Selective presentation of real-time contact options based on user and system parameters

• US 10,832,253 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2019
• Issued: 11/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Stuart, Erik Anderson, Grove, Brian Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung-Hoang J
• Application Number:
  US16/731,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20200134634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Embodiments for presenting real-time contact options are described herein. In example embodiments, as system identifies a number of user devices actively viewing a web page that includes a real-time contact option. The system then determines whether the number of user devices actively viewing the web page that includes the real-time contact option exceeds a predetermined limit. If the number of user devices actively viewing the web page that includes the real-time contact option exceeds the predetermined limit, the system prevents presentation, to a further user device, of the real-time contact option on the web page. Conversely, if the number of user devices actively viewing the web page that includes the real-time contact option does not exceed the predetermined limit, the system causes presentation of the web page with the real-time contact option to the further user device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a number of real-time communications for each of a plurality of real-time contact types conducted by a first user in a predetermined time interval, the plurality of real-time contact types including voice and instant message;

determining, by a hardware processor, whether the number of real-time communications exceeds a predetermined limit for each of the plurality of real-time contact types, the predetermined limit varying as a function of the real-time contact type;

based on the number of real-time communications exceeding the predetermined limit for a first type of the real-time contact types and not exceeding the predetermined limit for a second type of the real-time contact types, preventing presentation, to a device of the first user, of a real-time communications option for the first type on a web page or a mobile application while-causing presentation, to the device of the first user, of the real-time communications option for the second type on the web page or the mobile application, a selection of the real-time communication option for the second type triggering an attempt to contact an active second user using the second type.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined limit is based on a number of real-time voice communications.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined limit is based on a number of real-time instant messaging communications.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the real-time communications option for the second type from the first user;

in response to receiving the selection, transmitting a communication to a device of a second user indicating a request for real-time communications; and

in response to an acceptance of the request, causing the real-time communications to occur between the first user and the second user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the real-time communications option for the second type from the first user;

in response to receiving the selection, transmitting a communication to a device of a second user indicating a request for real-time communications;

receiving a response to the request from the second user; and

transmitting a notification of the response to the device of the first user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the real-time communications option for the second type from the first user;

in response to receiving the selection, transmitting a communication to a device of a second user indicating a request for real-time communications;

determining that the second user has not responded to the request within a predetermined time period; and

generating and transmitting a declination reply in response to the second user not responding to the request within the predetermined time period.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the second user is not active, providing a message option to the first user.

8. A system comprising:

one or more hardware processors; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more hardware processors, cause the one or more hardware processors to perform operations comprising;

identifying a number of real-time communications for each of a plurality of real-time contact types conducted by a first user in a predetermined time interval, the plurality of real-time contact types including voice and instant message;

determining whether the number of real-time communications exceeds a predetermined limit for each of the plurality of real-time contact types, the predetermined limit varying as a function of the real-time contact type;

based on the number of real-time communications exceeding the predetermined limit for a first type of the real-time contact types and not exceeding the predetermined limit for a second type of the real-time contact types, preventing presentation, to a device of the first user, of a real-time communications option for the first type on a web page or a mobile application while-causing presentation, to the device of the first user, of the real-time communications option for the second type on the web page or the mobile application, a selection of the real-time communication option for the second type triggering an attempt to contact an active second user using the second type.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined limit is based on a number of real-time voice communications.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined limit is based on a number of real-time instant messaging communications.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a selection of the real-time communications option for the second type from the first user;

in response to receiving the selection, transmitting a communication to a device of a second user indicating a request for real-time communications; and

in response to an acceptance of the request, causing the real-time communications to occur between the first user and the second user.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a selection of the real-time communications option for the second type from the first user;

in response to the selection, transmitting a communication to a device of a second user indicating a request for real-time communications;

receiving a response to the request from the second user; and

transmitting a notification of the response to the device of the first user.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a selection of the real-time communications option for the second type from the first user;

in response to receiving the selection, transmitting a communication to a device of a second user indicating a request for real-time communications;

determining that the second user has not responded to the request within a predetermined time period; and

generating and transmitting a declination reply in response to the second user not responding to the request within the predetermined time period.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to determining that the second user is not active, providing a message option to the first user.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

identifying a number of real-time communications for each of a plurality of real-time contact types conducted by a first user in a predetermined time interval, the plurality of real-time contact types including voice and instant message;

determining whether the number of real-time communications exceeds a predetermined limit for each of the plurality of real-time contact types, the predetermined limit varying as a function of the real-time contact type;

based on the number of real-time communications exceeding the predetermined limit for a first type of the real-time contact types and not exceeding the predetermined limit for a second type of the real-time contact types, preventing presentation, to a device of the first user, of a real-time communications option for the first type on a web page or a mobile application while causing presentation, to the device of the first user, of the real-time communications option for the second type on the web page or the mobile application, a selection of the real-time communication option for the second type triggering an attempt to contact an active second user using the second type.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the predetermined limit is based on a number of real-time voice communications.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the predetermined limit is based on a number of real-time instant messaging communications.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a selection of the real-time communications option for the second type from the first user; and

in response to receiving the selection, transmitting a communication to a device of a second user indicating a request for real-time communications.