Internet-audiotext electronic advertising system with inventory management

• US 6,502,077 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Netdate of Texas LLC (Netdate)
• Original Assignee: Gregory J. Speicher
• Inventors: Speicher, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carlson, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US09/549,885
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/14, 705/26, 705/28, 705/16, 705/27, 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/88.07, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 705/14.73
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/122 where the PSTN/ISDN access is used as an access to networks other than PSTN/ISDN access arrangements to networks other than PSTN/ISDN H04M7/0066; access arrangements to public data networks H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic advertising system. More specifically, the present invention creates a means to select ads for publication in the newspaper based on past performance of individual personal ads, thus attempting to optimize the number of responses to the printed personal ad column as a whole. At the same time, all personal ads are published on the Internet so as to accommodate all advertisers regardless of the past performance of their ad. Finally, by fully integrating the Internet personal ads service with the audiotex personal ad service, advertisers whose ad only is published on the Internet are in no way disadvantaged by fewer features or options.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an inventory of advertisements, wherein said system comprises:

remote terminal apparatus;

interface means for interfacing said remote terminal apparatus to a public communications network, said interface means including means for placing advertisements, means for placing audio recordings, and means for providing input data;

storage means coupled to said interface means for storing said advertisements, said audio recordings and said input data;

publication means coupled to said storage means for publishing said advertisements, said publication means including means for playing said audio recordings via the Internet; and

control means coupled to said publication means for processing said advertisements for said publishing and for processing said input data to isolate a subset of said advertisements;

wherein said audio recordings are associated with said advertisements.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said remote terminal apparatus comprises a personal computer including voice communications means or a telephone.

3. A system according to claim 1, said system further comprising means for determining which said advertisements are published.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein a characteristic of an advertiser of at least one of said advertisements is a factor in said determining.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein activity generated by said advertisements is a factor in said determining.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said system determines a sort order of said advertisements to be published.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein a characteristic of an advertiser of at least one of said advertisements is a factor in determining said sort order.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein activity generated by said advertisements is a factor in determining said sort order.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said audio recording is placed via a telephone.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said audio recording is placed via the Internet.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for enhancing an advertisement by placing a video recording via the Internet; and

means for playing said video recording via the Internet.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for responding to an advertisement by sending an audio message via the Internet; and

means for retrieving said audio message via a telephone.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for responding to said advertisement by sending an audio message via a telephone; and

means for retrieving said audio message via the Internet.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for responding to said advertisement by sending an audio message via the Internet; and

means for retrieving said audio message via the Internet.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for responding to said advertisement by sending a video message via the Internet; and

means for retrieving said video message via the Internet.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein said advertisements are published via the Internet.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein said advertisements are published on television.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein said advertisements are published in a printed medium.

19. A system for controlling an inventory of advertisements, wherein said system comprises:

a remote terminal apparatus;

interface means for interfacing said remote terminal apparatus to the Internet, said interface means including means for placing advertisements, means for placing audio recordings, and means for providing input data;

storage means coupled to said interface means for storing said advertisements, said audio recordings and said input data;

publication means coupled to said storage means for publishing said advertisements, said publication means including means for playing said audio recordings via the Internet; and

control means coupled to said publication means for processing said advertisements for said publishing and for processing said input data to isolate a subset of said advertisements;

wherein said audio recordings are associated with said advertisements.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein said remote terminal apparatus comprises a personal computer including voice communication means.

21. A system according to claim 19, wherein said system further comprises means for responding to said advertisements by sending an audio recording via the Internet.

22. A system according to claim 19, wherein said system further comprises means for respond to said advertisements by sending a video recording via the Internet.

23. A system according to claim 19, wherein said advertisements are published via the Internet.

24. A system according to claim 19, wherein said advertisements are published on television.

25. A system according to claim 19, wherein said advertisements are published in a printed medium.