Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to selectively provide communication connections based on an automated procedure to test whether a caller is a human or a machine. One embodiment includes: receiving at a connection server a telephone call from a caller; presenting a message to the caller in response to the telephone call; receiving from the caller a response to the message; and comparing the received response with a predetermined response to determine whether the caller is a human or a machine.

Abstract: Methods and systems for connecting people for real time communications via a virtual reality environment. One embodiment includes: receiving a call for a real time communication session at a virtual object presented in a virtual reality world; indicating to a plurality of residents of the virtual reality world that the virtual object is being called; and responsive to an input from one resident of the plurality of residents, connecting the call to the resident for a real time communication session.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a communication interface to receive an input from a merchant; a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers for delivery of messages sent by the system to collect funds for purchases made by customers; and a common format processor coupled with the plurality of converters to send the messages. The common format processor determines a total price of one or more messages, in response to a first customer making a first purchase from the merchant at a first price. The total price of the one or more messages is based on the first price and a portion of service charges associated with the one or more messages, where the portion is specified by the input received via the interface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to present information to sellers/advertisers/advisors for connections to customers for real time communications. One embodiment includes: responsive to a request from a customer, determining a telephonic reference of the customer; presenting to at least one entity an option to be connected to the customer; responsive to a first entity selecting the option, initiating a telephonic connection to the customer using the determined telephonic reference of the customer to provide a telephonic connection between the customer and the first entity; and charging the first entity a fee for a lead to the customer in response to establishing the telephonic connection between the customer and the first entity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide options for alternative connections in response to customer requesting for connections to advertisers for real time communications. One embodiment includes: providing an advertisement of a first advertiser for presentation to a customer, the advertisement including a reference to be used to request a connection server to provide a telephonic connection between the first advertiser and the customer; receiving a request made via the reference included in the advertisement for a telephonic connection between the first advertiser and the customer; determining a status of the first advertiser at a time of the request; and presenting an option to make an alternative connection for the customer based on the determined status.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to present communication references to connect people for real time communications via concurrent calls. One embodiment includes: responsive to a search request, identifying information of an entity according to the search request; associating a telephonic reference with the information of the entity; providing the telephonic reference for presentation with the information of the entity to a user; and responsive to a request made via the telephonic reference for a telephonic connection between the user and the entity, initiating a plurality of concurrent calls to a plurality of telephonic references of the entity or a plurality of concurrent calls to a plurality of telephonic references of the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to connect telephone calls and track information about the telephone calls resulting from advertisements for groups of advertisers. For example, a method includes: determining a geographic area after receiving a telephone call to a first telephone number publicized in an advertisement; determining a telephone number of a first advertiser; and connecting the telephone call to the telephone number of the first advertiser, the first advertiser billed for the advertisement based on telephonic connections made to connect the first advertiser and telephone calls to the first telephone number.

Abstract: Methods and systems for connecting people for real time communications via a virtual reality environment. One embodiment includes: receiving a call for a real time communication session at a virtual object presented in a virtual reality world; indicating to a plurality of residents of the virtual reality world that the virtual object is being called; and responsive to an input from one resident of the plurality of residents, connecting the call to the resident for a real time communication session.

Abstract: Methods and systems to facilitate real time communications via a telephonic apparatuses that support data communications. In one embodiment, a telephonic apparatus includes: a user interface to receive a search criterion; a network interface coupled to the user interface to submit a query from the telephonic apparatus over a data communication network and to receive at least one advertisement, the advertisement including a telephonic reference containing information about the query; and a call module coupled to the user interface and the network interface. In response to a user selection of the advertisement, the call module is to establish a connection with a connection server for a telephonic call using the telephonic reference, where the connection server is to extract from the telephonic reference the information about the query and to connect the telephonic call to an advertiser of the advertisement.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a transactions network and to a method and system for managing electronic transactions, in particular merchant offers such as voucher entries having discounts associated with them. A voucher application module stores a record of each time that a respective voucher entry of a plurality of voucher entries stored in the data store is redeemed. A score calculator calculates a redemption rate at which the voucher entry is redeemed. A ranking module ranks the voucher entries based one the scores of the voucher entries of a plurality of the merchant accounts. A notification module preferentially transmits voucher entries that are displayed in accordance with their ranking.

