Method and system to connect consumers to information
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- a first party providing an advertisement on a media channel on behalf of an advisor, wherein the advertisement is listed to a user and includes at least a reference to establish a real-time communication connection with the advisor and indicates whether the advisor is currently available to communicate via real-time communication at a time when the user is viewing the advertisement;
while the advisor is currently available, receiving a user selection of the reference corresponding to the advisor; and
a central controller using the selection from the user to establish a real-time communication connection between the advisor and the user prior to the user submitting a question for the advisor, including the central controller establishing a real-time communication with the user and the central controller establishing a real-time communication with the advisor; and
the first party charging an amount for the real-time communication connection established between the advisor and the user according to the advertisement.
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Abstract
This invention provides for a method of (or apparatus for) facilitating the delivery of advice to consumers using a server unit which can store and display the names and characteristics of experts and then rapidly assist in connecting the expert and consumer for real-time communication. The server can also have the ability to receive keywords from the consumer, match those keywords to one or more experts, and tell the consumer how to contact an expert.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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a first party providing an advertisement on a media channel on behalf of an advisor, wherein the advertisement is listed to a user and includes at least a reference to establish a real-time communication connection with the advisor and indicates whether the advisor is currently available to communicate via real-time communication at a time when the user is viewing the advertisement; while the advisor is currently available, receiving a user selection of the reference corresponding to the advisor; and a central controller using the selection from the user to establish a real-time communication connection between the advisor and the user prior to the user submitting a question for the advisor, including the central controller establishing a real-time communication with the user and the central controller establishing a real-time communication with the advisor; and the first party charging an amount for the real-time communication connection established between the advisor and the user according to the advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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means for a first party providing an advertisement on a media channel on behalf of an advisor, wherein the advertisement is listed to a user and includes at least a reference to establish a real-time communication connection with the advisor and indicates whether the advisor is currently available to communicate via real-time communication at a time when the user is viewing the advertisement; means for receiving a user selection of the reference corresponding to the advisor, while the advisor is currently available; a central controller to use the selection from the user to establish a real-time communication connection between the advisor and the user while the advisor is currently available and prior to the user submitting a question for the advisor, including the central controller establishing a real-time communication with the user and the central controller establishing a real-time communication with the advisor; and means for the first party charging an amount for the real-time communication connection established between the advisor and the user according to the advertisement.
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20. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, which when executed on a central controller cause the central controller to perform a method comprising:
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providing an advertisement on a media channel on behalf of an advisor, wherein the advertisement is listed to a user and includes at least a reference to establish a real-time communication connection with the advisor and indicates whether the advisor is currently available to communicate via real-time communication at a time when the user is viewing the advertisement; while the advisor is currently available, receiving a user selection of the reference corresponding to the advisor; and using the selection from the user to establish a real-time communication connection between the advisor and the user prior to the user submitting a question for the advisor, including the central controller establishing a real-time communication with the user and the central controller establishing a real-time communication with the advisor; and charging an amount for the real-time communication connection established between the advisor and the user according to the advertisement.
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Specification