Systems and methods to connect buyers and sellers

• US 20070287488A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thryv, Inc. (Mudrick Capital Management LP)
• Original Assignee: UTBK, Inc.
• Inventors: Faber, Scott, Altberg, Ebbe, Hirson, Ron, Van der Linden, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 9,106,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/508
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13248 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses to provide services to people who wish to make connections for real time communication, such as live telephone conversation, chat, video conferencing, etc. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a seller with a code to be embedded in a document, the document to be distributed by the seller, the code to generate a display of a call button when the document is displayed; in response to a selection of the call button, initiating a process to make a telephonic connection between the seller and a buyer; and charging the buyer on behalf of the seller for a service delivered by the seller over the telephonic connection to the buyer.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a seller with a code to be embedded in a document, the document to be distributed by the seller, the code to generate a display of a call button when the document is displayed;

in response to a selection of the call button, initiating a process to make a telephonic connection between the seller and a buyer; and

charging the buyer on behalf of the seller for a service delivered by the seller over the telephonic connection to the buyer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the document comprises a web page of the seller.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the web page comprises a blog of the seller.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the web page comprises a home page of the seller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the document comprises an Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) document.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the document comprises an electronic mail.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is in an Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the code comprises a reference to a listing of the seller.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the code comprises a link to a server to render an appearance of the call button.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising updating the appearance of the call button periodically.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the code comprises an applet running in a browser that displays the document.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the call button is implemented via a plug-in to a web browser.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the buyer is charged based on establishing the telephonic connection between the seller and the buyer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the buyer is charged prior to being connected to the seller.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating the process to make a telephonic connection comprises bringing the buyer to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the buyer guidance and instructions via the VoIP application.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the buyer is charged a fee prior to a determination of a duration of the telephonic connection.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging the seller a flat fee.

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

providing a seller with a code to be embedded in a document, the document to be distributed by the seller, the code to generate a display of a call button when the document is displayed;

in response to a selection of the call button, initiating a process to make a telephonic connection between the seller and a buyer; and

charging the buyer on behalf of the seller for a service delivered by the seller over the telephonic connection to the buyer.

20. A system, comprising:

means for providing a seller with a code to be embedded in a document, the document to be distributed by the seller, the code to generate a display of a call button when the document is displayed;

means for, in response to a selection of the call button, initiating a process to make a telephonic connection between the seller and a buyer; and

means for charging the buyer on behalf of the seller for a service delivered by the seller over the telephonic connection to the buyer.