WO2012044221A1

WO2012044221A1 - Discovery directory assistance method and device

Info

Publication number: WO2012044221A1
Application number: PCT/SE2010/051064
Authority: WO
Inventors: Berta Isabel Escribano Bullon; Maria-Carmen BELINCHÓN VERGARA; Daniel Mateos Perez
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Current assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Priority date: 2010-10-01
Filing date: 2010-10-01
Publication date: 2012-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2013-04-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for setting up a telephone call from a first user to a second user when the telephone number to the second user is unknown. The method may be performed locally or network distributed. The method comprises the steps of retrieving directory information about the second user (B) that is known to the first user (A) and registering a first address card (220) comprising such directory information about the second user (B) formatted with the address card skeleton (200); instructing the identity resolution database (300) to provide a matching address card (240) to the first address card (220); receiving from the identity resolution database (300) a matching address card (240) comprising the telephone number (X), and extracting the telephone number (X) from the address card (240) so that it can be used to set up a call.

Description

DISCOVERY DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE METHOD AND DEVICE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device and method for discovery directory assistance. More specifically, it relates to a method and device for attempting and completing a telephone call from a first user of a first user communication device to a second user of a second user communication device when the telephone number to the second user is unknown to the first user and when said telephone number together with directory information about the second user is formatted with an address card skeleton and stored as an address card in an Identity Resolution Database.

Background

The user- friendliness of a communication device is a direct function of interoperability and accessibility of the large contact information body pertaining to family, friends, colleagues, business partners and other relations. According to industry research at present, some 85 percent of mobile phone users rely on the internal phone address book to initiate communication. With the increasing occurrence of alternative address books such as e-mail contacts, social media sites, business phone, corporate network address book, therefore, comes an increasing need to keep the contact posts of these address books in mutual synch. Network address book (NAB) solutions, such as the Ericsson Active Address Book

(http://www.ericssonxom/itL^/ericsson/Newsletter/Archive/100809_addre cater to this need by providing address book related user interconnections. The interconnections are active in the sense that Active Address Book users may receive automatic contact updates when other Active Address Book users change their contact information. A user may further publish his or her contact information to other users, and may also retrieve contacts in internal and external directories to add his or her own Active Address Book™ address book. As far as solving the problem of offering synchronized contact posts in a device, the active user interconnections offered by the AAB serves its purpose.

However, a significant amount of communication initiation is never attempted because the first user, conventionally called ALICE does not have the second user's, conventionally called BOB's, phone number, either because ALICE and BOB have never had an established contact, or because ALICE lost contact with BOB, and whatever information ALICE has on BOB may be obsolete. The available option in these situations at present is for ALICE to call a directory service and ask for BOB's telephone number. In the lucky event that there is a match on BOB's name in some public listing, ALICE may request the additional service of forwarding the present call to the found number. But this is a non-transparent cumbersome and usually charged service, and in the end, ALICES 's call may actually be routed to a person with BOB's name, who is not BOB, in which case ALICE would have to start all over again.

It would therefore be useful to have a transparent solution that offered away for ALICE to call BOB even though ALICE does not have BOB's phone number.

Summary

The object of the present invention is to obviate at least some of the above disadvantages and provide improved methods, apparatuses and computer media products avoiding the above mentioned drawbacks.

Particularly it is an objective of the present invention to offer a to the problem of how to establish personal contact via a telephone call from a first user A of a first user communication device to a second user B of a second user communication device when the telephone number X to the second user B is unknown to the first user A. A first aspect of the invention is a discovery directory assistance method in a

communication device. The communication device is connected to an Identity Resolution

Database via a network, and the method is for attempting and completing a telephone call from a first user A of a first user communication device to a second user B of a second user

communication device when the telephone number X to the second user B is unknown to the first user A and when said telephone number together with directory information about the second user B is formatted with an address card skeleton and stored as an address card in the Identity

Resolution Database. The method according to the first aspect comprises the steps of retrieving such directory information about the second user B that is known to the first user A;

registering a first address card comprising such directory information about the second user B formatted with the address card skeleton;

instructing the Identity Resolution Database to provide a matching address card to the first address card; receiving from the Identity Resolution Database a matching address card comprising the telephone number X;

extracting the telephone number X from the address card so that it can be used to set up a call; and

attempting to set up a call from the first user communication device of the first user A to the second user communication device of the second user B without making the telephone number X to the second user B known to the first user A.

The communication device may be a first user communication device, which comprises a rendering device and an input unit, and where the retrieving step further comprises rendering the address card skeleton on the rendering unit for the first user A to fill in; and the registering step further comprises creating a first address card from the filled in directory information in the skeleton.

The instructing step may comprise the further step of sending the first address card to the Identity Resolution Database.

The attempting step may further comprise the step of enclosing a message to the second user B in the call initiation in such a way that it is conveyed by the second user communication device during the signaling phase.

The receiving step may further comprise receiving multiple matching address cards; for each received matching address card extracting a telephone number so that it can be used to set up a call; and the attempting step is repeated for each received address card until all calls have been attempted or until input is received from the first user A to cease attempting to call.

The call attempt sequence may be a function of a priority policy. The message to the second user B may be enclosed in a call initiation signaling message.

The message to the second user B may be enclosed in a Session Initiation Protocol INVITE subject header or a Signaling System Number SS network Integrated Services Digital Network ISDN User Part ISUP generic parameter. The message to the second user B may be a personal message from the first user A entered during the retrieving step. The message may be a standard message notifying the second user B that the call is being progressed through the discovery directory assistance method.

The communication device may be a discovery directory assistance application server connected, via a network, to a first user communication device and a second user communication device. The retrieving step may then further comprise receiving from an originating call session control function node a SIP INVITE message originating from the first user communication device comprising the address card; and the registering step further comprises extracting the address card from the received message.

The attempting step may then further comprise including the telephone number X in the SIP INVITE To-field and returning it to the originating call session control function node.

A second aspect of the invention is a communication device with discovery directory assistance control functionality. The communication device according to the second aspect comprises a processing unit, a memory unit, a networking unit adapted and configured to communicate via a network, and a discovery directory assistance control function unit. The discovery directory assistance control function unit is adapted and configured to handle address cards of a certain skeleton format. The communication device of the second aspect is further adapted and configured to retrieve such directory information about the second user B that is known to the first user A; to register a first address card comprising such directory information about the second user B formatted with the address card skeleton; to instruct the Identity Resolution Database to provide a matching address card to the first address card; to receive from the Identity Resolution Database a matching address card comprising the telephone number X; to extract the telephone number X from the address card so that it can be used to set up a call; and to attempt to set up a call from the first user communication device of the first user A to the second user communication device of the second user B without making the telephone number X to the second user B known to the first user A.

The communication device of the second aspect of the invention may be adapted and configured to perform any of the further steps of the discovery directory assistance method of the first aspect of the invention.

The communication device of the second aspect of the invention may be a first user communication device that further comprises a user interface unit operationally linked to a rendering unit, and an input unit. The communication device of the second aspect of the invention then may be adapted and configured to render the address card skeleton on the rendering unit for the first user A to fill in; and create a first address card from the filled in directory information in the skeleton.

Alternatively, the communication device of the second aspect may be a discovery directory assistance application server with discovery directory assistance control functionality. The application server of the second aspect of the invention may then be adapted and configured to control a first user communication device with discovery directory assistance functionality.

A third aspect of the invention is a second communication device with discovery directory assistance functionality for receiving a telephone call from a first user A of a first user communication device of the first aspect of the invention to a second user B of the second user communication device when the telephone number X to the second user B is unknown to the first user A and when said telephone number together with directory information about the second user

B is formatted with an address card skeleton and stored as an address card in the Identity

Resolution Database. The second user communication device of the third aspect of the invention comprises a processing unit, a memory unit, a networking unit adapted and configured to communicate via a network, and a discovery directory assistance control function unit, adapted and configured to handle address cards of a certain skeleton format.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a method in an Identity Resolution Database connected to a network for attempting and completing a telephone call from a first user A of a first user communication device to a second user B of a second user communication device when the telephone number X to the second user B is unknown to the first user A and when said telephone number X together with directory information about the second user B is formatted with an address card skeleton and stored as an address cards in the Identity Resolution Database. The method comprises the steps of

receiving from a communication device of the second aspect of the invention which can be the user communication device or a discovery directory assistance application server in the network, a first address card comprising such directory information about the second user B formatted with the same address card skeleton, and an instruction to provide a matching address card to the first address card;

comparing the first address card against address cards stored in the Identity Resolution Database,

selecting a matching address card that contain address card entries matching those of the first address card; and

sending to the communication device a matching address card comprising the telephone number X;

The method of the fourth aspect of the invention may further comprise selecting multiple matching address cards. The multiple matching address cards may be ranked according to a priority policy. The priority policy may give precedence to a matching address card as a function of sharing geographical area, closeness, number of matching data entries or VIP discovery subscription. A fifth aspect of the invention is an Identity Resolution Database connected to a network, for attempting and completing a telephone call from a first user A of a first user communication device to a second user B of a second user communication device when the telephone number X to the second user B is unknown to the first user A and when said telephone number X together with directory information about the second user B is formatted with an address card skeleton and stored as an address cards in the Identity Resolution Database. The Identity Resolution Database is adapted and configured to perform the method of the fourth aspect of the invention.

A sixth aspect of the invention is a computer program comprising code means for performing any one of the method steps of the first aspect of the invention, when the program is run on a computer.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is a computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for performing the method of the first aspect of the invention, when said product is run on a computer. An eighth aspect of the invention is a computer program comprising code means for performing any one of the method steps of the fourth aspect of the invention, when the program is run on a computer. A ninth aspect of the present invention is a computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for performing the method of the fourth aspect of the invention, when said product is run on a computer.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is a first user communication device with discovery directory assistance functionality that is adapted and configured to be controlled by a discovery directory assistance application server with discovery directory assistance control functionality of the second aspect of the invention. The first user communication device according to the tenth aspect of the invention comprises a processing unit, a memory unit, a networking unit, a user interface unit that is operationally linked to a rendering unit, and an input unit.

An eleventh aspect of the invention is a discovery directory assistance system in a network. The system comprises a discovery directory assistance control functionality

communication device of the second aspect of the invention, an Identity Resolution Database of the fifth aspect of the invention, a first user communication device of the second or tenth aspect of the invention and a second user communication device of the third aspect of the invention. The system is capable of setting up a telephone call from a first user (A) of the first user

communication device to the second user (B) of the second user communication device when the telephone number (X) to the second user (B) is unknown to the first user (A) and when said telephone number together with directory information about the second user (B) is formatted with an address card skeleton and stored as an address card in the Identity Resolution Database. The system is adapted and configured to retrieve such directory information about the second user (B) that is known to the first user (A); to register a first address card (220) comprising such directory information about the second user (B) formatted with the address card skeleton (200); to provide a matching address card (240) to the first address card (220); to receive a matching address card (240) comprising the telephone number (X); to extract the telephone number (X) from the address card (240) so that it can be used to set up a call; and to attempt to set up a call from the first user communication device (1001) of the first user (A) to the second user communication device (600) of the second user (B) without making the telephone number (X) to the second user (B) known to the first user (A). Brief Description of the Drawings

In order to explain the invention in more detail different embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic view of communication devices with discovery directory assistance control functionality according to embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic overview of embodiments of a discovery directory assistance system.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of an address card and an address card skeleton.

Figure 4 is a flow chart of a method according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is a sequence diagram over signaling in a system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention are proposing a solution to a cluster of related problems. Three examples follow below.

Shopping assistant ALICE must contact customer BOB who forgot his credit card in the store, but ALICE has access to BOB's name and credit card number only.

ALICE wants to contact a fellow-alumnus BOB from university. ALICE remembers BOB's name and knows in which city BOB lives, but suspects that BOB has changed his last name since they met last.

Head hunter ALICE wants to get in contact with a prospect BOB whose phone number has changed. Besides the name ALICE has additional data, such as street address, national registration number or the like, but BOB's phone number is withheld, for security or privacy reasons, and may not be given. In the first two cases, ALICE may decide that finding BOB is not worth the effort. In the third example, ALICE encounters a blind alley. ALICE and BOB both would benefit from a transparent discovery directory service that preserves BOB's privacy. ALICE does not need BOB's telephone number; she just needs to get a message through to BOB.

Therefore, retrieving a telephone number from a public directory service, and then calling the number is an unwanted detour. Further, BOB may have a habit of rejecting calls from unknown numbers. If BOB disallows public listing of directory information to avoid unwanted telephone calls, he must also risk missing wanted telephone calls.

The present invention offers a solution to all the above cases, and is applicable to any telecommunication network, whether it is Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem based or not. The invention can be implemented locally with a user communication device in control, or distributed in the network with an application server in control, but local as well as distributed implementations are embodiments of a single general inventive concept. A communication device 100 with discovery directory assistance control functionality according to a first embodiment of the invention will now be described in relation to Figure la. The communication device 100 comprises a processing unit 130, a memory unit 140 and a networking unit 150. The networking unit 150 is adapted and configured to communicate via a network 500. Further a discovery directory assistance control function unit 170 is implemented within the communication unit 100. The control function unit 170 enables the communication device 100 to handle address cards of a certain skeleton format 200, see further figure 3.

According to certain embodiments of the invention, the communication device 100 is a first user communication device 1001, see Figure lb, with discovery directory assistance control functionality, as shown in Figure lb. The first user communication device 1001 additionally has a user interface unit 160 which is operationally linked to a rendering unit 110 and an input unit 120 which are shown in Figure lc. The networking unit 150 may here be a radio interface towards a radio access network comprised within the global network 500. The rendering unit 110 is rendering an address card skeleton 200. The skeleton 200 is a template or formatting tool from which a proper address card can be created. The skeleton 200 enables standardized formatting of directory data, and simplifies later data search and retrieval.

According to certain embodiments of the invention the communication device 100 is an application server 1002 with discovery directory assistance control functionality. Figure 2a shows a system overview over the communication device 100 as a first user communication device 1001 with discovery directory assistance control functionality. It communicates with an Identity Resolution Database 300 in order to setup a call to a second user communication device 600. Figure 2b shows the communication device 100 as an application server 1002 with discovery directory assistance control functionality. The network 500 comprises two IMS networks 500a and 500b and a global Identity Resolution Database 300. Since the functionality control lies with the application server 1002, less local assistance functionality is required in the first user

communication device 1001 in this case.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of an address card skeleton 200. A second user B who wants to be discoverable may enter a telephone number X together with directory information such as name, national identity number, credit card number etc. into the skeleton 200. Subscription information pertaining to a discovery directory assistance subscription may also be entered here either by a provider of such a subscription service or by the second user B. Figure 3 also shows an address card 220 created from and address card skeleton 200.

A discovery directory assistance method 700 in a communication device 100 with discovery directory assistance control functionality according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described in relation to figure 4. The method 700 enables a first user A to attempt and complete a call to a second user B, even though user A has only incomplete directory information about user B and therefore cannot call directly nor use a regular directory service. Especially the telephone number X to the second user B is unknown to the first user. The method 700 is enabled when said telephone number X together with directory information about the second user B has previously been formatted with an address card skeleton 200 and stored as an address card in the Identity Resolution Database 300 in the network 500.

A user A, who wants to call a user B may activate a discovery directory functionality that provides the discovery service directly, by somehow selecting the discovery service via a user interface in the user equipment. For instance the user A may previously have downloaded and installed a so called "app" - a software application client - on the first user communication device 1001. The skeleton 200 may then be rendered on the first user communication device 1001 for the first user A to fill in. Alternatively, an address card 220 stored among other address cards in the memory unit 140 of the first user communication device 1001 may have been created previously with the help of the skeleton 200, and may be selected for a call. If there is a destination number X in the selected address card 220, the call is setup in a normal way. But if the contact address card lacks a destination number X, this is what activates the discovery service application in the phone. The above are examples, and regardless of how it is done, at this service initiation only the user A has to take control, by indicating what address card should be used as input into the discovery directory procedure. All other steps are controlled by the communication device 100.

The method comprises a retrieving step 720 in which such incomplete directory information about the second user B that is known to the first user A is retrieved. During this step, user A is entering the known directory information into a skeleton 200 rendered on a user communication device 1001 so that a first address card 220 can be formatted.

In a registering 740 step the first address card 220 is registered in the communication unit

100.

In an instructing step 760, the communication device 100 is instructing the Identity

Resolution Database to provide a matching address card 240 to the first address card 220. The Identity Resolution Database 300 may be a dedicated database, or for instance an Ericsson Active Address Book, a common usage database or even a Facebook application or a Google application database.

In a receiving step 780 a matching address card 240 is received from the Identity

Resolution Database comprising the telephone number X;

In an extracting step 800 the received telephone number X is extracted from the address card 240 so that it can be used to set up a call, and in an attempting step 820 the communication device 100 is attempting to establish contact between the first user A to the second user B by setting up a call between the first user communication device 1001 of the first user A to a second user communication device 600 to which the received telephone number points. The attempting step 820 is so named because eventually, the second user B will decide whether or not to accept the call. This procedure is transparent in the sense that the telephone number X to the second user B is never made known to the first user A. If the second user B accepts the call it will be up to the first and second users' discretion whether to exchange phone numbers. On the application level however, contact information may be kept confidential.

In the instructing step 760 the first address card 220 may be sent to the Identity

Resolution Database 300, directly or via other network nodes.

The Identity Resolution Database 300 may find several matching address cards. In that case the communication device 100 may be receiving multiple matching address cards during the receiving step. In certain embodiments, the communication device 100 may then extract a telephone number for each received matching address card 240 so that it can be used to set up a call, and the attempting step 820 is repeated for each received address card 240 until all calls have been attempted or until input is received from the first user A to cease attempting to call. Note that a successfully established call at this stage does not equate to user A finding the right user B. Therefore the process may have to proceed even though one or several calls have been established. This embodiment has the advantage of preserving potential users B privacy.

The call attempt sequence may be a function of a priority policy, enforced either in the Identity Resolution Database 300 or in the communication device 100. A search key like a personal identification number or a credit card number is unique, so any matches in these particular fields may take precedence over other matching fields. A match located to a

geographical area common to users A and B may be prioritized over other matches. The match located within the shortest distance of user A may be prioritized. The matching address card having the most fields in common with the first address card 220 may be prioritized. An address cards stored in the Identity Resolution Database may also be pre-configured for high priority through subscription.

But the ultimate goal of user A is not to make user B's phone ring, but to actually communicate with user B. In some embodiments, it is indicated to user B that the incoming call is established via the directory service. Otherwise user B will just see an unknown number. Under such circumstances people in general tend to ignore the call. In certain embodiments of the invention, it is possible for user A to attach a message to the call; so that the attached message is being rendered to the user B as user B's phone starts ringing. An incoming call accompanied by a message such as e.g. "You forgot your VISA in the store" is much more likely to be answered, than just any anonymous call. Such a message to the second user B may be enclosed in the call initiation during the attempting step 820. The enclosure is made in such a way that it is conveyed to the second user B by the second user communication device 600 during the signaling phase. The message may be a personal message from the first user A entered during the retrieving step 720, or a standard message notifying the second user B that the call is being progressed through the discovery directory assistance method 700. The message may be enclosed in a Signalling System Number 7 (SS7) network Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) User Part (ISUP) generic parameter. When the network 500 is an IMS network and if the communication device 100 can use IP and run Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) user agents, the message may be enclosed in a SIP INVITE subject header. Other phone systems like plain old telephone service POTS— the old analogue telephones, H.323 and non IMS- compatible VoIP systems, may get IMS support through gateways.

In one embodiment of the method 700, the communication device 100 is the first user communication device 1001 with functionality control, as shown in figure 2a. In this case, the retrieving step further comprises rendering the address card skeleton 200 on the rendering unit 110 for the first user A to fill in; and the registering step further comprises creating a first address card 220 from the filled in directory information.

In another embodiment of the method 700 the communication device 100 is a discovery directory assistance application server AS 1002 with functionality control, as shown in figure 2b. Just as in all embodiments of methods according to the invention, user A is entering the known directory information into a skeleton 200 rendered on a user communication device 1001 so that a first address card 220 can be formatted. But since the user communication device 1001 does not have the functionality control in these embodiments, the address card 220 is sent to the application server 1002 via the network 500a. The retrieving step 720 further comprises receiving from a node in the originating network a call invite signaling message originating from the first user communication device 1001 comprising the address card 220; and the registering step 740 further comprises extracting the address card 220 from the received message.

A non -limiting example of embodiments of the invention will now be described in relation to the sequence diagram of figure 5. In this example, the network 500 comprises a first and a second IMS network 500a and 500b that are separate administrative domains. The first address card 220 is being sent to the first IMS network 500a as part of the Session Initiation Protocol invitation message, further referred to as SIP INVITE message 1. Since the telephone number to the second user B is unknown to the first user, it is lacking from the first address card 220, and therefore, the SIP INVITE 1 has no destination number - it is incomplete. The lack of destination number triggers the Serving Call Session Control Function in the network 500 to intercept the SIP INVITE 1.

In the retrieving step 720, the application server 1002 subsequently retrieves the directory information by receiving from a Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) as an intercepted SIP INVITE 2, which still comprises the address card 220 with the directory information. In the registering step 740 the application server 1002 is extracting the address card 220 from the received message. Existing XML Configuration Access Protocol XCAP, procedures may be used during the instruction step 760 to instruct the database 300. XML Configuration Access Protocol is an application layer protocol that allows a client to read, write, and modify application configuration data stored in XML format on a server. The application server 1002 sends an XCAP-Get instruction 3 with the address card 220 as indata, and receives a XCAP Get Response 4 with a matching address card 240 from the database 300. The matching address card 240 comprises the telephone number. The application server can complete the intercepted SIP INVITE 3 by inserting the telephone number in the To field, as in a normal INVITE procedure, and send it back to the S-CSCF as a complete SIP INVITE 5. In the complete SIP INVITE 5 the application server 1002 may associate an indication that the call is being progressed through the discovery directory assistance method 700. This indication is transferred transparently through the network. Since the telephone number is registered in the second IMS network 500b, S-CSCF now routes the SIP INVITE 6 to the second user communication device 600 in the second IMS network 500b via an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) which serves as a forwarding point for registering for SIP packets to other administrative domains. If the database 300 is a multioperator AAB database or a distributed set of cooperating AAB databases, the S-CSCF in the terminating IMS network can now route the call to the second user communication terminal 1002 by means of normal IMS routing procedures. If discovery directory assistance is offered as a subscription service so that the AAB database 300 keeps information on both subscribers and non- subscribers, filters may be downloaded in the S-CSCF so that it recognizes that the SIP INVITE has a discovery directory assistance indication. The S-CSCF must send an inquiry 7 to an application server in the terminating IMS network 500b to get permission 8 to progress the call. If the second user B is a subscriber the call is progressed 9. Otherwise it is denied.

All embodiments of the invention have the advantage of demanding user action only in an initial stage, as mentioned above. This means that besides being transparent, i.e. unnoticeable to the first user A, it allows increased user friendliness and less cumbersome manual maneuvers, like dialing several numbers, taking notes of various telephone numbers with pen and paper etc.

