Business directory assistance via STB

US9374461B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. · US

Inventors

• David Lobo · Frisco, US
• Sherrill A. Moss · Johns Creek, US
• Apurva Pathak · Pune, IN
• Mary T. Thomas · Dallas, US
• Carson C. Burrus · Dallas, US
• Rachna R. Sheth · White Plains, US
• Sundar Padmanabhan · Irving, US
• Xiaodong Zhang · Pittsburgh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 26, 2013
• Grant date: Jun 21, 2016
• Expiry date: Apr 17, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W4/16
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A set-top box (STB) obtains a listing of businesses responsive to a request for a business directory search from a customer. The STB receives, from a customer, a selection of a business from the listing of businesses to call. The STB performs one of: initiating, at the STB, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call to a phone number associated with the business and connecting the VoIP call to a mobile device, or other VoIP device, associated with the customer via a VoIP network, or initiating, at the STB, establishment of a call between a phone number associated with the business and a mobile device associated with the customer via a telephone network. The STB sends data associated with the request for the business directory search to a billing server for billing the customer for the request for the business directory search received at the STB.