Methods and apparatus for intelligent selection of goods and services in telephonic and electronic commerce

A system for providing offers in real time of an item constituting a good or a service in the form of offers for purchase of the item to prospective customers as users of the system, utilizing an electronic communications device, comprising:

• an interface for establishing a user initiated communication via the electronic communications device between the user and the system for purpose of a primary transaction for purchase of a specific good or service,
• an input collection system for obtaining primary transaction data with respect to the primary transaction, including an identification data unit to obtain the identity of the prospective customer and of the good or service for purchase in the primary transaction,
• a data access system utilizing the identity of the prospective customer to obtain at least a second data element relating to the user,
• an upsell determining unit responsive to the user initiated primary transaction utilizing at least in part the primary transaction data including the identity of the good or service of the primary transaction and the second data element for determining at least one item for a prospective upsell transaction with the prospective customer, and
• a communication system for offering the item to the prospective customer in real time during the course of the user initiated communication and receiving an acceptance of the offer from at least one user.

A method for the real time, intelligent selection of information for provision to users of a system, in a remote communication environment, utilizing an electronic communications device, comprising the steps of:

• establishing communication via the electronic communications device between the user and the system for purpose of a user initiated initial transaction,
• obtaining transaction data with respect to the user from the initial transaction, including at least certain information regarding the identity of the user,
• selecting said information for provision to the user as a result of the user initiated initial transaction, comprising the steps of:
• utilizing the identity of the user to access one or more databases to obtain at least two second data elements, each relating to the user, at least one second data element containing third party data,
• utilizing at least in part the transaction data and the second data elements to for selecting the information for provision to users of the system, and
• providing the information to the user in real time during the course of the communication.

A method for providing offers in real time of an item constituting a good or a service in the form of offers for purchase of the item to prospective customers as users of the system utilizing an electronic communications device, comprising the steps of:

• establishing communication between a user of the system and the electronic system for purpose of a user initiated primary transaction,
• obtaining primary transaction data with respect to the transaction, including the identity of the prospective customer and the purpose of the primary transaction,
• generating an offer for purchase of said item as the result of the user initiated primary transaction by:
• utilizing the identity of the prospective customer to obtain at least a second data element relating to the user,
• utilizing at least in part the primary transaction data including information relating to the purpose of the primary transaction and the second data element for determining at least one good or service item for prospective upsell to the prospective customer,
• determining characteristics of the user based at least in part upon the communication between the user of the system and the electronic system, and
• determining the mode of presentation for the user based at least in part on the determined characteristics of the user, and
• presenting the offer to the user in the determined mode in real time during the communication.

A method for the real-time presentation of information to users of a system, in a remote communication environment, utilizing an electronic communications device, comprising the steps of:

• establishing communication via the electronic communication device between the user and the system for purpose of a purchase transaction,
• selecting a second potential purchase transaction for presentation to the user,
• providing a presentation from the system in real time during the course of the communication to the user of information relating to the second potential transaction, the presentation to the user including textual information data and at least one graphical depiction relating to the second potential transaction, and
• receiving an acceptance from the user at the system whereby a transaction is then consummated between the user and the system.

A method for the real-time presentation of information to users of a system, in a remote communication environment, utilizing an electronic communications device, comprising the steps of:

• establishing communication via the electronic communication device between the user and the system for purpose of a user initiated purchase transaction,
• selecting a second potential purchase transaction as a result of the user initiated purchase transaction for presentation to the user,
• providing a presentation from the system in real time during the course of communication to the user of information and an offer relating to the second potential transaction, the presentation to the user including textual information data and at least one dynamic video depiction relating to the second potential transaction, and
• receiving an acceptance of the offer from at least one user of the system.

A method for the real time, intelligent selection of information for provision to users of a system, in a remote communication environment, utilizing an electronic communications device, comprising the steps of:

• establishing communication via the electronic communications device between the user and the system for purpose of a user initiated initial transaction,
• obtaining transaction data with respect to the user from the initial transaction, including at least certain information regarding the identity of the user,
• utilizing the identity of the user to access at least two sets of data, at least one set containing third party data, the at least two sets of data being combined within the system,
• obtaining from each set at least a second data element relating to the user,
• utilizing at least in part the transaction data and the second data elements to select the information for provision to users of the system, and
• providing the information to the user in real time during the course of the communication.

A method for providing offers and receiving acceptances in real time to effect a transaction regarding an item constituting a good or a service between prospective customers as users of the system and the system, utilizing an electronic communications device, including a computer, comprising the steps of:

• establishing communication via the Internet between the user's computer and the system for purpose of a primary transaction comprising an Internet purchase transaction,
• obtaining primary transaction data with respect to the transaction including the identity of the prospective customer,
• utilizing the identity of the prospective customer to obtain at least a second data element relating to the user,
• utilizing at least in part the primary transaction data and the second data element in determining at least one good or service item for a prospective upsell transaction with the prospective customer,
• offering from the system via the Internet to the prospective customer on the user's computer the item in real time during the course of the communication, and
• receiving an acceptance of the offer from at least one user via the Internet to the system so as to consummate the transaction.

A method for providing offers and receiving acceptances in real time to effect a transaction regarding an item constituting a good or a service between prospective customers as users of the system and the system, utilizing an electronic communications device, including a computer, comprising the steps of:

• establishing communication via the Internet between the user's computer and the system for purpose of a primary transaction comprising an Internet purchase transaction,
• obtaining primary transaction data with respect to the transaction, including the identity of the prospective customer,
• obtaining at least a second data element relating to the user,
• utilizing at least in part the primary transaction data and the second data element in determining at least one good or service item for prospective upsell to the prospective customer,
• displaying from the system via the Internet an image of the item to the prospective customer on the user's computer in real time during the course of the communication, and
• receiving an acceptance of the offer from at least one user via the Internet to the system to consummate the transaction.

A method for providing offers in real time during a telemarketing transaction of an item constituting a good or a service in the form of offers for purchase of the item, from a live operator associated with the system to prospective customers as users of the system, utilizing an electronic communications device, over a network capable of automatically supplying user identification information, comprising the steps of:

• establishing communication via the electronic communications device between the user and the telemarketing system for purpose of a primary transaction,
• obtaining primary transaction data with respect to the transaction, including identification data automatically provided from the network for determining the identity of the prospective customer,
• utilizing the identity of the prospective customer to obtain at least a second data element relating to the user,
• utilizing at least in part the second data element for determining at least one good or service item for prospective upsell to the prospective customer, and
• offering the item by said line operator associated the telemarketing system to the prospective customer via the electronic communications device in real time during the course of the communication and receiving an acceptance of the offer from at least one user of the system.

A method for providing offers in real time during an electronic commerce transaction of an item constituting a good or a service in the form of offers for purchase of the item, from a live operator associated with the system to potential customers as users of the system, utilizing an electronic communications device, comprising the steps of:

• establishing communication via the electronic communications device between the user and the system for purpose of a primary transaction,
• obtaining primary transaction data with respect to the transaction, including data for determining the identity of the prospective customer,
• utilizing the identity of the prospective customer for obtaining at least a second data element relating to the user,
• utilizing the primary transaction data including the identity of the prospective customer and the second data element for determining at least one good or service item for prospective upsell to the prospective customer,
• displaying a to the live operator regarding the item for prospective upsell on a terminal attended by an operator associated with the system, and
• offering the item from the system to the prospective customer via the electronic communications device in real time during the course of the transaction.