Abstract: An enhanced directory assistance system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from at least one caller desiring to receive directions. A direction module is configured to receive a desired destination information provided by the caller and the location of the caller. The direction module is further configured to provide directions to the caller based on the destination and the caller location information, where the system maintains a preferred destination listing configured to store a preferred destination information relating to a destination request frequently requested by the caller, such that when the system recognizes the caller, the desired destination is populated directly from the preferred destination information.

Abstract: A communication assistance system for providing access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the subscriber information. A listing database is configured to store the subscriber information including a field containing wireless phone numbers of a desired portion of the subscribers and a connect field that stores information instructing the system as to whether to mask the subscriber's wireless phone number to the requester, such that during a process that the requester is being connected to a desired subscriber, the connect field is examined to determine whether to disclose the subscriber's wireless phone number to the requester.

Abstract: A billing system is provided for a communication assistance system that provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The billing system and communication assistance system include a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring access to the information corresponding to subscribers. A database stores the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including their phone numbers. A billing record database is coupled to the switch and configured to store information corresponding to amount of time the requester was connected to each one of the subscribers. The communication assistance system provides instructions to the subscriber's service provider such that the subscriber is not billed for the call.

Abstract: A directory assistance system is provided for providing subscriber information to requesters communicating with the assistance system. A telephone switch receives calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers. A first database stores the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including their phone numbers. A communications interface for database clean-up receives instructions from the subscribers so as to allow the subscribers to modify their corresponding information in the first database, where the communications interface is coupled to a carrier customer care representative system configured to receive phone calls from the subscribers. A carrier clean-up database is coupled to the customer care representative system and configured to store the modified information received from the subscribers.

Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscriber listings. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of callers desiring to access the information corresponding to the subscriber listings and a database directory listing for storing information corresponding to each one of the subscriber listings. The information in the subscriber listings include a Rate Plan field associated with billing rates corresponding to each one of the subscribers such that when the system connects the caller to the subscriber, the system employs the Rate Plan Field to determine the billing amount charged to the caller so that the subscriber is not billed for the call.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an enhanced directory assistance system (2) for providing directions information to a plurality of callers (4). The system is comprised of a telephone switch (12) for receiving calls from a plurality of callers (4) desiring to receive directions, an automatic location system configured to provide the location from the callers (4) during a call session to the telephone switch (12); and an enhanced services direction module (21) configured to receive destination and starting location information provided by the caller (4) and further configured to provide directions to the caller (4) based on the provided information.

Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers and a database directory listing storing information corresponding to each one of the subscribers. The information includes a Pre-Announcement field containing information indicating whether a requester is pre-announced before a voice connection to a subscriber is made where the pre-announce field is defaulted to active when the requester is calling for a wireless device.

Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers. A first database is configured to store the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including phone numbers. A closing prompt module is coupled to the first database so as to select a closing prompt code associated with a desired closing prompt message so as to provide a selected closing prompt message, where anyone of the available closing prompt messages is provided to a requester. The closing prompt module selects the closing prompt code relating to a subscriber information other than the subscriber information requested by the requester.

Abstract: A directory assistance system is provided for providing subscriber information to requesters communicating with the assistance system. A telephone switch receives calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers. A first database stores the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including their phone numbers. A communications interface for database clean-up receives instructions from the subscribers so as to allow the subscribers to modify their corresponding information in the first database, where the communications interface is coupled to a carrier customer care representative system configured to receive phone calls from the subscribers. A carrier clean-up database is coupled to the customer care representative system and configured to store the modified information received from the subscribers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a communication assistance system comprised of a first database (18) having a plurality of listings where each of the listings has at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A telephony hardware (12) is provided, configured to couple a telephone device (6) of a user to the system. A past requested listing table is also provided for at least one of the users of the system, configured to store past requested listings obtained from the database, as requested by the user. When the user contacts the system with the telephone device, the system recognizes the user and forwards the past requested listing table to an operator terminal of the system.

Abstract: A communication assistance system is provided for providing access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring access to the information corresponding to subscribers. A database stores the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including their phone numbers. A dial string translator receives dial strings dialed by the plurality of requesters and translate them to a corresponding digit sequence associated with a service provided by the communication assistance system.

Abstract: A communication assistance system is provided for providing access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers. A first database stores the information corresponding to each subscriber, including their phone numbers. A closing prompt module is coupled to the first database so as to select a closing prompt code from a plurality of available closing prompt codes, where each of the closing prompt codes is associated with a desired closing prompt message so as to provide a selected closing prompt message, where anyone of the available closing prompt messages is provided to a requester.

Abstract: A communication assistance system for providing access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the subscriber information. A listing database is configured to store the subscriber information including a field containing wireless phone numbers of a desired portion of the subscribers and a connect field that stores information instructing the system as to whether to mask the subscriber's wireless phone number to the requester, such that during a process that the requester is being connected to a desired subscriber, the connect field is examined to determine whether to disclose the subscriber's wireless phone number to the requester.

Abstract: A communication assistance system (2) is provided for accessing information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers (6). This system is comprised of a telephone switch (12) for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters (4), a call center (16) for routing each of said received calls to an operator terminal (20), and a first database (18) configured to store said information corresponding to each of said subscribers (6).

Abstract: A communication assistance system is provided for providing access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring access to the information corresponding to subscribers. A database stores the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including their phone numbers. A dial string translator receives dial strings dialed by the plurality of requesters and translate them to a corresponding digit sequence associated with a service provided by the communication assistance system.

Abstract: A communication assistance system is provided for providing access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers. A first database stores the information corresponding to each subscriber, including their phone numbers. A closing prompt module is coupled to the first database so as to select a closing prompt code from a plurality of available closing prompt codes, where each of the closing prompt codes is associated with a desired closing prompt message so as to provide a selected closing prompt message, where anyone of the available closing prompt messages is provided to a requester.

Abstract: A billing system is provided for a communication assistance system that provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The billing system and communication assistance system include a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring access to the information corresponding to subscribers. A database stores the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including their phone numbers. A billing record database is coupled to the switch and configured to store information corresponding to amount of time the requester was connected to each one of the subscribers. The communication assistance system provides instructions to the subscriber's service provider such that the subscriber is not billed for the call.

Abstract: A directory assistance system is provided for providing subscriber information to requesters communicating with the assistance system. A telephone switch receives calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers. A first database stores the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including their phone numbers. A communications interface for database clean-up receives instructions from the subscribers so as to allow the subscribers to modify their corresponding information in the first database, where the communications interface is coupled to a carrier customer care representative system configured to receive phone calls from the subscribers. A carrier clean-up database is coupled to the customer care representative system and configured to store the modified information received from the subscribers.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an enhanced directory assistance system (2) for providing directions information to a plurality of callers (4). The system is comprised of a telephone switch (12) for receiving calls from a plurality of callers (4) desiring to receive directions, an automatic location system configured to provide the location from the callers (4) during a call session to the telephone switch (12); and an enhanced services direction module (21) configured to receive destination and starting location information provided by the caller (4) and further configured to provide directions to the caller (4) based on the provided information.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a communication assistance system comprised of a first database (18) having a plurality of listings where each of the listings has at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A telephony hardware (12) is provided, configured to couple a telephone device (6) of a user to the system. A past requested listing table is also provided for at least one of the users of the system, configured to store past requested listings obtained from the database, as requested by the user. When the user contacts the system with the telephone device, the system recognizes the user and forwards the past requested listing table to an operator terminal of the system.