Methods and apparatus for intelligent selection of goods and services offered to conferees

• US 8,201,727 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West Corporation
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Adornato, Rocco L, Strubbe, Todd B
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Seung
• Application Number:
  US12/049,587
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 235/376, 235/383, 235/385, 235/380, 705/26.1, 705/27.1
• US Class Current: 235/376
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

Computer-based methods, computer readable media, and computer program products for offering upsell items to conferees accessing a conferencing platform utilizing, for example, an electronic communications device. Various aspects of the methods can include conducting one or more conferee-initiated primary transactions related to accessing the conferencing platform. The method then obtains data relating to the primary transaction, which data can include data representing the identity of the conferee and the subject matter of the primary transaction. The method then selects the upsell item as a result of or in response to the conferee-initiated primary transaction by, first, utilizing the data representing the identity of the conferee to obtain at least a second data element relating to the conferee. The method then utilizes, at least in part, the primary transaction data, including the identity of the subject matter of the primary transaction, along with the second data element, to determine the upsell item for offer to the conferee. Finally, the upsell item is offered to the conferee in real time with the primary transaction.

Claims

1. A method for offering at least one upsell item to conferees accessing a conferencing platform that supports conference calls, the method comprising at least the following:

conducting at least one conferee-initiated primary transaction related to accessing the conferencing platform with at least one given conferee;

obtaining primary transaction data related to the primary transaction, including data representing an identity of a conferee and of a good or service for purchase in a primary transaction;

selecting the at least one upsell item as a result of the conferee-initiated primary transaction by;

utilizing the data representing the identity of the conferee to obtain at least a second data element relating to the conferee, the second data element comprising a list of previously purchased items purchased by the conferee;

comparing the list of previously purchased items to a list of potential items related to the primary transaction data to identify which of the potential items the conferee has not yet purchased;

utilizing the primary transaction data, including the data representing the identity of the conferee and the second data element to determine at least one upsell item among the potential items the conferee has not yet purchased for offer to the conferee, and

offering the upsell item to the conferee in real time with the primary transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting at least one conferee-initiated primary transaction includes enabling the conferee to access a respective conference call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting at least one conferee-initiated primary transaction includes enabling the conferee to recharge an instrument used to pay for conferencing services.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein enabling the conferee to recharge an instrument includes enabling the conferee to recharge the instrument during a conference call.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein enabling the conferee to recharge an instrument includes enabling the conferee to recharge the instrument other than during a conference call.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining primary transaction data includes obtaining data representing a subject matter of the primary transaction.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising using data representing a subject matter of the primary transaction to determine the upsell item.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining primary transaction data includes obtaining data representing a conference-related code provided by the conferee.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining primary transaction data includes obtaining data representing a telephone number dialed by the conferee.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining primary transaction data includes obtaining data associated with an instrument used by the conferee to pay for conferencing services.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining primary transaction data includes obtaining data representing an account number associated with a prepaid instrument used by the conferee to pay for conferencing services.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining primary transaction data includes obtaining data representing identifying indicia associated with a prepaid instrument used by the conferee to pay for conferencing services.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein obtaining primary transaction data further includes obtaining data representing a remaining value parameter associated with the prepaid instrument.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein obtaining primary transaction data further includes obtaining data representing a credit card account used to replenish value associated with the prepaid instrument.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein offering the upsell item includes offering the upsell item to the conferee in real time with a transaction by which the conferee replenishes value associated with the prepaid instrument.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the upsell item includes offering the upsell item to the conferee while the conferee is waiting on hold to join a conference call.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the upsell item includes offering the upsell item to the conferee after the conferee dials a telephone number associated with a conference call and before the conferee joins the conference call.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the upsell item includes offering the upsell item to the conferee while the conferee is participating in a conference call.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the upsell item includes offering the upsell item to the conferee via a device or medium other than that used by the conferee to participate in a conference call.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein offering the upsell item includes offering the upsell item to the conferee while the conferee is participating in a conference call and via a device or medium other than that used by the conferee to participate in the conference call.

21. At least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for offering at least one upsell item to conferees accessing a conferencing platform that supports conference calls, the method comprising at least the following:

conducting at least one conferee-initiated primary transaction related to accessing the conferencing platform with at least one given conferee;

obtaining primary transaction data related to the primary transaction, including data representing an identity of a conferee and of a good or service for purchase in a primary transaction;

selecting the at least one upsell item as a result of the conferee-initiated primary transaction by;

utilizing the data representing the identity of the conferee to obtain at least a second data element relating to the conferee, the second data element comprising a list of previously purchased items purchased by the conferee;

comparing the list of previously purchased items to a list of potential items related to the primary transaction data to identify which of the potential items the conferee has not yet purchased;

utilizing the primary transaction data, including the data representing the identity of the conferee and the second data element to determine at least one upsell item among the potential items the conferee has not yet purchased for offer to the conferee; and

offering the upsell item to the conferee in real time with the primary transaction.

22. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable code means embodied in said medium for offering at least one upsell item to conferees accessing a conferencing platform that supports conference calls, the computer readable program code in said computer program product comprising at least the following:

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to conduct at least one conferee-initiated primary transaction related to accessing the conferencing platform with at least one given conferee;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to obtain primary transaction data related to the primary transaction, including data representing an identity of a conferee and of a good or service for purchase in a primary transaction;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to select the at least one upsell item as a result of the conferee-initiated primary transaction by;

utilizing the data representing the identity of the conferee to obtain at least a second data element relating to the conferee, the second data element comprising obtaining a list of previously purchased items purchased by the conferee;

comparing the list of previously purchased items to a list of potential items related to the primary transaction data to identify which of the potential items the conferee has not yet purchased;

utilizing the primary transaction data, including the data representing the identity of the conferee and the second data element to determine at least one upsell item among the potentials items the conferee has not yet purchased for offer to the conferee; and

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to offer the upsell item to the conferee in real time with the primary transaction.

23. At least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for offering at least one upsell item to conferees accessing a platform that supports conference calls, the method comprising at least the following:

conducting at least one conferee-initiated primary transaction related to accessing the conferencing platform with at least one given conferee;

obtaining primary transaction data related to the primary transaction, including data representing an identity of a conferee and a subject matter of the primary transaction;

selecting the at least one upsell item as a result of the conferee-initiated primary transaction by;

utilizing the data representing the identity of the conferee to obtain at least a second data element relating to the conferee, the second data element comprising a list of previously purchased items purchased by the conferee;

comparing the list of previously purchased items to a list of potential items related to the primary transaction data to identify which of the potential items the conferee has not yet purchased;

utilizing the primary transaction data, including the identity of the subject matter of the primary transaction and the second data element to determine at least one upsell item among the potential items the conferee has not yet purchased for offer to the conferee; and

offering the upsell item to the conferee in real time with the primary transaction.

24. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable code means embodied in said medium for offering at least one upsell item to conferees accessing a platform that supports conference calls, the computer readable program code in said computer program product comprising at least the following:

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to conduct at least one conferee-initiated primary transaction related to accessing the conferencing platform with at least one given conferee;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to obtain primary transaction data related to the primary transaction, including data representing an identity of a conferee and a subject matter of the primary transaction;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to select the at least one upsell item as a result of the conferee-initiated primary transaction by;

utilizing the data representing the identity of the conferee to obtain at least a second data element relating to the conferee, the second data element comprising a list of previously purchased items purchased by the conferee;

comparing the list of previously purchased items to a list of potential items related to the primary transaction data to identify which of the potential items the conferee has not yet purchased;

utilizing the primary transaction data, including the identity of the subject matter of the primary transaction and the second data element to determine at least one upsell item among the potential items the conferee has not yet purchased for offer to the conferee; and

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to offer the upsell item to the conferee in real time with the primary transaction.