistance or information services provider upon command Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2129302C
CA2129302C CA002129302A CA2129302A CA2129302C CA 2129302 C CA2129302 C CA 2129302C CA 002129302 A CA002129302 A CA 002129302A CA 2129302 A CA2129302 A CA 2129302A CA 2129302 C CA2129302 C CA 2129302C
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Canada
Prior art keywords
operator
directory assistance
subscriber
call
caller
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Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002129302A
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French (fr)
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CA2129302A1 (en
Inventor
Patrick Michael Cox
Adrian Peter Powell
Paul William Filliger
Michael A. Kepler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Grape Technology Group Inc
Original Assignee
Metro One Telecommunications Inc
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Publication date
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Priority to CA002367228A priority Critical patent/CA2367228C/en
Publication of CA2129302A1 publication Critical patent/CA2129302A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2129302C publication Critical patent/CA2129302C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50Network services
    • H04L67/52Network services specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M11/00Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
    • H04M11/08Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems specially adapted for optional reception of entertainment or informative matter
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/487Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
    • H04M3/493Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/487Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
    • H04M3/493Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
    • H04M3/4931Directory assistance systems
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/50Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
    • H04M3/51Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention, e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/60Semi-automatic systems, i.e. in which the numerical selection of the outgoing line is under the control of an operator
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04WWIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/02Services making use of location information
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04WWIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/02Services making use of location information
    • H04W4/024Guidance services
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2201/00Electronic components, circuits, software, systems or apparatus used in telephone systems
    • H04M2201/40Electronic components, circuits, software, systems or apparatus used in telephone systems using speech recognition
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2201/00Electronic components, circuits, software, systems or apparatus used in telephone systems
    • H04M2201/60Medium conversion
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2207/00Type of exchange or network, i.e. telephonic medium, in which the telephonic communication takes place
    • H04M2207/18Type of exchange or network, i.e. telephonic medium, in which the telephonic communication takes place wireless networks
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2242/00Special services or facilities
    • H04M2242/22Automatic class or number identification arrangements
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2242/00Special services or facilities
    • H04M2242/30Determination of the location of a subscriber
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/42025Calling or Called party identification service
    • H04M3/42034Calling party identification service
    • H04M3/42059Making use of the calling party identifier
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/42025Calling or Called party identification service
    • H04M3/42085Called party identification service
    • H04M3/42102Making use of the called party identifier
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/424Arrangements for automatic redialling
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/48Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/487Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
    • H04M3/493Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
    • H04M3/4931Directory assistance systems
    • H04M3/4933Directory assistance systems with operator assistance
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/487Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
    • H04M3/493Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
    • H04M3/4931Directory assistance systems
    • H04M3/4935Connection initiated by DAS system
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/50Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
    • H04M3/51Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention, e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
    • H04M3/523Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention, e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing with call distribution or queueing
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/50Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
    • H04M3/53Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages, i.e. mailbox systems
    • H04M3/533Voice mail systems
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/58Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M7/00Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
    • H04M7/12Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q3/00Selecting arrangements
    • H04Q3/72Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04WWIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/24Accounting or billing

Abstract

A cellular telephone subscriber who wishes directory assist nce services is connected in the conventional manner to an operator who identifies a destination teleptone number desired by the subscriber-As in the prior art, the operator then initiates a call con~~cting the subscriber to the destination telephone number. However, 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 back 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).
Billing information for the calls originated by the directory assistance operator on the subscriber's behalf is logged in a database at the directory assistance center. This data is thereafter provided to the cellular carrier, permitting it to bill the subscriber for calls originated by the directory assistance operator.

Description

n 21,,'~t ~.,:.
TECHNIQUE FOR RETURNING TO DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE
OR INFORMATION SERVICES PROVIDER UPON COMMAND
Field of the Invention Tha present invention relates to systems tst providing directory,assistanca services; and~more particularly rahtas to the provision of directory assistance services to cellular telephone aubscribscs.
gar. qr~~~nd and ~~~m'arv o! the Inyention Telephone directory assistance services haaaa bean available for the past century. While improv~sssnts have been made over the decades, mach systeas era still l0 poorly suited for use by subscribara of cellular telephone services.
In prior art directory assistance services" s customer dials an operator and identities t?~=e name and address of a party whose teliphons maebar is desismd.
Ths operator then locates th~a number, using printaf directories or a computer database, and provides die number to the customer. (The provi:ion of the nm6er is sometimes dons by the live operator, but more typically ~is dons with a computerized voice response unit fist provides a synthesized voicing of the number.) her the customar~s inquiry has been satisfied, the connection to the operatcr is terminated.
While satisfactory for most customers, th5s arrugement is i11-suited for many cellular teieptaae customers. For one, such customers ors usually sway from their general work environments (e.q. in a vehicle), and thus say not have ready access to a pencil and paper in order to make a note of the desired mvaber.
(Even i! such materials are available, the custos~ say not find it convenient to interrupt other activittas, e.g. driving, in order to make a note.) In sdditilaan, the process of initiating a second call -- to the desired party -- entails further manual operations (e. g.
hanging up, wafting for another dial tons, and d.~sliag) which may ba a hindrance to the customer s other activities.

21~~~~~

The present assignee, in the prior art, has redressed certain of these difficulties by providing a directory assistance service that eliminates the need to make a note of the desired number, or undertake a redialing exercise. Instead, after determining the telephone number desired by the customer, rather than voicing it to the customer, the directory assistance operator goes ahead and initiates a call to the desired party, and connects the new outgoing call to the original customer. (The operator may stay on the line as a conferenced party so as to provide further assistance, or may withdraw from the connection, depending on the particular implementation.) 'r'his arrangement obviates the need for the customer to make a note of the voiced number, or to undertake a redialing exercise. However, if the initiated call is not completed (e.g. a "busy" tone is received), or if the customer desires further directory assistance, then the customer must again call the directory assistance operator for help.
The problems associated with providing directory assistance services to cellular customers are not limited to hardships on the customers; the directory assistance service and the cellular carrier also confront unique issues. In the assignee's prior art system, for example, the cellular carrier (which is typically responsible for billing of the customer) knows only that the customer has dialed the directory assistance operator, but does not know the number to which the customer is ultimately connected by the operator. Billing is thereby complicated. In the prior art system, the toll charges (assuming toll calls are permitted; often they are not) for the connection between the customer and the desired number are simply absorbed by the directory assistance service, and recouped by billing the cellular carrier a sufficiently large flat rate charge for each directory assistance call so as to cover these costs. The cellular carrier ~1~~34~.

then bills the subscriber a fixed amount for each directory assistance inquiry, regardless of the toll charges of any further connection established for the customer by the directory assistance operator. This arrangement, however, has a number of disadvantages. In addition to increased cost, it also fails to provide the cellular carrier useful information about its customers' calling patterns, which may affect decisions relating to system expansion, etc.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a directory assistance service is provided which alleviates many of these drawbacks of the prior art. For example, in one embodiment, a customer who wishes directory assistance services is connected in the conventional manner to an operator who determines the destination telephone number desired by the customer. As in the prior art, the operator then initiates a call connecting the customer to the destination telephone number. However, rather than dropping all further involvement with the call, this 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 back 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).
By this arrangement, the press of a single button by the customer summons further directory assistance, rather than the redialing procedure required by the prior art.
The preferred embodiment further addresses the billing difficulties associated with completion of customer calls by directory assistance operators.
According to this aspect of the preferred embodiment, the directory assistance service logs, in a billing database, information identifying the customer (i.e. the customer identification number accompanying the call 2~~~3a~

from the cellular provider), the destination number to which the customer is connected, and the date, time and duration of the customer/destination number connection.
This log of information is periodically provided to the cellular carrier, allowing it to bill the customer for the call connected by the directory assistance operator and recoup the associated expense. This permits the flat rate charged by the directory assistance provider to be reduced correspondingly, and provides the cellular service with more detailed information about its customers' usage requirements.
The foregoing and additional features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a block diagram depicting the hardware used to implement one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a flow chart depicting the process by which directory assistance is provided to a customer in accordance with the Fig. 1 embodiment.
Detailed Description With reference to Fig. 1, a directory assistance center 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes one or more T1 links 12 for connection to customer networks, a private branch exchange (PBX) 14, and a channel bank 16 for coupling to a plurality of operator telephones 18. Each operator is further equipped with a terminal 20 that includes a video display unit and a QWERTY keyboard with associated dialing pad. The operator terminals are coupled to a terminal server 22, which in turn is connected over a data network 24 to a database server 26. The data network further connects to a PBX host computer 28 and a voice response unit (VRU) 30.
The T1 links 12 provide connection between the directory assistance center 10 and the cellular ~~2~~~~

carrier's switching center, through which incoming directory assistance calls are received. The T1 links 12 further provide connection to the network over which outgoing calls are placed (which network may be different than that used for incoming traffic).
The PBX 14 is conventional, and its operation is governed by instructions stored in the PBX host computer 28. These instructions simply implement the processes hereafter described. In the preferred embodiment, the PBX supports digital T1 telephone circuits, while in other embodiments other PBXs can of course be used.
Included in the PBX is digital signal processing circuitry which provides the requisite conference capability (described below), and dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) and multi frequency (MF) tone generation/detection capabilities.
Incoming calls received by the PBX 14 are connected to an available operator via a T1 circuit 32 that is connected through the channel bank 16 to an operator's telephone headset. If no operator is available when a call is received, the call is queued until an operator becomes available. The queuing and call distribution is standard Automatic Call Distribution (ACD).
The terminal server 22 simply serves as an interface between serial devices, such as the operator terminals 20, and the data network 24, allowing the terminals to login as devices on the network.
The database server 26 provides operators with the means to search for a customer's desired party, and determine the appropriate telephone number. In the preferred embodiment, the database provides the capability to search not just by name and address, but also by type of goods/services and/or geographical region. (E. g. the preferred database can answer queries soliciting the names/numbers of shops carrying model rocketry supplies in southeast Portland, Oregon, or of Chinese restaurants on a given street.) Data indexed in 212~30~

