Internet protocol (IP) phone with search and advertising capability

• US 20050207432A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: H-W Technology LC (H-W Technology)
• Original Assignee: Commoca, Inc.
• Inventors: Velez-Rivera, Carlos J., Olivares-Arocho, Inaki, Cruz-Rivera, Jose L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1041 Televoting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A software platform in an Internet Protocol (IP) phone having the ability to be used with different communication infrastructures such as broadband, wireless communication and Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) service. Further, the software platform in the IP phone has the ability to be used with different applications operating on the IP phone. Further, the IP phone has the ability to perform additional functionality than traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) phones, such as searches advertising, given its ability to converge voice and data within a single terminal.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an Internet Protocol (IP) phone coupled to a server, wherein said IP phone is configured to receive contextual information from said server, wherein said IP phone comprises;

a memory unit operable for storing a computer program for performing contextual searches;

a processor coupled to said memory unit, wherein said processor, responsive to said computer program, comprises;

circuitry for receiving a command to perform a contextual search;

circuitry for receiving search criteria;

circuitry for submitting said search criteria to said server; and

circuitry for receiving from said server a list of merchants matching said search criteria and information regarding each of said merchants in said list.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said server is configured to log actions of a user associated with viewing said list of merchants and contacting said merchants in said list.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said search criteria comprises a location and a type of service establishment.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said information regarding each of said merchants in said list comprises a name and contact information.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for storing said information on one of said merchants in said list selected by a user of said IP phone in a directory in said IP phone.

6. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said contact information comprises a telephone number, wherein said processor further comprises:

circuitry for receiving a selection of said telephone number associated with one of said merchants in said list selected by a user of said IP phone; and

circuitry for initiating a telephone call to said selected merchant via one of a wireless network, a voice network, a public switched telephone network and a data network.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said merchants in said list of merchants select one of a plurality of advertising services, wherein each of said plurality of advertising services provides a different level of advertising exposure.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said different levels of advertising exposure comprise a different amount of contextual information presented to a user of said IP phone.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a user of said IP phone completes a transaction with one of said merchants listed without the need to generate a voice call.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said information received by said user of said IP phone comprises a variety of offers, wherein said user selects one of said variety of offers associated with said one of said merchants listed, wherein said selected offer is transmitted to said one of said merchants listed electronically.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said user'"'"'s contact and payment information is not transmitted to said one of said merchants listed, wherein said user'"'"'s contact and payment information is available to said one of said merchants listed.

12. A method for performing contextual searches on an Internet Phone (IP) phone comprising the steps of:

receiving a command to perform a contextual search;

receiving search criteria from a user of said IP phone;

submitting said search criteria to a server coupled to said IP phone; and

receiving from said server a list of merchants matching said search criteria and information regarding each of said merchants in said list.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of:

logging actions of said user associated with viewing said list of merchants and contacting said merchants in said list.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said search criteria comprises a location and a type of service establishment.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said information regarding each of said merchants in said list comprises a name and contact information.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the step of:

storing said information on one of said merchants in said list selected by said user in a directory in said IP phone.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said contact information comprises a telephone number, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

receiving a selection of said telephone number associated with one of said merchants in said list selected by said user; and

initiating a telephone call to said selected merchant via one of a wireless network, a voice network, a public switched telephone network and a data network.

18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said merchants in said list of merchants select one of a plurality of advertising services, wherein each of said plurality of advertising services provides a different level of advertising exposure.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said different levels of advertising exposure comprise a different amount of contextual information presented to said user.

20. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said user completes a transaction with one of said merchants listed without the need to generate a voice call.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein said information received by said user comprises a variety of offers, wherein said user selects one of said variety of offers associated with said one of said merchants listed, wherein said selected offer is transmitted to said one of said merchants listed electronically.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said user'"'"'s contact and payment information is not transmitted to said one of said merchants listed, wherein said user'"'"'s contact and payment information is available to said one of said merchants listed.

23. A computer program product embodied in a machine readable medium for performing contextual searches on an Internet Phone (IP) phone comprising the programming steps of:

receiving a command to perform a contextual search;

receiving search criteria from a user of said IP phone;

submitting said search criteria to a server coupled to said IP phone; and

receiving from said server a list of merchants matching said search criteria and information regarding each of said merchants in said list.

24. The computer program product as recited in claim 23, wherein said server is configured to log actions of a user associated with viewing said list of merchants and contacting said merchants in said list.

25. The computer program product as recited in claim 23, wherein said search criteria comprises a location and a type of service establishment.

26. The computer program product as recited in claim 23, wherein said information regarding each of said merchants in said list comprises a name and contact information.

27. The computer program product as recited in claim 26 further comprising the programming step of:

storing said information on one of said merchants in said list selected by said user in a directory in said IP phone.

