Method and apparatus for content presentation in association with a telephone call

• US 9,794,422 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2016
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vusura Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Wendell D. Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Wendell D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US15/217,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20160330333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 370230, 37911401, 37911413, 705 1426, 705 17, 705 40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• 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 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8351 before establishing a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8353 during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8355 after the end of the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/846 optical, e.g. icon
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/848 Tone, e.g. beeper
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 Biometric subscriber identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7231 by SIM, e.g. smart card account in SCP, SDP or SN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4365 : based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 : Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 : where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0051 : where the data service is a multimedia messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 : for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/23 : for mobile advertising

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for presenting multimedia content to a caller and/or a called party in association with a telephone call. Content may be presented pre-ring (before the called party'"'"'s telephone rings), in-call, and/or post-call. Content presented to a party may be related to another party participating in the call or may be related to a third party. Presented content may be actuable, and allow a caller to change the destination of a call, take advantage of an offer presented to him, redeem a coupon, schedule or queue a subsequent call, etc. To find a desired destination party, a caller may initiate a manual or automatic search of his local contacts (on his telephone) and/or a central or global directory or contact list. A party to a call may be offered one or more payment mechanisms for completing a purchase in an on-line or real-world transaction.

Claims

1. A method of controlling presentation of content on a communication device, the method comprising:

receiving notification of initiation of a call from a first communication device operated by a first party to a second communication device operated by a second party;

transmitting a signal to the first communication device to delay dialing the call, without soliciting action by the first party;

in association with a payment, causing one or more payment mechanism options to be displayed at the communication device operated by the payor, wherein the payor is one of the first party and the second party; and

receiving a selection of a first payment mechanism.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating the payment using the first payment mechanism;

wherein one or more terms of the payment are displayed on one or more of the first communication device and the second communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more terms are displayed during the call and one or more of:

before the call is connected between the first communication device and the second communication device; and

after the call is terminated.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to selection of the first payment mechanism, automatically receiving from the device operated by the payor at least one parameter of the first payment mechanism, without requiring action by the payor.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the communication device operated by the payor, biometric data verifying an identity of the payor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the communication device operated by the payor, trusted data from an embedded component of the communication device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the trusted data comprises location information identifying a location of the communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting to one or both of the first communication device and the second communication device pre-ring content to be displayed before the call rings at the second communication device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting to one or both of the first communication device and the second communication device in-call content to be displayed during the call.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the in-call content comprises:

one or more terms of the payment; and

the one or more payment mechanism options.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting to one or both of the first communication device and the second communication device post-call content to be displayed after the call.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more payment mechanism options are caused to be displayed during the delay.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of controlling presentation of content on a communication device, the method comprising:

receiving notification of initiation of a call from a first communication device operated by a first party to a second communication device operated by a second party;

transmitting a signal to the first communication device to delay dialing the call, without soliciting action by the first party;

in association with a payment, causing one or more payment mechanism options to be displayed at the communication device operated by the payor, wherein the payor is one of the first party and the second party; and

receiving a selection of a first payment mechanism.

14. A system for controlling presentation of content on a communication device external to the system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to;

receive notification of initiation of a call from a first communication device operated by a first party to a second communication device operated by a second party;

transmit a signal to the first communication device to delay dialing the call, without soliciting action by the first party;

in association with a payment, cause one or more payment mechanism options to be displayed at the communication device operated by the payor, wherein the payor is one of the first party and the second party; and

receive a selection of a first payment mechanism.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:

initiate the payment using the first payment mechanism;

wherein one or more terms of the payment are displayed on one or more of the first communication device and the second communication device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more terms are displayed during the call and one or more of:

before the call is connected between the first communication device and the second communication device; and

after the call is terminated.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:

in response to selection of the first payment mechanism, automatically receive from the device operated by the payor at least one parameter of the first payment mechanism, without requiring action by the payor.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:

receive, from the communication device operated by the payor, biometric data verifying an identity of the payor.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:

receive, from the communication device operated by the payor, trusted data from an embedded component of the communication device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the trusted data comprises location information identifying a location of the communication device.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:

transmit to one or both of the first communication device and the second communication device pre-ring content to be displayed before the call rings at the second communication device.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:

transmit to one or both of the first communication device and the second communication device in-call content to be displayed during the call.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the in-call content comprises:

one or more terms of the payment; and

the one or more payment mechanism options.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:

transmit to one or both of the first communication device and the second communication device post-call content to be displayed after the call.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more payment mechanism options are caused to be displayed during the delay.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

upon initiation by an operator of the apparatus of a call from the apparatus, transmit a notification of the call to a remote communication system;

receive from the remote communication system a signal regarding delay of the call;

in response to the signal, delay placement of the call;

in association with a payment by the operator, display one or more payment mechanism options;

receive from the operator a selection of a first payment mechanism; and

transmit the selection.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

place the call; and

receive from the remote communication system and display for the operator one or more of;

pre-call content displayed before the call is connected;

in-call content displayed during the call; and

post-call content displayed after the call.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

displaying one or more terms of the payment; and

initiating the payment using the first payment mechanism.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

in response to selection of the first payment mechanism, automatically receive from a storage component of the apparatus at least one parameter of the first payment mechanism, without requiring action by the operator.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the one or more payment mechanism options are displayed during the delay.

31. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

upon initiation by an operator of the apparatus of a call from the apparatus, transmit a notification of the call to a remote communication system;

receive from the remote communication system a signal regarding delay of the call;

in response to the signal, delay placement of the call;

place the call after termination of the delay; and

receive from the remote communication system and display for the operator one or more of;

pre-call content displayed before the call is connected;

in-call content displayed during the call; and

post-call content displayed after the call.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

transmit to the remote communication system biometric data verifying an identity of the operator.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

transmit to the remote communication system trusted data obtained from an embedded component of the apparatus.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the trusted data comprises location information identifying a location of the apparatus.