METHOD AND SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO ASSESS A FEE FOR COMMUNICATION FACILITATION REGARDING PUBLICATION INFORMATION

• US 20080276180A1
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc., Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Stuart, Erik Anderson, Shirk, Valerie K., Zacarias, Arturo Manuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,266,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/739
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method and system are configured to assess a fee for communication facilitation regarding publication information. An electronic publication system includes a publication module configured to generate a user interface based on an information search. The user interface includes search result information associated with a first entity and communication initiation information associated with the first entity. The communication initiation information includes identification information configured to identify a contact module of the first entity. The communication initiation information is configured to be selectable to facilitate communication between a second entity and the first entity. The publication system also includes a receiving module configured to receive a lead data record from a communication system that facilitates communication between the first entity and a second entity via the contact module upon selection of the communication initiation information generated from the publication module. The publication system also includes a fee assessment module configured to receive the lead data record from the receiving module and to assess a fee to the first entity based on the lead data record.

Claims

1. An electronic publication system comprising:

a publication module configured to generate a user interface based on an information search, the user interface including search result information associated with a first entity and communication initiation information associated with the first entity, the communication initiation information including identification information configured to identify a contact module, wherein the communication initiation information is configured to be selectable to facilitate communication between a second entity and the first entity;

a receiving module configured to receive a lead data record from a communication system that facilitates communication between the first entity and a second entity via the contact module upon selection of the communication initiation information generated from the publication module; and

a fee assessment module configured to receive the lead data record from the receiving module and to assess a fee to the first entity based on the lead data record.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication initiation information is selected from a group including an electronic mail link, a instant messaging link, and a telephone call link.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication initiation information includes the electronic mail link, and upon selection of thereof, an associated electronic mail address of the first entity is at least initially hidden on the user interface from the second entity.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication initiation information includes the instant messaging link, and upon selection thereof, an associated instant messaging user identification name of the first entity is at least initially hidden on the user interface from the second entity.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication initiation information includes the telephone call link, and upon selection thereof, the communication system initiates a Voice Over Internet Protocol telephone call between the first and second entities, wherein an associated telephone number of the first entity is at least initially hidden on the user interface from the second entity.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication system is configured to open the contact module at a system of the second entity upon selection of the communication initiation information on the user interface.

7. A communication system comprising:

a communication module configured to facilitate communication between a first entity associated with information and a second entity upon selection by the second entity of communication initiation information associated with the first entity, wherein the communication initiation information is published on a user interface associated with the second entity, the communication initiation information including identification information configured to identify a contact module;

a tracking module configured to track the communication between the entities as a lead data record; and

a transmitting module configured to send the lead data record to the publication system for fee assessment.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the communication module is configured to send, to the first entity, information regarding the second entity, wherein the information is selected from a group including feedback information, previous purchase categories, demographic information, contact information, and system user identification.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the tracking module is configured to track a beginning time for the communication between the entities, an ending time, and a contact module type selected from a group including a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) contact module, an electronic message contact module, and an instant messaging contact module.

10. A method comprising:

electronically publishing a user interface having search result information associated with a first entity and communication initiation information associated with the first entity and the search result information, the communication initiation information including identification information configured to identify a contact module of the first entity, the communication initiation information being selectable to facilitate communication from a second entity to the first entity;

receiving a lead data record from a communication system that facilitates communication between the first entity and a second entity via the contact module upon selection of the communication initiation information; and

assessing a fee configured to the first entity based on the lead data record.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication initiation information is selected from a group including an electronic mail link, a instant messaging link, and a telephone call link.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the communication initiation information includes the electronic mail link, and upon selection thereof, an associated electronic mail address of the first entity is at least initially hidden on the user interface from the second entity.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the communication initiation information includes the instant messaging link, and upon selection thereof, an associated instant messaging user identification name of the first entity is at least initially hidden on the user interface from the second entity.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the communication initiation information includes the telephone call link, and upon selection thereof, the communication system initiates a Voice over Internet Protocol telephone call between the first and second entities, wherein an associated telephone number of the first entity is at least initially hidden on the user interface from the second entity.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the communication system opens the contact module upon selection of the communication initiation information on the user interface of the publication module.

16. A method comprising:

facilitating communication between a first entity associated with information and a second entity upon selection by the second entity of communication initiation information associated with the first entity, wherein the communication initiation information is published on a user interface associated with the second entity, the communication initiation information including identification information configured to identify a contact module;

a tracking module configured to track the communication between the entities as a lead data record; and

a transmitting module configured to send the lead data record to the publication system for fee assessment.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending the first entity information regarding the second entity, wherein the information is selected from a group including feedback information, previous purchase categories, demographic information, contact information, and system user identification.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein tracking including tracking a beginning time for the communication between the entities, an ending time, and a contact module type selected from a group including a Voice over Internet Protocol contact module, an electronic message contact module, and an instant messaging contact module.

19. A tangible machine readable medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

electronically publish a user interface having search result information associated with a first entity and communication initiation information associated with the first entity and the search result information, the communication initiation information including identification information configured to identify a contact module of the first entity, the communication initiation information being selectable to facilitate communication from a second entity to the first entity;

receiving a lead data record from a communication system that facilitates communication between the first entity and a second entity via the contact module upon selection of the communication initiation information; and

assessing a fee configured to the first entity based on the lead data record.

20. The medium of claim 19 wherein the communication initiation information is selected from a group including an electronic mail link, a instant messaging link, and a telephone call link.

21. A system comprising:

a publication module configured to generate a user interface based on an information search, the user interface including search result information associated with a first entity and means for communicating associated with the first entity, the means for communicating including identification information configured to identify a contact module, wherein the means for communicating is configured to be selectable to facilitate communication between a second entity and the first entity;

a receiving module configured to receive a lead data record from a communication system that facilitates communication between the first entity and a second entity via the contact module upon selection of the communication initiation information generated from the publication module; and

a fee assessment module configured to receive the lead data record from the receiving module and to assess a fee to the first entity based on the lead data record.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for communicating is selected from a group including an electronic mail link, a instant messaging link, and a telephone call link.