Communication assistance system and method

Abstract

A method is provided for sending a message to a telecommunication subscriber without revealing their contact information in response to a communication session initiated by a requester. The method includes providing a requestor of non-disclosable wireless contact information of a telecommunication subscriber an opportunity to send the subscriber a message in electronic format. A message is received from the requester which determines available formats for delivery of the message to the subscriber. A message is transmitted to the subscriber in at least one available electronic format acceptable to the subscriber's device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . method for sending a message to a telecommunication subscriber without revealing their contact information in response to a communication session initiated by a requester, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a requestor of non-disclosable wireless contact information of a telecommunication subscriber an opportunity to send said subscriber a message in electronic format;   receiving said message from said requester;   determining available formats for delivery of said message to said subscriber,   transmitting said message to said subscriber in at least one available electronic format acceptable to said subscriber's device.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said non-disclosable contact information is masked to an agent handling said requestor. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said electronic form for said message is in a format selected from the group consisting of SMS, WAP, iMode, and instant messaging. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of, after said subscriber receives said message, presenting an opportunity to said subscriber to be connected to said requestor during said same communication system initiated by said requestor. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said requester is disconnected after providing said message to said system. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing information for charging said requester for transmitting said message to said subscriber. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising the step of providing information so that said subscriber is not charged for receiving said notification message. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing an opportunity to said subscriber to reject said message and notify said requestor of said rejection. 
     
     
         9 . A system for sending a message to a telecommunication subscriber without revealing their contact information, said system comprising:
 an interface for receiving a request from a requester to communicate with a subscriber, said interface allowing said requester to send a message, in electronic form, to a telecommunication subscriber having a non-disclosable wireless contact information;   said interface receiving said message from said requester,   a module configured to determine available formats for delivery of said message to said subscriber;   a module configured to transmit said message to said subscriber in electronic form having a format acceptable to said subscriber's device.   
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said non-disclosable contact information is masked to an agent handling said requestor. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said electronic form for said messages is a format selected from the group consisting of SMS, WAP, iMode, and instant messaging. 
     
     
         12 . A method for sending a message to a telecommunication subscriber without revealing their contact information in response to a communication session initiated by a requester, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a request for contact information from a requester and determining if said contact information is for a wireless or wireline contact;   if said contact information is a wireline contact, connecting said requester with wireline contact;   if said contact information is a wireless contact, providing said requestor of non-disclosable wireless contact information of a telecommunication subscriber an opportunity to send said subscriber a message in electronic format;   receiving said message from said requester;   determining available formats for delivery of said message to said subscriber;   transmitting said message to said subscriber in at least one available electronic format acceptable to said subscriber's device.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said non-disclosable contact information is masked to an agent handling said requestor. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of converting said message to said subscriber into said at least one available electronic format acceptable to said subscriber's device. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of converting said message to said subscriber into said at least one available electronic format acceptable to said subscriber's device.