Method and system of providing navigation service with directory assistance
View Patent ↗An approach is disclosed for providing navigation information for a requested listing to a mobile device caller of a directory assistance call. If the caller selects an option to receive driving directions to the listing destination, the directory assistance provider forwards the listing address to a platform that correlates the address with location coordinates. The platform can poll the calling device to obtain GPS identifying data for the mobile device and derive mapping and routing information.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a directory assistance platform, a directory assistance request regarding a requested listing from a mobile device of a user;
selectively determining, by the directory assistance platform, that the mobile device includes a navigation capability, wherein the navigation capability includes a routing capability; and
in response to the determination, transmitting location information for the requested listing to the mobile device for the mobile device to generate navigation information for the requested listing,
wherein, in the determining step it is determined that the mobile device does not include the navigation capability, the method further comprising:
in response to the determination, generating navigation information for the requested listing; and
transmitting the generated navigation information to the mobile device,
wherein the step of generating comprises forwarding an address for the requested listing to a navigation application platform, and
wherein the navigation information is forwarded to a navigation application resident in a device separate from the mobile device, the user receiving navigation instructions from the separate device.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of generating further comprises identifying location coordinates for the requested listing and forwarding the location coordinates to the navigation application platform.
3. A method as recited in 1 , further comprising:
activating the navigation capability in the mobile device to present navigation instructions to the user.
4. A method as recited in claim 3 , further comprising transmitting a text message including an address for the requested listing to the mobile device.
5. A method as recited in claim 3 , further comprising:
identifying, by the directory assistance platform, the requested listing via voice interaction with a caller, wherein the navigation instructions include navigation walking or driving directions, and the directory assistance request is a directory assistance call.
6. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of generating further comprises formulating directions to the address for the requested listing.
7. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the generated navigation information comprises navigation instructions for graphic display in the mobile device.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a text message related to the requested listing to the mobile device.
9. A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the text message comprises a telephone number and address for the requested listing.
10. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether a text message preference has previously been established for the mobile device; and
if a text message preference has previously been established, transmitting to the mobile device a text message including one or more of a telephone number and address for the requested listing.
11. An apparatus comprising:
a communication interface configured to receive a directory assistance request regarding a requested listing from a mobile device of a user; and
a processor coupled to the communication interface, the processor configured to selectively determine that the mobile device includes a navigation capability, and in response to the determination, to cause the apparatus to transmit location information for the requested listing to the mobile device for the mobile device to generate navigation information for the requested listing, wherein the navigation capability includes a routing capability,
wherein, the processor determines that the mobile device does not include the navigation capability, and the processor is further configured to, in response to the determination, generate navigation information for the requested listing, and to cause the apparatus to transmit the generated navigation information to the mobile device,
wherein the generating of the navigation information comprises transmitting an address for the requested listing to a navigation application platform, and
wherein the navigation information is forwarded to a navigation application resident in a device separate from the mobile device, the user receiving navigation instructions from the separate device.
12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the generating of the navigation information comprises identification of location coordinates for the requested listing.
13. An apparatus as recited in 11 , wherein the navigation capability is activated in the mobile device to present navigation instructions to the user.
14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13 , wherein a text message including an address for the requested listing is transmitted to the mobile device.
15. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the generating of the navigation information further comprises determining directions to the address for the requested listing.
16. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the navigation information comprises navigation instructions for graphic display in the mobile device.
17. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein a text message related to the requested listing is transmitted to the mobile device.
18. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the text message comprises a telephone number and address for the requested listing.