Patent ID: 7702084
Filing Date: 2010-04-20
Classification: G06Q,H04M

Abstract:
1. A method for providing directory assistance information in a public telecommunication network via a toll-free number, the method comprising: receiving a request for information relating to a telephone number for a specific provider of goods or services from a customer station at a call processing station; querying a database responsive to the request for information received from the customer station to determine: i) whether the specific provider of goods or services is an advertiser associated with the database and ii) whether the specific provider of goods or services has selected an advertisement to be played to a customer at the customer station in response to receiving the request for information; selecting a response associated with the specific provider of goods or services, the response being selected based on whether the specific provider of goods or services has selected that an advertisement be played, the selected response prevents competitors of the specific provider of goods or services from directing advertisements to the customer station; the selecting further comprising querying a database of advertisements to determine a selected advertisement associated with the specific provider of goods or services, the database includes the selected advertisement and a number of other advertisements categorized within a category associated with the specific provider of goods or services; receiving the selected advertisement from a stored media; and forwarding the selected advertisement to the customer station.