System and method for providing telecommunication services free of charge
First Claim
1. A method for establishing telecommunication services with a customer at no charge to the customer, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. receiving a request from the customer for telecommunication services capable of facilitating voice communications, wherein acceptance of the request is contingent upon the customer completing a customer profile comprising at least personal interest information;
b. receiving the customer profile;
c. where the customer profile meets at least a predetermined criterion, approving the customer for the telecommunication services;
d. establishing a telecommunication services account for the customer; and
e. transmitting an actuation package to the customer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing telecommunication services free of charge to a customer are provided. In one embodiment, a customer receives free of charge telecommunication services, which may include telephone service, voice mail service, facsimile service, or other services, in exchange for agreeing to listen to one or more targeted advertisements prior to use of the services. The customer provides personal interest information to the service provider, which may be correlated with targeted advertising. For example, when making an outbound telephone call, a service provider determines the number of the outbound call and retrieves personal interest information associated therewith. The service provider then selects a targeted advertisement corresponding to the personal interest information and delivers it to the source of the outbound call. Upon completion of the advertisement, the customer is given options of receiving additional information or completing the call.
41 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for establishing telecommunication services with a customer at no charge to the customer, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. receiving a request from the customer for telecommunication services capable of facilitating voice communications, wherein acceptance of the request is contingent upon the customer completing a customer profile comprising at least personal interest information;
b. receiving the customer profile;
c. where the customer profile meets at least a predetermined criterion, approving the customer for the telecommunication services;
d. establishing a telecommunication services account for the customer; and
e. transmitting an actuation package to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of establishing a free of charge voice communication channel telecommunication system, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. in response to an initiation of an outbound telephone call, determining a origination telephone number associated with a source of the outbound telephone call;
b. referencing a database having the origination telephone number stored therein, wherein the origination telephone number is associated with personal interest information;
c. selecting from a plurality of advertisements an advertisement corresponding to the personal interest information;
d. delaying the outbound telephone call for at least a predetermined time; and
e. delivering the advertisement corresponding to the personal interest information to the source of the outbound telephone call. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of establishing a voice communication channel from a public switched telephone network to a voice over Internet protocol telecommunication system, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. intercepting an inbound telephone call from the public switched telephone network directed to a voice over Internet protocol destination, wherein the voice over Internet protocol destination receives free of charge telecommunication services;
b. delivering a prerecorded message to a source of the inbound telephone call;
c. delivering advertising content of a predetermined duration to a source of the inbound telephone call; and
d. once the predetermined duration has elapsed, attempting to establish a telecommunication channel between the destination and the source of the inbound telephone call. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for providing telecommunication services free of charge to a plurality of customers, the system comprising:
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a. a master switch capable of establishing telecommunication channels between a destination and a source, the master switch being coupled to one of the Internet and both the Internet and a public switched telephone network;
b. a customer database coupled to the master switch, wherein the customer database has stored therein a plurality of telephone numbers corresponding to the plurality of customers, wherein each of the plurality of telephone numbers has customer personal interest information associated therewith;
c. an advertising database coupled to the master switch, wherein the advertising database comprises a plurality of advertisements, each of the plurality of advertisements having a target personal interest association; and
d. a linking module operable with the master switch, wherein when an outbound call is received by the master switch, the linking module determines an origination telephone number associated with a source of the outbound call and references the customer database to determine at least one selection of the customer personal interest information associated with the origination telephone number; and
e. a delivery module operable with the master switch, wherein the delivery module selects an advertisement having a target personal interest association corresponding to the at least one selection of the customer personal interest information from the advertising database, and delivers the advertisement having the target personal interest association corresponding to the at least one selection of the personal interest information to the source of the outbound call prior to completing the outbound call. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification