Interactive method and apparatus for the generation of leads

• US 6,097,792 A
• Filed: 03/12/1999
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teledynamics Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teledynamics Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Thornton, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/266,934
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.01, 379/69, 379/88.16, 379/88.17, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.22, 379/88.27, 379/92.01, 379/92.02, 379/92.03, 379/93.12, 379/93.13 , 379/111, 379/112, 379/113, 379/127, 379/142, 379/201
• US Class Current: 379/88.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5166 in combination with interactive voice response systems or voice portals, e.g. as front-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/45 using multi-frequency signalling H04Q1/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

An interactive method and apparatus for the generation of leads is provided that stores a plurality of prerecorded messages. The system accepts user'"'"'s phone calls and captures the user'"'"'s phone number, combines it with additional information and tracks users transactions with the system and subsequently transfers the combined information in the form of a sales lead to a prospective seller immediately upon termination of the phone call or beginning prior thereto.

Claims

1. A user interactive method for conducting polling comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of recorded messages in a memory accessed through a processor;

receiving incoming telephone calls of users seeking access to certain of said messages stored in said memory;

connecting said incoming telephone calls to said processor;

capturing phone numbers of the users associated with said incoming telephone calls received in said receiving step;

recording in said memory data which includes DTMF digits entered by the users and the time of the telephone call and a response by said processor associated with said incoming telephone calls while the incoming telephone calls are connected to said processor;

disconnecting said incoming telephone calls from the processor; and

transmitting the recorded data from said memory to a third party automatically at a preselected time concerning the disconnected incoming telephone calls, said data containing the phone number of the user, said DTMF digits entered by the users, the time of the telephone call, and any response by said processor while said telephone calls were connected thereto.

2. A user interactive method of polling comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of recorded messages in a memory accessed through a processor;

receiving incoming telephone calls of users seeking to access certain of said messages stored in said memory;

connecting said incoming telephone calls to the processor;

recording in said memory data which includes DTMF digits entered by the users and a response by said processor associated with each of said incoming telephone calls while the incoming telephone calls are connected to said processor;

disconnecting said incoming telephone calls from the processors; and

transmitting the recorded data from said memory to a third party including said DTMF digits entered by the users automatically at a preselected time.

3. A user interactive method for the generation of leads comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of recorded messages in a memory;

connecting incoming phone calls to a processor and recording the date and time of day of the incoming phone calls;

recording the telephone numbers of the incoming phone calls;

allowing the user access to at least one of said prerecorded messages by pressing DTMF digits on a telephone;

recording data which includes DTMF digits pressed by the user while the incoming phone call is connected to the processor;

terminating the user'"'"'s phone connection with the processors; and

providing a lead in the form of a data transmission to a third party containing the user'"'"'s telephone number, duration of the incoming phone call and the recorded data.

4. A user interactive apparatus for the generation of leads comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

means for storing a plurality of recorded messages corresponding to particular products in said memory that can be accessed through said processor;

means for receiving incoming telephone calls of users seeking to access certain of said messages stored in said memory;

means for connecting said incoming telephone calls to the processor;

means for determining the phone numbers dialed by said incoming calls received by said receiving means and recording said phone numbers dialed in said memory;

means for capturing the phone numbers of the users associated with said incoming telephone calls received by said receiving means;

means for matching said phone numbers of the users captured by said capturing means with said phone numbers dialed for said incoming telephone calls and storing them together in said memory;

means for selectively permitting said incoming phone calls to access certain of said messages stored in said memory;

means for disconnecting said incoming phone calls from said processor; and

means for automatically transmitting data from said memory to a third party at a preselected time concerning said disconnected incoming telephone calls, said data containing the phone number dialed by the user and the phone number of the user.

5. A user interactive method for conducting polling comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of recorded messages, each of said messages in a memory accessed through a processor;

receiving incoming communications of users seeking to access certain of said messages stored in said memory;

connecting said incoming communications to the processor;

capturing information sufficient to identify the source of the users associated with said incoming communications received in said receiving step;

permitting said incoming communications to access certain of said messages stored in said memory;

recording in said memory data which includes, input entered by the users and the time of each incoming communication, and a response by said processor while the incoming communications are connected to said processor;

disconnecting said incoming communications from the processor; and

transmitting the recorded data from said memory to a third party automatically at a preselected time concerning each of said disconnected communications, said data containing the information captured in said capturing step, and said input entered by the users.