INTERNET-AUDIOTEX ELECTRONIC ADVERTISING SYSTEM WITH DIRECT CONNECT

• US 20020049616A1
• Filed: 06/24/1997
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Netdate of Texas LLC (Netdate)
• Original Assignee: Netdate of Texas LLC (Netdate)
• Inventors: SPEICHER, GREGORY J.
• Application Number:
  US08/881,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049616A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

The present invention relates in general to an electronic advertising system. More specifically, the present invention provides a computer based direct connect system that is significantly more convenient and safer for the advertiser. In the present invention, when a person places a personal ad on the system, either via a telephone or via the Internet, the person inputs a telephone number that is stored in a database. Respondents can then direct connect and initiate a voice conversation by having the system call the advertiser'"'"'s telephone number, whether the respondent'"'"'s call initiates from a traditional telephone or from an Internet telephone. In addition, if the advertiser is on-line, respondents can direct connect and initiate a voice conversation with an advertiser, whether the respondent'"'"'s call initiates from a traditional telephone or from an Internet telephone. If both the respondent and advertiser are on-line and both have a video capture device and camera, they can also have a video conference. These features greatly enhance the communications between the advertiser and the respondent while maintaining anonymity and heightening personal security.

Claims

1. A method for storing an audio file, listening to said audio file via the Internet, and connecting the listener of said audio file with the storer of said audio file, said method comprising:

means for queuing the audio input of data into said audio file;

means for storing said audio file in digital memory;

means for transferring said audio file to an Internet access node;

means for controlling said transfer; and

means for connecting said listener to said storer;

wherein said means for transferring said audio file formats said audio message for output into humanly perceivable form; and

wherein said means for connecting said listener to said storer directly dials said storer'"'"'s phone number and bridges said listener with said storer.

2. An apparatus for storing audio files, transferring said audio files to the Internet, listening to said audio file via the Internet, and connecting a caller with the storer of said audio file, said apparatus comprising:

an input queue;

a digital information storage device;

a transfer means;

an Internet access node;

a listening means; and

direct dial means;

wherein said digital information storage device stores phonemes indicative of audio, wherein said transfer means formats said digital information for output in humanly perceivable form via said Internet access node, wherein said listening means allows said caller to listen to said audio file, and wherein said direct dial means directly dials said storer'"'"'s phone number and bridges said caller with said storer.