Method and system for non-traditional directory assistance

US8948357B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. · US

Inventors

• Thomas Rand · Copenhagen, DK
• Erik Trusler · Chesterfield, US
• Timothy P. Sheridan · St. Louis Park, US
• Gary Alpert · San Ramon, US
• Denise Archibald · Carol Stream, US
• Nelson Cain · McKinney, US
• Debra J. Wilke · Sunset Hills, US
• Gary Hensley · San Antonio, US
• Janie M. Braun · Canyon Lake, US
• Denise Perry · Guilford, US
• Sidney A. Minnick, Jr. · Plano, US
• Jeffrey C. Reid · West Sacramento, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 25, 2007
• Grant date: Feb 3, 2015
• Expiry date: Apr 25, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04M2242/15
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A directory assistance service includes a database and an interface module. The database stores a set of audio advertisements, and the audio advertisements are priced based on a tiered pricing model. The interface module is in communication with the database and receives a directory assistance request from a caller, plays the caller one or more audio advertisements from the database, and charges an advertiser for playing the audio advertisements based on the tiered pricing model.