Technique for providing personalized information and communication services

Abstract

A system for use by a user to protect the privacy of selected telephone numbers in a directory includes a memory for storing a plurality of directories, each of which is associated with a single respective party and includes one or more telephone numbers at least one of which is to be used to contact selected parties associated with and different from the respective party. At least one directory further includes at least one indicator indicating that a telephone number, stored in the directory is to be disclosed only to a first predetermined group of persons associated with the single respective party. The system also includes a processor for allowing access to the at least one directory only to a second predetermined group that includes the first predetermined group of persons; and for providing the telephone number only to the first predetermined group of persons.

1 . A system for use by a user to protect the privacy of selected telephone numbers in a directory, the system comprising:
 a memory configured to:   store a plurality of directories, each of the plurality of directories being associated with a single respective party and comprising one or more telephone numbers at least one of which is to be used to contact selected parties associated with and different from the respective party, wherein at least one directory among the plurality of directories further comprises at least one indicator indicating that a telephone number, stored in the at least one directory is to be disclosed only to a first predetermined group of persons associated with said single respective party; and   the system further comprising:   a processor configured to:   allow access to the at least one directory only to a second predetermined group that includes the first predetermined group of persons; and   provide the telephone number only to the first predetermined group of persons.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 establish a communication connection between a calling telephone number associated with a member of the second predetermined group of persons and the respective telephone number, without disclosing the respective telephone number to the member.   
   
   
       3 . A method for use by a user to protect the privacy of selected telephone numbers in a directory, the system comprising:
 storing, in a memory, a plurality of directories, each of the plurality of directories being associated with a single respective party and comprising one or more telephone numbers at least one of which is to be used to contact selected parties associated with and different from the respective party, and   wherein at least one directory among the plurality of directories further comprises at least one indicator indicating that a telephone number stored in the at least one directory is to be disclosed only to a first predetermined group of persons associated with said single respective party;   allowing access to the at least one directory only to a second predetermined group that includes the first predetermined group of persons; and   providing the telephone number only to the first predetermined group of persons.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 establishing a communication connection between a calling telephone number associated with a member of the second predetermined group of persons and the respective telephone number, without disclosing the respective telephone number to the member.   
   
   
       5 . A system for use by a user to protect the privacy of selected telephone numbers in a directory, the system comprising:
 a memory configured to:   store a plurality of directories, each of the plurality of directories being associated with a single respective party and comprising one or more telephone numbers at least one of which is to be used to contact a selected party associated with and different from the respective party;   wherein at least one directory among the plurality of directories further comprises at least one indicator indicating that a selected telephone number stored in the at least one directory is to be disclosed only to persons associated with said single respective party satisfying one or more specified criteria;   the system further comprising:   an interface configured to:   receive a call from a calling party, the call including a request to access the at least one directory; and   receive data identifying the calling party, during the call; and   a processor configured to:   allow the calling party to access the at least one directory based, at least in part, on the identifying data;   determine whether or not the calling party satisfies the specified criteria based, at least in part, on the identifying data; and   provide the respective telephone number to the calling party, if the calling party satisfies the specified criteria.   
   
   
       6 . A method for use by a user to protect the privacy of selected telephone numbers in a directory, the method comprising:
 storing a plurality of directories, each of the plurality of directories being associated with a single respective party and comprising one or more telephone numbers at least one of which to be used to contact a selected party associated with and different from the respective party;   wherein at least one directory among the plurality of directories further comprises at least one indicator indicating that a selected telephone number stored in the at least one directory is to be disclosed only to persons associated with said single respective party satisfying one or more specified criteria;   
     the method further comprising:
 receiving a call from a calling party, the call including a request to access the at least one directory; 
 receiving data identifying the calling party, during the call; 
 allowing the calling party to access the at least one directory based, at least in part, on the identifying data; 
 determining whether or not the calling party satisfies the specified criteria based, at least in part, on the identifying data; and 
 providing the respective telephone number to the calling party, if the calling party satisfies the specified criteria.