Technique for effectively controlling communication links to an information assistance service

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 7149295
APP PUB NO 20030185374A1
SERIAL NO

10108730

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

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Abstract

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It is typical that a user calls an information assistance service provider to request information, e.g., a destination telephone number desired by the user, and chooses to be connected to the destination number. It is also typical that the information assistance service provider offers enhanced assistance service features, e.g., a StarBack feature. In prior art, to provide the enhanced service features, the user's call invariably continues to be connected to a servicing switch associated with the service provider after the user is connected to the destination number. To efficiently utilize the limited capacity of the servicing switch, in accordance with the invention, the user's call may be selectively released from the servicing switch before the call is connected to the destination number. Such a call release depends on certain criteria for determining whether the user is a candidate for utilizing an enhanced service feature after the call is connected to the destination number.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

  • GRAPE TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC.

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Baker, Nathan Bryant Tigard, OR 8 197

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