28. The computer program product as recited in claim 26, wherein said contact information comprises a telephone number, wherein the computer program product further comprises the programming steps of:

receiving a selection of said telephone number associated with one of said merchants in said list selected by said user; and

initiating a telephone call to said selected merchant via one of a wireless network, a voice network, a public switched telephone network and a data network.

29. The computer program product as recited in claim 23, wherein said merchants in said list of merchants select one of a plurality of advertising services, wherein each of said plurality of advertising services provides a different level of advertising exposure.

30. The computer program product as recited in claim 29, wherein said different level of advertising exposure comprises a different amount of contextual information presented to said user.

31. The computer program product as recited in claim 23, wherein said user completes a transaction with one of said merchants listed without the need to generate a voice call.

32. The computer program product as recited in claim 31, wherein said information received by said user comprises a variety of offers, wherein said user selects one of said variety of offers associated with said one of said merchants listed, wherein said selected offer is transmitted to said one of said merchants listed electronically.

33. The computer program product as recited in claim 32, wherein said user'"'"'s contact and payment information is not transmitted to said one of said merchants listed, wherein said user'"'"'s contact and payment information is available to said one of said merchants listed.

34. A system, comprising:

an Internet connected device coupled to a server, wherein said Internet connected device is configured to receive a ballot from said server, wherein said Internet connected device comprises;

a memory unit operable for storing a computer program for performing a vote on said ballot;

a processor coupled to said memory unit, wherein said processor, responsive to said computer program, comprises;

circuitry for receiving said ballot from said server;

circuitry for selecting one of a yes, no or abstain for each issue on said ballot; and

circuitry for submitting said selections for each issue on said ballot to said server.

35. A method for performing a vote on a ballot displayed on an IP phone comprising the steps of:

receiving said ballot from a server coupled to said IP phone;

selecting one of a yes, no or abstain for each issue on said ballot; and

submitting said selections for each issue on said ballot to said server.

36. A computer program product embodied in a machine readable medium for performing a vote on a ballot displayed on an IP phone comprising the programming steps of:

receiving said ballot from a server coupled to said IP phone;

selecting one of a yes, no or abstain for each issue on said ballot; and

submitting said selections for each issue on said ballot to said server.

37. A system, comprising:

an Internet Protocol (IP) phone comprising a software platform, wherein said software platform comprises;

a first layer controlling a hardware configuration of said IP phone;

a second layer interacting with said first layer, wherein said second layer provides an execution environment;

a third layer interacting with said second layer, wherein said third layer interfaces with multiple communication infrastructures;

a fourth layer interacting with said third layer, wherein said fourth layer provides communication services and data services required by applications; and

a fifth layer interacting with said fourth layer, wherein said fifth layer implements logic used to run applications operating on said IP phone.

38. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein said second layer communicates with said third layer and vice-versa via a first application programming interface that provides common methods to access services provided by an operating system.

39. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein said third layer communicates with said fourth layer and vice-versa via a second application programming interface that provides reusable methods to access base communication services independent of an installed infrastructure.

40. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein said fourth layer communicates with said fifth layer and vice-versa via a third application programming interface that provides a standard method to access base services previously developed.

41. A method for developing domain-specific applications for Internet Protocol (IP) phones comprising the steps of:

defining a requirement specification for an application;

identifying features of a first software layer in a software platform of an IP phone to be incorporated into said application, wherein said first software layer is configured to provide communication services and data services required by said application;

enabling said identified features in said first layer in said software platform of said IP phone;

building a client interface to allow features required for said application to be implemented but are not covered by said first layer to collaborate with said first layer in said software platform of said IP phone; and

implementing said features not covered by said first layer but are required for said application to be implemented.

42. A system, comprising:

a server, wherein said server comprises;

a front-end console configured to present a selective view of all data accessible;

a transaction engine coupled to said front-end console, wherein said transaction engine is configured to handle transactions from an Internet Protocol (IP) phone coupled to said server;

a plurality of databases coupled to said transaction engine, wherein said plurality of databases is configured to store sales information, records of transactions, vendor information, consumer information and scheduling information as to when transaction applications are distributed; and

a settlement manager coupled to said front-end console and said transaction engine, wherein said settlement manager is configured to maintain a log of actions performed by a user of said IP phone during a communication session with said server.

43. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein said front-end console allows merchants to submit multi-media advertising content as well as scheduled dates and times when advertisements should be distributed.

44. The system as recited in claim 42 further comprises:

said IP phone coupled to said server, wherein said IP phone comprises;

a client protocol engine configured to handle communications with said server; and

a plurality of software modules and databases coupled to said client protocol engine.