Abstract: A caller seeks customer service related to the provision of information assistance service whose call is transferred from an information assistance service center to a customer service center. After the customer service center assists the caller with the customer service question, if the caller needs information assistance, the customer service center provides the necessary assistance, without transferring the call back to the information assistance service center. The customer service center may also be able to help connect the caller to the desired destination number. The connection to the destination number, however, is routed through the information assistance service center, not the customer service center, based on data transmitted from the customer service center to the information assistance service center.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and articles for enabling, by a computing device, provision of a visual manifestation of an object of interest and of one or more other objects related to the object of interest to a user of the computing device, are described herein. In various embodiments, the one or more other objects may be arranged in a manner conveying a degree of relationship, the visual manifestation further including a first indication of at least one exceptional relationship between any two objects or a second indication of a security status of one of the objects. Further, the computing device may facilitate the user in interacting with the visual manifestation, including altering or expanding the visual manifestation in response to a user interaction.

Abstract: A user while traveling may call an operator in an information/call center to request directions to a desired destination. In response, the operator obtains a directions file containing the requested directions. To facilitate the user receiving directions in installments in accordance with the invention, the directions file has an indicator associated therewith. The requested directions are read from the directions file to the user by an interactive voice response (IVR) unit via synthesized voice. The indicator is used to indicate in the file which direction is to be read to the user. The user may terminate the call after hearing a desired quantity of directions. When the user subsequently needs another installment of directions, the user may call back the IVR unit which then continues to read directions in the directions file from where the associated indicator indicates. The above process can be repeated, thereby enabling the user to controllably receive the directions in installments.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and articles for enabling, by a computing device, provision of a visual manifestation of an object of interest and of one or more other objects related to the object of interest to a user of the computing device, are described herein. In various embodiments, the one or more other objects may be arranged in a manner conveying a degree of relationship, the visual manifestation further including a first indication of at least one exceptional relationship between any two objects or a second indication of a security status of one of the objects. Further, the computing device may facilitate the user in interacting with the visual manifestation, including altering or expanding the visual manifestation in response to a user interaction.

Abstract: A caller seeks customer service related to the provision of information assistance service whose call is transferred from an information assistance service center to a customer service center. After the customer service center assists the caller with the customer service question, if the caller needs information assistance, the customer service center provides the necessary assistance, without transferring the call back to the information assistance service center. The customer service center may also be able to help connect the caller to the desired destination number. The connection to the destination number, however, is routed through the information assistance service center, not the customer service center, based on data transmitted from the customer service center to the information assistance service center.

Abstract: A user while traveling may call an operator in an information/call center to request directions to a desired destination. In response, the operator obtains a directions file containing the requested directions. To facilitate the user receiving directions in installments in accordance with the invention, the directions file has an indicator associated therewith. The requested directions are read from the directions file to the user by an interactive voice response (IVR) unit via synthesized voice. The indicator is used to indicate in the file which direction is to be read to the user. The user may terminate the call after hearing a desired quantity of directions. When the user subsequently needs another installment of directions, the user may call back the IVR unit which then continues to read directions in the directions file from where the associated indicator indicates. The above process can be repeated, thereby enabling the user to controllably receive the directions in installments.

Abstract: The present invention allows a user to access an information assistance service provider for information to perform a task, e.g., purchase of a product. In response, the service provider may consult multiple resources based on the caller's request and criteria which may be systemic or specified in a user profile. The resources used may be those information sources specified in the user profile, public databases, and vendor and enterprise databases that include information related to products, including product information and product pricing, availability, shipping costs and times, product and activity reviews, and business reputation information.

Abstract: A user while traveling may call an operator in an information/call center to request directions to a desired destination. In response, the operator obtains a directions file containing the requested directions. To facilitate the user receiving directions in installments in accordance with the invention, the directions file has an indicator associated therewith. The requested directions are read from the directions file to the user by an interactive voice response (IVR) unit via synthesized voice. The indicator is used to indicate in the file which direction is to be read to the user. The user may terminate the call after hearing a desired quantity of directions. When the user subsequently needs another installment of directions, the user may call back the IVR unit which then continues to read directions in the directions file from where the associated indicator indicates. The above process can be repeated, thereby enabling the user to controllably receive the directions in installments.