System and method for enhanced directory assistance including commercial features

• US 8,700,024 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Inventors: McGary, Faith, Bates, Michael, Sunners, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): SIVJI, NIZAR N
• Application Number:
  US12/070,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20080215442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,246 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/414.2, 455/422.1, 455406-411, 705/64
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4933 with operator assistance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method for enhanced commercial activities to a mobile device user includes providing a user with an application for use on a mobile wireless device and receiving an incoming communication from the wireless device via the application at an enhanced services platform of a directory assistance center. Stored account information, associated with the user is retrieved and a coded information is received from the wireless device, where the coded information is generated by the application based on input uploaded onto the wireless device by the user obtained from any one of the group selected from a product advertisement, a product price tag and digital image of a product. The coded information is parsed at the enhanced services platform, options are retrieved related to a product corresponding to the coded information and the user is provided with options relating to the product.

Claims

1. A method for providing enhanced commercial activities to a mobile device user, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a user with an application for use in conducting commercial transactions through a mobile wireless device, said application configured to display at least a first advertisement related to at least one commercial product;

receiving an incoming communication from said wireless device, via said application, at an enhanced services platform of a directory assistance center, wherein information about said at least first advertisement and said at least one commercial product is processed by said enhanced services platform;

retrieving stored account information associated with said user;

retrieving options related to said commercial product and providing said user with said options relating to said commercial product; and

based on said commercial product and based on said retrieved stored account information associated with said user, selecting at least one second advertisement for display on said user'"'"'s device via said application, said at least one second advertisement being related to said commercial product, wherein said at least one second-advertisement for display on said user'"'"'s device is displayed on a skin advertising space of said application on a display on said mobile device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said application is an advertiser supported widget supported by said enhanced services platform.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said account information includes billing/shipping information and payment method authorizations.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said application displays said at least a first advertisement related to at least one commercial product based on information from an RFID tag in an advertisement.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of providing said user with options relating to said commercial product is based on a cooperative arrangement between the directory assistance center and a commercial enterprise that makes said commercial product.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a step of providing said commercial enterprise with a report, including demographic data on said user that received said at least a first advertisement on said application relating to said commercial product.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of providing said user with options relating to said product include options selected from the group consisting of offer to buy said product now, offer to buy said product in the future, and offer to provide information about said product.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one second-advertisement for display on said user'"'"'s device is displayed on a skin advertising space of said application on a display on said mobile device.