Method and apparatus for delivering and tracking click/call information for PSTN and digital telephone networks

• US 8,223,955 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadsoft Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadsoft Casabi, LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pounds, Greg, Koverman, Chris, Kwo, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Joseph J
• Application Number:
  US11/931,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20080089506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.1, 379/114.13, 705/14.49, 705 1454- 1456, 705/14.64, 705 1467- 1469, 705/14.72, 705/14.73
• US Class Current: 379/265.09
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 : adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 : by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 : by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 : with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 : for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 : with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 : including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/08 : home cordless telephone systems using the DECT standard
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service

Abstract

A method and apparatus turns a typical home telephone system into a platform for delivery of web based content and services. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a broadband enabled telephone system for the home and a series of web servers that collect, package, and deliver personalized content and services to all of the telephone handsets throughout the home. With this end-to-end solution, any information or services available via the web can be delivered through a broadband enabled telephone system. Through the web, each member of a family can build a profile which defines what information and services they want available through the handset. In addition, each handset can be dynamically personalized for any family member. The color screens on the handsets become windows through which an individual can view and interact with a broad range of content and services. The audio channels thus become an extension of the voice based services, such as messaging and voice chat.

Claims

1. A method for delivering and tracking information for telephone networks, comprising the steps of:

a user of a telephone handset (“

handset”

) entering a search query;

executing a multi-modal search using said search query for one or more vendors selected from among a group of vendors consisting of;

click to call vendors, pay per call vendors, and a combination of click to call vendors and pay per call vendors, wherein said search query is executed by performing;

a general listing category search for the search query entered by the user against a local directory of vendors; and

a specific advertisement category search comprising accessing multiple vendors who have specific advertisements in specific categories related to said search query;

combining search results from said general listing search results and specific advertisement search results for display on a single handset screen;

sending said combined results to said user for display to said user on said handset;

wherein said user can browse between said general listing search results and specific advertisement search results on said handset; and

making a voice communications call from said handset directly to a vendor selected from among said multiple vendors and said local directory over a network selected from among a PSTN network and a digital telephone network when the user selects a particular listing from among said vendors listed in said local directory and said specific advertisements; and

tracking whether said voice communications call is connected uniquely to a telephone number associated with a particular advertiser, tracking metrics and reporting metrics of said voice communications call when it is connected uniquely to the telephone number associated with the particular advertiser; and

reporting to said advertiser that said voice communications call was connected said telephone number.

2. The method of claim 1, said multiple vendors comprising:

a combination of telephone directory ads and unique pay-per-call entries.

3. The method of claim 1, said combining step further comprising the step of:

combining user access via said handset to specific advertisements and said local directory during a network search directly with user access to either said PSTN, said digital telephone network, or both said PSTN and said digital telephone network via said handset;

wherein user entry of a telephone number is eliminated.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

presenting said combined results to said user as a list that is ordered based on how much advertisers have paid to be on the list.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

automatically recognizing said search results and telephone numbers contained within such search results;

rendering said telephone numbers for display to said user on said handset; and

making a voice communication call to a telephone number via said PSTN or digital telephone network when said user selects a particular listing from among said search results.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

tracking and reporting metrics of click throughs associated with said particular advertiser.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

implementing said method in a broadband enabled telephone system in which SIP messages are sent to and from a SIP end point.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

providing at least one base station comprising;

a first communications facility;

a broadband network connection for establishing and maintaining broadband access to a network via said first communications facility; and

a second communications facility for interacting with, and maintaining profile information for, a plurality of telephone handsets (“

handsets”

).

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

providing a plurality of telephone handsets (“

handsets”

), each handset comprising;

means for communicating with, and uniquely identifying itself to, said base station via said second communications facility;

client means for providing an interface to a handset user by which said user operates a handset to interact with said network via said base station and by which said user builds a profile which defines what information and services are provided to a user through a particular handset.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

said base station acting as a proxy for said handsets; and

said base station storing said profile information;

wherein each handset can be dynamically personalized for a plurality of users by user selection of a particular handset profile stored in said base station via said client means.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

providing at least one server for collecting, packaging, and delivering personalized content and services on demand to each of said telephone system handsets via said base station in accordance with profile information contained on said base station for said handsets;

wherein information and services available via said network are delivered to a plurality of users of a plurality of handsets through said broadband enabled telephone system.

12. An apparatus for delivering and tracking information for telephone networks, comprising:

a telephone handset (“

handset”

) with which a user enters a search query;

a search module configured for executing a multi-modal search using said search query for one or more vendors selected from among a group of vendors consisting of;

click to call vendors, pay per call vendors, and a combination of click to call vendors and pay per call vendors, wherein said search query is executed by performing;

a general listing category search for the search query entered by the user against a local directory of vendors; and

a specific advertisement category search comprising accessing multiple vendors who have specific advertisements in specific categories related to said search query;

a combiner for combining search results from said general listing search results and specific advertisement search results for display on a single handset screen; and

a bus configured for sending said combined results to said user for display to said user on said handset;

wherein said user can browse between said general listing search results and specific advertisement search results on said handset; and

means for making a voice communications call from said handset directly to a vendor selected from among said multiple vendors and said local directory over a network selected from among a PSTN network and a digital telephone network when the user selects a particular listing from among said vendors listed in said local directory and said specific advertisements; and

means for tracking whether said voice communications call is connected uniquely to a telephone number associated with a particular advertiser, means for tracking metrics and reporting metrics of said voice communications call when it is connected uniquely to the telephone number associated with the particular advertiser; and

means for reporting to said advertiser that said voice communications call was connected said telephone number.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, said multiple vendors comprising:

a combination of telephone directory ads and unique pay-per-call entries.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for combining user access via said handset to ads during a network search directly with user access to said telephone network via said handset;

wherein user entry of a telephone number is eliminated.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for presenting said combined results to said user as a list that is ordered based on how much advertisers have paid to be on the list.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for automatically recognizing said search results and telephone numbers contained within such search results;

means for rendering said telephone numbers for display to said user on said handset; and

means for making a voice communication call to a telephone number via said telephone network when said user selects a particular listing from among said search results.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means tracking and reporting metrics of click throughs associated with said particular advertiser.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, implemented in a broadband enabled telephone system in which SIP messages are sent to and from a SIP end point further comprising:

at least one base station comprising;

a first communications facility;

a broadband network connection for establishing and maintaining broadband access to a network via said first communications facility; and

a second communications facility for interacting with, and maintaining profile information for, a plurality of telephone handsets (“

handsets”

); and

a plurality of handsets, each handset comprising;

means for communicating with, and uniquely identifying itself to, said base station via said second communications facility;

client means for providing an interface to a handset user by which said user operates a handset to interact with said network via said base station and by which said user builds a profile which defines what information and services are provided to a user through a particular handset.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

said base station acts as a proxy for said handsets;

said base station stores said profile information; and

each handset can be dynamically personalized for a plurality of users by user selection of a particular handset profile stored in said base station via said client means.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

at least one server for collecting, packaging, and delivering personalized content and services on demand to each of said telephone system handsets via said base station in accordance with profile information contained on said base station for said handsets;

wherein information and services available via said network are delivered to a plurality of users of a plurality of handsets through said broadband enabled telephone system.