COMMERCIAL PRODUCT ROUTING SYSTEM WITH VIDEO VENDING CAPABILITY

• US 20020120545A1
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1994
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telebuyer LLC
• Original Assignee: Telebuyer LLC
• Inventors: KATZ, RONALD A.
• Application Number:
  US09/316,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/432 Arrangements for calling a subscriber at a specific time, e.g. morning call service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5125 with remote located operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5158 in combination with automated outdialling systems devices for signalling identity of wanted subscriber H04M1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

A traffic control system selectively interfaces members of plural groups, as buyer groups and vendor groups, for video communication through a dial-up telephone system, for analyzing and compiling data, scheduling appointments, implementing conferences, consummating sales and the like. The traffick-control system comprises a telephonic interface apparatus for interfacing remote telephonic terminals of the dial-up telephone system identified with the members of plural groups, a video recording unit for recording and playing video transcriptions, a storage memory for storing data on the members, including telephonic terminal numbers and area-of-interest codes and a control computer to selectively interconnect the video recording unit with the remote telephone terminals through the telephonic interface apparatus to record and receive video communication.

Claims

1. A communication traffic system for selectively enabling communications between members of plural groups, as buyer groups and vendor groups, for video communication through a dial-up telephone system, comprising:

a telephonic interface apparatus for interfacing remote telephonic terminals of said dial-up telephone system, said terminals being identified with said members of plural groups;

a video recording unit for recording and playing video transcriptions;

a storage memory for storing data on said members of said groups, including telephonic terminal numbers and assigned codes; and

a control computer to selectively interconnect said video recording unit with said remote telephone terminals through said telephonic interface apparatus to record and receive video communication.

2. A communication traffic system in accordance with claim 1, further including a qualification unit for testing said remote terminals for selective interconnection to said video recording unit.

3. A communication traffic system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said telephonic interface apparatus includes an audio response unit.

4. A communication traffic system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said telephonic interface apparatus includes an audio dialer.

5. A communication traffic system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said telephonic interface apparatus includes an audio response unit and an autodialer.

6. A communication traffic system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said telephonic interface apparatus includes a “

D”

channel circuit for receiving terminal data indicative of telephonic terminal numbers, said terminal data being supplied to said control computer.

7. A communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said storage memory includes a memory capability storing data for testing telephonic terminal numbers for selective access to said video recording unit.

8. A communication traffic system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said storage memory includes a memory capability storing specific areas-of-interest codes for said members indicating approvals and wherein said control computer tests said codes for selective interconnection to said video recording unit.

9. A communication traffic system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said storage memory includes a memory capability storing member associations with said plural groups.

11. A communication traffic system for selectively interfacing participants of one group at one plurality of remote video telephonic terminals with participants of another group at another plurality of remote video terminals through a dial-up telephone system, comprising:

a video recording unit for recording and playing video transcriptions;

a storage memory for storing access codes for said participants of said group; and

a control computer for selectively intercoupling said video recording unit and said remote video telephonic terminals of said pluralities in accordance with said access codes in said storage memory.

14. A communication traffic system as defined in claim 13, wherein said communication traffic system and said remote terminals comprise capabilities of transmitting and receiving analog and digital video signals.

15. A communication traffic system as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

detail logic for maintaining a record of all telephonic charges incurred for billing charges incurred by certain members to other members.

16. A communication traffic system as defined in claim 13, wherein said computer further comprises:

memory structure for storing real-time video conference schedule data, upon receiving calls from members of plural groups through said dial-up telephone facility.

12. A process of controlling video communication traffic between participants of one group at one plurality of remote video telephonic terminals and participants of another group at another plurality of remote video telephonic terminals through a dial-up telephone system, comprising the steps of:

storing access codes for said participants to indicate areas-of-interest;

interfacing said remote video telephonic terminals through said dial-up telephone system to receive identification data for access codes;

providing a video recording capability; and

controlling selective interconnection of said remote video telephonic terminals to said video recording capability to selectively record and play video data.

13. A communication traffic system for selectively enabling communications, between members of plural groups, as buyer groups and vendor groups, said communications facilitating data transmissions, stored video transcriptions and real-time video communication through a dial-up telephone system, comprising:

a telephonic interface apparatus for interfacing remote telephonic terminals of said dial-up telephone system, said terminals being identified with said members of said plural groups;

a video recording unit for recording and playing video presentations upon request by said members;

a storage memory for storing data on said members of said groups, including telephonic terminal numbers and assigned codes; and

a control computer configured to accomplish at least one of a variety of transactions, including selectively transmit data to select members in accordance with said assigned codes, interconnect said video recording unit with select remote telephone terminals through said telephonic interface apparatus to facilitate viewings of said video presentations and process data obtained during real-time video communication between select members.