Technique for providing information assistance including a concierge-type service
US7412042B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 12, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 29, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2215/7435
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A user may access information assistance for a concierge-type service, whereby the user may make restaurant reservations, purchase goods and services, obtain movie listings, etc. with an agent's (or operator's) assistance. In accordance with the invention, the agent may suggest a vendor for providing the goods or services requested by the user, and attempt to fulfill the user request. The suggested vendor may be one of the preferred vendors pre-selected by the user; it may be one of the preferred vendors pre-selected by a group to which the user belongs; it may be one of the preferred vendors pre-selected by the provider of the concierge-type service; and it may be one of the preferred vendors pre-selected by a telephone carrier to which the user subscribes. The suggested vendor may also be a function of characteristics of the vendors that the user prefers, costs, etc. The invention resolves conflicts of preferences of different parties involved to come up with the suggested vendor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.