Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatus for offering users a plurality of scenarios under which to conduct at least one primary transaction

• US 7,437,313 B1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West Corporation
• Original Assignee: West Direct (Intrado Corporation)
• Inventors: Mussman, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen; William J.
• Application Number:
  US10/335,061
• Time in Patent Office: 2,114 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27, 705/14, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A method of offering a user a plurality of scenarios under which to conduct at least one primary transaction involving at least one specific item, the specific item being one of goods and services, with each one of these scenarios entailing a corresponding cost to the user. The method can include at least the following. Communication is established via a communications device between the user and a system to facilitate the primary transaction. Primary transaction data is obtained relating to the primary transaction, with the primary transaction data including data representing an identity of the user and representing the at least one specific item. The user is offered a choice between at least two scenarios under which to conduct the primary transaction, with a first scenario providing that the user may conduct the primary transaction, or another transaction, at a first cost to the user in exchange for the user receiving at least one offer of an upsell transaction. This first cost may entail a no-fee option or a reduced-fee option. At least a second scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction, or another transaction, at a second cost to the user in exchange for receiving no offers of upsell transactions. The second cost may entail a full-fee option. Finally, the at least one primary transaction is conducted according to the scenario in effect for the primary transaction.

Claims

1. A method of offering a user a plurality of scenarios under which to conduct at least one primary transaction involving at least one specific item, the specific item being one of goods and services, with each one of these scenarios entailing a corresponding cost to the user, the method comprising at least the following:

establishing communication via a communications device between the user and a system to facilitate the primary transaction;

obtaining primary transaction data relating to the primary transaction, the primary transaction data including data representing an identity of the user and representing the at least one specific item;

offering the user a choice between at least two scenarios under which to conduct the primary transaction, wherein a first scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction at a first cost to the user in exchange for the user receiving at least one offer of an upsell transaction, and wherein at least a second scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction at a second cost to the user in exchange for receiving no offers of upsell transactions; and

conducting the at least one primary transaction, wherein the at least one primary transaction is within a definite number of permitted discrete primary transactions as defined by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting the transaction includes conducting the primary transaction in real time with respect to the receiving of the indication from the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a signal representing an indication from the user as to which of the scenarios the user chooses.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a default choice governing the primary transaction should the user fail to select from among the first and second scenarios.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communication includes establishing communication with a directory assistance utility.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering a choice between a no-fee scenario for conducting the primary transaction and a fee-based scenario for conducting the primary transaction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user a no-fee option for conducting the primary transaction in exchange for the user receiving at least one offer of an upsell transaction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user a reduced fee option for conducting the primary transaction in exchange for the user receiving at least one offer of an upsell transaction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user a fee-based option for conducting the primary transaction in exchange for the user receiving no offers of upsell transactions.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining primary transaction data includes obtaining from the user a directory entry for which the user indicates information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal includes receiving a signal representing an indication that the user wishes to receive directory assistance for a reduced fee in exchange for being offered at least one upsell transaction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal includes receiving a signal representing an indication that the user wishes to receive directory assistance free of charge in exchange for being offered at least one upsell transaction.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal includes receiving a signal representing an indication that the user wishes to pay a fee to receive directory assistance in exchange for being offered no upsell transactions.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting the at least one primary transaction includes providing the user with directory assistance at a reduced fee in exchange for the user receiving at least one upsell transaction.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting the at least one primary transaction includes providing the user with directory assistance at no charge in response to the signal.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting the at least one primary transaction includes providing the user with directory assistance for a fee in response to the signal.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal includes receiving a signal in response to a keypad entry performed by the user.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal includes receiving a signal representing a voice command from the user.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal includes analyzing a signal representing a voice command from the user using a speech recognition engine.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining at least a second data element relating to the user using the data representing the identity of the user.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing at least the second data element and the data representing the at least one specific item to determine whether to offer an upsell transaction to the user.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing at least in part the primary transaction data, including the identity of the specific item, and the second data element to determine at least one item for a prospective upsell transaction for offer to the user.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising offering the at least one upsell transaction to the user.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an acceptance of the at least one upsell transaction.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein offering the at least one upsell transaction includes offering the at least one upsell transaction in real time with the at least one primary transaction.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein receiving an acceptance of the at least one upsell transaction is performed in real time with the at least one primary transaction.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal includes receiving a respective indication for each primary transaction sought by the user.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal includes receiving an indication governing a plurality of primary transactions sought by the user.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting the primary transaction includes conducting a given primary transaction according to a respective indication corresponding only to that given primary transaction.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting the primary transaction includes conducting a given primary transaction according to an indication corresponding to more than one given primary transaction.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication from the user includes receiving an indication governing all future primary transactions conducted by the user.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising conducting at least a first analysis of the user to determine whether to offer the user any upsell transactions.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein conducting at least the first analysis includes analyzing data representing at least the identity of the user and past behavior of the user.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein analyzing data representing the identity of the user and the past behavior of the user is performed before receiving the indication from the user.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein conducting the at least first analysis is performed before the user provides any information to the system.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein conducting the at least first analysis is performed before the user performs any physical action to provide information to the system.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein conducting the at least first analysis is performed before the user provides voice input to the system.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein conducting the at least first analysis is performed before the user provides manual input to the system.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein conducting the at least first analysis is performed before the user speaks into a communications device used to access the system.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein conducting the at least first analysis is performed before the user enters any data via a manually-operated data entry device.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein conducting the at least first analysis includes obtaining an ANI parameter associated with the user.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein analyzing the data representing the past behavior of the user includes analyzing at least in part the ANI parameter.