Abstract: Systems and methods to propagate and redeem offers via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes an interchange and a data storage facility storing a value in association with a first phone number. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and with the controllers in different formats. The common format processor is to re-associate the value with a second phone number and to use one converter of the converters to communicate a reference of the value to a telephonic apparatus at the second phone number, in response to a request from a telephonic apparatus at the first phone number, when the request includes the second phone number and a reference to the value.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store an account and a phone number associated with the account and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor is to select a first controller based at least in part on reducing cost, and to instruct the first controller of the controllers, via a first converter of the converters, to transmit a first message to a mobile device at the phone number to facilitate a transaction related to funds associated with the phone number.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide options for alternative connections in response to customer requesting for connections to advertisers for real time communications. One embodiment includes: providing an advertisement of a first advertiser for presentation to a customer, the advertisement including a reference to be used to request a connection server to provide a telephonic connection between the first advertiser and the customer; receiving a request made via the reference included in the advertisement for a telephonic connection between the first advertiser and the customer; determining a status of the first advertiser at a time of the request; and presenting an option to make an alternative connection for the customer based on the determined status.

Abstract: Systems and methods to provide telephonic connections. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a listing on a marketplace, the listing including an assigned reference to be used to initiate a real time communication connection; and billing for a real time communication lead generated from presenting the listing in response to a real time communication initiated via the reference. In one embodiment, a method includes: conducting online auction of telephonic leads; determining a way to present listings based at least partially on received price bids on the telephonic leads (e.g., the order of placement, the selection for placement, etc); and providing the listings with information to initiate a telephonic connection in a way trackable to measure a number of telephonic calls generated from presenting the listings.

Abstract: Methods and systems to facilitate real time communications and/or commerce via a social network. In one embodiment, communication references are provided to facilitate the requests for real time communications with a member of the social network via a connection provider, which performs scheduling, filtering, payment processing, etc. for the member of the social network. In one embodiment, a method includes, responsive to a request from a first member of a social network, determining a preference of a second member of the social network based at least in part on a characteristic of a social connection between the first and second members who are not socially directly connected in the social network; and facilitating real time communications between the first and second members in accordance with the preference. In one embodiment, the presentation of the advertisement or the advertiser is at least partially based on the social network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to initiate callback with confirmation. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a reference (e.g., a callback phone number) in a request for a connection to a destination; providing a code via the reference in response to the request; receiving a code to confirm the request; determining whether the received code matches the provided code; and initiating a connection via the reference for the connection to the destination if the received code matches the provided code.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide communication connections for partners based on communication references assigned to entities maintained by the partners. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving from a partner contact information of an entity; providing the partner with a real-time communication reference usable to at least initiate a request for a communication connection; and in response to receiving a request initiated via the real-time communication reference, providing a real-time communication connection between a requester and the entity using the contact information received from the partner.

Abstract: Methods and systems to facilitate real time communications and commerce via a social network. In one embodiment, a social network is used to provide information about an advertiser to demonstrate the trustworthiness of the advertiser to potential customers. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request from a customer for a document; and providing the customer with an advertisement embedded in the document, the advertisement including information to identify an advertiser of the advertisement based on a social network. In one embodiment, the presentation of the advertisement or the advertiser is at least partially based on the social network. In one embodiment, communication references are provided to facilitate the requests for real time communications with a member of the social network via a connection provider, which performs scheduling, filtering, payment processing, etc. for the member of the social network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to present communication references to connect people for real time communications via concurrent calls. One embodiment includes: responsive to a search request, identifying information of an entity according to the search request; associating a telephonic reference with the information of the entity; providing the telephonic reference for presentation with the information of the entity to a user; and responsive to a request made via the telephonic reference for a telephonic connection between the user and the entity, initiating a plurality of concurrent calls to a plurality of telephonic references of the entity or a plurality of concurrent calls to a plurality of telephonic references of the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to connect telephone calls and track information about the telephone calls resulting from advertisements for groups of advertisers. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining a geographic area after receiving a telephone call to a first telephone number publicized in an advertisement; determining a telephone number of a first advertiser; and connecting the telephone call to the telephone number of the first advertiser, the first advertiser billed for the advertisement based on telephonic connections made to connect the first advertiser and telephone calls to the first telephone number.