WO2005032088A1 - Systeme d'information d'abonnes - Google Patents

Systeme d'information d'abonnes Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005032088A1
WO2005032088A1 PCT/NO2004/000291 NO2004000291W WO2005032088A1 WO 2005032088 A1 WO2005032088 A1 WO 2005032088A1 NO 2004000291 W NO2004000291 W NO 2004000291W WO 2005032088 A1 WO2005032088 A1 WO 2005032088A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
subscriber
data
enhanced
information
search
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NO2004/000291
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Knut Arve Hauknes
Pål WIK
Original Assignee
Telenor Asa
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from NO20034403A external-priority patent/NO319967B1/no
Application filed by Telenor Asa filed Critical Telenor Asa
Publication of WO2005032088A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005032088A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/487—Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
    • H04M3/493—Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
    • H04M3/4931—Directory assistance systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/487—Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
    • H04M3/493—Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
    • H04M3/4938—Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to the field of telecommunications. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and a system for providing enhanced subscriber information, e.g. in a directory assistance service.
  • a Directory Assistance (DA) service is a service supplied by a DA service provider in order to assist a customer who requests information regarding telecommunication subscribers. Subscriber information requested by DA customers typically relates to names of persons or companies, addresses, telephone numbers or facsimile numbers. Most of this information may readily be acquired by the Directory Assistance operator by means of queries to a database containing so-called primary subscriber data.
  • primary subscriber data should be understood as the minimal set of data concerning the subscriber, which is provided by the telecommunication companies to the DA service. In practice, the extent of the primary subscriber data delivered by the telecommunication companies is governed by law or regulations.
  • DA customers frequently also request information which may not be directly derivable from the primary subscriber data.
  • many customers request information regarding the subscriber's use or application of the subscription in question. For instance, information about a business sector associated with the subscriber is not directly derivable from the primary subscriber data.
  • the DA service provider regularly supplements the database containing the subscriber data, by acquiring additional information directly from the subscribers. This makes it possible to give proper and rapid responses to DA customers' requests.
  • this solution involves extensive resources and high costs. The success of this solution depends on the subscribers' response, and thus the DA will not have any assurance that all relevant amendments to the information are forwarded to the DA service provider.
  • the DA operator manually performs a telephone call or a Web search during the DA session, in order to acquire the requested additional information to the DA customer. This is time consuming and demands extensive personal costs. The quality of the service in this case depends on the ability of the DA operator to perform a correct and reliable search.
  • US-6 466 910 discloses a method and an apparatus for providing enhanced directory assistance in a communication network.
  • a request for directory information about a listed party is first received from a requester. Then, a test is performed to determine if enhanced directory information about the listed party is available in an enhanced directory information database. If such enhanced directory information is available, it is converted to an audio format and provided to the requester by telephone.
  • the publication does not specify how the database is build, neither does it describe the database's structure.
  • US-6 466 910 describes a solution for providing additional or enhanced information to a DA customer, on the condition that such information is available to the directory assistance system. However, no method for automatically updating the directory information database is apparently disclosed.
  • a satisfactory DA service must provide information with a high degree of reliability.
  • Information related to a subscriber and publicly available in a system as e.g. the internet is not necessary provided by the subscriber himself. Such information can contain unintentional and intentional errors. With intentional errors it is referred to incorrect information that intentionally is supplied, to confuse users or cause other damages. There is a clear need for processing such information with regards to reliability before it is included as data in a DA service.
  • some information available for a given subscriber can be of the sensitive type (medical records, security information, etc) and its use in the DA service can result in legal liability.
  • Information related to the subscriber and obtained from a general information source such as the internet must thus be processed to avoid legal liability situations. There is also a possibility that a given subscriber is simply mentioned on the
  • an object is to provide a method and a system for providing enhanced subscriber information, e.g. in a directory assistance service.
  • a further object is to provide such a method and a system which overcomes the disadvantages of the known solutions.
  • the invention comprises a method for providing enhanced subscriber information comprising the steps of: - acquiring primary subscriber data from a telecommunication data source,
  • the method further comprises the steps of
  • the invention also comprises a method for performing an enhanced directory assistance service, comprising the steps of receiving a request for information at an interface location, performing a search and delivering a response based on the search results, characterized in that the search is performed within enhanced subscriber information provided by means of the above mentioned method for providing enhanced subscriber information in a directory assistance server.
  • the invention also comprises a computer system for providing enhanced subscriber information, comprising:
  • this system comprises means for processing the enhanced subscriber information according to validating rules, and means for storing the processed enhanced subscriber information in an enhanced subscriber information database.
  • the invention also comprises a computer system for performing an enhanced directory assistance service, comprising: the above mentioned system for providing enhanced subscriber information in a directory assistance service, and
  • an interface for receiving a request for information and delivering a response and means performing a search for enhanced subscriber information based on the request.
