System and method to direct telephone calls to advertisers
US8433048B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 1, 2010 |
| Grant date | Apr 30, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 2, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M7/003
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for highlighting telephone numbers that are sponsored by advertisers on electronic content, and directing voice calls to those numbers to the corresponding advertiser. The call advertising system receives parameters of an advertising campaign from an advertiser, including telephone numbers in the campaign and an amount per call that the advertiser is willing to pay. The call advertising system transmits an indication of the advertised telephone numbers to a voice communication system. The voice communication system, upon determining that a campaign number is contained in electronic content, can to indicate to users that a call can be made at a rate reduced from what a user would normally pay in order. When the user calls the number, the voice communications system directs the call to the advertiser. The call advertising system tracks the call so that the advertiser can be charged the per-call amount.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.