TELEPHONE NUMBER-BASED ADVERTISING
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- associating a first telephone number with a second telephone number;
serving a web-based advertisement for an advertiser that includes the first telephone number;
receiving a call placed to the first telephone number;
routing the call to the second telephone number based on the association of the second telephone number with the first telephone number;
determining whether a call-through event in response to receiving the call placed to the first telephone number has occurred; and
charging an advertiser associated with the second telephone number a cost-per-call amount if the call-through event is determined to have occurred.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a first telephone number is associated with a second telephone number, and a web-based advertisement is served for an advertiser that includes the first telephone number. A call placed to the first telephone number is received, and the call is routed to the second telephone number based on the association of the second telephone number with the first telephone number. A determination as to whether a call-through event in response to receiving the call placed to the first telephone number has occurred, and an advertiser associated with the second telephone number is charged a cost-per-call amount if the call-through event is determined to have occurred.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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associating a first telephone number with a second telephone number; serving a web-based advertisement for an advertiser that includes the first telephone number; receiving a call placed to the first telephone number; routing the call to the second telephone number based on the association of the second telephone number with the first telephone number; determining whether a call-through event in response to receiving the call placed to the first telephone number has occurred; and charging an advertiser associated with the second telephone number a cost-per-call amount if the call-through event is determined to have occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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associating a first telephone number with a second telephone number; serving a web-based advertisement for an advertiser that includes the first telephone number; receiving a call placed to the first telephone number; identifying a calling number associated with an origination of the call; determining whether the calling number has originated calls to the first telephone number in excess of a threshold number of originations; and routing the call to the second telephone number if the calling number has not originated calls to the first telephone number in excess of the threshold number of originations. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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associating a first telephone number with a second telephone number until an occurrence of an expiration event; determining whether the expiration event has occurred; disassociating the first telephone number from the second telephone number if the expiration event has occurred; and precluding association of the first telephone number with another second number for at least a minimum time period if the expiration event has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system, comprising:
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a data store configured to store a first and second telephone number; a call-through engine that associates the first telephone number with the second telephone number until an occurrence of an expiration event, determines whether the expiration event has occurred, disassociates the first telephone number from the second telephone number if the expiration event has occurred, and precludes association of the first telephone number with another second number for at least a minimum time period if the expiration event has occurred - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system, comprising:
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means for serving a web-based advertisement for an advertiser that includes the first telephone number; means for receiving a call placed to the first telephone number; means for identifying a calling number associated with an origination of the call; means for determining whether the calling number has originated calls to the first telephone number in excess of a threshold number of originations; and means for routing the call to the second telephone number if the calling number has not originated calls to the first telephone number in excess of the threshold number of originations.
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Specification