Method and Apparatus for Delivering and Tracking Click/Call Information for PSTN and Digital Telephone Networks

• US 20080089506A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadsoft Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadsoft Casabi, LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koverman, Chris, Pounds, Greg, Kwo, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,223,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/218.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• 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 1/2757 : by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 : by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 : with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 : for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 : with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 : including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/08 : home cordless telephone systems using the DECT standard
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service

Abstract

A method and apparatus turns a typical home telephone system into a platform for delivery of web based content and services. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a broadband enabled telephone system for the home and a series of web servers that collect, package, and deliver personalized content and services to all of the telephone handsets throughout the home. With this end-to-end solution, any information or services available via the web can be delivered through a broadband enabled telephone system. Through the web, each member of a family can build a profile which defines what information and services they want available through the handset. In addition, each handset can be dynamically personalized for any family member. The color screens on the handsets become windows through which an individual can view and interact with a broad range of content and services. The audio channels thus become an extension of the voice based services, such as messaging and voice chat.

Claims

1. A method for delivering and tracking click/call information for PSTN and/or digital telephone networks, comprising the steps of:

a user of a handset entering a search query;

executing said search query by performing a category search for the search query entered by the user against a local directory;

at the same time as the search query is executed, accessing multiple click-to-call and/or pay-per-call vendors who have specific advertisements in specific categories related to said search query;

combining search results from said local directory and said multiple click-to-call and/or pay-per-call vendors for display on a single handset screen;

sending said combined results to said user for display to said user on said handset;

wherein said user can browse between said local directory and said click-to-call and/or pay-per-call listing on said handset; and

making a voice communications call from said handset directly to a listed click-to-call and/or pay-per-call service over the PSTN and/or digital telephone network when the user selects a particular listing.

2. The method of claim 1, said multiple click-to-call and/or pay-per-call vendors comprising:

a combination of telephone directory ads and unique pay-per-call entries.

3. The method of claim 1, said combining step further comprising the step of:

combining user access via said handset to multiple click-to-call and/or pay-per-call ads during a network search directly with user access to said PSTN and/or digital telephone network via said handset;

wherein user entry of a click-to-call and/or pay-per-call telephone number is eliminated.

4. The method of claim 1, said executing step further comprising the step of:

returning search results to the user that comprise both advertising information and click-to-call and/or pay-per-call information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

presenting said combined results to said user as a list that is ordered based on how much advertisers have paid to be on the list.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

automatically recognizing said search results and telephone numbers contained within such search results;

rendering said telephone numbers for display to said user on said handset; and

making a voice communication call to a click-to-call and/or pay-per-call telephone number via said PSTN and/or digital telephone network when said user selects a particular listing from among said search results,

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

tracking whether a voice communication call is connected uniquely to a telephone number associated with a particular advertiser; and

reporting to said advertiser that a voice communication call was connected said telephone number.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

tracking and reporting metrics of a voice communication call that is connected uniquely to a telephone number associated with a particular advertiser.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

tracking and reporting metrics of click throughs associated with a particular advertiser.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

implementing said method in a broadband enabled telephone system in which SIP messages are sent to and from a SIP end point.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

providing at least one base station comprising;

a first communications facility;

a broadband network connection for establishing and maintaining broadband access to a network via said first communications facility; and

a second communications facility for interacting with, and maintaining profile information for, a plurality of handsets.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

providing a plurality of handsets, each handset comprising;

means for communicating with, and uniquely identifying itself to, said base station via said second communications facility;

client means for providing an interface to a handset user by which said user operates a handset to interact with said network via said base station and by which said user builds a profile which defines what information and services are provided to a user through a particular handset.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

said base station acting as a proxy for said handsets; and

said base station storing said profile information;

wherein each handset can be dynamically personalized for a plurality of users by user selection of a particular handset profile stored in said base station via said client means.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

providing at least one server for collecting, packaging, and delivering personalized content and services on demand to each of said telephone system handsets via said base station in accordance with profile information contained on said base station for said handsets;

wherein information and services available via said network are delivered to a plurality of users of a plurality of handsets through said broadband enabled telephone system.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, implemented in a broadband enabled telephone system in which SIP messages are sent to and from a SIP end point further comprising:

at least one base station comprising;

a first communications facility;

a broadband network connection for establishing and maintaining broadband access to a network via said first communications facility; and

a second communications facility for interacting with, and maintaining profile information for, a plurality of handsets; and

a plurality of handsets, each handset comprising;

means for communicating with, and uniquely identifying itself to, said base station via said second communications facility;

client means for providing an interface to a handset user by which said user operates a handset to interact with said network via said base station and by which said user builds a profile which defines what information and services are provided to a user through a particular handset.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein:

said base station acts as a proxy for said handsets;

said base station stores said profile information; and

each handset can be dynamically personalized for a plurality of users by user selection of a particular handset profile stored in said base station via said client means.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

at least one server for collecting, packaging, and delivering personalized content and services on demand to each of said telephone system handsets via said base station in accordance with profile information contained on said base station for said handsets;

wherein information and services available via said network are delivered to a plurality of users of a plurality of handsets through said broadband enabled telephone system.

15. An apparatus for delivering and tracking click/call information for PSTN and/or digital telephone networks, comprising:

a handset with which a user enters a search query;

means for executing said search query by performing a category search for the search query entered by the user against a local directory;

at the same time as the search query is executed, for accessing multiple click-to-call and/or pay-per-call vendors who have specific advertisements in specific categories related to said search query;

for combining search results from said local directory and said multiple click-to-call and/or pay-per-call vendors for display on a single handset screen; and

for sending said combined results to said user for display to said user on said handset;

wherein said user can browse between said local directory and said click-to-call and/or pay-per-call listing on said handset; and

means for making a voice communications call from said handset directly to a listed click-to-call and/or pay-per-call service over the PSTN and/or digital telephone network when the user selects a particular listing.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, said multiple click-to-call and/or pay-per-call vendors comprising:

a combination of telephone directory ads and unique pay-per-call entries.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for combining user access via said handset to multiple click-to-call and/or pay-per-call ads during a network search directly with user access to said PSTN and/or digital telephone network via said handset;

wherein user entry of a click-to-call and/or pay-per-call telephone number is eliminated.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for returning search results to the user that comprise both advertising information and click-to-call and/or pay-per-call information.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for presenting said combined results to said user as a list that is ordered based on how much advertisers have paid to be on the list.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for automatically recognizing said search results and telephone numbers contained within such search results;

means for rendering said telephone numbers for display to said user on said handset; and

means for making a voice communication call to a click-to-call and/or pay-per-call telephone number via said PSTN and/or digital telephone network when said user selects a particular listing from among said search results,

21. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for tracking whether a voice communication call is connected uniquely to a telephone number associated with a particular advertiser; and

means for reporting to said advertiser that a voice communication call was connected said telephone number.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for any of tracking and reporting metrics of a voice communication call that is connected uniquely to a telephone number associated with a particular advertiser and tracking and reporting metrics of click throughs associated with a particular advertiser.