US 8,634,520 B1Granted

Call tracking system utilizing an automated filtering function

AssigneeMarchex, Inc.

InventorsAmanda Morrison, Govind Ramanathan, John Busby, Ziad Ismail

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Abstract

A call tracking system and method that uses an automated filtering function to increase accuracy of call tracking. In some embodiments, the system utilizes a spam blocking module, such as a challenge-response test (e.g., a CAPTCHA), a blacklist for callers sharing certain criteria indicative of robo-dialed or spam calls, or other similar spam filter to block unwanted calls from being routed to an advertiser. By using a spam blocking module, the amount of noise in the call tracking system can be reduced and the attribution of calls correspondingly more accurate. In some embodiments, an interactive voice response (IVR) module is utilized to reduce the noise in the system by filtering or blocking unwanted calls. By utilizing an automated filtering function, the disclosed system improves the accuracy of call tracking and allows advertisers to better track the performance of advertising campaigns that they undertake.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method in a computing system for reducing unwanted calls to phone numbers utilized for call tracking, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of phone numbers to be utilized for tracking calls to the phone numbers after distribution through different publication channels, each publication channel corresponding to a distribution path through which an indication of one of more phone numbers or an indication of an ability to call one or more phone numbers is made visible to a caller;
storing one or more tracking parameters that enables a call to one of the plurality of phone numbers to be correlated with a particular publication channel in which the phone number was published when a call to the plurality of phone numbers is received;
upon receipt of requests to call the plurality of phone numbers from callers, performing an automated filtering function that is intended to reduce unwanted calls to the phone numbers, the automated filtering function identifying calls that are not to be routed to requested phone numbers;
terminating the calls that are identified by the automated filtering function as not to be routed to requested phone numbers;
and
routing the remaining calls to the requested phone numbers and storing data characterizing the routed calls;
and
using the stored data characterizing the routed calls and the stored one or more tracking parameters to assess the performance of the publication channels.

5 more elements

A computer readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a method to reduce unwanted calls to phone numbers utilized for call tracking, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of phone numbers to be utilized for tracking calls to the phone numbers after distribution through different publication channels, each publication channel corresponding to a distribution path through which an indication of one or more phone numbers or an indication of an ability to call one or more phone numbers is made visible to a caller;
storing one or more tracking parameters that enables a call to one of the plurality of phone numbers to be correlated with a particular publication channel in which the phone number was published when a call to the plurality of phone numbers is received;
upon receipt of requests to call the plurality of phone numbers from callers, performing an automated filtering function that is intended to reduce unwanted calls to the phone numbers, the automated filtering function identifying calls that are not to be routed to requested phone numbers;
terminating the calls that are identified by the automated filtering function as not to be routed to requested phone numbers;
and
routing the remaining calls to the requested phone numbers and storing data characterizing the routed calls;
and
using the stored data characterizing the routed calls and the stored one or more tracking parameters to assess the performance of the publication channels.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.