Technique for call context based advertising through an information assistance service

• US 8,467,507 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Inventors: Timmins, Timothy A., Johnson, Karen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Application Number:
  US13/227,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20120059715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.01, 379/88.13, 379/88.22, 379/114.13, 709/206, 4554141-4144, 705/14.49
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/00 Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/15 Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

In providing an information assistance service in a call by a user, the context of the call is ascertained. Context information is derived from information exchanges during the call. Inferences as to types of advertisement pertinent to the user location, event, etc. are drawn based on the context information. Pertinent advertisements, which may be further individualized based on personal preferences, are provided to the user at the conclusion of the call, or otherwise transmitted to the user via voicemail, SMS, email, WAP, paging, facsimile, instant messaging, text messaging, picture phone, video phone, etc.

Claims

1. A method for providing advertisements, comprising:

receiving a communication in which a user requests an information assistance service;

identifying a context of the communication from said user'"'"'s verbal words exchanged in the communication, wherein the information exchanges include said words exchanged between the user and a provider of the information assistance service that are recorded as text transcription;

deriving data relating to the context from said user'"'"'s words exchanged during the communication wherein said context of the communication and said data relating to the context are derived from said text transcription;

selecting at least one advertisement from among a plurality of available advertisements, where the selection of the one advertisement is based on the derived data; and

providing the selected at least one advertisement to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information assistance service includes a service for conducting a transaction for the user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the transaction involves a purchase of a product or service.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the purchase includes a purchase of one or more tickets for a movie desired by the user.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the data concerns an address of a theater showing the movie.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the data concerns a genre of the movie.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the data concerns a title of the movie.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the data concerns a name of a theater showing the movie.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the advertisement is selected based also on a preference specified by the user before the communication.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user in a language based on the language preference specified by the user before the communication.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user during the communication.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user via a method of transmission preferred by the user.