Method, program storage device, and apparatus for offering a user a plurality of scenarios under which to conduct a primary transaction

• US 7,853,488 B1
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West Corporation
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Barker, Thomas B, West, Gary L, Katz, Ronald A, Mussman, David C
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US12/194,189
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A method of offering a user a plurality of scenarios under which to conduct at least one primary transaction involving at least one specific item, the specific item being one of goods and services, with each one of these scenarios entailing a corresponding cost to the user. The method can include at least the following. Communication is established via a communications device between the user and a system to facilitate the primary transaction. Primary transaction data is obtained relating to the primary transaction, with the primary transaction data including data representing an identity of the user and representing the at least one specific item. The user is offered a choice between at least two scenarios under which to conduct the primary transaction, determining costs of the transaction based on allowance of receiving offers of upsell transactions.

Claims

1. A method of offering a user a plurality of scenarios under which to conduct at least one primary transaction involving at least one specific item, the specific item being one of goods and services, with each one of these scenarios entailing a corresponding cost to the user, the method comprising:

establishing communication via a communications device between the user and a system to facilitate the primary transaction;

receiving primary transaction data relating to the primary transaction into an upsell determination unit, the primary transaction data including data representing an identity of the user and representing the at least one specific item;

generating, in the upsell determination unit, at least two scenarios under which to conduct a primary transaction and offering the user a choice between the at least two scenarios under which to conduct the primary transaction, wherein a first scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction at a first cost to the user in exchange for the user receiving at least one offer of an upsell transaction, and wherein at least a second scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction at a second cost to the user in exchange for receiving no offers of upsell transactions;

conducting the at least one primary transaction, wherein the at least one primary transaction is within a definite number of permitted discrete primary transactions as defined by the user; and

generating, in the upsell determination unit, an offer of the upsell transaction based on the primary transaction by;

a) utilizing the identity of the user to obtain at least a second data element relating to the user; and

b) utilizing at least in part the primary transaction data including the identity of the good or service of the primary transaction and the second data element to determine at least one upsell item to offer as an upsell transaction to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising offering the upsell transaction to the user in real time during the course of the primary transaction.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an acceptance of the offer of the upsell transaction.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a signal representing an indication from the user as to which of the scenarios the user chooses.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a default choice governing the primary transaction should the user fail to select from among the first and second scenarios.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communication includes establishing communication with a directory assistance utility.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering a choice between a no-fee scenario for conducting the primary transaction and a fee-based scenario for conducting the primary transaction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user a no-fee option for conducting the primary transaction in exchange for the user receiving the at least one offer of an upsell transaction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining primary transaction data includes obtaining from the user a directory entry for which the user indicates information.

10. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of offering a user a plurality of scenarios under which to conduct at least one primary transaction involving at least one specific item, the specific item being one of goods and services, with each one of these scenarios entailing a corresponding cost to the user, the method comprising:

establishing communication via a communications device between the user and a system to facilitate the primary transaction;

obtaining primary transaction data relating to the primary transaction, the primary transaction data including data representing an identity of the user and representing the at least one specific item;

offering the user a choice between at least two scenarios under which to conduct the primary transaction, wherein a first scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction at a first cost to the user in exchange for the user receiving at least one offer of an upsell transaction, and wherein at least a second scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction at a second cost to the user in exchange for receiving no offers of upsell transactions;

conducting the at least one primary transaction, wherein the at least one primary transaction is within a definite number of permitted discrete primary transactions as defined by the user; and

generating an offer of the upsell transaction based on the primary transaction by;

a) utilizing the identity of the user to obtain at least a second data element relating to the user; and

b) utilizing at least in part the primary transaction data including the identity of the good or service of the primary transaction and the second data element to determine at least one upsell item to offer as an upsell transaction to the user.

11. The program storage device of claim 10, further comprising offering the upsell transaction to the user in real time during the course of the primary transaction.

12. The program storage device of claim 10, further comprising receiving an acceptance of the offer of the upsell transaction.

13. The program storage device of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises receiving a signal representing an indication from the user as to which of the scenarios the user chooses.

14. The program storage device of claim 13, wherein receiving a signal includes analyzing a signal representing a voice command from the user using a speech recognition engine.

15. The program storage device of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises establishing a default choice governing the primary transaction should the user fail to select from among the first and second scenarios.

16. The program storage device of claim 10, wherein establishing communication includes establishing communication with a directory assistance utility.

17. The program storage device of claim 10, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering a choice between a no-fee scenario for conducting the primary transaction and a fee-based scenario for conducting the primary transaction.

18. The program storage device of claim 10, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user a no-fee option for conducting the primary transaction in exchange for the user receiving the at least one offer of an upsell transaction.

19. The program storage device of claim 10, wherein obtaining primary transaction data includes obtaining from the user a directory entry for which the user indicates information.

20. An apparatus for offering a user a plurality of scenarios under which to conduct at least one primary transaction involving at least one specific item, the specific item being one of goods and services, with each one of these scenarios entailing a corresponding cost to the user, the apparatus comprising at least the following:

an electronic communication device configured to establish communication between the user and a system to facilitate the primary transaction;

an upsell system, comprising at least one computer, configured to;

obtain primary transaction data relating to the primary transaction, the primary transaction data including data representing an identity of the user and representing the at least one specific item;

offer the user a choice between at least two scenarios under which to conduct the primary transaction, wherein a first scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction at a first cost to the user in exchange for the user receiving at least one offer of an upsell transaction, and wherein at least a second scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction at a second cost to the user in exchange for receiving no offers of upsell transactions;

conduct the at least one primary transaction, wherein the at least one primary transaction is within a definite number of permitted discrete primary transactions as defined by the user, and

generate an offer of the upsell transaction based on the primary transaction by;

a) utilizing the identity of the user to obtain at least a second data element relating to the user; and

b) utilizing at least in part the primary transaction data including the identity of the good or service of the primary transaction and the second data element to determine at least one upsell item to offer as an upsell transaction to the user.