  • the process of creating preliminary subscriber information is performed independently of the invention. This process is triggered when a subscriber orders a phone number from the telecommunication company sending some primary subscriber information. The telecommunication company assigns then a telephone number to a subscriber and stores the primary subscriber information which now contains the added telephone number in a primary subscriber information database.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a block diagram further illustrating the system according to the invention
  • Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the main steps of the method according to the invention.
  • Fig. 4 is a flowchart further illustrating the process of providing primary subscriber data
  • Fig. 5 is a flowchart further illustrating the process of providing a domain identification
  • Fig. 6 is a flowchart further illustrating the process of performing a web search
  • Fig. 7 is a flowchart further illustrating the process of providing enhanced subscriber information.
  • Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the validation system.
  • Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the validation process.
  • Fig. 10 shows use of the system according to the invention to provide enhanced subscriber information.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system according to the invention.
  • the enhanced subscriber information system 100 is connected to a data source (telecommunication data source) 110 which contains basic subscriber information.
  • the telecommunication data source can be regarded as the main input to the system and is the base currently used by DA providers.
  • one of the objects of the invention is to provide reliable additional info ⁇ nation related to a subscriber.
  • This information is stored in an enhanced information subscriber database 120.
  • a record in database 120 will contain most of the information from the corresponding record in database 110 and additional, reliable, non-sensitive information from other sources.
  • the system 100 is connected to the internet 140, and via the internet to general web servers 160.
  • the system 100 will be connected to a domain information web server (e.g. NIC/Whois server) 130 as a part of the quality assurance process performed on the additional information.
  • a connection to a web server at a specific domain 150 is also part of this process.
  • Fig. 2 is a block diagram further illustrating the system according to the invention.
  • the enhanced subscriber information system 100 comprises a processing unit 200.
  • the system comprises also a memory 210 where the computer program to be performed by processing unit 200 is stored.
  • different program blocks are identified by reference numbers 310, 320, 330, 340, 350. The process steps included in these blocks will be discussed later.
  • the system comprises also a storage unit 220 for a primary subscriber table 222, a domain identification table 224 and a web search result table 226.
  • System 100 comprises further a display 230 with a corresponding display adapter 250, a user interface device or system 250 with an adapter 260, a network adapter 270 for communication with the internet 140, a communication adapter 280 for communication with telecommunication data source 110 via a device, system or network 170.
  • System 100 comprises also a communication adapter 290 for outputting the preliminary enhanced info ⁇ nation. This information will be subject to a final validation process before it is stored in an enhanced subscriber information database. Although the validation process is shown as part of the system in figure 100, because it will be necessary for creating the final database, it is not considered as a part of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the main steps of the method according to the invention.
  • the method is a computer- implemented process, performed by a processing unit in the enhanced subscriber information system 100, when the processor executes a computer program held in the memory of the enhanced subscriber information system 100.
  • the method starts at the starting step 300.
  • step 310 primary subscriber data is acquired from a telecommunication company's data source, e.g. a telecommunication database .110. Details of this process are disclosed below with reference to fig. 4.
  • step 330 a web domain identification, in particular a domain name, associated with the subscriber in question, is provided. Details of this step are disclosed below with reference to fig. 5.
  • step 350 a web search is performed based on the primary subscriber data and the domain identification provided in step 330. Details of this step are disclosed below with reference to fig. 6.
  • step 370 coupling of the primary subscriber data and the result of the web search performed in step 350 is performed to provide enhanced subscriber information. Details of this step are disclosed below with reference to fig. 7.
  • enhanced subscriber information is provided, which may further be stored in an enhanced subscriber information database 120 which may be used by the DA operator or by an automatic DA operating service, in order to give a DA customer enhanced subscriber information.
  • Fig. 4 is a flowchart further illustrating the process of providing primary subscriber data. The process starts at the starting step 310.
  • step 312 comprises receiving primary subscriber data by a push operation initiated by the telecommunication data source.
  • step 312 comprises the step of submitting of a request to the telecommunication data source, followed by the step of receiving said primary subscriber data as a response to said submitting substep.
  • step 312 may comprise receiving a batch of primary subscriber data or receiving a single entity (record) of primary subscriber data.
  • step 314 the primary subscriber data is stored in a primary subscriber table 222.
  • This table as mentioned before, can be stored permanently or temporarily in a memory in system 100.
  • Fig. 5 is a flowchart further illustrating the process of providing a domain identification.
  • step 332 a request is created based on the primary subscriber data provided in step 310.
  • a request is submitted to a domain information web server (e.g. a NIC/Whois-server) 130 on the Internet 140 querying for URL's registered to organization name and/or number (the organization name and/or number being part of the primary subscriber data).
  • a domain information web server e.g. a NIC/Whois-server 130 on the Internet 140 querying for URL's registered to organization name and/or number (the organization name and/or number being part of the primary subscriber data).
  • the choice of primary subscriber data used for the request will vary in different countries.
  • step 336 a response is received from the domain server 130.
  • step 338 a domain identification corresponding to the primary subscriber data is extracted from the response.
  • step 340 the domain identification is stored in domain identification table 224.
  • table 224 can be permanently or temporarily stored in a memory in system 100.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart further illustrating the process of perforating a web search.
  • the process starts at 350.
  • the process utilizes an existing search engine provided by a web search server 160 on the Internet.
  • the search engine provides a web search limited by domain and other limiting conditions as keywords, distance between keywords, and HTML code / HTML tags defining a table structure.
  • a search condition is created, based on the primary subscriber information provided in step 310.
  • the search condition is limited only by keywords and aliases.
  • the search condition is limited by domain (provided in step 330), distance between words, and table rules.
  • domain provided in step 330
  • the "domain” limitation will rule out mere reference to the subscriber, intended errors, and sensitive information. The principle behind this is that all information situated at a specific domain will be controlled by the domain's owner, so that no intended incorrect information will be found in this location. Other parties, whishing to harm the domain's owner or confuse the public, will not be allowed to post information here.
  • the "distance between words” limitation will lead e.g. to functions related to telephone numbers.
  • An example of such a limitation will be: "If Key_word closer than 23 characters from Phone-Number return Key- Word AND Phone_Number".
  • the "table rules" limitation is based on the fact that cells in a table are related to one another following fixed rules, so that it is possible to assume that information belonging to a certain group of cells will be related to a single object (subscriber).
  • HTML code /HTML tags define a table structure
  • telephone numbers can be mapped to contact persons, department structures, and e- mail addresses.
  • Another limitation preferably applied to the search condition is a
  • step 354 the search condition is submitted to the search engine.
  • step 356 a response is received from the search engine.
  • step 358 the response is stored in a web search result table.
  • the search condition is limited by the domain in combination with any other limitation or group of limitations.
  • the aim of using a "domain" limitation is to ensure that the search results belong to a reliable source, and do not contain intended errors. Later in the process a quality control is performed to ensure that the search results do not contain unintended errors.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart further illustrating the process of providing enhanced subscriber information.
  • the process starts at step 370.
  • step 372 the primary subscriber data provided in step 310 and the web search result obtained in step 350 are coupled to one another by merging.
  • the merging is based on the available, most significant identifiers, such as organization number and/or organization name (primary subscriber data).
  • An example of such a merging follows: "Telephone number 22334455 is registered to org. # 44556677 (organization number), while domain www.firmaet.no is registered to org. # 44556677. If Keyword "ticket service” is the nearest keyword to 22334455 in text at www . firmaet. no , build record: org# 44556677, 22334455, ticket service.
  • the WEB data will have known origin and are securely related to company name. The data can thus safely be joined with telecommunication records containing the same identifier. If this is not the case a domain identification merging in step 372 is necessary to ensure this.
  • step 374 enhanced subscriber information is created, based on the result of the merging step 372. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention this information is validated in a validation system.
  • Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the validation system.
  • the system comprises a processing unit 400 for processing the enhanced subscriber information provided in step 374 according to validating rules, a memory 420 for storing the validation program, a storage unit 420 for storing the processed enhanced subscriber information in a enhanced subscriber information database 120, and an adapter for communication between database 120 and an interface for receiving a request for information and delivering a response.
  • I Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the validation process. The process starts at step 390.
  • step 392 the enhanced subscriber information from step 374 is compared with validation tables, these tables contain e.g. allowed combinations of ZIP codes and addresses, allowed family names, allowed combinations of business names, organisation ID and industry. If the information is valid, that is, if there is a match between information in the validation tables and the enhanced subscriber information, the latter is checked for misspelling and minor errors (step 396) and stored in the enhanced subscriber information database (step 397).
  • step 395 the enhanced subscriber information is discarded.
  • the preliminary enhanced subscriber information is compared with available registers for two equally important purposes: a) To validate if information is correct. If the business owning phone #22334455 is assigned to the automotive industry in tax register, and the apparatus return "22334455; service phone; dental implants” than the record is rejected, as the element "Dental implants” is not found in the "Automotive industry's products& services database” b) To validate if the compiled information has become sensitive. The package is checked against privacy registers. If phone# 22334455 is assigned to "secret phone number", reject package. After post-process a) and b) data is entered into the enhanced DA Database.
  • the expression "enhanced subscriber information" is used to refer to each single record linked to a subscriber.
  • Figure 10 shows how the enhanced subscriber information database 120 is to be used.
  • the enhanced information database 120 is available within the enhanced DA service. Queries can be directed to the base, and replies received.
  • the figure shows three possible scenarios for performance of a DA service.
  • an API interface handles the database's inputs/outputs.
  • an operator at a Call center receives a request for information from a user via e.g. PSTN, a mobile network, or IP NW.
  • the voice request processed, information is requested end received from the database.
  • the user has access to the API Layer via a computer (terminal/PC) and the query/reply is transferred via the internet/x.25, etc.
  • the user communicates with the database via e.g.
  • a cell phone mobile, PSTN, NW
  • the query is sent as an SMS or a voice query.
  • a typical request from the user will be e.g. "Give me the telefax number of company n ".
  • the reply will be- "The telefax number is +4788888888”.
  • the above mentioned cases illustrate some uses of the invention.
  • the database will also be useful in other scenarios.
  • processes in system 100 are initiated by events, as e.g. creation of a subscriber (process 310 will be triggered).
  • Other processes e.g. 350, 370 are loopings based on timers continuously scanning for altered WEB data.

Abstract

La présente invention a trait à des procédés et des systèmes pour la fourniture d'information d'abonnés améliorée, dans lesquels une donnée primaire d'abonné est acquise à partir d'une source de données de télécommunication, une identification de domaine est fournie en fonction de la donnée d'abonné primaire, une recherche sur l'Internet est effectuée en fonction de la donnée d'abonné et de la donnée de domaine, et la donnée primaire d'abonné et les résultats de recherche sur l'Internet sont assemblés pour fournir une information d'abonné améliorée.
PCT/NO2004/000291 2003-10-01 2004-09-30 Systeme d'information d'abonnes WO2005032088A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO20034403A NO319967B1 (no) 2003-10-01 2003-10-01 Fremgangsmate og system for a tilveiebringe forbedret abonnentinformasjon i en katalogassistansetjeneste
NO20034403 2003-10-01
NO20035563 2003-12-12
NO20035563A NO20035563D0 (no) 2003-10-01 2003-12-12 Fremgangsmåte og system for fremskaffelse av forbedret abonnentinformasjon

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005032088A1 true WO2005032088A1 (fr) 2005-04-07

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NO2004/000291 WO2005032088A1 (fr) 2003-10-01 2004-09-30 Systeme d'information d'abonnes

Country Status (2)

Country Link
NO (1) NO20035563D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2005032088A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007041925A1 (fr) * 2005-10-12 2007-04-19 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Méthode pour demander des informations utilisateur de réseau d’accès

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6018761A (en) * 1996-12-11 2000-01-25 The Robert G. Uomini And Louise B. Bidwell Trust System for adding to electronic mail messages information obtained from sources external to the electronic mail transport process
WO2000010105A1 (fr) * 1998-08-17 2000-02-24 Iatlas Corporation Amelioration de recherche assistee par ordinateur
US20020026439A1 (en) * 2000-06-30 2002-02-28 Monroe Steven C. System, method, and article of manufacture for maintaining and accessing a whois database
US6516312B1 (en) * 2000-04-04 2003-02-04 International Business Machine Corporation System and method for dynamically associating keywords with domain-specific search engine queries

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6018761A (en) * 1996-12-11 2000-01-25 The Robert G. Uomini And Louise B. Bidwell Trust System for adding to electronic mail messages information obtained from sources external to the electronic mail transport process
WO2000010105A1 (fr) * 1998-08-17 2000-02-24 Iatlas Corporation Amelioration de recherche assistee par ordinateur
US6516312B1 (en) * 2000-04-04 2003-02-04 International Business Machine Corporation System and method for dynamically associating keywords with domain-specific search engine queries
US20020026439A1 (en) * 2000-06-30 2002-02-28 Monroe Steven C. System, method, and article of manufacture for maintaining and accessing a whois database

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
KLENSIN J ET AL: "Domain names and company name retrival", INTERNET DRAFT, XX, XX, September 1996 (1996-09-01), pages 1 - 4, XP002167570 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007041925A1 (fr) * 2005-10-12 2007-04-19 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Méthode pour demander des informations utilisateur de réseau d’accès
CN1949755B (zh) * 2005-10-12 2011-04-06 华为技术有限公司 一种接入网络用户信息查询的方法

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