Method and apparatus to allocate and recycle telephone numbers in a call-tracking system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- allocating, using a computing device, a telephonic reference to an advertisement of a first advertiser for presentation to a first user;
receiving, using the computing device, a first call to the telephonic reference from a first user device associated with the first user while the telephonic reference is allocated to the advertisement of the first advertiser;
re-allocating, using the computing device, the telephonic reference to an advertisement of a second advertiser;
responsive to a second call to the telephonic reference after the advertisement of the second advertiser is presented with the telephonic reference, determining, using the computing device, if the second call is from the first user device;
if the second call is from the first user device, connecting the second call to the first advertiser; and
if the second call is not from the first user device, connecting the second call to the second advertiser.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method. The method includes dynamically allocating a telephone number to an advertisement on a just-in-time basis; and if the telephone number is not called for a predefined period of time, then unallocating the telephone number.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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allocating, using a computing device, a telephonic reference to an advertisement of a first advertiser for presentation to a first user; receiving, using the computing device, a first call to the telephonic reference from a first user device associated with the first user while the telephonic reference is allocated to the advertisement of the first advertiser; re-allocating, using the computing device, the telephonic reference to an advertisement of a second advertiser; responsive to a second call to the telephonic reference after the advertisement of the second advertiser is presented with the telephonic reference, determining, using the computing device, if the second call is from the first user device; if the second call is from the first user device, connecting the second call to the first advertiser; and if the second call is not from the first user device, connecting the second call to the second advertiser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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at least one processor; and a memory storing instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to; allocate a telephonic reference to an advertisement of a first advertiser for presentation to a first user; receive a first call to the telephonic reference from a first user device associated with the first user while the telephonic reference is allocated to the advertisement of the first advertiser; re-allocate the telephonic reference to an advertisement of a second advertiser; responsive to a second call to the telephonic reference after the advertisement of the second advertiser is presented with the telephonic reference, determine if the second call is from the first user device; if the second call is from the first user device, connect the second call to the first advertiser; and if the second call is not from the first user device, connect the second call to the second advertiser. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A tangible computer-storage medium storing instructions configured to instruct a computing device to:
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allocate a telephonic reference to an advertisement of a first advertiser for presentation to a first user; receive a first call to the telephonic reference from a first user device associated with the first user while the telephonic reference is allocated to the advertisement of the first advertiser; re-allocate the telephonic reference to an advertisement of a second advertiser; responsive to a second call to the telephonic reference after the advertisement of the second advertiser is presented with the telephonic reference, determine if the second call is from the first user device; if the second call is from the first user device, connect the second call to the first advertiser; and if the second call is not from the first user device, connect the second call to the second advertiser. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification