Methods and apparatuses to connect users of mobile devices to advertisers
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- providing, by a connection server, a user interface element to a mobile communication device, the user interface element for display on a user interface of the mobile communication device, wherein the user interface element represents a communication reference associated with a predefined category of services;
receiving, from the mobile communication device, a communication request associated with the communication reference;
in response to the communication request, selecting, by the connection server, a service provider from a plurality of service providers for the predefined category of services, wherein the selected service provider has offered a highest bid to handle the communication request;
connecting the mobile communication device to the selected service provider; and
charging the selected service provider for the connection based on the selected service provider'"'"'s bid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses to connect a user of a telephony device to a selected one of service providers of a predefined category. One embodiment includes: providing a user interface element on a dial interface of a telephonic device to represent a communication reference associated with a pre-defined category of services; and responsive to a user selection of the user interface element, initiating a request from the telephonic device using the communication reference for a telephone connection to a service provider of the pre-defined category; where the service provider is to be selected from a plurality of service providers of the pre-defined category in response to the request and to be charged in response to a telephone lead connected to the service provider.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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providing, by a connection server, a user interface element to a mobile communication device, the user interface element for display on a user interface of the mobile communication device, wherein the user interface element represents a communication reference associated with a predefined category of services; receiving, from the mobile communication device, a communication request associated with the communication reference; in response to the communication request, selecting, by the connection server, a service provider from a plurality of service providers for the predefined category of services, wherein the selected service provider has offered a highest bid to handle the communication request; connecting the mobile communication device to the selected service provider; and charging the selected service provider for the connection based on the selected service provider'"'"'s bid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A tangible machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a connection server, cause the connection server to:
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provide a user interface element to a mobile communication device, the user interface element for display on a user interface of the mobile communication device, wherein the user interface element represents a communication reference associated with a predefined category of services; receive, from the mobile communication device, a communication request associated with the communication reference; in response to the communication request, select a service provider from a plurality of service providers for the predefined category of services, wherein the selected service provider has offered a highest bid to handle the communication request; connect the mobile communication device to the selected service provider; and charge the selected service provider for the connection based on the selected service provider'"'"'s bid.
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20. A system, comprising:
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at least one processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to; provide a user interface element to a mobile communication device, the user interface element for display on a user interface of the mobile communication device, wherein the user interface element represents a communication reference associated with a predefined category of services; receive, from the mobile communication device, a communication request associated with the communication reference; in response to the communication request, select a service provider from a plurality of service providers for the predefined category of services, wherein the selected service provider has offered a highest bid to handle the communication request; connect the mobile communication device to the selected service provider; and charge the selected service provider for the connection based on the selected service provider'"'"'s bid.
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Specification