Commercial product routing system with video vending capability

• US 8,098,272 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telebuyer LLC
• Original Assignee: Telebuyer LLC
• Inventors: Katz, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US10/724,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20040109058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,974 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.01, 348/14.07, 348/14.08, 348/14.14, 379/93.12, 379/93.25, 379/93.24, 379/93.21, 379/93.17, 705 25- 28
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19689 Remote control of cameras, e.g. remote orientation or image zooming control for a PTZ camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/432 Arrangements for calling a subscriber at a specific time, e.g. morning call service
• 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 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5125 with remote located operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5158 in combination with automated outdialling systems devices for signalling identity of wanted subscriber H04M1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/564 whereby the feature is a sub-conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 : Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 : Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 : Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

A traffic control system selectively interfaces members of plural groups, as buyer groups and vendor groups, for video communication through a dial-up telephone system, for analyzing and compiling data, scheduling appointments, implementing conferences, consummating sales and the like. The traffic-control system comprises a telephonic interface apparatus for interfacing remote telephonic terminals of the dial-up telephone system identified with the members of plural groups, a video recording unit for recording and playing video transcriptions, a storage memory for storing data on the members, including telephonic terminal numbers and area-of-interest codes and a control computer to selectively interconnect the video recording unit with the remote telephone terminals through the telephonic interface apparatus to record and receive video communication.

Claims

1. A method for selectively accomplishing electronic communications between members of plural groups, including at least one potential buyer and multiple vendors, the multiple vendors located at widely distributed remote sites, the at least one potential buyer communicating with at least one vendor of the multiple vendors, via one or more commercial transaction communication control systems, comprising the steps of:

providing access by the at least one potential buyer to said commercial transaction communication control system via an interface,

receiving and storing dynamic or sequences of high resolution still images video data for the at least one vendor for providing select ones of dynamic or sequences of high resolution still images video data to the at least one potential buyer from the at least one vendor where the at least one vendor is an appropriate one of the vendors selected by the commercial transaction communication control system, wherein the select ones of the dynamic or sequences of high resolution still images video data is provided to the at least one potential buyer at a buyer terminal,

providing graphic data including text data communications between the at least one vendor and said at least one potential buyer,

storing data associated with the at least one potential buyer seeking a transaction in a memory associated with the commercial transaction communication control system including buyer identification data and data relating to the transaction the buyer is seeking that includes request data entered by the at least one potential buyer via a buyer terminal wherein the buyer indicates the request data to the commercial transaction communication control system for routing to the at least one vendor, and

in some instances, to fulfill a request, selectively processing the data relating to the transaction the buyer is seeking by first identifying select data including dynamic or sequences of still images video and the graphic data including text data provided from a source relating to the at least one vendor and then providing the dynamic or sequences of high resolution still images video and graphic data including text data to said buyer at a buyer terminal responsive to said data; and

in some instances, to fulfill a request, selectively routing the request data via the one or more multiple commercial transaction control systems to communicate with one or more widely distributed vendors with capabilities to fulfill the request.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

utilizing a camera associated with said one or more vendors to provide said dynamic or sequences of high resolution still images video data.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the camera is adapted to image the vendor.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

storing the dynamic or sequences of high resolution still images video data in a memory associated with the vendor.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the buyer uses the buyer terminal to view at least certain of the dynamic video data in freeze frames.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least certain of the dynamic or sequences of high resolution still images video data is provided to the buyer in real time.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the real-time video is live person-to-person video communication.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least certain of the dynamic video data includes two-way video.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least certain of the dynamic video data is provided as stored video data.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the audio communication is received by the buyer in real time.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the graphic data including text data communications between the vendor and the buyer include provision of commercial transaction data.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the commercial transaction data includes order data.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the commercial transaction data includes product identification data.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

maintaining storage of various categories and subcategories of products or services for controlling communications between a potential buyer and the at least one vendor that include graphic data including text data that relate to the products or services.

15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a notification for the at least one vendor to the potential buyer to indicate one or more special offerings relating to the product or service.

16. A method for selectively accomplishing electronic communications according to claim 1, wherein certain vendors are accorded a priority status under control of the one or more commercial transaction communication control systems.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein access to the video data is provided according to a priority status.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein access is provided in accordance with a rotational order.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein access is provided in accordance with a random order.

20. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending the potential buyer or the at least one vendor an email relating to the transaction subsequent to the step of communicating with the one or more widely distributed vendors to fulfill a request.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sequences of high resolution still images relate to fulfilling the request data from the potential buyer.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein the potential buyer communicates with the one or more commercial transaction communication control systems via an online service.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of selective routing is accomplished via the one or more multiple coordinated commercial transaction control systems.

24. A method according to claim 14, wherein the communications are entered via a keypad.

25. A method according to claim 14, wherein at least certain of the communications are transmitted via email.

26. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of:

informing the buyer of recent changes to the special offerings that are for display on the buyer'"'"'s terminal.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the recent changes to the special offerings are communicated in real-time.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the recent changes to the special offerings are forwarded by electronic-mail.

29. A method according to claim 15, wherein the notification for the vendor to the buyer is provided by electronic-mail.

30. A method according to claim 15, wherein the notification for the vendor to the buyer is provided by electronic-mail.

31. A method for selectively accomplishing electronic communications between members of plural groups, including at least one potential buyer and at least one vendor, at widely distributed remote sites, via one or more commercial transaction communication control systems, comprising the steps of:

accessing said system via an interface,

receiving and storing high resolution still video data from one or more vendors for providing the high resolution still video data to said buyer at a buyer terminal upon selection by the commercial transaction communication control system,

providing graphic data including text data communications for said vendors to said buyer,

storing data associated with a buyer, in a memory associated with the commercial transaction communication control system including buyer identification data and request data entered by the buyer, and

selectively processing the request data to fulfill a request by first identifying select data including high resolution still video and graphic data including text data relating to the vendor and then providing the high resolution still video and graphic data including text data to said buyer responsive to said request data; and

in some instances, to fulfill a request, selectively routing the request data via one or more multiple coordinated commercial transaction control systems, to communicate with one or more widely distributed vendors, with capabilities to route the request data between the one or more vendors based on the request data to fulfill the request.

32. A method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of:

utilizing a camera associated with said vendor to provide said high resolution still video data.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein the camera is adapted to image the vendor.

34. A method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of:

storing the still image video data in a memory associated with the vendor.

35. A method according to claim 31, wherein at least certain of the still image video data is provided to the buyer in freeze frames.

36. A method according to claim 31, wherein at least certain of the still image video data is provided to the buyer in real time.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein at least certain of the still image video data includes two-way video.

38. A method according to claim 36, wherein the real-time video is live person-to-person video communication.

39. A method according to claim 31, wherein at least certain of the still image video data is provided as stored video data.

40. A method according to claim 31, wherein the audio communication is received by the buyer in real time.

41. A method according to claim 31, wherein commercial transaction data for the vendor is provided to the buyer with the graphic data including text data communications.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the commercial transaction data includes product identification data.

43. A method according to claim 41, wherein the commercial transaction data includes order data.

44. A method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of:

maintaining an inventory of products or services and providing special offerings to buyers for certain of the products or services.

45. A method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of:

providing a notification for the vendor to the buyer when there is a special offering on a distressed product or service.

46. A method for selectively accomplishing electronic communications according to claim 31, wherein certain vendors are accorded a priority status under control of the one or more commercial transaction communication control systems.

47. A method according to claim 31, wherein access to the video data is provided according to a priority status.

48. A method according to claim 31, wherein access is provided in accordance with a rotational order.

49. A method according to claim 31, wherein access is provided in accordance with a random order.

50. A method according to claim 31, wherein the plural groups include a group for plural vendors classified in accordance with the nature of vendor offerings.

51. A method according to claim 31, wherein access by the buyer to the system is provided via an online service.

52. A method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of:

subsequent to all the prior steps, communicating with the buyer via email with respect to the request.

53. A method according to claim 31, wherein said buyer is provided access to said system for viewing of offerings related to at least certain vendors from the multiple vendors and wherein the system facilitates routing of communications between the multiple vendors.

54. A method according to claim 31, wherein said system provides access to multiple certain ones of the vendors via the interface.

55. A method according to claim 31, wherein said selective routing is accomplished via the one or more multiple coordinated commercial transaction control systems.