US6009150A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Call processing method for delivering promotional messages
Assignee: BroadPoint Communications Inc
•
Filing: 1998-11-16
•
Granted: 1999-12-28
•
Expires: 2018-11-16
Abstract
Abstract An interactive voice response and call process application and system for delivering promotional messages allows a user to select a desired number of promotional messages which are played before a connection is established. The user may also request additional promotional messages at any time during the connection in order to extend a free or subsidized connection period provided by the system. The system monitors the connection and provides a warning tone to the user prior to the end of the free or subsidized calling period. The user may then request an additional promotional message, to extend the time period, or terminate the connection in an orderly fashion.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexandre P. Kamel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/80; H04M15/8083; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/487; H04M3/4872; H04M3/4878; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0184; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/22; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42059; H04M3/493
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of delivering promotional messages to a calling party in a telephony system, comprising: outputting a number of promotional messages to the calling party, wherein the number of promotional messages is selected by the calling party to correspond to a desired time interval for a call connection; and maintaining the call connection between the calling party and a called party for said desired time interval.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of delivering promotional messages to a calling party in a telephony system, comprising: outputting a number of promotional messages to the calling party, wherein the number of promotional messages is selected by the calling party to correspond to a desired time interval for a call connection; and maintaining the call connection between the calling party and a called party for said desired time interval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising playing a warning tone to the calling party when a remaining portion of the desired time interval is less than a predetermined time threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising terminating said call connection when the portion of the desired time interval is zero.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of delivering promotional messages to a calling party in a telephony system, comprising: maintaining a telephony connection between the calling party and a called party while a remaining earned time allotment is greater than zero; subtracting time from said remaining earned time allotment while said telephony connection is maintained; monitoring said telephony connection to determine if the calling party enters a telephony code indicating a request for an additional promotional message; in response to detecting said telephony code indicating a request for an additional promotional message, outputting the additional promotional message to the calling party, incrementing a message counter, and adding a time unit to the remaining earned time allotment; and terminating said telephony connection when the remaining earned time allotment is zero.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of delivering promotional messages to a calling party in a telephony system, comprising: maintaining a telephony connection between the calling party and a called party while a remaining earned time allotment is greater than zero; subtracting time from said remaining earned time allotment while said telephony connection is maintained; monitoring said telephony connection to determine if the calling party enters a telephony code indicating a request for an additional promotional message; in response to detecting said telephony code indicating a request for an additional promotional message, outputting the additional promotional message to the calling party, incrementing a message counter, and adding a time unit to the remaining earned time allotment; and terminating said telephony connection when the remaining earned time allotment is zero.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of delivering promotional messages to a telephony user, comprising: (a) receiving a call from the telephony user to a service access number; (b) prompting the telephony user to enter a destination telephone number; (c) outputting a promotional message to the telephony user; (d) adding a time unit to an earned time allotment; (e) prompting the telephony user to enter a first telephony code for another promotional message or to enter a second telephony code to initiate a connection to the destination telephone number; (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) in response to the telephony user entering the first telephony code; and (g) initiating the connection to the destination number in response to the telephony user entering the second telephony code.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of delivering promotional messages to a telephony user, comprising: (a) receiving a call from the telephony user to a service access number; (b) prompting the telephony user to enter a destination telephone number; (c) outputting a promotional message to the telephony user; (d) adding a time unit to an earned time allotment; (e) prompting the telephony user to enter a first telephony code for another promotional message or to enter a second telephony code to initiate a connection to the destination telephone number; (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) in response to the telephony user entering the first telephony code; and (g) initiating the connection to the destination number in response to the telephony user entering the second telephony code.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising prompting the telephony user to enter a personal identification number after receiving the call from the telephony user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising: receiving the personal identification number from the telephony user; determining whether the personal identification number is valid; and disconnecting the telephony user if the telephony user fails to enter a valid personal identification number after a predetermined number of attempts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising determining whether the personal identification number is in use.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US34380A
Cited
JPS5787661A
Cited
US4510349A
Cited
JPS58173951A
Cited
US4811382A
Cited
USRE34380E
Cited
US4943995A
Cited
US4850007A
Cited
US4996705A
Cited
US5623536A
Cited
US5222120A
Cited
US5187735A
Cited
US5150399A
Cited
US5355403A
Cited
US5163087A
Cited
US5333186A
Cited
US5452350A
Cited
US5572583A
Cited
US5583920A
Cited
US5357564A
Cited
US5539809A
Cited
US5448625A
Cited
US5473681A
Cited
US5615251A
Cited
US5524142A
Cited
US5515424A
Cited
US5583918A
Cited
US5652784A
Cited
US5438615A
Cited
US5513254A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-27 | 2003-06-28 | 2003-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-27 | 2007-06-28 | 2007-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-27 | 2011-06-28 | 2011-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |