System and method for advertising supported communications
First Claim
1. A method for advertising-supported communications in a telecommunications network, the method comprising:
- receiving a call request to connect a call from an originating subscriber terminal to a destination subscriber terminal, the call request including a destination identifier associated with the destination subscriber terminal;
in response to the call request, providing at least one advertisement to a subscriber associated with the originating subscriber terminal;
determining a free calling balance for the subscriber based on the destination identifier and based on providing the at least one advertisement to the subscriber;
connecting the call from the originating subscriber terminal to the destination subscriber terminal; and
monitoring the free calling balance as the call progresses,wherein the step of determining the free calling balance comprises (i) determining an advertisement time associated with the at least one advertisement being provided to the subscriber, (ii) determining a number of credits of free calling time based on the advertisement time, (iii) determining a zone measure between the originating subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal, (iv) determining a free calling time based on the number of credits of free calling time and the zone measure.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for advertising supported communications in a telecommunications network are described. One exemplary method includes receiving a call request to connect a call from an originating subscriber terminal to a destination subscriber terminal. The call request includes a destination identifier such as a MIN or a PSTN telephone number associated with the destination terminal. The method further includes providing at least one advertisement to a subscriber associated with the originating terminal, determining a free calling balance for the subscriber based on the advertisements being provided to the subscriber and the destination identifier, connecting the call from the originating terminal to the destination terminal, and monitoring as well as decrementing the free calling balance as the call progresses.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for advertising-supported communications in a telecommunications network, the method comprising:
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receiving a call request to connect a call from an originating subscriber terminal to a destination subscriber terminal, the call request including a destination identifier associated with the destination subscriber terminal; in response to the call request, providing at least one advertisement to a subscriber associated with the originating subscriber terminal; determining a free calling balance for the subscriber based on the destination identifier and based on providing the at least one advertisement to the subscriber; connecting the call from the originating subscriber terminal to the destination subscriber terminal; and monitoring the free calling balance as the call progresses, wherein the step of determining the free calling balance comprises (i) determining an advertisement time associated with the at least one advertisement being provided to the subscriber, (ii) determining a number of credits of free calling time based on the advertisement time, (iii) determining a zone measure between the originating subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal, (iv) determining a free calling time based on the number of credits of free calling time and the zone measure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for advertising supported communications in a telecommunications network, the method comprising:
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receiving a call request to connect a call from an originating subscriber terminal to a destination subscriber terminal, the call request including a destination identifier associated with the destination subscriber terminal and further including a service code; in response to the call request, determining whether a subscriber associated with the originating subscriber terminal is designated to receive advertising supported services;
if so,providing at least one advertisement to the subscriber; determining a free calling balance for the subscriber based on the destination identifier and based on providing the at least one advertisement to the subscriber; connecting the call from the originating subscriber terminal to the destination subscriber terminal; decrementing the free calling balance as the call progresses; disconnecting the call from the originating subscriber terminal to the destination subscriber terminal; and determining whether any unused free calling balance is left; and
, if so, discarding the any unused free calling balance,wherein determining the free calling balance for the subscriber based on the destination identifier and based on providing the at least one advertisement to the subscriber comprises (i) determining an advertisement time associated with the at least one advertisement being provided to the subscriber, (ii) determining a number of credits of free calling time based on the advertisement time, (iii) determining a zone measure between the originating subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal, (iv) determining a free calling time based on the number of credits of free calling time and the zone measure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for advertising-supported communications, the system comprising:
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a first network entity for receiving a call request to connect a call from an originating subscriber terminal to a destination subscriber terminal, the call request including a destination identifier associated with the destination subscriber terminal; a second network entity for providing at least one advertisement to a subscriber associated with the originating subscriber terminal, in response to the call request; and a third network entity for determining a calling balance for the subscriber based on the destination identifier and based on providing the at least one advertisement to the subscriber and monitoring the calling balance when the call from the originating subscriber terminal is connected to the destination subscriber terminal, wherein the third network entity determines the calling balance by a process comprising (i) determining an advertisement time associated with the at least one advertisement being provided to the subscriber, (ii) determining a number of credits of free calling time based on the advertisement time, (iii) determining a zone measure between the originating subscriber terminal and the destination subscriber terminal, (iv) determining a free calling time based on the number of credits of free calling time and the zone measure. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification