Call tracking system and method

• US 8,874,102 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Soleo Communications
• Original Assignee: Soleo Communications
• Inventors: Fisher, William, Deming, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US13/279,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20120208526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/403, 455423-425, 455/422.1, 455/410, 455/414, 379/266.1, 379/88.17, 379/93.01, 379/201.02, 379/212.01, 705 1423- 1454
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• 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 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems for capturing and tracking call information relating to a call from a user to a merchant are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, a request for a call to a merchant from a user on a device is received and a data connection is initiated with a call analytics platform over which user information is sent from the device to the platform. A unique number allowing the device to call the platform is then passed back to the device. The device calls the platform, call context data is captured, and the call is processed to the merchant. Information relating to the user and merchant call is tracked and logged.

Claims

1. A method for capturing and tracking call information, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a call to a merchant from a user on a device, wherein said request for said call to said merchant is received in response to a selection of an image relating to said merchant on said device, said selection of an image presented as a banner ad resulting from a local listing search;

capturing device user data relating to said device requesting said call;

initiating a data connection between said device and a call analytics platform;

sending said device user data to said call analytics platform, said call analytics platform performing the following steps;

identifying a customer number associated with said request and based on said device user data;

allocating a unique ID to said customer number, said unique ID enabling said device to make a call to said call analytics platform; and

sending said unique ID to said device via said data connection between said device and said call analytics platform;

calling said unique ID from said device;

capturing call context data relating to said call from said device;

connecting said device to said merchant; and

tracking and logging information relating said call between said device and said merchant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said unique ID is an ANI matched to the caller ID of the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said unique ID is an element that is a part of a SIP URI.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said unique ID is assigned using standard telephony capabilities to associate said device user data with said call request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said unique ID is assigned using a temporary number.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of playing audio media to said user based on said captured device data and said captured context data before connecting said device to said merchant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said device is a mobile device.

8. A system for capturing and tracking call information, comprising:

a mobile device receiving a request for a call to a merchant from a user on a device in response to a selection relating to said merchant on said device, capturing device user data relating to said device requesting said call, initiating a data connection between said device and a call analytics platform, and sending said device user data to said call analytics platform;

said call analytics platform storing said user data in a database, identifying a customer number associated with said request from said database, said call analytics platform allocating a unique ID to said customer number based on said device user data, said unique ID enabling said device to make a call to said call analytics platform, said call analytics platform sending said unique ID to said device via said data connection between said device and said call analytics platform;

wherein said mobile device calls said unique ID from said device, said call analytics platform captures call context data relating to said call from said device and connects said device to said merchant, and said call analytics platform tracks and logs information relating said call between said device and said merchant.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said call analytics platform plays audio media to said user based on said captured device data and said captured context data before connecting said device to said merchant.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said device is a mobile device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said unique ID is an ANI matched to the caller ID of the device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said unique ID is an element that is a part of a SIP URI.