Systems and Methods to Provide Communication Connections

• US 20070160035A1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thryv, Inc. (Mudrick Capital Management LP)
• Original Assignee: UTBK, Inc.
• Inventors: HIRSON, Ron, FABER, Scott, ALTBERG, Ebbe, VAN DER LINDEN, Sean, MANCA, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,437,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses to provide communication connections for partners based on communication references assigned to entities maintained by the partners. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving from a partner contact information of an entity; providing the partner with a real-time communication reference usable to at least initiate a request for a communication connection; and in response to receiving a request initiated via the real-time communication reference, providing a real-time communication connection between a requester and the entity using the contact information received from the partner.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving from a partner contact information of an entity;

providing the partner with a real-time communication reference usable to at least initiate a request for a communication connection; and

in response to receiving a request initiated via the real-time communication reference, providing a real-time communication connection between a requester and the entity using the contact information received from the partner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the real-time communication connection between the requester and the entity comprises:

a connection provider establishing a first Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call with a telecommunication carrier which bridges the first VoIP call to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to the requester;

the connection provider establishing a second Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call with a telecommunication carrier which bridges the second VoIP call to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to the entity; and

connecting the first and second VoIP calls.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a first virtual softphone of the telecommunication carrier terminates the first VoIP call for bridging onto a public switched telephone network (PSTN);

a second virtual softphone of the telecommunication carrier terminates the second VoIP call for bridging onto a public switched telephone network (PSTN); and

the connecting the first and second VoIP calls comprises;

directing the first and second softphones to establish a direct media connection which does not go through the connection provider.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging a fee responsive to the real-time communication being established using the contact information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said charging the fee comprises:

charging a fee according to a price specified by the entity.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

paying a fee to the partner according to the price specified by the entity, responsive to the real-time communication connection comprising a telephonic connection being established.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

paying the entity a fee according to the price specified by the first entity.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the partner with information about the real-time communication connection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information about the real-time communication connection comprises a time duration of the real-time communication connection between the requester and the entity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time communication connection comprises a telephonic connection;

and the method further comprises;

determining a time duration of the telephonic connection between the requester and the entity; and

charging the requester a fee according to a price specified by the entity and the time duration for a service provided by the entity over the telephonic connection.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

paying the partner a portion of the fee.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

paying the entity a fee according to the price specified by the entity and the time duration.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging the entity a fee according to a price specified by the entity.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the real-time communication connection comprises a telephonic connection;

and said charging comprises;

charging the entity the fee independent of a time duration of the telephonic connection between the requester and the entity.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving the request comprises:

receiving the request at a web server through redirection from the partner.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein when rendered in a browser, the real-time communication reference presents a user interface element which when selected causes the browser to send the request to the partner which redirects the request to the web server.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time communication reference is to be embedded in a document, which when selected is to at least initiate the request to at least initiate a real-time communication connection to the entity.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time communication reference comprises a telephone number which is to be dialed to generate the request.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said providing comprises:

establishing a telephonic connection to the entity using the contact information in response to receiving the request at the telephone number.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said establishing comprises:

establishing the telephonic connection to the entity at least in part via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

21. A machine readable media embodying instructions, the instructions causing a machine to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving from a partner contact information of an entity;

providing the partner with a real-time communication reference usable to at least initiate a request for a communication connection; and

in response to receiving a request initiated via the real-time communication reference, providing a real-time communication connection between a requester and the entity using the contact information received from the partner.

22. A data processing system, comprising:

means for receiving from a partner contact information of an entity;

means for providing the partner with a real-time communication reference usable to at least initiate a request for a communication connection; and

means for, in response to receiving a request initiated via the real-time communication reference, providing a real-time communication connection between a requester and the entity using the contact information received from the partner.