Abstract: A voiceprint of a calling party, and identifying information, are obtained during a call. One or more voiceprint samples stored in association with the identifying information are selected, and the calling party's identity is verified based on a comparison of the voiceprint to at least one of the selected voiceprint samples. For example, the voiceprint samples may be derived from a verbal utterance by the calling party before the call, mixed with different background noises likely corrupting the calling party's utterance during the call. If the comparison fails to determine the calling party's identity, an attempt to verify the calling party's identity is made based on additional information received during the call. In another example, if the calling party's identity is verified based on the additional information, the voiceprint may be stored in association with the identifying information as a voiceprint sample for use in future verification of the calling party's identity.

Abstract: In providing an information assistance service, an information assistance call from a user is placed in a call queue when operators are not available to answer the call. In accordance with the invention, the call may be accorded priority in the call queue based on a measure of an excess wait time (EWT) incurred in a prior call(s) from the same user. The EWT is defined as the wait time for the service in excess of a predetermined acceptable service wait time, which may be greater than or equal to zero. The queue prioritization in accordance with the invention increases the likelihood of answering the current call from a user, who experienced a EWT in a prior call(s), within the acceptable service wait time.