Reverse billing in online search
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A process performed by a server, the process comprising:
- (a) the server receiving a request over a data network from a computing device of a user to cause a duplex voice communication session over a voice network to be established between a user telephone associated with a user phone number of the user and a merchant telephone associated with a merchant phone number of a merchant from a group of one or more merchants capable of providing a good or service specified in the request, wherein the user telephone is separate and distinct from the computing device of the user;
(b) the server causing a first voice communication leg to be made to the user phone number;
(c) the server generating a notice to at least one of the merchants in the group of merchants capable of providing the good or service specified in the request, the notice including an offer to establish the duplex voice communication session with the user in exchange for payment of a definite fee, the generating performed sequentially and repeatedly by the server for each of the merchants in the group of merchants until the offer is either accepted by an accepting merchant or the generating has been attempted to all of the merchants in the group of merchants;
(d) the server receiving an acceptance of the offer from the accepting merchant;
(e) the server causing a second voice communication leg to be made to the accepting merchant at the merchant phone number;
(f) the server causing the first voice communication leg and the second voice communication leg to be bridged to thereby establish the duplex voice communication session over the voice network between the user telephone associated with the user phone number of the user and the merchant telephone associated with the merchant phone number of the accepting merchant; and
(g) the server causing the definite fee to appear on a bill for telephone service of the accepting merchant.
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Abstract
There is disclosed reverse billing in online search. A telephony server may receive a request from a user to cause a telephone call to be established between the user and a merchant. A notice to the merchant may be generated. The notice may include an offer to establish a telephone call with the user in exchange for payment of a definite fee. An acceptance of the offer may be received from the merchant. A first voice communication leg with the user and a second voice communication leg with the merchant may be bridged to establish the telephone call between the user and the merchant. The definite fee may be appear on the merchant'"'"'s bill for telephone service.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A process performed by a server, the process comprising:
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(a) the server receiving a request over a data network from a computing device of a user to cause a duplex voice communication session over a voice network to be established between a user telephone associated with a user phone number of the user and a merchant telephone associated with a merchant phone number of a merchant from a group of one or more merchants capable of providing a good or service specified in the request, wherein the user telephone is separate and distinct from the computing device of the user; (b) the server causing a first voice communication leg to be made to the user phone number; (c) the server generating a notice to at least one of the merchants in the group of merchants capable of providing the good or service specified in the request, the notice including an offer to establish the duplex voice communication session with the user in exchange for payment of a definite fee, the generating performed sequentially and repeatedly by the server for each of the merchants in the group of merchants until the offer is either accepted by an accepting merchant or the generating has been attempted to all of the merchants in the group of merchants; (d) the server receiving an acceptance of the offer from the accepting merchant; (e) the server causing a second voice communication leg to be made to the accepting merchant at the merchant phone number; (f) the server causing the first voice communication leg and the second voice communication leg to be bridged to thereby establish the duplex voice communication session over the voice network between the user telephone associated with the user phone number of the user and the merchant telephone associated with the merchant phone number of the accepting merchant; and (g) the server causing the definite fee to appear on a bill for telephone service of the accepting merchant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A process performed by a server, the process comprising:
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(a) the server receiving a request over a data network from a computing device of a user to cause a duplex voice communication session over a voice network to be established between a user telephone associated with a user phone number of the user and a merchant telephone associated with a merchant phone number of a merchant from a group of one two or more merchants capable of providing a good or service specified in the request, wherein the user telephone is separate and distinct from the computing device of the user; (b) the server causing a first voice communication leg to be made to the user phone number; (c) the server generating a notice to a plurality of the merchants of the group of merchants capable of providing the good or service specified in the request, the generating performed for the plurality of the merchants at approximately the same time, the notice including an offer to establish the duplex voice communication session with the user in exchange for payment of a definite fee; (d) the server receiving from a group of at least two accepting merchants an acceptance of the offer; (e) the server selecting one of the accepting merchants from the group of accepting merchants as the designated merchant; (f) the server causing a second voice communication leg to be made to the designated merchant at the merchant phone number; (g) the server causing the first voice communication leg and the second voice communication leg to be bridged to thereby establish the duplex voice communication session over the voice network between the user telephone associated with the user phone number of the user and the merchant telephone associated with the merchant phone number of the designated merchant; and (h) the server causing the definite fee to appear on a bill for telephone service of the designated merchant. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification