Electronic classified advertising interface method and instructions with continuous search notification
First Claim
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1. A method, utilizing a DTMF telephone keypad, to dynamically allow a user to request automatic notification from an electronic classified advertising system coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) comprising the steps of:
- calling said electronic classified advertising system via said PSTN;
prompting said user to press one or more preselected DTMF keys to define search criteria;
searching for ads in said electronic classified advertising system as a function of said criteria;
determining the number of ads in said electronic classified advertising system matching said criteria; and
as a function of said number of ads, prompting said user to press a predetermined key on said DTMF keypad to request a notification to said user from said electronic classified advertising system when an item meeting said criteria has entered said electronic classified advertising system.
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Abstract
An interface for an electronic classified advertising system. The interface includes the capability for the user to enter search criteria for an item of interest, to save the search criteria and to be notified by the system when an item matching the search criteria is entered into the system.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method, utilizing a DTMF telephone keypad, to dynamically allow a user to request automatic notification from an electronic classified advertising system coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) comprising the steps of:
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calling said electronic classified advertising system via said PSTN; prompting said user to press one or more preselected DTMF keys to define search criteria; searching for ads in said electronic classified advertising system as a function of said criteria; determining the number of ads in said electronic classified advertising system matching said criteria; and as a function of said number of ads, prompting said user to press a predetermined key on said DTMF keypad to request a notification to said user from said electronic classified advertising system when an item meeting said criteria has entered said electronic classified advertising system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An interface for dynamically enabling a user to interact with a public switched telephone network (PSTN) electronic classified advertising system to request automatic notification, said interface comprising:
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a public switched telephone network (PSTN); an electronic classified advertising system coupled to said PSTN; a DTMF keypad electromagnetically coupled to said electronic classified advertising system for allowing user input; an audio response unit electromagnetically coupled said electronic classified advertising system to provide verbal instructions to said user; and programmed steps in said electronic classified advertising system, said steps comprising; an instruction to press a predetermined key on said DTMF keypad to select criteria identifying characteristics of an item desired by said user; retrieving ads in said electronic classified advertising system corresponding to said criteria; if no ads are retrieved, an instruction to press a predetermined key on said DTMF keypad to request a notification to said user from said electronic classified advertising system after an item meeting said criteria has entered said electronic classified advertising system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method to allow a user to request automatic notification from an interactive television electronic classified advertising system comprising the steps of:
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prompting said user to press a button on a remote control unit to select criteria identifying characteristics of a desired item; searching for ads in said electronic classified advertising system as a function of said criteria; determining the number of ads in said electronic classified advertising system matching said criteria; and as a function of said number of ads matching said criteria, prompting said user to press a button on said remote control unit to request a notification to said user from said electronic classified system when an item meeting said criteria has entered said electronic classified advertising system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An interface to enable a user to interact with an interactive television electronic classified advertising system, said interface comprising:
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a television including a screen; a remote control in electromagnetic communication with said television, said remote control including a plurality of buttons; an electronic classified advertising system coupled to said television; a computer, coupled to said electronic classified advertising system, comprising programmed steps, said steps including; an instruction to press a predetermined button on said remote control to select criteria identifying characteristics of an item desired by said user; retrieving ads in said electronic classified advertising system corresponding, to said characteristics; and if no ads are retrieved, an instruction to press a predetermined button on said remote control to request a notification to said user from said electronic classified advertising system after an item meeting said characteristics has entered said electronic classified advertising system. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification