Electronic classified advertising interface method and instructions with direct ad access for advertisers

• US 6,483,895 B2
• Filed: 06/18/1998
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Trader, Terry F., Bixler, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US09/099,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20020048349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.13, 379/88.24, 379/88.17, 379/92, 379/93.14, 379/88.23, 379/67.1, 379/114.13, 379/114.1, 379/68, 379/76, 379/77, 379/88.18, 379/88.25, 379/93.12, 725/42, 345/716
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

An interface for an electronic classified advertising system. The interface includes a feature which allows an advertiser to enter the system and input an access number to hear all of the advertisements which the advertiser has on the system. The advertiser is then prompted to indicate satisfaction or dissatisfaction after each ad is played.

Claims

1. A method utilizing a DTMF telephone keypad to allow an advertiser to access a plurality of advertisements in a public switched telephone network electronic classified advertising system comprising the steps of:

accessing said electronic classified advertising system;

prompting said advertiser to enter a code on said DTMF keypad;

determining if the entered code is a valid advertiser code;

searching for a plurality of advertisements in said electronic classified advertising system associated with said advertiser code;

playing said plurality of associated advertisements to said advertiser;

prompting said advertiser to press a predetermined DTMF key to indicate satisfaction with an associated advertisement;

prompting said advertiser to press a predetermined DTMF key to indicate dissatisfaction with an associated advertisement;

prompting said advertiser to press one or more keys to skip forward or backward within an advertisement;

prompting said advertiser to press one or more keys to pause the playback of an advertisement and sending a copy of said plurality of associated advertisement to said advertiser upon pressing a predetermined DTMF key.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of prompting said advertiser to press a DTMF key to indicate dissatisfaction with an associated advertisement further includes the step of connecting said advertiser to a service representative.