this fashion is usually not commercially available, so the present assignee starts with a commercially available database file (e. g. the Directory Assistance Database Source available from U.S. West), and enriches it by adding further data manually.
Desirably, the results of the database search presented on the operator's terminal 20 are not alphabetized prior to display, but rather are presented in the order located by the database search engine. (If desired, a deliberate randomization of order could be effected before display). Businesses-at the beginning of the alphabet are thereby not unduly favored by customers using the directory assistance service.
The database software itself is conventional.
The presently preferred best mode us to use a relational database, such as is available from Sybase. However, much simpler software can alternatively be used, such as DBase 4.
The voice response unit (VRU) 30 is incorporated into the system to play the constantly repeated parts of an operator's speech, namely the various greetings and signoffs (or closings). Not only does this system provide a voice-saving and monotony-relief function for the operators, it performs a 'branding' function (i.e.
the pre-recorded messages incorporate the name of the telephone company through which the customer was routed to the directory assistance service), and it also reduces the amount of time an operator is actually connected to a customer.
The VRU 30 is connected via the data link 24 to the PBX host 28 (to which it acts as a slave processor) and via one or more T1 spans to the PBX 14 itself. More than one VRU can exist in a system. At appropriate stages in a call progression, the PBX host 28 initiates a voice path connection between the VRU and the PBX such that the caller, or the caller and the operator, are able to hear whatever pre-recorded speech is played on that circuit by the VRU. It then instructs the VRU, via ~1~~342 the data network, what type of message to play, passing data parameters that enable the VRU to locate the message appropriate to the call state, the service-providing telephone company, and the operator. The recording density used is high enough to provide a good enough quality of message playback that most users of the system should be unaware they are listening to a recording.
Method of Operation Customers of a particular telephone company simply dial the access digits established for directory assistance by that company. Examples of typical access digits are "*555" and "555-1212."
The participating telephone company's own switching system will then reroute the call to the directory assistance service center 10 (via a T1 channel), where it appears as an incoming call.
Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) logic is used to queue (if necessary) and distribute calls to operators in the order in which they are received, and such that the call traffic is distributed evenly among the operators.
When a call is connected to an operator, the VRU
(also conferenced into the call) plays a greeting 25 message, using a message pre-recorded by the connected operator. Both the operator and the calling customer hear the message, which incorporates the name of the service or company to which the customer is a subscriber (in other words, the call is "branded"). The message 30 ends with a prompt, thus cuing the customer to volunteer what information they are seeking.
When the automated greeting is complete, the VRU
- is disconnected, and the operator and the customer are left connected by a 2-way speech path. From this point, the caller is interacting with a live operator.
In the event that the VRU is non-functional (for whatever reason), the incoming call is connected to the operator and a short "trill," or "zip" tone is played to 21~~3~~
indicate that a caller is on the line. (Note that once operators are logged in to the system, they wear headsets, and have their telephones 18 permanently off-hook. Their telephones do not ring when a call is presented). The operator then speaks a greeting and prompt in real time, instead of the VRU playing a message.
If the caller requests information concerning, for example, local theater performances, the operator speaks a response based on hard copy information. At this point, the caller will be released from the call, and the operator becomes available to handle further calls. ' , If the caller is seeking enhanced directory assistance, the operator will engage in live dialogue to establish the name and other pertinent information of the wanted party, and then initiate a database search using the operator terminal 20 and associated database server 26. In the event of an unsuccessful search, the operator will use alternative sources, such as the Electronic White Pages (EWP) or even printed directories.
The operator can connect the caller to the wanted party's number using one of two possible methods of call transfer: Blind Transfer or Hotline Transfer.
In either case, the call transfer is invoked by sending a sequence of digits (that includes the wanted party's number) to the PBX host 28. The conventional method of doing this is simply dialing the digits on the operator's telephone handset (having first depressed the "flash" key to obtain dial tone). This method is always available. A much quicker and more accurate method is generally preferred: the operator highlights the desired database entry on the screen of the terminal 20, and then initiates Blind or Hotline transfer to that number by entering a few keystrokes on the terminal keyboard. In this case, the database server 26 , _ _g_ transmits the same digit sequence as part of a message to the PBX host 28, via the network 24.
"Blind Transfer" is the normal means by which an operator establishes a connection between the caller and the wanted party's number. As soon as the PBX host 28 receives the Blind Transfer command (whether from the database server 26 or the operator's telephone set 18), an attempt is made to establish a route out of the PBX
14. If successful, the circuit is seized and the address digits propagated, using the protocol the circuit is configured for: the operator is released from the call and made available to receive further calls. If fiche VRU 30 is operational, it is commanded to play a signoff message (pre-recorded by the just-released operator). If the VRU is not available, the operator speaks the signoff message before initiating the transfer. The VRU status is known by whether the call was initiated by a VRU-played greeting, or by zip tone. Failed routing attempts cause reorder tones to be returned to the operator's handset, or an error indication to be returned to the database server 26 (depending on how the PBX host received the transfer command).
Like Blind Transfer, the "Hotline Transfer"
method of establishing a connection between the caller and the wanted party's number can be initiated by the operator from either the telephone handset 18 or from the data terminal keyboard 20. The difference is that the operator is not automatically released from the call in a Hotline Transfer. Instead, he/she is conferenced into the call by the PBX 28 and is able to monitor its progress. Using either the telephone handset or the data terminal keyboard, the operator may withdraw from the call after verifying its establishment, or may cause the called circuit to be released and then re-engage in dialogue with the caller.
Hotline Transfers are used when a caller requests that the operator "stay on the line."

