Call routing apparatus
First Claim
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1. A method of placing a call, comprising:
- receiving information over a network related to a user'"'"'s online purchase request, wherein the request is made via a website; and
at least partly in response to receiving the information related to the user'"'"'s online purchase request, causing a call to be placed by an electronic system to a pay-per-call type telephone service via a public communications network, wherein the pay-per-call type telephone service is not the subject of the online purchase request and the call is not connected to a telephone of the user while the user is on the telephone,wherein the call provides billing information associated with the user to the pay-per-call type telephone service and wherein the user is billed for a purchase price associated with the online purchase request at least partly in response to the call placed to the pay-per-call type telephone service.
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to telecommunications, and in particular to systems and methods for routing and placing telephone calls. In one embodiment, a call manager system is configured to place a call to a pay-per-call service, or to cause such a call to be placed by a user computer terminal, in response to a user initiating a purchase transaction over a computer network. In addition, the call may include billing information, such as the user'"'"'s phone number, which is provided to the pay-per-call service so that the user can be billed for the call in an appropriate amount.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of placing a call, comprising:
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receiving information over a network related to a user'"'"'s online purchase request, wherein the request is made via a website; and at least partly in response to receiving the information related to the user'"'"'s online purchase request, causing a call to be placed by an electronic system to a pay-per-call type telephone service via a public communications network, wherein the pay-per-call type telephone service is not the subject of the online purchase request and the call is not connected to a telephone of the user while the user is on the telephone, wherein the call provides billing information associated with the user to the pay-per-call type telephone service and wherein the user is billed for a purchase price associated with the online purchase request at least partly in response to the call placed to the pay-per-call type telephone service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of placing a call, comprising:
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receiving information over a network related to a user'"'"'s purchase request, wherein the purchase request is made via an email or via a network site; and at least partly in response to receiving the information related to the user'"'"'s purchase request, causing a call to be placed by an electronic system to a pay-per-call type telephone service over a communications network, wherein the pay-per-call type telephone service is not the subject of the purchase request, wherein the user is billed for an amount associated with the purchase request at least partly in response to the call placed to the pay-per-call type telephone service, wherein the call is not connected to a telephone of the user while the user is on the telephone. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification