Method for monitoring the connection between the subscriber and the destination telephone and providing directory assistance upon demand
US6035190A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 7, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W4/12
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.