~12~302 If, after initiation of a transfer (whether or not it succeeds), and at any time before the caller hangs up, the caller requires further operator assistance, the caller can "starback" to an operator.
This is done simply by pressing the "*" (star) key on the caller s telephone once or twice (depending on the system, and as instructed by the operator in the signoff message).
The star tones) is detected by a DTMF receiver (allocated in the PBX 14 for the entire duration of the call), and causes the caller to appear as a fresh call to the ACD logic. This in turn results in the caller being connected to an available operator, whereupon the PBX host 28 instructs the connected VRU 30 to play the appropriate pre-recorded "starback" message. Note that the operator to whom the call is connected is allocated according to the ACD algorithm, and may or may not be the same operator that previously handled this call.
From this point, the call is treated in the same way as a non-starback call.
The starback feature enables callers who have been transferred by means of a Blind Transfer to recall an operator if the transfer does not complete satisfactorily (for example, receipt of reorder tone, busy tone, operator intercept tri-tones, ring-no-answer, silence, or wrong number). It also enables a caller to request a follow-on call at the completion of a successfully completed call without incurring the delay or difficulty of re-dialing into the system.
It will be recognized that, in the preferred embodiment, the desired number is not voiced to the customer unless explicitly requested. Sometimes a customer uses the "starback" feature to request that the number be voiced if, for example, he finds a follow-up call is necessary later.
A flow diagram illustrating the sequence of events in a directory assistance system employing the present "starback" technique is provided in Fig. 2.

The "starback" technique enables the cost-effective provision of many services not previously available. For example, a directory assistance center may offer mapping/locator services which provide spoken directions to guide vehicle-based customers from their present location to a desired destination. However, to obviate the need for the customer to write the directions down while in the vehicle, the operator should be available to issue instructions along the course of the vehicle's route. By using the "starback"
feature, the customer can receive initial instructions, and thereafter summon further instructions as needed along the route simply by pressing the star key. In such a system, the customer's connection to the directory assistance center is maintained during the course of the trip, but the operator can attend to other customers while the travelling customer doesn't need the operator's immediate attention. (Since "starback" may return the customer to a different operator, provision is made for transferring -- with the customer -- a pointer to the particular database record (i.e. map or directions) being utilized by that customer, and a pointer to a current location within that record. By this arrangement, a different operator who is summoned for assistance using the "starback" feature can pick up where the last operator left off.) While driving between operator instructions, the customer is simply kept in a "hold" state.
Billina issues There are three billing components of a cellular-phone originated call to a directory assistance service according to the present invention:
1) "Air time," or the total time the caller uses the cellular carrier's cellular radio system to carry a call from his/her cellular telephone. This is the responsibility of the cellular carrier.
2) The per-call charge levied for use of the directory assistance service. This charge is made by ~1a~30~
._ _12_ the directory assistance service to the cellular carrier on the basis of the number of calls received from the carrier in a particular time period.
3) Toll charge - the charge levied by a carrier for the duration of an answered connection over a toll route originated by a directory assistance operator. This charge is levied by the carrier used for completion of customer calls originated by the directory assistance operator. The cellular carrier is dependent on the directory assistance service to provide enough details of these calls to enable it to accurately bill its subscribers accordingly. There are two ways of doing this:
1) The directory assistance service provides "tickets" of all calls that were transferred and answered. The precise content and format of the ticket is customer-defined, but includes at least the following information: calling number, called number, date and time of connection (i.e. when answer indication was received), and duration of call. The ticket files can be transferred on magnetic tape or by means of electronic file transfer.
2) The digits that are dialed by the directory assistance service's PBX to initiate the call transfer (via the cellular carrier's network) can incorporate the calling party number ("A" Number Identification, or ANI). The cellular carrier's own switching equipment then has all the information needed to generate the required tickets.
It is the cellular carrier's responsibility to rate the calls and determine what charge is to be levied.
Having described the principles of our invention with reference to a preferred embodiment and certain variations thereon, it should be apparent that these examples can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. For example, while the invention has been illustrated with reference to a system in which a "starback" customer is routed back to the next available operator, in other embodiments, provision can be made for routing the customer back to the original operator. (In some systems, the customer can be given a choice: pressing one key for the first available operator, and another key to be inserted in the original operator's queue.) In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of our invention may be put, it should be recognized that the detailed embodiments are illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of our invention. Rather, we claim as our invention all such embodiments as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.

Claims (17)

1. An enhanced method of providing directory assistance service comprising:
receiving a call over a public network from a caller desiring a telephone number;
connecting the call to a directory assistance service provider;
receiving information from the caller and determining therefrom a desired telephone number;
connecting the caller over a public network to the desired telephone number without requiring the caller to dial the desired telephone number;
monitoring the connected call for a triggering event for connecting the caller back to a directory assistance service provider; and reconnecting the caller to a directory assistance service provider when the triggering event is detected.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the call originated from a mobile telephone.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the triggering event includes an occurrence of a DTMF
tone.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the connected call conveys a busy tone.
5. The method of claim l wherein the connected call conveys a ring-no-answer.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the connected call is completed.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the directory assistance service provider comprises a human operator.
8. A system for providing directory assistance service comprising:
a switching device for receiving a call over a public network from a caller desiring a telephone number, the switching device connecting the call to a directory assistance service provider capable of receiving information from the caller and determining therefrom a desired telephone number;
the switching device connecting the caller over a public network to the desired telephone associated with the desired telephone number without requiring the caller to dial the desired telephone number;
a monitor device for monitoring the connected call for a triggering event that the caller should be connected back to a directory assistance service provider; and the switching device reconnecting the caller to a directory assistance service provider when the triggering event is detected.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the triggering event includes an occurrence of a DTMF
tone.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the connected call conveys a busy tone.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the connected call conveys a ring-no-answer.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the connected call is completed.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein the directory assistance service provider comprises a human operator.
14. In a method of providing assistance to a mobile telephone subscriber, the assistance taking the form of spoken directions to the subscriber guiding the subscriber in travelling from a present location of the subscriber to a desired location, an improvement comprising:
connecting the subscriber to a first human directory assistance operator;
determining a route from the present location to the desired location;
voicing to the subscriber directions corresponding to a first part of the route;
placing the subscriber on hold;
monitoring the subscriber connection for a predetermined DTMF signal issued by the subscriber;
detecting the predetermined DTMF signal;
reconnecting the subscriber to a second human directory assistance operator, different than the first human directory assistance human operator, upon the detection of the DTMF
signal;

transferring to the second human directory assistance operator a pointer to a database record established by the first human directory assistance operator, wherein the second operator has access to the database record accessed by the first human directory assistance operator; and voicing to the subscriber directions corresponding to a second part of the route;
wherein the subscriber can summon operator assistance as needed while travelling along the route.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the reconnecting includes reconnecting in response to detection of the predetermined DTMF signal from the subscriber only.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the monitoring including monitoring between initiation of the subscriber connection and completion of the subscriber connection.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein the monitoring includes monitoring the subscriber connection throughout its duration.
CA002129302A 1994-04-28 1994-08-02 Technique for returning to directory assistance or information services provider upon command Expired - Fee Related CA2129302C (en)

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US23464494A 1994-04-28 1994-04-28
US08/234,644 1994-04-28

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US20020115431A1 (en) 2002-08-22
US20010012773A1 (en) 2001-08-09
US5737700A (en) 1998-04-07
US20010014598A1 (en) 2001-08-16
US20010012772A1 (en) 2001-08-09

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