U.S. patents available from 1976 to present.
U.S. patent applications available from 2005 to present.

Method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous telephone calls

Patent 7227936 Issued on June 5, 2007. Estimated Expiration Date: Icon_subject July 10, 2022. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Patent References

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Telephone system and method for providing directory assistance/intercept information
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Inventor

Application

No. 10064402 filed on 07/10/2002

US Classes:

379/201.01, SPECIAL SERVICES379/211.01, Call diversion (e.g., call capture)379/213.01, Intercept (e.g., dead or changed number)379/67.1, AUDIO MESSAGE STORAGE, RETRIEVAL, OR SYNTHESIS379/87, Reproduced signal distributed over telephone line379/76, Announcement selection or replacement379/209.01, Repetitive call attempts (e.g., camp-on-busy, retry)379/114.13, Advertisement379/211.02Call forwarding

Examiners

Primary: Deane, William J. Jr.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

International Class

H09M 3/42

Abstract

A system and a method for automatically routing calls made to an unavailable number to a directory assistance service for further assistance are disclosed herein. An intercept system intercepts these erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service then can inform the caller of the unavailable status of the telephone number the caller is attempting to dial. Likewise, the directory assistance service can provide any additional information associated with the unavailable subscriber associated with the unavailable number, such as alternate numbers. The directory assistance service also can provide information regarding other subscribers having similar characteristics to the unavailable subscriber that the caller is attempting to reach. Additionally, the directory assistance service can be adapted to provide general or targeted advertisements to the caller before, during, and/or after providing directory assistance to the caller.

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