Multilevel directory assistance apparatus and method
OwnerRobert F. Perler, Craig Perlerinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for the presentation of telephone information about a company or other enterprise over the Internet in response to consumer searches for names or products. Department information is included. The system uses a database to determine product slightly sold my search for companies to provide advertisers or sponsors with preferential placement of their ads. Revenue is charged response to clicking on an advertisement. The system also places telephone calls over the Internet to users of the inventive search engine. Advertisers are charged for such calls. Optionally, the system may not allow direct dialing for non-advertisers.
Claims11
A method of displaying a directory of information elements, comprising displaying said directory of information elements with a configuration which is humanly perceptible but with a size that may not be humanly discernible, wherein elements are divided into at least first, second and third tiers of information, said first, second and third tiers of information being displayed simultaneously, said first tier of information being displayed in a first size, said second tier of information being displayed in a second size smaller than said first size, and said third tier of information being displayed in a third size smaller than said second size, said information elements each comprising an identification subelement and an address subelement wherein a user may drag the display to reveal other parts of the display.
A method of displaying a directory of information elements, as in claim 30, wherein said identification subelement comprises a source of a merchandise or service and said address subelement comprises an address taken from the group consisting of telephone numbers and internet addresses.
A method of displaying a directory of information elements as in claim 24, wherein at least one of said information elements further comprises a video element.
A method of displaying a directory of information elements, as in claim 24 wherein said identification subelement comprises a source of a merchandise or service and said address subelement comprises an address taken from the group consisting of telephone numbers and internet addresses.
A method wherein said information elements are associated with regions and each of said regions has an associated region trigger point with a position in said region, and gesturing at a clicking point, for example by clicking, on the display causes the display of the region associated with the trigger point closest to said clicking point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.