43. The method of claim 32, wherein conducting the at least first analysis is performed at least in part after the user has performed at least one physical action to provide information to the system.

44. The method of claim 32, further comprising receiving voice input from the user, and wherein conducting the at least first analysis includes analyzing the voice input to identify the user, and wherein analyzing the data representing the past behavior of the user includes obtaining data using at least in part the voice input from the user.

45. The method of claim 1, where establishing communication includes establishing communication between the user and the system via a global wide area computer network.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining primary transaction information includes obtaining data from the user that enables the user to log into a global wide area computer network.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal includes receiving a signal that is transmitted over a global wide area computer network.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communication includes initiating a telephone call using a public switched telephone network.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining primary transaction information includes obtaining at least one of an ANI and a DNIS parameter associated with a telephone call placed by the user via a public switched telephone network.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user at least one opportunity to place a telephone call for no charge in exchange for the user receiving at least one offer of an upsell transaction.

51. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user at least one opportunity to place a telephone call for a fee charged to the user in exchange for the user receiving no offers of upsell transactions.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user at least one opportunity to place a telephone call local to the user for no charge in exchange for the user receiving at least one offer of an upsell transaction.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user at least one opportunity to place a telephone call local to the user for a fee charged to the user in exchange for the user receiving no offers of upsell transactions.

54. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user at least one opportunity to place a telephone call at long distance from the user for no charge in exchange for the user receiving at least one offer of an upsell transaction.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user at least one opportunity to place a telephone call at long distance from the user for a fee charged to the user in exchange for the user receiving no offers of upsell transactions.

56. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communication includes initiating an order to view a pay-per-view event transmitted over a communications medium.

57. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining primary transaction information includes obtaining data representing an identity of the user and an identity of a pay-per-view event transmitted over a communications medium.

58. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user at least one opportunity to view a pay-per-view event transmitted over a communications medium at least a reduced fee in exchange for the user receiving at least one upsell transaction offer.

59. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user at least one opportunity to view a pay-per-view event transmitted over a communications medium free of charge to the user in exchange for the user receiving at least one upsell transaction offer.

60. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the user a choice includes offering the user at least one opportunity to view a pay-per-view event transmitted over a communications medium at a fee charged to the user in exchange for the user receiving no offers of upsell transactions.

61. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending at least one upsell transaction to the user in response to the scenario selected by the user.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein sending at least one upsell transaction to the user includes sending the at least one upsell transaction to the user via the communications device used by the user to conduct the primary transaction.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein sending at least one upsell transaction to the user includes sending the at least one upsell transaction to the user via a communications medium different from that used by the user to conduct the primary transaction.

64. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of offering a user a plurality of scenarios under which to conduct at least one primary transaction involving at least one specific item, the specific item being one of goods and services, with each one of these scenarios entailing a corresponding cost to the user, the method comprising at least the following:

establishing communication via a communications device between the user and a system to facilitate the primary transaction;

obtaining primary transaction data relating to the primary transaction, the primary transaction data including data representing an identity of the user and representing the at least one specific item;

offering the user a choice between at least two scenarios under which to conduct the primary transaction, wherein a first scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction at a first cost to the user in exchange for the user receiving at least one offer of an upsell transaction, and wherein at least a second scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction at a second cost to the user in exchange for receiving no offers of upsell transactions; and

conducting the at least one primary transaction wherein if the at least one primary transaction is within a definite number of permitted discrete primary transactions as defined by the user.

65. Apparatus for offering a user a plurality of scenarios under which to conduct at least one primary transaction involving at least one specific item, the specific item being one of goods and services, with each one of these scenarios entailing a corresponding cost to the user, the apparatus comprising at least the following:

means for establishing communication via a communications device between the user and a system to facilitate the primary transaction;

means for obtaining primary transaction data relating to the primary transaction, the primary transaction data including data representing an identity of the user and representing the at least one specific item;

means for offering the user a choice between at least two scenarios under which to conduct the primary transaction, wherein a first scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction at a first cost to the user in exchange for the user receiving at least one offer of an upsell transaction, and wherein at least a second scenario provides that the user may conduct the primary transaction at a second cost to the user in exchange for receiving no offers of upsell transactions; and

means for conducting the at least one primary transaction wherein if the at least one primary transaction is within a definite number of permitted discrete primary transactions as defined by the user.