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.
Claims23
Apparatus for a directory of information elements with a configuration which is humanly perceptible but with a size that may not be humanly discernable, comprising:
- (a) an electronic computing system;
- (b) a connection between said electronic computing system and a communications network;
- (c) a database, comprising:
- (i) company identity information respecting a plurality of companies;
- (ii) department identity information associated with each of said companies;
- and
- (iii) telephone number information associated with each of said departments;
- (d) a database containing screens for display to a user, said screens displaying indicia of said companies and indicia of departments, and said screens displaying a second class of indicia selected from the group consisting of an automatic dialing icons and telephone numbers, said screens configured to receive a use request for information;
- and
- (e) a display for displaying said screens, said screen displaying said indicia with a configuration which is humanly perceptible but with a size that may not be humanly discernable, wherein indicia 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 indicia each comprising an identification subelement and an address subelement wherein a user may drag the display to reveal other parts of the display.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.