Controlling advertising output during hold periods

• US 6,683,941 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Weaver, James Mark, Winters, Scott Lee, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, McIntyre, Joseph Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chow, Ming
• Application Number:
  US10/022,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 379/70, 379/76, 379/88.13, 379/88.16, 379/88.18, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/67, 379/88.23, 379/96, 379/266.01, 379/266.02, 379/266.03, 379/309, 379/88.22
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/57 for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

A method, system, and program for controlling advertising output during hold periods are provided. A context for a call on hold is detected. An advertisement is selected for output during a hold space a hold period of the call according to the context. Output of the advertisement during the hold space is controlled, wherein the advertisement is specified according to the context. The advertisement may include text messages, audio messages, video messages, for advertising a product or service or making an announcement.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an on hold system, comprising:

detecting a context for a call on hold;

distributing said context to a plurality of third party advertising services;

receiving bids for a hold space during said call;

selecting an advertisement from a highest bidder for output during a hold space of a hold period of said call; and

controlling output of said advertisement during said hold space, wherein said advertisement is specified according to said context.

2. The method for controlling an on hold system according to claim 1, wherein said context comprises at least one from among an identity of a party to said call, an identity of a party called on behalf of, an identity of a device utilized to place said call, a location of call origination, a selection of on hold preferences for said party to said call, a selection of previous on hold activity for said party to said call, and a selection of personal information for said party to said call.

3. The method for controlling an on hold system according to claim 1, wherein said advertisement comprises at least one from among a text message, selectable text and graphics, an audio message, and a video message.

4. The method for controlling an on hold system according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing an on hold service program during said call; and

responsive to detecting said bold space during said on hold service program, inserting said advertisement.

5. The method for controlling an on hold system according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing an on hold service program during said call;

requesting a delay during said on hold service program for said hold space; and

responsive to detecting said delay during said on hold service program, inserting said advertisement.

6. The method for controlling an on hold system according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing an on hold service program during said call; and

creating said hold space during said on hold service program.

7. A system for controlling an on hold system, comprising:

an on hold system;

means for detecting a context for a call on hold in said on hold system;

means for distributing said context to a plurality of third party advertising services;

means for receiving bids for a hold space during said call;

means for selecting an advertisement from a highest bidder for output during a hold space of a hold period of said call; and

means for controlling output of said advertisement during said hold space, wherein said advertisement is specified according to said context.

8. The system for controlling an on hold system according to claim 7, wherein said context comprises at least one from among an identity of a party to said call, an identity of a party called on behalf of, an identity of a device utilize to place said call, a location of call origination, a selection of on hold preferences for said party to said call, a selection of previous on hold activity for said party to said call, and a selection of personal information for said party to said call.

9. The system for controlling an on hold system according to claim 7, wherein said advertisement comprises at least one from among a text message, selectable text and graphics, an audio message, and a video message.

10. The system for controlling an on hold system according to claim 7, further comprising:

means for providing an on hold service program during said call; and

means responsive to detecting said hold space during said on hold service program, for inserting said advertisement.

11. The system for controlling an on hold system according to claim 7, further comprising:

means for providing an on hold service program during said call;

means for requesting a delay during said on hold service program for said hold space; and

means responsive to detecting said delay during said on hold service program, for inserting said advertisement.

12. The system for controlling an on hold system according to claim 7, further comprising:

means for providing an on hold service program during said call; and

means for creating said hold space during said on hold service program.

13. A computer program product for controlling an on hold system, comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting a context for a call on hold;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for distributing said context to a plurality of third party advertising services;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for receiving bids for a hold space during said call;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for selecting an advertisement from a highest bidder for output during a hold space of a hold period of said call; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for controlling output of said advertisement during said hold space, wherein said advertisement is specified according to said context.

14. The computer program product for controlling an on hold system according to claim 13, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for providing an on hold service program during said call; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for inserting said advertisement within a hold space detected during said on hold service program.

15. The computer program product for controlling an on hold system according to claim 13, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for providing an on hold service program during said call;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for requesting a delay during said on hold service program for said hold space; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for inserting said advertisement within a delay detected during said on hold service program.

16. The computer program product for controlling an on hold system according to claim 13, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for providing an on hold service program during said call; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for creating said hold space during said on hold service program.

17. A method for controlling on hold music, comprising:

detecting a context for a call;

distributing said context to a plurality of third party advertising services;

receiving bids for a hold space during said call;

selecting an advertisement from a highest bidder for output during a hold space of an on hold music service program; and

controlling output of said advertisement during said hold space of said on hold music service program.

18. The method for controlling on hold music according to claim 17, wherein said hold space is provided by said on hold music service.

19. The method for controlling on hold music according to claim 17, wherein said hold space is created during a broadcast advertisement space.

20. The method for controlling on hold music according to claim 17, wherein said advertisement is from a third party advertiser.

21. The method for controlling on hold music according to claim 17, wherein said advertisement is from an in house advertisement database.

22. A system for controlling on hold music, comprising:

an on hold system;

means for distributing said context to a plurality of third party advertising services;

means for receiving bids for a hold space during said call;

means for detecting a context for a call on hold at said on hold system;

means for selecting an advertisement from a highest bidder for output during a hold space of an on hold music service program; and

means for controlling output of said advertisement during said hold space of said on hold music service program.

23. The system for controlling on hold music according to claim 22, wherein said hold space is provided by said on hold music service.

24. The system for controlling on hold music according to claim 22, wherein said hold space is created during a broadcast advertisement space.

25. The system for controlling on bold music according to claim 22, wherein said advertisement is from a third party advertiser.

26. The system for controlling on hold music according to claim 22, wherein said advertisement is from an in house advertisement database.

27. A computer program product for controlling on hold music, comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting a context for a call on hold at said on hold system;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for distributing said context to a plurality of third party advertising services;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for receiving bids for a hold space during said call;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for selecting an advertisement from a highest bidder for output during a hold space of an on hold music service program; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for controlling output of said advertisement during said hold space of said on hold music service program.

28. A method for controlling on hold services, comprising:

distributing a context for a call to a plurality of third party advertisers;

receiving bids for a hold space during said call;

transferring said context for the call to a third party advertiser who is a highest bidder;

responsive to detecting a hold space during an on hold service program for said call, transferring said call to said third party advertiser, wherein said third party advertiser fills said hold space with an advertisement specified according to said context of said call.

29. A method for controlling on hold announcements, comprising:

distributing a context for a call to a plurality of third party advertisers;

receiving bids for a hold space during said call;

detecting a context based advertisement for a call from a third party advertiser who is a highest bidder;

responsive to detecting a hold space during an on hold service program for said call, inserting said context based advertisement during said hold space; and

billing said third party advertiser for use of said hold space.

30. A method for controlling advertising, comprising:

distributing a context for a call to a plurality of third party advertisers;

receiving bids for a hold space during said call;

receiving, at a third party advertising service who is a highest bidder, a context for a call received at an on hold system; and

selecting an advertisement targeted according to said context for said call for output to said call while on hold in said on hold system.

31. The method for controlling advertising according to claim 30, further comprising:

receiving said call at said third party advertising system; and

controlling output of said selected advertisement for said call.

32. The method for controlling advertising according to claim 30, further comprising:

transferring said selected advertisement to said on hold system, wherein said on hold system controls insertion of said selected advertisement while said on call is on hold.