Abstract:
An apparatus and a method for connecting calls from a digital directory. The system includes a telecommunication appliance and a digital directory, in communication with and accessible by the telecommunication appliance. The telecommunication appliance includes a display, a user input, and, means for making a call. The digital directory includes a plurality of digital directory entries, wherein each digital directory entry includes information about a business. The telecommunication appliance displays at least some of the digital directory entries from the digital directory on the display, receives a user selection of one of the digital directory entries representing a selected business via the user input, and makes a call to the selected business using the means for making a call and the information about the selected business.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   Presently, consumers typically obtain business phone numbers using a traditional, large and cumbersome “yellow-pages” phonebook. A consumer browses through the phonebook looking for the category of business that the consumer desires. After locating the category, the consumer selects one or more businesses from the listings provided in the category. The consumer then manually dials the number of the selected business. This inefficient process, therefore, requires many steps for the consumer to contact a business. 
   Businesses pay fees to have their phone numbers listed in the yellow-pages phonebooks. Many businesses pay additional fees to include an advertisement in the phonebook that is designed to increase the chances that the consumer will select their business. Businesses often incur substantial costs to pay a professional advertising agency to design their ad. The only way that a business can measure whether their advertisements, and hence the additional fees and costs, generate phone calls is to directly ask consumers that call them how they were referred to their business. This is a cumbersome, inefficient and unreliable approach. 
   SUMMARY 
   Disclosed in an embodiment is a system for connecting calls. The system includes a telecommunication appliance and a digital directory, in communication with and accessible by the telecommunication appliance. The telecommunication appliance includes a display, a user input, and, means for making a call. The digital directory includes a plurality of digital directory entries. Each digital directory entry includes information about a business. The telecommunication appliance displays at least some of the digital directory entries from the digital directory on the display, receives a user selection of one of the digital directory entries representing a selected business via the user input, and makes a call to the selected business using the means for making a call and the information about the selected business. 
   Also disclosed in another embodiment is a method for connecting calls. The method includes accessing a digital directory using a telecommunication appliance. The digital directory includes digital directory entries. Each digital directory entry includes information about a business. The method further includes displaying at least some of the digital directory entries on a display of the telecommunication appliance, receiving a user selection of one of the displayed digital directory entries, and connecting a call from the user to the selected business. 
   Further disclosed in another embodiment is a computer-readable medium that includes instructions for executing a method for connecting calls. The instructions execute the step of accessing a digital directory using a telecommunication appliance. The digital directory includes digital directory entries. Each digital directory entry includes information about a business. The instructions further execute steps of displaying at least some of the digital directory entries on a display of the telecommunication appliance, receiving a user selection of one of the displayed digital directory entries, and connecting a call from the user to the selected business. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system for connecting and recording calls from a digital directory. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of a telecommunication appliance for use with a method and system for connecting and recording calls from a digital directory. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for connecting and recording calls from a digital directory. 
       FIG. 4  is a sequence diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method and system for connecting and recording calls from a digital directory. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system for connecting and recording call from a digital directory. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a system  10  for connecting and recording calls from a digital directory, in accordance with an embodiment. The system  10  shown includes consumers, for example consumer  12 , with telecommunication appliances  30  (e.g., personal data assistants (PDAs, mobile phones, mobile electronic mail devices (e.g., a Blackberry™), etc.), a number of businesses, for example business  14 , a telecommunications service  16  for connecting consumer  12  to business  14 , and a digital directory service  18 . Consumer  12  may be any entity, such as an individual, a business, an organization, etc. Consumer  12 , business  14  and telecommunications service  16  are connected via a network  15 . The network  15  may be a telephony network such as an SS7 network, an IP network supporting voice-over-IP or other similar telecommunication networks. Telecommunications service  16  and business  14  preferably connect to the digital directory service  18  via a network such as IP network  17 . 
   With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the consumer  12  in system  10  shown selects business  14  from a list of businesses displayed on a telecommunication appliance (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The list of businesses displayed on the telecommunication appliance is obtained from digital directory  19 . Digital directory  19  is an electronically recorded directory of businesses, on digital media, e.g., CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-R, CD-RW, USB memory sticks, etc. For each business in the digital directory  19 , there is a digital directory entry. Digital directory  19  organizes and displays the digital directory entries alphabetically by category, as in a yellow-pages phonebook. Alternatively, the digital directory entries of digital directory  19  can be organized and displayed purely alphabetically, categorically (e.g., auto dealerships, restaurants, etc.), geographically or in any other manner. 
   In this embodiment, digital directory  19  is created by digital directory service  18 . Digital directory service  18  includes a digital directory database  20  in which a digital directory entry for business  14  is created and stored (e.g., by business  14  or digital directory service  18  administrators). Each digital directory entry may include, for example, a business name, a description of the business, and/or an advertisement (e.g., a “print” ad, a multimedia, video, advertisement, etc.) for the business. Each digital directory entry may include an identification number identifying the business (e.g., a business id). The business id is generally not displayed on the telecommunication appliance  30  when the digital directory entries are displayed. The digital directory  18  is created by recording some or all of the digital directory entries in digital directory database  20  onto the selected digital media. 
   Associated with each digital directory entry in the digital directory database  20  is a log of transaction records for each call made to the business using the digital directory  19 . The log can be accessed and metrics run on the log data to determine the effectiveness of the digital directory  19 . Exemplary metrics include, for example, charts and graphs showing the number of calls made using the digital directory over time, the average length of each call, a comparison of the total number of calls (or over a period of time) made to a business using the digital directory compared to the average number of calls made per business using the digital directory, etc. The digital directory database  20  is accessible through the Internet in this embodiment, with a server supporting the digital directory service  18  acting as a web server for the digital directory database  20 . Therefore, the log data can be accessed, e.g., by the business  14  through an Internet connection. 
   Returning to  FIG. 1 , when consumer  12  selects business  14 , the telecommunications service  16  connects a call from consumer  12  to business  14  via network  15 . The telecommunication appliance  30  may initiate a call to telecommunications service  16  via a modem connection to a landline or cellular phone or via its own wireless connection to network  15 . Telecommunications service  16  also connects to digital directory service  18  to log a transaction record of the call from consumer  12  to business  14 . The telecommunications service  16  connects to the digital directory service  18  through the Internet in this embodiment. A server (not shown) supporting the digital directory service then acts as an web service for the digital directory database  20 , allowing the telecommunications service  16  to look up the business  14 &#39;s digital directory database entry using methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The transaction record is logged in the log associated with each digital directory database entry. Business  14  can then access the digital directory entry for the business to view the log and metrics of each transaction. 
   With reference now to  FIG. 2 , shown is a telecommunication appliance  30 , in accordance with an embodiment. The telecommunication appliance  30  shown includes a processor (not shown), a memory (not shown) and a user input  22  (e.g., a keyboard and/or cursor control). Telecommunication appliance  30  also includes such additional features as a display  32 , a Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI) compliant modem (not shown), a speaker  34  (the speaker  34  volume is adjustable) and a digital media drive capable of reading and accessing digital directory  19 . In certain embodiments, the display  32  may be wider than a typical PDA display. For example, the display  32  is twice as wide as a typical PDA display. Likewise, the speaker  34  may have a maximum volume significantly louder than a typical PDA. The digital media drive in this embodiment is a CD or DVD drive, but it may be a drive capable of playing other digital media. The TAPI compliant modem enables a connection to a landline or cellular phone. The TAPI compliant modem, however, may be a wireless modem capable of connecting to a wireless network. The telecommunication appliance  30  may also include a wireless phone or other device capable of sending and receiving voice and other signals wirelessly. 
