SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING UNAUTHORIZED CONTACT OF APPLICANTS
First Claim
1. A method for preventing unauthorized contact of applicants, the method comprising the steps:
- gathering application information from an applicant;
creating at least one contact designator that identifies the applicant and a potential purchaser of the application information;
providing the contact designator and at least some of the application information to the potential purchaser;
once the potential purchaser has been authorized to contact the applicant, forwarding communications made by the potential purchaser using the contact designator to the applicant; and
if the potential purchaser has not been authorized to contact the applicant, preventing communications made by the potential purchaser with the contact designator from reaching the applicant.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for preventing unauthorized use of sales leads. Application information is gathered from an applicant after the applicant views an Internet ad or other advertisement. The application information may include the applicant'"'"'s e-mail address and phone number. At least one pseudo e-mail address or phone number is then created that identifies at least some of the application information and a potential purchaser of the application information. A unique pseudo e-mail address or phone number is created for each potential purchaser of the application information. The pseudo e-mail addresses or phone numbers and at least some of the application information are then provided to potential purchasers of the application information. Any communications sent using the pseudo e-mail addresses or phone numbers are initially directed to a mail server or phone system operated by or under the control of the entity that placed the advertisement. If a potential purchaser attempts to contact an applicant with the pseudo e-mail address or phone number without first paying for the application information, the e-mail or phone call is sent to the entity which generated the lead, not the applicant. Once a potential purchaser purchases the application information, communications made by the potential purchaser using the pseudo e-mail address are forwarded to the applicant'"'"'s actual e-mail address.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for preventing unauthorized contact of applicants, the method comprising the steps:
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gathering application information from an applicant; creating at least one contact designator that identifies the applicant and a potential purchaser of the application information; providing the contact designator and at least some of the application information to the potential purchaser; once the potential purchaser has been authorized to contact the applicant, forwarding communications made by the potential purchaser using the contact designator to the applicant; and if the potential purchaser has not been authorized to contact the applicant, preventing communications made by the potential purchaser with the contact designator from reaching the applicant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for preventing unauthorized contact of applicants, the method comprising the steps:
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gathering application information from an applicant, the application information including the applicant'"'"'s e-mail address; creating at least one pseudo e-mail address that identifies at least some of the application information and a potential purchaser of the application information; providing the pseudo e-mail address and at least some of the application information to the potential purchaser; and if the potential purchaser purchases the application information, forwarding communications made by the potential purchaser using the pseudo e-mail address to the applicant'"'"'s e-mail address. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for preventing unauthorized contact of applicants, the method comprising the steps:
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placing an advertisement on the Internet; gathering application information from an applicant who views the advertisement, the application information including the applicant'"'"'s e-mail address; identifying a plurality of potential purchasers of the application information; creating a plurality of pseudo e-mail addresses for the potential purchasers, each of which identifies at least some of the application information and one of the potential purchasers; linking the applicant'"'"'s e-mail address and the pseudo e-mail addresses in a database or other memory structure; providing the pseudo e-mail addresses and at least some of the application information to the potential purchasers; and if one of the potential purchasers purchases the application information, forwarding communications made by that potential purchaser using that potential purchaser'"'"'s pseudo e-mail address to the applicant'"'"'s e-mail address. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification