Apparatus and method for obtaining information in a wide-area telephone

Abstract

A telephone system wherein any one of a large number of telephones is connectible to a local directory assistance request processor. The name of a subscriber whose telephone number is sought is entered through a connected telephone by spelling out the subscriber's name with the standard telephone push-buttons, using the grouped alphabetic designators on those buttons. The resulting decimal signals are stored in the request processor, and also are forwarded by a digital transmission system to the appropriate one of a number of directory processors each having a subscriber data base in alphanumeric code. A look-up is carried out to locate the alphanumeric code data identifying the subscriber's name corresponding to the originally-entered decimal request signals, and the located alphanumeric information including name and telephone number is sent back through the digital transmission system to the request processor. The alphanumeric code data is used at that processor to control a voice-response unit which directs to the originating telephone corresponding speech signals identifying the subscriber's name and telephone number.