SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROMOTIONAL CALLING

• US 20100166169A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apextalk Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apextalk Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Ma, George Joy Man
• Application Number:
  US12/371,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20100166169A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/216.10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

Systems and methods for integrating business promotional material with voice calling are described. The business sponsors a customer to sign up for an outgoing calling account with a promotional calling service provider company. The service provider identifies an user as a customer of the sponsor and therefore assigns one dedicated speed dial extension to connect directly to the sponsor. Other frequently called numbers are stored in a phone book at other speed dial locations. Sponsor gets to promote themselves to the sponsored user when the user sets up/maintains his/her online account or makes a call.

Claims

1. A system for providing a sponsored user prompt connection to a plurality of destination phone numbers, comprising:

a content module for storing promotional material from a sponsor;

an interfacing module for receiving a dialed personal access phone number provided by the system to the sponsored user, the personal access phone number being associated with the sponsor;

a control module for presenting at least a portion of the stored promotional material to the sponsored user when the personal access phone number is dialed;

a speed dial extension module for accessing the plurality of destination phone numbers stored at corresponding speed dial locations when the sponsored user dials a speed dial extension; and

a switching module for directing a call to one of the plurality of destination phone numbers corresponding to the dialed speed dial extension.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:

a phone number database coupled to the speed dial extension module, wherein the phone number database stores additional phone numbers not stored at speed dial locations.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the speed dial extension module includes an out-dial extension reserved to enable access to the phone number database.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the speed dial extension module includes a predetermined sponsor-dial extension reserved to connect the sponsored user to the sponsor.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a web application server hosting a primary web location where the sponsored user sets up and maintains a personal account using a promotional code provided by the sponsor.

6. The web application server of claim 5, further comprising:

a promotional material module for receiving and storing promotional material from the sponsor; and

a control module for presenting promotional material to the sponsored user when the sponsored user sets up or accesses his/her personal account.

7. The web application server of claim 6, wherein the promotional material module is configured to update its content when new or modified promotional material is received from the sponsor.

8. The web application server of claim 5, further comprising a phone book module to store the plurality of destination phone numbers at corresponding speed dial locations.

9. A method for providing a sponsored user prompt connection to a plurality of destination phone numbers, comprising:

providing a personal access phone number to a sponsored user;

identifying an associated sponsor when the sponsored user dials the personal access phone number;

presenting promotional material associated with the sponsor to the sponsored user;

accessing the plurality of destination phone numbers stored at corresponding speed dial locations, when the sponsored user dials a speed dial extension; and

directing a call to one of the plurality of destination phone numbers corresponding to the dialed speed dial extension.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

reserving an out-dial extension to give the sponsored user access to a database of additional phone numbers not stored at any of the speed dial locations.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

reserving a predetermined sponsor-dial extension to give the sponsored user access to a dedicated phone number of the sponsor.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

accepting a promotional code, provided by a sponsor to a sponsored user, when the sponsored user sets up a personal account by visiting a primary web location.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

storing the plurality of destination phone numbers at corresponding speed dial locations.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

presenting web-based promotional material associated with the sponsor to the sponsored user when the sponsored user accesses his/her personal account.

15. A system for providing sponsored users prompt connection to a plurality of destination phone numbers, comprising:

a content module for storing promotional material from a sponsor;

an interfacing module for receiving a dialed personal access phone number provided by the sponsor to the sponsored user;

a speed dial extension module for accessing the plurality of destination phone numbers stored at corresponding speed dial locations; and

a control module for presenting at least a portion of the stored promotional material to the sponsored user when the personal access phone number is received, and

a call instruction module for sending an instruction to direct a call to a destination phone number, when the sponsored user dials in the corresponding speed dial extension.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the system further comprises:

a switching module for routing a call to a destination phone number, that receives an instruction from the control module.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the system further comprises:

a phone number database coupled to the speed dial extension module, wherein the phone number database stores additional phone numbers not stored at speed dial locations.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the speed dial extension module includes an out-dial extension reserved to enable access to the phone number database.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the speed dial extension module includes a predetermined sponsor-dial extension reserved to connect the sponsored user to the sponsor.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a web application server hosting a primary web location where the sponsored user sets up and maintains a personal account using a promotional code provided by the sponsor.

21. The web application server of claim 20, further comprising:

a promotional material module for receiving and storing promotional material from the sponsor;

a control module for presenting promotional material to the sponsored user when the sponsored user sets up or accesses his/her personal account, and

a phone book module to store the plurality of destination phone numbers at corresponding speed dial locations.

22. The web application server of claim 21, wherein the promotional material module is configured to update its content when new or modified promotional material is received from the sponsor.