Integrated, interactive telephone and computer network communications system

• US 20060074758A1
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Net2Phone, Inc. (IDT Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Net2Phone, Inc. (IDT Corporation)
• Inventors: Shepherd, Darryl, Yeh, Yu Sung (Eduardo)
• Granted Patent: US 8,271,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.670
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/432 Arrangements for calling a subscriber at a specific time, e.g. morning call service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 where the data service is an electronic mail service

Abstract

A method comprising the steps of: receiving via internet a time, a date and a telephone number for a reminder telephone call (such as a wakeup call); storing in a database the time, date and telephone number of the reminder telephone call; and delivering to the subscriber via telephone the reminder telephone call at the specified time, date and telephone number. In one embodiment, the reminder call comprises a marketing message. In another embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: receiving via the internet demographic information corresponding to the subscriber; matching the marketing message to the demographic information; and delivering the matched marketing message to the subscriber during the reminder telephone call. In other embodiments, the method further comprises the steps of receiving via the internet a personal reminder message or a selection for information, and delivering the personal reminder message or selected information to the subscriber during the reminder telephone call.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a marketing message, comprising the steps of:

receiving via internet demographic information corresponding to a subscriber;

assigning to said subscriber a storage space, said storage space configured to store a personal message to said subscriber;

delivering to said subscriber a marketing message corresponding to said demographic information when said subscriber accesses said personal messages.

2. The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of:

assigning to said subscriber an e-mail address corresponding to said storage space such that said personal message corresponds to an e-mail message;

receiving said e-mail message via internet;

storing said e-mail message in said storage space; and

retrieving said e-mail message from said storage space prior to said delivering step.

3. The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of:

assigning to said subscriber a telephone number corresponding to said storage space such that said personal message corresponds to a voice message;

receiving said voice message via telephone;

storing said voice message in said storage space; and

retrieving said voice message from said storage space prior to said delivering step.

4. The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising the steps of:

assigning to said subscriber a password corresponding to said storage space;

receiving from said subscriber a signal when said subscriber desires to access said messages; and

delivering said messages to said subscriber if said signal corresponds to said password.

5. A method for a subscriber to receive messages, comprising the steps of:

inputting to a server via internet, for storage in a database, demographic information corresponding to said subscriber, said server having a storage space, said storage space configured to store a personal message to said subscriber;

retrieving said personal messages;

receiving a marketing message corresponding to said demographic information when retrieving said personal messages.

6. The method according to claim 5, said method further comprising the steps of:

being assigned an e-mail address corresponding to said storage space such that said personal message corresponds to an e-mail message;

receiving said e-mail message via internet; and

retrieving said e-mail messages stored in said storage space.

7. The method according to claim 5, said method further comprising the steps of:

being assigned a telephone number corresponding to said storage space such that said personal message corresponds to a voice message;

receiving said voice message via said public-switched telephone network; and

retrieving said voice message in said storage space.

8. The method according to claim 5, said method further comprising the steps of:

selecting a password corresponding to said storage space;

inputting a signal to access said messages; and

retrieving said messages if said signal corresponds to said password.