Further being able to display a message to the second user B increases the user friendliness on both sides. The probability increases that the right second user B accepts the call, which is an advantage to the first user A. And the second user B can make more intelligent decisions on which calls to accept or discard, which is an advantage to the second user B.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A discovery directory assistance method (700) in a communication

device (100) connected to an Identity Resolution Database (300) via a network (500) for attempting and completing a telephone call from a first user (A) of a first user communication device (1001) to a second user (B) of a second user communication device (600) when the telephone number (X) to the second user (B) is unknown to the first user (A) and when said telephone number together with directory information about the second user (B) is formatted with an address card skeleton (200) and stored as an address card in the Identity Resolution Database (300), comprising the steps of

retrieving such directory information about the second user (B) that is known to the first user (A);

registering a first address card (220) comprising such directory information about the second user (B) formatted with the address card skeleton (200);

instructing the Identity Resolution Database (300) to provide a matching address card (240) to the first address card (220);

receiving from the Identity Resolution Database (300) a matching address card (240) comprising the telephone number (X);

extracting the telephone number (X) from the address card (240) so that it can be used to set up a call; and

attempting to set up a call from the first user communication device (1001) of the first user (A) to the second user communication device (600) of the second user (B) without making the telephone number (X) to the second user (B) known to the first user (A).

2. The method according to claim 1, where the communication device (100) is the first user communication device (1001), which comprises a rendering device (110) and an input unit (120) and where the retrieving step further comprises

rendering the address card skeleton (200) on the rendering unit (110) for the first user (A) to fill in; and the registering step further comprises

creating a first address card (220) from the filled in directory information in the skeleton

(200).

3. The method according to claim 1, in which the instructing step comprises the further step of sending the first address card (220) to the Identity Resolution Database (300).

4. The method according claim 1, wherein the attempting step further

comprises the step of enclosing a message to the second user (B) in the call initiation in such a way that it is conveyed by the second user communication device (600) during the signaling phase.

5. The method according to claim 1, in which the receiving step further comprises

receiving multiple matching address cards (240); for each received matching address card

(240)

extracting a telephone number so that it can be used to set up a call; and the attempting step is repeated for each received address card (240) until all calls have been attempted or until input is received from the first user (A) to cease attempting to call.

6. The method according to claim 5, in which the call attempt sequence is a function of a priority policy.

7. The method according to claim 4, in which the message is enclosed in a call initiation signaling message.

8. The method according to claim 4, in which the message is enclosed in a Session Initiation Protocol INVITE subject header or a Signalling System Number 7 (SS7) network Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) User Part (ISUP) generic parameter.

9. The method according to claim 4, in which the message is a personal

message from the first user (A) entered during the retrieving step (720).

10. The method according to claim 4, in which the message is a standard

message notifying the second user (B) that the call is being progressed through the discovery directory assistance method.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communication device

(100) is a discovery directory assistance application server (1002) connected via a network (500), to a first user communication device (1001) and a second user communication device (600), wherein the retrieving step (720) further comprises receiving from an originating call session control function node a SIP INVITE message originating from the first user communication device (1001) comprising the address card (220); and the registering step (740) further comprises extracting the address card (220) from the received message.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the attempting step (820)

further comprises including the telephone number (X) in the SIP INVITE To-field and returning it to the originating call session control function node.

13. A communication device (100) with discovery directory assistance

control functionality that comprises a processing unit (130), a memory unit (140), a networking unit (150) adapted and configured to communicate via a network 500, and a discovery directory assistance control function unit (170), adapted and configured to handle address cards of a certain skeleton format (200), and the communication device further adapted and configured to retrieve such directory information about the second user (B) that is known to the first user (A); to register a first address card (220) comprising such directory information about the second user (B) formatted with the address card skeleton (200); to instruct the Identity Resolution Database (300) to provide a matching address card (240) to the first address card (220); to receive from the Identity Resolution Database (300) a matching address card (240) comprising the telephone number (X); to extract the telephone number (X) from the address card (240) so that it can be used to set up a call; and to attempt to set up a call from the first user communication device (1001) of the first user (A) to the second user communication device (600) of the second user (B) without making the telephone number (X) to the second user (B) known to the first user (A).

14. The communication device (100) according to claim 13, adapted and

configured to perform any of the further steps of the discovery directory assistance method (700).

15. The communication device (100) according to claim 13, which is a first user communication device (1001) that further comprises a user interface unit (160) operationally linked to a rendering unit (110), and an input unit (120), and which device (100) is adapted and configured to render the address card skeleton (200) on the rendering unit (110) for the first user (A) to fill in; and create a first address card (220) from the filled in directory information in the skeleton (200).

16. A user communication device (600) with discovery directory assistance functionality for receiving a telephone call from a first user (A) of a first user communication device (1001) to a second user (B) of the second user communication device (600) when the telephone number (X) to the second user (B) is unknown to the first user (A) and when said telephone number together with directory information about the second user (B) is formatted with an address card skeleton (200) and stored as an address card in the Identity Resolution Database (300), which device comprises a processing unit (130), a memory unit (140), a networking unit (150) adapted and configured to communicate via a network 500, and a discovery directory assistance control function unit (170), adapted and configured to handle address cards of a certain skeleton format (200).

17. A method (900) in an Identity Resolution Database (300) connected to a network (500) for attempting and completing a telephone call from a first user (A) of a first user communication device (1001) to a second user (B) of a second user communication device (600) when the telephone number (X) to the second user (B) is unknown to the first user (A) and when said telephone number (X) together with directory information about the second user (B) is formatted with an address card skeleton (200) and stored as an address cards in the Identity Resolution Database (300), comprising the steps of

receiving from a communication device (100), which can be the user communication device (1001) or a discovery directory assistance application server (1002) in the network (500), a first address card (220) comprising such directory information about the second user (B) formatted with the same address card skeleton (200), and an instruction to provide a matching address card (240) to the first address card (220);

comparing the first address card (220) against address cards stored in the Identity Resolution Database (300), selecting a matching address card (240) that contain address card entries matching those of the first address card (220); and

sending to the communication device (100) a matching address card (240) comprising the telephone number (X);

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising selecting multiple matching address cards (240)

19. The method according to claim 18, the multiple matching address cards being ranked according to a priority policy.

20. The method according to claim 6 or claim 19, the priority policy giving precedence to a matching address card (240) as a function of sharing geographical area, closeness, number of matching data entries or VIP discovery subscription.

21. An Identity Resolution Database (300) connected to a network (500), for attempting and completing a telephone call from a first user (A) of a first user communication device (1001) to a second user (B) of a second user communication device (600) when the telephone number (X) to the second user (B) is unknown to the first user (A) and when said telephone number (X) together with directory information about the second user (B) is formatted with an address card skeleton (200) and stored as an address cards in the Identity Resolution Database (300), the database (300) adapted and configured to receive from a communication device (100), which can be the user communication device (1001) or a discovery directory assistance application server (1002) in the network (500), a first address card (220) comprising such directory information about the second user (B) formatted with the same address card skeleton (200), and an instruction to provide a matching address card (240) to the first address card (220); to compare the first address card (220) against address cards stored in the Identity

Resolution Database (300); to select a matching address card (240) that contain address card entries matching those of the first address card (220); and to send to the communication device

(100) a matching address card (240) comprising the telephone number (X).

22. A discovery directory assistance system in a network (500) comprising a discovery directory assistance control function communication device (100), an Identity

Resolution Database (300), a first user communication device (1001) and a second user communication device (600), the system capable of setting up a telephone call from a first user (A) of the first user communication device (1001) to the second user (B) of the second user

communication device (600) when the telephone number (X) to the second user (B) is unknown to the first user (A) and when said telephone number together with directory information about the second user (B) is formatted with an address card skeleton (200) and stored as an address card in the Identity Resolution Database (300), the system adapted and configured to

retrieve such directory information about the second user (B) that is known to the first user (A); to register a first address card (220) comprising such directory information about the second user (B) formatted with the address card skeleton (200);

to provide a matching address card (240) to the first address card (220);

to receive a matching address card (240) comprising the telephone number (X);

to extract the telephone number (X) from the address card (240) so that it can be used to set up a call; and

to attempt to set up a call from the first user communication device (1001) of the first user (A) to the second user communication device (600) of the second user (B) without making the telephone number (X) to the second user (B) known to the first user (A).

23. A computer program comprising code means for performing the steps of any one of the claims 1-10, when the program is run on a computer.

24. A computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for performing the method of any of the claims 1-10, when said product is run on a computer.