Revenue generation method for use with voice network access provider system and method

• US 6,888,929 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2000
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories Incorporated (Genesys Cloud Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Microstrategy Incorporated
• Inventors: Inanoglu, Zeynep, Saylor, Michael J., Patnaik, Anurag, Trundle, Stephen S., Lindsey, Benjamin M., Mahowald, Josh, Garr, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US09/480,894
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.09, 379/88.16, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379 8822- 8825, 379/88.04, 379/114.01, 379/114.02, 379/114.05, 379/114.06, 379/114.07, 379/114.1, 379/114.12
• US Class Current: 379/88.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

A system and method for generating revenue from providing pages of voice content when users input a voice code corresponding to that content. Voice codes (“VCodes”) have content stored corresponding thereto and when users view publicly displayed VCodes in proximity to an object, attraction or subject, the users may selectively access the stored content via telephone by calling a central number and entering the VCode or verbally describing the object, attraction or subject, in which case the verbal description is associated with a VCode or collection of VCodes. A fee is collected based on the information retrieved and may be distributed between participants within the voice network access provider system.

Claims

1. A method for delivering information to users via a voice-enabled terminal device, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of voice pages in a storage system, each voice page including content for delivery in an audible format and a link to at least one other voice page in the storage system;

assigning a voice code to each voice page, the voice code being usable to request audible delivery of the voice page;

enabling a user to retrieve content from the voice page via a voice enabled terminal device upon input of the voice code associated with the voice page;

offering content providers a plurality of pages of predefined optional and required inputs to create voice pages for inclusion in the system as part of a service of storing voice pages on the system;

collecting a fee for delivering voice page content.

2. The method of claim 1 where the user is charged a fee based on the content retrieved.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the user is charged in non-dollar units that the user has purchased from the system.

4. The method of claim 1 where the user retrieves content by accessing one or more voice pages and is charged a fee based on the number of voice pages accessed.

5. The method of claim 1 where the user is charged a fee based on the amount of time the user accesses the system.

6. The method of claim 1 where the user is provided certain content for free and is offered one or more options for premium content for which the user is charged a fee.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the fee varies according to the time of day.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and one or more voice pages are provided to the voice network access provider by a content provider for storage in the storage system, further wherein the user is not charged a fee for accessing content.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and one or more voice pages are provided to the voice network access provider by a content provider for storage in the storage system, and wherein the content provider pays the voice network access provider a fee.

10. The method oft claim 9 wherein the content provider pays a fee based on the amount of content stored.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the content provider pays a fee based on the size of the data stored.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the content provider pays a fee based on the amount of data accessed by users.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the content provider pays a fee based on the number of voice pages stored.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the content provider pays a fee based on the number of voice pages accessed by a user.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the content provider pays a fee based on the number of users that access one or more voice pages provided by a user.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the user pays a fee and a voice content provider receives a portion of that fee.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the user pays a fee for a particular voice page, wherein that voice page was provided by a first voice content provider and originated by a second voice content provider.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second voice content providers share a portion of the fee collected from the user for retrieving that particular voice page.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein a display host permits one or more voice codes to be displayed at a display host location.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the display host receives a portion of the fee.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and one or more voice pages are provided to the voice network access provider by a content provider for storage in the storage system and the voice network access provider receives a portion of the fee and the display host receives a portion of the fee.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and one or more voice pages are provided to the voice network access provider by a content provider for storage in the storage system and the voice network access provider receives a portion of the fee, the display host receives a portion of the fee, and the content provider receives a portion of the fee.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the storage system is operated by a first voice network access provider and the first voice network access provider can communicate with at least a second voice network access provider, wherein the step of enabling a user to retrieve the content via a voice enabled terminal device comprises the steps of the user contacting the first VNAP, the first VNAP identifying a second VNAP that stores a requested voice page;

contacting the second VNAP and retrieving the voice page from the second VNAP and providing the voice page to the user.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein first VNAP and second VNAP receive a portion of the fee.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein a user pays a subscription fee for access to content.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein a voice page comprises a voice advertisement that is played for the user.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein a fee is paid for the voice advertisement.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein a voice page comprises an option for a user to link to at least one other voice page.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein a fee is paid if the user links to another voice page.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein a fee is paid for informing the user of the option to link to another page.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein a voice page comprises an option for a user accessing the voice page to execute a transaction.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and if a user exercises the option to execute a transaction, a fee is paid to the VNAP.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and if a user exercises the option to execute a transaction, the transaction is executed by the VNAP.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and if a user exercises the option to execute a transaction, the VNAP transfers the user to a third party to execute the transaction.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and if a user exercises the option to execute a transaction, the VNAP transfers the user to a third party to execute the transaction and the VNAP receives a fee from the third party.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and if a user exercises the option to execute a transaction, the VNAP determines whether the transaction is one that can be executed by the VNAP, and if so, executes the transaction and if not transfers the user to a third party to execute the transaction.

37. The method of claim 1 wherein the content comprises information about at least one transaction that the user can request via a voice enabled device.

38. The method of claim 1 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and further comprising the step of a user registering with the VNAP before accessing voice pages.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the VNAP stores a profile for each registered user.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the profile comprises at least user identification and at least one form of payment information by which the user can be charged for access to voice pages.

57. The system of claim 16 wherein the first and second voice content providers share a portion of the fee collected from the user for retrieving that particular voice page.

41. A system for delivering information to users via a voice-enabled terminal device to generate revenues comprising:

means for storing a plurality of voice pages in a storage system, each voice page including content for delivery in an audible format and a link to at least one other voice page in the storage system;

means for assigning a voice code to each voice page, the voice code being usable to request audible delivery of the voice page;

means for enabling a user to retrieve content from the voice page via a voice enabled terminal device upon input of the voice code associated with the voice page; and

means for offering content providers a plurality of pages of predefined optional and required inputs to create voice pages for inclusion in the system as part of a service of storing voice pages on the system;

means for collecting a fee for the information retrieved.

42. The system of claim 41 where the user is charged a fee based on the content retrieved.

43. The system of claim 41 where the user retrieves content by accessing one or more voice pages and is charged a fee based on the number of voice pages accessed.

44. The system of claim 41 where the user is charged a fee based on the amount of time the user accesses the system.

45. The system of claim 41 wherein the fee varies according to the time of day.

46. The system of claim 41 where the user is provided certain content for free and is offered one or more options for premium content for which the user is charged a fee.

47. The system of claim 41 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and one or more voice pages are provided to the voice network access provider by a content provider for storage in the storage system, further wherein the user is not charged a fee for accessing content.

48. The system of claim 41 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and one or more voice pages are provided to the voice network access provider by a content provider for storage in the storage system, further wherein the content provider pays the voice network access provider a fee.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the content provider pays a fee based on the amount of content stored.

50. The system of claim 48 wherein the content provider pays a fee based on the size of the data stored.

51. The system of claim 48 wherein the content provider pays a fee based on the amount of data accessed by users.

52. The system of claim 48 wherein the content provider pays a fee based on the number of voice pages stored.

53. The system of claim 48 wherein the content provider pays a fee based on the number of voice pages accessed by a user.

54. The system of claim 48 wherein the content provider pays a fee based on the number of users that access one or more voice pages provided by a user.

55. The system of claim 41 wherein the user pays a fee and a voice content provider receives a portion of that fee.

56. The system of claim 48 wherein the user pays a fee for a particular voice page, wherein that voice page was provided by a first voice content provider and originated by a second voice content provider.

58. The system of claim 48 wherein a display host permits one or more voice codes to be displayed at a display host location.

59. The system of claim 58 wherein the display host receives a portion of the fee.

60. The system of claim 58 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and one or more voice pages are provided to the voice network access provider by a content provider for storage in the storage system and the voice network access provider receives a portion of the fee and the display host receives a portion of the fee.

61. The system of claim 58 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and one or more voice pages are provided to the voice network access provider by a content provider for storage in the storage system and the voice network access provider receives a portion of the fee, the display host receives a portion of the fee, and the content provider receives a portion of the fee.

62. The system of claim 41 wherein the storage system is operated by a first voice network access provider and the first voice network access provider can communicate with at least a second voice network access provider, wherein the step of enabling a user to retrieve the content via a voice enabled terminal device comprises the steps of the user contacting the first VNAP, the first VNAP identifying a second VNAP that stores a requested voice page;

contacting the second VNAP and retrieving the voice page from the second VNAP and providing the voice page to the user.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein first VNAP and second VNAP receive a portion of the fee.

64. The system of claim 41 wherein a user pays a subscription fee for access to content.

65. The system of claim 41 wherein a voice page comprises a voice advertisement that is played for the user.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein a fee is paid for the voice advertisement.

67. The system of claim 41 wherein a voice page comprises an option for a user to link to at least one other voice page.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein a fee is paid if the user links to another voice page.

69. The system of claim 67 wherein a fee is paid for informing the user of the option to link to another page.

70. The system of claim 41 wherein a voice page comprises an option for a user accessing the voice page to execute a transaction.

71. The system of claim 70 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and if a user exercises the option to execute a transaction, a fee is paid to the VNAP.

72. The system of claim 70 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and if a user exercises the option to execute a transaction, the transaction is executed by the VNAP.

73. The system of claim 70 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and if a user exercises the option to execute a transaction, the VNAP transfers the user to a third party to execute the transaction.

74. The system of claim 70 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and if a user exercises the option to execute a transaction, the VNAP transfers the user to a third party to execute the transaction and the VNAP receives a fee from the third party.

75. The system of claim 70 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and if a user exercises the option to execute a transaction, the VNAP determines whether the transaction is one that can be executed by the VNAP, and if so, executes the transaction and if not transfers the user to a third party to execute the transaction.

76. The system of claim 41 wherein the content comprises information about at least one transaction that the user can request via a voice enabled device.

77. The system of claim 41 wherein the storage system is operated by a voice network access provider and further comprising the step of a user registering with the VNAP before accessing voice pages.

78. The system of claim 77 wherein the VNAP stores a profile for each registered user.

79. The system of claim 78 wherein the profile comprises at least user identification and at least one form of payment information by which the user can be charged for access to voice pages.