Call processing method for delivering promotional messages
First Claim
1. A method of delivering promotional messages to a calling party in a telephony system, comprising:
- outputting a number of promotional messages to the calling party, wherein the number of promotional messages is selected by the calling party to correspond to a desired time interval for a call connection; and
maintaining the call connection between the calling party and a called party for said desired time interval.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive voice response and call process application and system for delivering promotional messages allows a user to select a desired number of promotional messages which are played before a connection is established. The user may also request additional promotional messages at any time during the connection in order to extend a free or subsidized connection period provided by the system. The system monitors the connection and provides a warning tone to the user prior to the end of the free or subsidized calling period. The user may then request an additional promotional message, to extend the time period, or terminate the connection in an orderly fashion.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of delivering promotional messages to a calling party in a telephony system, comprising:
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outputting a number of promotional messages to the calling party, wherein the number of promotional messages is selected by the calling party to correspond to a desired time interval for a call connection; and maintaining the call connection between the calling party and a called party for said desired time interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of delivering promotional messages to a calling party in a telephony system, comprising:
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maintaining a telephony connection between the calling party and a called party while a remaining earned time allotment is greater than zero; subtracting time from said remaining earned time allotment while said telephony connection is maintained; monitoring said telephony connection to determine if the calling party enters a telephony code indicating a request for an additional promotional message; in response to detecting said telephony code indicating a request for an additional promotional message, outputting the additional promotional message to the calling party, incrementing a message counter, and adding a time unit to the remaining earned time allotment; and terminating said telephony connection when the remaining earned time allotment is zero.
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5. A method of delivering promotional messages to a telephony user, comprising:
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(a) receiving a call from the telephony user to a service access number; (b) prompting the telephony user to enter a destination telephone number; (c) outputting a promotional message to the telephony user; (d) adding a time unit to an earned time allotment; (e) prompting the telephony user to enter a first telephony code for another promotional message or to enter a second telephony code to initiate a connection to the destination telephone number; (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) in response to the telephony user entering the first telephony code; and (g) initiating the connection to the destination number in response to the telephony user entering the second telephony code. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification