System and method for telemarketing presentations

• US 6,216,111 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1997
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): KALINOWSKI, ALEXANDER G
• Application Number:
  US08/820,499
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/7, 705/10, 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/70, 379/69, 379/74, 379/88.01, 379/88.04, 379/88.16, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88.22, 379/93.01, 379/93.12, 348/13, 348/1, 348/2, 348/3
• US Class Current: 705/14.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• 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

Abstract

A system is described whereby a telemarketer may reward a customer during the telemarketing call, thereby providing the customer with an incentive to listen to the telephone sales presentation. An invitation is communicated to a consumer regarding an opportunity to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value. The invention includes a controller including a CPU and a memory device; the memory device contains the sales presentation and contains a program for delivering the sales presentation to the consumer. The invention also includes an apparatus for communicating the sales presentation to the consumer in response to the consumer accepting the invitation. The program is further adapted to initiate a transfer of the value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation.

Claims

1. A system for communicating information to a consumer, comprising:

means for communicating to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value;

a controller including a processor adapted to arrange for the sales presentation to be delivered to the consumer in response to the consumer accepting the invitation; and

an apparatus, operatively connected to said controller, configured to communicate the sales presentation to the consumer,

wherein said controller is further adapted to initiate a transfer of the value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation, and wherein said controller is further adapted to select a credit card identification and transaction data from a database, the credit card identification and transaction data being associated with the consumer.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the invitation comprises a telephone number, instructions to complete a telephone call to said telephone number and information regarding the value, and wherein the sales presentation comprises audio information delivered during the telephone call.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said means for communicating the invitation comprises a credit card billing statement.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the program is adapted to initiate the transfer of the value to the consumer by crediting a credit card account of the consumer with a particular monetary value.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sales presentation includes a question directed to the consumer, and said apparatus communicates to said controller an answer to the question.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the value depends upon the answer.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the processor selects an additional sales presentation in accordance with the answer.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor selects a consumer name from the database.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for selecting the sales presentation in accordance with at least one of the credit card identification, transaction data and an associated consumer name.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for selecting the consumer to whom the invitation is communicated in accordance with at least one of the sales presentation, the value, the credit card identification and transaction data.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sales presentation comprises a request for a response.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the value depends upon the response.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the sales presentation comprises an offer to sell to the consumer, and the program is adapted to initiate the transfer of the value when the response indicates an acceptance of the offer.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for placing a telephone call to the consumer, wherein the sales presentation comprises audio information delivered during the telephone call.

15. A system for communicating information to a consumer, comprising:

means for communicating to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value;

a controller including a processor and at least one memory device storing;

customer data comprising credit card identification indicia and associated transaction data in a plurality of customer information fields,

sales presentation data comprising a plurality of sales presentation identification indicia and a sales presentation associated with each of said plurality of indicia, and

a program, adapted to be executed by the processor, for selecting a credit card identification and associated transaction data from said customer data, and for selecting a particular sales presentation from the sales presentation data, in accordance with at least one of the selected credit card identification indicia and the associated transaction data; and

an apparatus, operatively connected to the processor and controlled by the processor, for communicating the sales presentation to the consumer in response to the consumer accepting the invitation,

wherein the program is further adapted to initiate a transfer of the value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation, and to add the sales presentation identification indicia for the selected sales presentation to the field associated with the credit card identification indicia.

16. A method for communicating information to a consumer, comprising:

selecting a credit card identification and transaction data from a database, the credit card identification and transaction data being associated with the consumer;

communicating to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value;

delivering the sales presentation to the consumer by having a processor in a controller execute a program to arrange for the sales presentation to be delivered to the consumer in response to the consumer accepting the invitation; and

initiating a transfer of the value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the invitation comprises a telephone number, instructions to complete a telephone call to said telephone number, information regarding the value, and wherein the sales presentation comprises a voice message delivered during the telephone call.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said communicating comprises mailing the invitation with a credit card billing statement.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein said initiating comprises crediting a credit card account of the consumer with a particular monetary value.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein said delivering comprises delivering a question directed to the consumer in the course of the sales presentation, and further comprising:

receiving from the consumer an answer to the question.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the value depends upon the answer.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

selecting an additional sales presentation in accordance with the answer.

23. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

selecting an associated consumer name from the database.

24. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

selecting the sales presentation in accordance with at least one of the credit card information, the transaction data, and an associated consumer name.

25. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

selecting the consumer to whom the invitation is communicated in accordance with at least one of the sales presentation, the value, the credit card identification, and transaction data.

26. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

delivering to the consumer a request for a response; and

receiving the response from the consumer.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the value depends upon the response.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said delivering further comprises:

delivering an offer to sell to the consumer, wherein said transferring transfers the value when the response indicates an acceptance of the offer.

29. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

placing a telephone call to the consumer, wherein the sales presentation comprises audio information delivered during the telephone call.

30. A method for communicating information to a consumer, comprising:

communicating to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value;

selecting a credit card identification and transaction data, the credit card identification and transaction data being associated with the consumer in a consumer information database;

selecting a particular sales presentation to be communicated to the consumer from sales presentation data in accordance with at least one of the selected credit card identification and transaction data, wherein the sales presentation data comprises a plurality of sales presentation identification indicia and the sales presentation associated with each of said plurality of indicia;

communicating the sales presentation to the consumer in response to the consumer accepting the invitation;

initiating a transfer of the value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation; and

adding the sales presentation identification indicia for the selected sales presentation to the consumer information database in association with the consumer.

