Telephone call redirection system

Abstract

A telephone call redirection system for misdialed telephone numbers is provided. When a caller physically and unintentionally dials one of a set of first numbers subscribed to by the system, the system recognizes the number intended by the caller, and provides the caller with the option of being redirected. If interested, the caller dials another number offered by the system to hear of the desired, intended number.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A telephone call redirection system adapted to be connected to a telephone network, the system comprising: 
 a telephone network interface;    a processor coupled to the telephone network interface; and    a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including: 
 a first data structure containing a plurality of first telephone numbers;  
 a second data structure containing a plurality of second telephone numbers;  
 a third data structure containing a plurality of third telephone numbers,  
   wherein a call directed to one of the telephone numbers from the plurality of first telephone numbers is received by the processor via the telephone network interface, the call directed to one of the telephone numbers from the plurality of first telephone numbers being physically and unintentionally misdialed by an originator of the call, wherein one of the telephone numbers from the plurality of second telephone numbers is communicated to the originator of the call, and wherein one of the telephone numbers from the plurality of third telephone numbers is communicated to the originator of the call in response to the originator disconnecting from one of the plurality of first telephone numbers and dialing the one of the telephone numbers from the plurality of second telephone numbers.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the telephone numbers of the plurality of first telephone numbers corresponds to one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of third telephone numbers.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  comprises a fourth data structure containing a plurality of recorded instructions, wherein the system communicates at least one recorded instruction to the originator of the call in response to the processor receiving one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of first telephone numbers via the telephone network interface.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  comprises a fourth data structure containing a plurality of recorded messages, wherein the system communicates at least one of a first recorded message and a second recorded message to the originator of the call, the first recorded message instructing the originator of the call to end the call because the one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of first telephone numbers is physically and unintentionally misdialed, and the second recorded message instructing the originator of the call to dial one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of second telephone numbers to receive one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of third telephone numbers.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  comprises a fourth data structure containing a plurality of fourth telephone numbers, each of the telephone numbers of the plurality of fourth telephone numbers corresponding to a telephone number identifier for billing purposes, and the originator of the call placing the call from one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of fourth telephone numbers.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  comprises a fourth data structure containing a plurality of fourth telephone numbers, each of the telephone numbers of the plurality of fourth telephone numbers corresponding to an automatic number identification (ANI) for billing purposes, and the originator of the call placing the call from one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of fourth telephone numbers.  
     
     
         7 . A method of connecting a physically and unintentionally misdialed caller to an intended number, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a telephone call placed by a caller to a first telephone number;    detecting a telephone number identifier associated with a second telephone number, the caller placing the telephone call to the first telephone number from the second telephone number;    advising the caller that the first telephone number is physically and unintentionally misdialed by the caller; and    communicating a third telephone number to the caller which the caller may dial to receive information associated with a fourth telephone number the fourth telephone number being a telephone number that the caller intended to call.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of detecting a telephone number identifier associated with a second telephone number comprises detecting an automatic number identification (ANI) associated with the second telephone number.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of communicating a third telephone number to the caller to receive information associated with a fourth telephone number comprises communicating the third telephone number to the caller based on the second telephone number.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  comprises billing the caller a fee based on the telephone number identifier in response to the caller dialing the third telephone number to retrieve information associated with the fourth telephone number.  
     
     
         11 . A telephone call redirection system adapted to be connected to a telephone network, the system comprising: 
 a telephone network interface adapted to receive a call from the telephone network;    a controller coupled to the telephone network interface;    a memory coupled to the controller, the memory including: 
 a first data structure containing a plurality of first telephone numbers, the received call being one of the plurality of first telephone numbers and the controller identifying the received call to one of the plurality of first telephone numbers being physically and unintentionally misdialed by an originator of the received call;  
 a second data structure containing a plurality of second telephone numbers, the controller communicating one of the plurality of second telephone numbers to the originator of the received call;  
 a third data structure containing a plurality of third telephone numbers, the controller communicating one of the plurality of third telephone numbers to the originator of the received call in response to the originator dialing the one of the plurality of second telephone numbers; and  
 a fourth data structure containing a plurality of fourth telephone numbers, each of the telephone numbers of the plurality of fourth telephone numbers corresponding to a telephone number identifier for billing purposes, and the originator of the received call placing the received call from one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of fourth telephone numbers.  
   
     
     
         12 . The system of claim  111  comprises a fourth data structure containing a plurality of recorded messages, wherein the system communicates at least one of a first recorded message and a second recorded message to the originator of the received call, the first recorded message instructing the originator of the received call to end the received call because the one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of first telephone numbers is physically and unintentionally misdialed by the originator of the received call, and the second recorded message instructing the originator of the received call to dial one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of second telephone numbers to retrieve one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of third telephone numbers.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein each of the telephone numbers of the plurality of fourth telephone numbers corresponding to an automatic number identification (ANI) for billing purposes, and the originator of the received call placing the received call from one of the telephone numbers of the plurality of fourth telephone numbers.  
     
     
         14 . A method of redirecting telephone calls, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a call placed by a caller to a first telephone number from a second telephone number, the first telephone number being physically and unintentionally misdialed by the caller, and the second telephone number corresponding to a telephone number identifier;    communicating at least one of a message to the caller to end the call to the first telephone number and a message to dial the third telephone number to receive a fourth telephone number; and    communicating the fourth telephone number in response to the caller dialing the third telephone number.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of communicating instructions associated with a third telephone number to the caller comprises communicating instructions associated with the third telephone number to the caller based on the telephone number identifier of the second telephone number.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of communicating a fourth telephone number in response to the caller dialing the third telephone number comprises communicating the fourth telephone number based on the telephone number identifier of the second telephone number in response to the caller dialing the third telephone number.