Systems and Methods to Convert a Free Call to a Fee-Based Call
AssigneeUtbk, Inc.
InventorsEbbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Paul MANCA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for converting a free call to a fee-based call are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the invention, an automated system establishes a connection between a first entity and a second entity. After the connection has been established, the system monitors the connection to determine if one participant has selected to convert the connection from a free connection to a fee-based connection. Upon detecting an indication that an entity has converted such a call, the system monitors the duration of the call to determine the proper fee for the connection.
Claims22
A method, comprising:
- establishing a first connection with a first entity and a second connection with a second entity;
- joining the first connection and the second connection into a connection between the first entity and the second entity;
- monitoring a communication between the first entity and the second entity to detect a pre-defined indication;
- and
- changing a fee status for the connection between the first entity and the second entity in accordance with a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.
A machine readable media embodying instructions, the instructions causing a machine to perform a method, the method comprising:
- establishing a first connection with a first entity and a second connection with a second entity;
- joining the first connection and the second connection into a connection between the first entity and the second entity;
- monitoring a communication between the first entity and the second entity to detect a pre-defined indication;
- and
- changing a fee status for the connection between the first entity and the second entity in accordance with a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.
A data processing system, comprising:
- means for establishing a first connection with a first entity and a second connection with a second entity;
- means for joining the first connection and the second connection into a connection between the first entity and the second entity;
- means for monitoring a communication between the first entity and the second entity to detect a pre-defined indication;
- and
- means for changing a fee status for the connection between the first entity and the second entity in accordance with a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.
A method, comprising:
- providing a second entity with information pointing to a server, the information to be embedded in and presented with a document of the second entity;
- receiving a request from a first entity for a telephonic connection between the first entity and the second entity, the request being generated using the information;
- joining the first connection with the first entity and the second connection with the second entity into a telephonic connection between the first entity and the second entity;
- detecting a pre-defined indication from the first entity;
- and
- starting to charge the first entity a fee for the telephonic connection between the first entity and the second entity maintained in a time period after a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication;
- wherein the first entity is not charged a fee for the telephonic connection between the first entity and the second entity for a time duration ended at the detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.