SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO CONVERT A CALL GENERATED FROM AN ADVERTISEMENT

Abstract

Methods and systems for converting a call generated from an advertisement. One embodiment includes: establishing a real time communication connection between a first entity and a second entity via a communication reference embedded in an advertisement that is presented on behalf of the second entity; billing the second entity for the advertisement in response to the communication connection being established via the communication reference; monitoring the communication connection between the first entity and the second entity to detect a pre-defined indication; and charging the first entity, on behalf of the second entity, for communications with the second entity over the communication connection in response to a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface to create a listing according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface to start a communication according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface to display the status of a communication connection process and to provide the user guidance through the process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5-12 show examples of flow diagrams of a process to connect a user and an adviser for communication according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a method to display a call button according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method to monitor and control a connection according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a diagram of a system to assist and track connections according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows a block diagram example of a data processing system which may be used with the present invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates a user interface to create a listing according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a flow diagram of a process to connect a user and an adviser for communication according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 shows another example of a flow diagram of a process to connect a user and an adviser for real time communication according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates a method to convert a call generated from an advertisement according to one embodiment.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: establishing a real time communication connection between a first entity and a second entity via a communication reference embedded in an advertisement that is presented on behalf of the second entity;billing the second entity for the advertisement in response to the communication connection being established via the communication reference;monitoring the communication connection between the first entity and the second entity to detect a pre-defined indication; andcharging the first entity, on behalf of the second entity, for communications with the second entity over the communication connection in response to a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first entity is not charged a fee for the communication connection between the first entity and the second entity before the detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing the real time communication connection comprises establishing the real time communication connection without the first entity revealing an identity of the first entity.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: authenticating the first entity to continue the communication connection for communications with the second entity.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein after the detected occurrence, the first entity is charged a fee based on a time duration starting from the detected occurrence.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein after the detected occurrence, the first entity is charged a fee for a pre-determined amount of communication time with the second entity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the real time communication connection is for communications in at least one of text, voice, image, audio, and video.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the real time communication connection comprises a telephone connection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined indication includes one or more signals generated according to pressing at least one key of a phone.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one key includes a # key or a * key.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more signals includes a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signal.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said monitoring comprises detecting the one or more signals from the first entity; and the fee is charged to the first entity.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: detecting signals indicating a fee the first entity is to be charged, after the detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: providing a first voice prompt to the first entity to accept the fee to continue the connection between the first entity and the second entity.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first voice prompt is not provided to the second entity.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined indication includes one of a message received in response to a user input in a graphical user interface, a voice command, and a video signal.

17. The method of claim 1, the pre-defined indication includes expiration of a time period,

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first connection and the second connection are initiated through a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first connection and the second connection is partially over a packet switched network and partially over a circuit switched network.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising: assigning the communication reference to the second entity for inclusion in the advertisement.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the communication reference comprises a telephonic contact of a server.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising: stopping charging the first entity for communication time over the communication connection in response to a detected occurrence of a pre-defined indication.

23. A machine readable media embodying instructions, the instructions causing a machine to perform a method, the method comprising: establishing a real time communication connection between a first entity and a second entity via a communication reference embedded in an advertisement that is presented on behalf of the second entity;billing the second entity for the advertisement in response to the communication connection being established via the communication reference;monitoring the communication connection between the first entity and the second entity to detect a pre-defined indication; andcharging the first entity, on behalf of the second entity, for communications with the second entity over the communication connection in response to a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.

24. A data processing system, comprising: means for establishing a real time communication connection between a first entity and a second entity via a communication reference embedded in an advertisement that is presented on behalf of the second entity;means for billing the second entity for the advertisement in response to the communication connection being established via the communication reference;means for monitoring the communication connection between the first entity and the second entity to detect a pre-defined indication; andmeans for charging the first entity, on behalf of the second entity, for communications with the second entity over the communication connection in response to a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.