Method and system for integrating information from wireless and landline telephone systems

Abstract

A method of operating a telephony system including receiving a call from a caller, the call being provided through at least a telecommunication network. A phone number is received, associated with the call from the caller, were the phone number is identified using a caller identification process. It is determined if the phone number is associated with a wireless telecommunications device and the caller is prompted to input a residential phone number for a landline associated with the caller if the phone number is associated with the wireless telecommunications device. The residential phone number is received and stored in association with the phone number into one or more memory locations of one or more databases.

1 . A method of operating a telephony system, the method comprising:
 receiving a call from a caller at said telephony system, the call being provided through at least a telecommunication network;   receiving a phone number associated with the call from the caller, wherein the phone number is identified using a caller identification process at said telephony system;   determining if the phone number is associated with a wireless telecommunications device;   prompting the caller to input a residential phone number to said telephony system for a landline associated with the caller if the phone number is associated with the wireless telecommunications device;   receiving the residential phone number at said telephony system; and   storing the residential phone number at said telephony system in association with the phone number into one or more memory locations of one or more databases.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining if the phone number is associated with a wireless telecommunications device is performed without knowledge of the caller. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 associating the residential phone number to one or more messages provided in one or more databases, the one or more databases comprising a plurality of stored phone numbers, each of the stored phone numbers having one or more messages; 
 selecting at least one of the one or more messages associated with the residential phone number; and 
 transmitting the at least one of the one or more messages to the caller. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the telephony system provides for callers to receive one or more elements of information responsive to queries. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the one or more elements of information are related to a directory assistance listing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of transmitting at least one message to the incoming caller through at least the telecommunication network; and
 transmitting the phone number information to the incoming caller through at least the telecommunication network while the incoming call is totally or substantially free from one or more 411-type directory assistance charges. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein determining if the phone number is associated with a wireless telecommunications device is performed without knowledge of the caller. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising:
 associating the residential phone number to one or more messages provided in one or more databases, the one or more databases comprising a plurality of stored phone numbers, each of the stored phone numbers having one or more messages; 
 selecting at least one of the one or more messages associated with the residential phone number; and 
 transmitting the at least one of the one or more messages to the caller. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the at least one of the one or more messages is provided by an advertiser. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising providing an opportunity for the caller to select an affirmative action in response to the at least one of the one or more messages. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the affirmative action is at least one of initiating live contact with the advertiser, requesting an additional message from the advertiser, requesting a call back from the advertiser, requesting that the at least one of the one or more messages be saved and re-transmitted during a subsequent phone call, or requesting an SMS from the advertiser. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a telephony system, the method comprising:
 receiving a call from a caller at said telephony system, wherein the call is placed from an Internet-based voice communications system;   recording a first identifier associated with the call;   querying at least one database to ascertain a match between the first identifier and the caller;   prompting the caller to input a second identifier with said telephony system if querying the at least one database does not ascertain a match;   transferring the second identifier from the caller using a communications process;   receiving the second identifier at said telephony system; and   storing the second identifier in association with the first identifier into one or more memory locations of one or more databases.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the first identifier is an Internet protocol address. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the first identifier is a user chat name. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the second identifier is a residential landline phone number. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the telephony system provides for callers to receive one or more elements of information responsive to queries. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the one or more elements of information are related to a directory assistance listing.