Patent 5283731 Issued on February 1, 1994. Estimated Expiration Date: December 23, 2012. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
705/1, AUTOMATED ELECTRICAL FINANCIAL OR BUSINESS PRACTICE OR MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT379/71, Consecutive use of recorded phrases or words to form message379/88.08, Message signal analysis379/88.25, Message storage in centralized location (e.g., central office, PBX, etc.)379/93.12, Sales, ordering, or banking system379/93.15, Having format conversion379/100.11, From a library705/26Electronic shopping (e.g., remote ordering)
A computerized classified ad system and method. The system comprises a data processor including means for creating an ad database comprising a plurality of ads, each ad containing text data describing an item to be made available through the system. In a first aspect, the data processor also includes means for receiving profile data describing an item sought from others through the system, and for comparing the profile data to the ads and for generating text output data when matches are found. An interactive voice response system converts the text output data into a voice message. In a second aspect, the data processor includes means for creating a want ad database comprising want ads that contain data describing items sought through the system and delivery data such as a buyer's phone number. When a new ad is placed in the ad database, it is also compared to the want ads. If a match is found, the system generates output data that includes the new ad and the delivery data for the matching want ad.
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