31. A system for communicating information to a consumer, comprising:

means for communicating to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for an incentive value, the sales presentation including an offer to sell to the consumer;

a controller including a processor adapted to arrange for the sales presentation to be delivered to the consumer in response to the consumer accepting the invitation; and

an apparatus, operatively connected to said controller, configured to communicate the sales presentation to the consumer,

wherein the processor is further adapted to initiate a transfer of the incentive value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation and initiate a transfer to the consumer of a bonus value in response to the consumer accepting the offer.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the sales presentation comprises a series of presentations each having an associated incentive value, and the bonus value comprises an amount such that the consumer receives an amount larger than a sum of the incentive values associated with the sales presentation.

33. A method for communicating information to a consumer, comprising:

communicating to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for an incentive value, the sales presentation including an offer to sell a product;

delivering the sales presentation to the consumer by having a processor in a controller execute a program for delivering the sales presentation to the consumer, said delivering being performed via an apparatus in response to the consumer accepting the invitation;

initiating a transfer of the incentive value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation; and

concluding delivery of the sales presentation in response to the consumer accepting the offer; and

initiating a transfer to the consumer of a bonus value in response to the consumer accepting the offer.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the sales presentation comprises a series of presentations each having an associated incentive value, and the bonus value comprises an amount such that the consumer receives an amount larger than a sum of the incentive values associated with the sales presentation.

35. A method for communicating information to a consumer, comprising:

selecting a consumer based on at least one of (i) a credit card identification and (ii) transaction data associated with the consumer;

communicating to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value;

communicating to the consumer the sales presentation in response to the consumer accepting the invitation; and

initiating a transfer of the value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation.

36. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

selecting a consumer based on at least one of (i) a credit card identification and (ii) transaction data associated with a consumer;

communicate to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value;

communicate to the consumer the sales presentation in response to the consumer accepting the invitation; and

initiate a transfer of the value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation.

37. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for communicating information to a consumer, said method comprising:

selecting a consumer based on at least one of (i) a credit card identification and (ii) transaction data associated with the consumer;

communicating to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value;

communicating to the consumer the sales presentation in response to the consumer accepting the invitation; and

initiating a transfer of the value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation.

38. A method for communicating information to a consumer, comprising:

selecting a consumer based on at least one of (i) a credit card identification and (ii) transaction data associated with the consumer from a database;

communicating to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value;

selecting a sales presentation to be communicated to the consumer based on at least one of (i) the credit card identification and (ii) transaction data;

communicating to the consumer the selected sales presentation in response to the consumer accepting the invitation;

initiating a transfer of the value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the selected sales presentation; and

adding information associated with the selected sales presentation to the database.

39. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

select a consumer based on at least one of (i) a credit card identification and (ii) transaction data associated with the consumer from a database;

communicate to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value;

select a sales presentation to be communicated to the consumer based on at least one of the (i) credit card identification and (ii) transaction data;

communicate to the consumer the selected sales presentation in response to the consumer accepting the invitation;

initiate a transfer of the value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the selected sales presentation; and

add information associated with the selected sales presentation to the database.

40. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for communicating information to a consumer, said method comprising:

selecting a consumer based on at least one of (i) a credit card identification and (ii) transaction data associated with the consumer from a database;

communicating to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value;

selecting a sales presentation to be communicated to the consumer based on at least one of the (i) credit card identification and (ii) transaction data;

communicating to the consumer the selected sales presentation in response to the consumer accepting the invitation;

initiating a transfer of the value to the consumer in response to the consumer receiving the selected sales presentation; and

adding information associated with the selected sales presentation to the database.

41. A method for communicating information to a consumer, comprising:

communicating to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for an incentive value, the sales presentation including an offer;

delivering the sales presentation to the consumer in response to the consumer accepting the invitation;

initiating a transfer to the consumer of the incentive value in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation; and

initiating a transfer to the consumer of a bonus value in response to the consumer accepting the offer.

42. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

communicate to a consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for an incentive value, the sales presentation including an offer;

deliver the sales presentation to the consumer in response to the consumer accepting the invitation;

initiate a transfer to the consumer of the incentive value in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation; and

initiate a transfer to the consumer of a bonus value larger than the incentive value in response to the consumer accepting the offer.

43. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for communicating information to a consumer, said method comprising:

communicating to the consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for an incentive value, the sales presentation including an offer;

delivering the sales presentation to the consumer in response to the consumer accepting the invitation;

initiating a transfer to the consumer of the incentive value in response to the consumer receiving the sales presentation; and

initiating a transfer to the consumer of a bonus value in response to the consumer accepting the offer.

44. A method for communicating information to a remotely located customer, comprising:

selecting a remotely located customer based on at least one of (i) a credit card identification and (ii) transaction data associated with the consumer from a database;

communicating to the remotely located consumer an invitation to receive a sales presentation in exchange for a value;

delivering the sales presentation to the consumer, the sales presentation including a request for a response;

receiving the response from the consumer; and

initiating a transfer of the value to the consumer based on the received response.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the sales presentation is a telemarketing presentation and said delivering is performed via a telephone call.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the request for a response comprises a question and the received response comprises an answer to the question.

47. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

receiving from the consumer identifying information; and

searching a database in accordance with the identifying information to select the sales presentation to be delivered to the consumer.

48. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

evaluating the response, wherein the value is based on said evaluation.