System converting a request message using computer protocol to telephone communication protocol for accessing telephone directory assistance information without assistance from an operator

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The aforementioned problems are solved by providing computer users access to directory assistance data bases maintained by a telephone company.
The computer users access the same data bases used by directory assistance operators.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a user enters a directory assistance request at a computer terminal.
The computer terminal transmits the request through a computer network to a telephone network.
The request is processed by a data base server attached to the telephone network.
The data base server then transmits a response to the user.
In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the computer network includes the Internet.
In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the protocol converter is a signaling protocol converter available from AT&T and the telephone network is a signaling system 7 (SS7) network.