   The telecommunication appliance  30  shown also includes software, e.g., stored in the memory and executed by the processor, capable of displaying a listing of entries of the digital directory  19  and allowing the user to select a digital directory entry for calling. When the customer  12  selects a digital directory entry for calling, the telecommunication appliance  30  initiates a call (e.g., via the TAPI-compliant modem) to the telecommunications service  16 . 
   With reference now to  FIG. 3 , shown is a method  40  for connecting or recording calls from a digital directory, in accordance with an embodiment. The method  40  starts at block  401 . A business, such as business  14  shown in  FIG. 1 , creates an account with the digital directory service  18 , block  402 . Then a digital directory entry for business  14  is created (e.g., by an administrator of the digital directory service  18  or business  14 ), block  403 . Blocks  402 - 403  may be repeated for a plurality of other businesses. The digital directory service  18  then collects the digital directory database entries and creates a digital directory  19  from the entries, block  404 . This block may be accomplished simply by recording on a recordable digital media all or some of the entries in the digital directory database  20 . Each digital directory database entry may include a business name, a description of the business, a business id, an advertisement, and other information. The information included with each digital directory database entry is generally included in the digital directory  19 . Business  14  may update its digital directory entry at any time. Indeed, a new digital directory  19  may be created at any time or periodically with updated entries, new entries and/or with entries removed. 
   With continued reference to  FIG. 3 , the digital directory  19  is provided to consumer  12 , block  405 . Consumer  12  accesses the digital directory  19 , e.g., through telecommunication appliance  30 , block  406 . Consumer  12  selects business  14  from digital directory  19 , e.g., using the telecommunication appliance  30 , block  407 . The consumer  12  connects to the telecommunications service  16 , e.g., using the telecommunication appliance  30 , block  408 . The telecommunications service  16  connects consumer  12  to business  14 , block  409 . The telecommunications service  16  logs the call with the digital directory service  18 , block  410 . This block saves a record of the call with the digital directory entry of the business  14 . 
   Business  14  may later access the digital directory service  18 , block  411 . For example, the business  14  may connect (e.g., using a computer with an Internet connection) to the Internet and, through the Internet, to the digital directory service, which then provides access to the digital directory database  20  through means known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as by running a database application on a remote web server or by providing the database application to the business  14  computer for execution. The digital directory database  20  shown includes logs of all calls made using the digital directory to business  14 . Consequently, business  14  may view various metrics (e.g., as described above) of the calls made using its entry in the digital directory  19 , block  412 . By viewing these metrics, business  14  can determine precisely how many calls were generated by the digital directory entry. This enables business  14  to determine the effectiveness and, therefore, the value of the digital directory entry. In certain embodiments, business  14  and/or telecommunication appliance  30  may transmit information to the digital directory service  18  indicating when a sale or purchase has been completed. The information indicating when a sale or purchase has been completed may also be entered into the digital directory database  20 , enabling business  14 , for example, to directly determine which and/or how many calls originating from the digital directory  16  generated a sale and to view metrics graphing or charting this sale information over time, comparing it to average sale information for the digital directory, etc. 
   With reference now to  FIG. 4 , shown is a sequence diagram illustrating in greater detail an embodiment of a method  50  for connecting recorded calls from a digital directory. The method  50  shown in  FIG. 4  assumes that consumer  12  already has a digital directory  19 , created as described above, loaded into telecommunication appliance  30 . As shown, consumer  12  first searches the listings in digital directory  19  as displayed on telecommunication appliance  30 , line  501 . Consumer  12  then selects a digital directory entry from the displayed listings, line  502 . The listing may be selected, for example, by highlighting and clicking on a specific listing using a cursor control of telecommunication appliance  30 . Once selected, telecommunication appliance  30  modem dials telecommunications service  16 , line  503 . Telecommunication appliance  30  includes software that recognizes the selection of a listing and automatically dials telecommunications service  16 . 
   Telecommunication appliance  30 &#39;s modem connects to a telecommunications switch, such as a service switching point (SSP) or a SSP/IP. The SSP/IP is preferably pre-configured to send a Transaction Capabilities Applications Part (TCAP) query to a service control point (SCP) at which telecommunications service  16  is located, line  504 . Generally, a SCP is a node in a SS7 telephone network that provides an interface to associated database(s) that support the telecommunications service  16  (not shown). The SCP shown is a computer or server on which software providing telecommunications service  16  is loaded. 
   When the SCP receives the TCAP query, telecommunications service  16  is launched, as shown in  FIG. 4 , line  505 . Launching telecommunications service  16  prompts the telecommunications service  16  to send a “prompt and collect” TCAP message back to the SSP/IP to prompt and collect digits identifying the selected business, line  506 . The TCAP prompt and collect message triggers the SSP/IP to transmit an announcement to telecommunication appliance  30  to start sending the digits identifying the selected business, line  507 . This announcement may be heard as a beep on the telecommunication appliance  30 . The announcement triggers telecommunication appliance  30  to send the appropriate identifying digits back to the SSP/IP, line  508 . The identifying digits include an identification number identifying the source PDA device (source id) and an identification number identifying the business (business id). These identification numbers may be sent using number tones. The SSP/IP receives these number tones and packages this information in a TCAP message that is sent to the SCP, line  509 . The TCAP message is processed by the SCP and forwarded to the software providing telecommunications service  16 . Upon receipt, telecommunications service  16  converts the tones into a number. Using the business id, telecommunications service  16  looks up business  14 &#39;s phone number, line  510 . 
   With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , the SCP then sends a TCAP connect message back to the SSP/IP to connect the call to business  14  using the business&#39; phone number, line  511 . The SSP/IP connects consumer  12  to business  14 , line  512 , and disconnects consumer  12  when the call is complete. Telecommunications service  16  also records the transaction in the digital directory database, i.e., the telephone call, using the source id, line  513 . Telecommunications service  16  generally sends a connect message to digital directory service  18  containing the transaction information, line  514 . Normally, this message is sent via TCP/IP over the Internet to the digital directory service  18 . The transaction information is recorded with business  14  entry in the digital directory database  20 . 
   With reference now to  FIG. 5 , shown is a network diagram of an embodiment of a system  60  for connecting and recording calls from a digital directory. As shown, telecommunication appliance  30  is connected to a traditional land line phone  601 . The telecommunications device  30  modem dials telecommunications service  16  through the land line connection to the SSP  602 . Alternative embodiments may include telecommunication appliance  30  directly connecting to SSP  602  via a cellular connection or other wireless connection, through its own capabilities or a connected wireless phone. The telephone call from the telecommunication appliance  30  modem is received by SSP  602 . SSP  602  then sends a TCAP query via the SS7 network,  606  to SCP  604 , which supports telecommunications service  16 . SCP  604  sends a TCAP prompt and collect message back to SSP  602  via the SS7 network  606 . Once the source id and business id have been received from the telecommunication appliance  30 , SSP  602  sends the collected information in a TCAP message to the SCP  604 . Telecommunications service  18  at SCP  604  then looks up the business  14  phone number using the associated database  608 . Using business  14 &#39;s phone number, the SCP  604  sends a TCAP connect message to SSP  610  directing SSP  610  to connect the call to business  14 . SSP  610  associated with business  14  may be SSP associated with consumer  12  or a different SSP located elsewhere in the SS7 network  606 . 
   Once the call is complete, the telecommunications service  16  records the transaction and sends a TCP/IP message via the IP network  612  to a web server supporting the digital directory service  18 . The digital directory service  18  records the transaction in the digital directory database  20 . Business may connect to the digital directory service  18  by sending TCP/IP messages via TCP/IP to web server  614 . As described above, business  14  may connect to the digital directory service  18  to retrieve information such as metrics regarding calls generated from the digital directory  19  or to transmit additional information such as information describing sales generated from such calls. 
   The foregoing description provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the embodiments disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible consistent with the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the embodiments disclosed. Therefore, it is noted that the scope is defined by the claims and their equivalents.