Method and System to Connect Consumers to Information
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, which when executed on a computing device causes the device to perform a method, the method comprising:
- providing an advertisement on a media channel on behalf of an advisor, wherein the advertisement includes at least a reference to establish a real-time communication connection with the advisor and indicates whether the advisor is currently available to communicate via real time communication at a time when a user is viewing the advertisement;
while the advisor is currently available, receiving a user selection of the reference corresponding to the advisor, and establishing a real-time communication connection between the advisor and the user prior to the user submitting a question for the advisor; and
charging an amount for the real-time communication connection established between the advisor and the user according to the advertisement.
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Abstract
This invention provides for a method of (or apparatus for) facilitating the delivery of advice to consumers using a server unit which can store and display the names and characteristics of experts and then rapidly assist in connecting the expert and consumer for real-time communication. The server can also have the ability to receive keywords from the consumer, match those keywords to one or more experts, and tell the consumer how to contact an expert.
117 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, which when executed on a computing device causes the device to perform a method, the method comprising:
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providing an advertisement on a media channel on behalf of an advisor, wherein the advertisement includes at least a reference to establish a real-time communication connection with the advisor and indicates whether the advisor is currently available to communicate via real time communication at a time when a user is viewing the advertisement; while the advisor is currently available, receiving a user selection of the reference corresponding to the advisor, and establishing a real-time communication connection between the advisor and the user prior to the user submitting a question for the advisor; and charging an amount for the real-time communication connection established between the advisor and the user according to the advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus, comprising:
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a server unit to provide an advertisement on a media channel on behalf of an advisor, wherein the advertisement includes at least a reference to establish a real-time communication connection with the advisor and indicates whether the advisor is currently available to communicate via real time communication at a time when a user is viewing the advertisement; and a central controller coupled with the server unit to receive a user selection of the reference corresponding to the advisor while the advisor is currently available, and to, prior to the user submitting a question for the advisor, establish a real-time communication connection between the advisor and the user using the selection from the user; wherein an amount is charged for the real-time communication connection established between the advisor and the user according to the advertisement.
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20. A method, comprising:
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providing an advertisement on a media channel on behalf of an advisor, wherein the advertisement includes at least a reference to establish a real-time communication connection with the advisor and indicates whether the advisor is currently available to communicate via real time communication at a time when a user is viewing the advertisement; while the advisor is currently available, receiving a user selection of the reference corresponding to the advisor, and establishing a real-time communication connection between the advisor and the user prior to the user submitting a question for the advisor; and charging an amount for the real-time communication connection established between the advisor and the user according to the advertisement.
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Specification