Method and system for providing advertising to telephone callers

Patent 7187761 Issued on March 6, 2007. Estimated Expiration Date:

November 26, 2022. 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.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventor

Bookstaff, Blake

Application

No. 10303903 filed on 11/26/2002

US Classes:

379/201.01, SPECIAL SERVICES379/87, Reproduced signal distributed over telephone line705/27, Presentation of image or description of sales item (e.g., electronic catalog browsing)725/34, Specific to individual user or household379/76, Announcement selection or replacement379/209.01, Repetitive call attempts (e.g., camp-on-busy, retry)379/142.17, Having display unit725/32PROGRAM, MESSAGE, OR COMMERCIAL INSERTION OR SUBSTITUTION

Examiners

Primary: Deane, William J. Jr.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Lesavich High-Tech Law Group, P.C.

International Class

H04M 3/42

Abstract

A system and method for providing one or more advertisements, services, surveys, offers for goods/services, and/or offers to modify a telephone service plan (“intercept actions” collectively) to one or more parties to a telephone call are provided. One or more advertisements may be provided during one or more points along an unsuccessful or successful telephone call. One or more services may be provided gratuitously or in exchange for the presentation of one or more advertisements to recipient of the service. Additionally, a telephone service plan associated with the caller or callee may be analyzed and the caller/callee may be presented with the option to activate one or more service features that, at the time of the attempted call, are not activated in the telephone service plan. A survey may be provided to the caller/callee and the responses recorded. The caller/callee may also receive an offer for goods or services. These intercept actions may be provided during any of a plurality of points along a telephone call, such as prior to dialing; before, after or during a busy signal or ring tones; after one party disconnects but prior to the remaining party or parties disconnecting; and the like.