Abstract: Directory assistance provides telephone number look up services to callers based on the business or caller name as listed in a telephone directory. In the prior art, directory assistance provides a value-added service to telephone users and an expense that must be charged back to telephone callers or absorbed by telephone carriers. In enhanced directory assistance (EDA) services as described in the disclosure, EDA is further developed to deliver a keyword targeted advertising service to telephone listing owners and advertisers. The present invention provides a method and system to extend EDA services to the wireless messaging systems used by telecommunications operators. The invention further discloses methods to support both one-way and two-way communications on these devices, as well as systems to support the distributed EDA Transaction business model.

Abstract: Directory assistance provides telephone number look up services to callers based on the business or caller name as listed in a telephone directory. In the prior art, directory assistance provides a value-added service to telephone users and an expense that must be charged back to telephone users or absorbed by telephone carriers. In enhanced directory assistance (EDA) services as described in the disclosure, EDA is further developed to deliver a keyword targeted advertising service to telephone listing owners and advertisers. The present invention provides a method and system to publish and distribute advertised listings to multiple EDA service providers in a collaborative marketplace. A further object of the invention is to provide methods and systems that increase competition for the most sought-after business keyword categories and provide near-realtime maintenance and placement provisioning for location-based products and services.

Abstract: Directory assistance provides telephone number look up services to callers based on the business or caller name as listed in a telephone directory. In the prior art, directory assistance provides a value-added service to telephone users and an expense that must be charged back to telephone users or absorbed by telephone carriers. In enhanced directory assistance (EDA) services as described in the disclosure, EDA is further developed to deliver a keyword targeted advertising service to telephone listing owners and advertisers. The present invention provides a method and system for handling the additional business processes and requirements necessary for performing distributed financial transactions. A further object of the invention is to provide methods and systems to support complex, flexible and dynamic business relationships in said EDA service.

Abstract: Directory assistance provides telephone number look up services to callers based on the business or caller name as listed in a telephone directory. Enhanced directory assistance services provide opportunities for telephone listing owners and advertisers to promote their products and services to telephone callers looking for the same. The present invention provides a method and system whereby the order in which directory listings appear and are offered to callers is controlled by a competitive auction process. The competitive process thus creates a commercial marketplace for the position of a listing in a directory assistance inquiry. The present invention also provides a method and system for administering and dynamically maintaining this directory assistance listing marketplace.

Abstract: Directory assistance provides telephone number look up services to callers based on the business or caller name as listed in a telephone directory. As such, directory assistance in the prior art provides a value-added service to telephone users and an expense that must be charged back to telephone subscribers or absorbed by telephone carriers. The present invention provides a method and system whereby directory assistance is enhanced to deliver a targeted advertising service to telephone listing owners and advertisers. The enhanced directory assistance (EDA) service of the present invention becomes an additional revenue source for carriers. The present invention also provides a method and system for dynamically ordering these directory listings and tracking subsequent telephone referrals.