Methods for conditional tone responsive reconnection to director

Details Methods for conditional tone responsive reconnection to director Methods for conditional tone responsive reconnection to director

1997-08-05

1999-11-30

Cumming, William

Telecommunications

Radiotelephone system

Special service

370270, 379 671, 379 71, 379 8801, 379 8803, 704233, H04Q 738

Patent

active

059958260

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. However, 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 back 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. Billing information for the calls originated by the directory assistance operator on the subscriber's behalf is logged in a database at the directory assistance center. This data is thereafter provided to the cellular carrier, permitting it to bill the subscriber for calls originated by the directory assistance operator.

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