System, method, and user interface for advertising via a voice channel

• US 10,043,192 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unwired Asset Management LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: UnWired Nation, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Charles Eric, Tooley, Chris, Walker, Lanny Wayne, Butcher, James Edward, Zuniga, Roy Stacey
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Alvin L
• Application Number:
  US11/474,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20080010141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,425 Days
• Field of Search: 705 14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML

Abstract

An audio interface for communicating information regarding an online auction item is disclosed and includes an announcement, wherein the announcement includes information that is associated with the online auction item. The audio interface also includes an authorization prompt to retrieve authentication information and an advertisement.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a call server comprising a hardware processor and a memory, the call server configured to;

verify biometric input received from a device;

after verification of the biometric input, transmit an audio announcement to the device, wherein the audio announcement includes information associated with an item available for acquisition via a website;

receive, from the device, a first input regarding a first offer associated with the item;

based on a first determination that the first offer is a highest offer for the item, transmit at least one audio advertisement to the device; and

based on a second determination that the first offer is no longer the highest offer and prior to sale of the item;

interrupt transmission of the at least one audio advertisement; and

after interruption of the transmission, transmit a prompt to the device requesting second input associated with a second offer associated with the item.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio advertisement is a targeted audio advertisement associated with the item, and wherein the device is associated with a user corresponding to the biometric input.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio advertisement is a non-targeted audio advertisement.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the prompt includes a request to purchase the item at a purchase price.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the call server is further configured to transmit a pre-final status announcement advertisement to the device after an advertisement-free time period ends.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the pre-final status announcement advertisement comprises a targeted audio advertisement associated with the item.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the pre-final status announcement advertisement comprises a non-targeted audio advertisement associated with a mass marketing campaign.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the call server is further configured to transmit a final status announcement to the device, wherein the final status announcement indicates whether a user associated with the device offered a highest price for the item.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the call server is further configured to transmit a post-final status announcement advertisement to the device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the post-final status announcement advertisement includes information associated with a second item that is similar to the item.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the post-final status announcement advertisement includes information associated with a second item related to the item.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the call server is further configured to transmit a second prompt to the device after the post-final status announcement advertisement.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second prompt comprises a request to purchase a second item, to place the second item on a watch list, to place the second item on a wish list, or any combination thereof.

14. A communication device, comprising:

an interface configured to receive biometric input from a device;

an audio generator configured to initiate transmission of an audio message to the device, wherein the audio message includes information related to a first item; and

a processor configured to;

initiate a communication session with the device;

initiate verification of the biometric input; and

based on detection of a condition associated with a second item and after the initiation of the verification of the biometric input, interrupt the transmission of the audio message to the device during the communication session, wherein the second item is distinct from the first item.

15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the communication session comprises a telephone call, wherein the condition comprises a commercial variation associated with the second item, wherein the audio message comprises an audio advertisement communicated via a voice channel, wherein the first item and the second item are associated with a same category, wherein the biometric input comprises voice data, and wherein the same category corresponds to a class of a product or a service.

16. The communication device of claim 15, wherein the second item is associated with a wish list of a user of the device, and wherein, in response to the biometric input failing to satisfy authorization criteria, the processor is further configured to terminate the communication session.

17. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the processor corresponds to a call server, and wherein the call server comprises a memory.

18. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the condition comprises a price fluctuation associated with the second item.

19. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the first item and the second item are offered for sale via a website.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a call server comprising a hardware processor and a memory, the call server configured to;

establish a telephone call with a device;

receive biometric input from the device during the telephone call;

after initiation of verification of the biometric input;

initiate transmission of a message to a second device, wherein the message includes information related to a first item; and

based on detection of a condition associated with a second item, interrupt transmission of the message to the second device during the telephone call, wherein the second item is distinct from the first item.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second item comprises an item offered for sale, and wherein the call server is further configured to monitor a website for a notification event, the notification event corresponding to a sale of the second item.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the condition comprises a change associated with a price of the second item, and wherein the second item comprises an item having similar specifications to the first item.

23. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first device, biometric input from a second device during a communication session between the first device and the second device;

during the communication session and after verification of the biometric input;

communicating, to the second device, first commercial transactional information associated with a first item; and

initiating, at the first device, transmission of a message to the second device, the message including second commercial transactional information associated with a second item that is distinct from the first item; and

based on detecting, at the first device, a condition associated with the second item, interrupting transmission of the message.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the biometric input comprises voice input, and wherein the biometric input is received at a call server.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first commercial transactional information comprises first specifications associated with the first item, and wherein the first item comprises a product.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the second commercial transactional information comprises second specifications associated with the second item, and wherein the second item comprises a service associated with the product.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising establishing the communication session, wherein the communication session comprises a telephone call with the second device.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the second commercial transactional information comprises an audio advertisement, and wherein during an advertisement-free time period, the audio advertisement is not communicated.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the advertisement-free time period commences at a particular time before an end of a sale of the first item.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

prior to verification of the biometric input, transmitting an authorization prompt to the second device to request the biometric input; and

transmitting at least one status update to the second device during the advertisement-free time period.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the authorization prompt is transmitted during the advertisement-free time period.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that are executable by a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving biometric input from a device during a communication session with the device;

during the communication session and after verification of the biometric input;

communicating, to the device, first commercial transactional information associated with a first item; and

initiating transmission of a message to the device, the message including second commercial transactional information associated with a second item that is distinct from the first item; and

based on detecting a condition associated with the second item, interrupting transmission of the message.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the operations further comprise monitoring a website for a notification event, and wherein the website is associated with an on-line marketplace for sale of one or more items.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the device is associated with a potential purchaser of the second item.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the condition comprises a price fluctuation associated with a price of the second item, and wherein the operations further comprise establishing the communication session with the device.