Abstract: A computing apparatus configured in the communication system to store data about advisers, including availability status of the advisers for real time communications with customers, ratings of the advisers by prior customers, compensate rates of the advisers, probability of being connected within a period of time for real time communication with customers, etc. The computing apparatus customizes the selection of lists of advisers for presentation to customers and/or the sequences of the lists to reduce collisions in concurrent requests for connections to same advisers for real time communication connections. The customization may include randomizing top portions of the lists, selecting and/or ranking the advisers in real time based on probability of advisers being connected within a period of time for real time communication with customers, etc.

Abstract: A computing apparatus configured in the communication system to store data about advisers, including availability status of the advisers for real time communications with customers, ratings of the advisers by prior customers, compensate rates of the advisers, probability of being connected within a period of time for real time communication with customers, etc. The computing apparatus presents the advisers to customers based on the stored information and provide real time communication connections in response to selections of the presented advisers. Based on monitoring customer interaction with the system, the computing apparatus is configured to detect dissatisfactions, determine authenticity of the dissatisfactions based on user history and usage patterns of the system, and automatically provide a refund to the user without a refund request from the user and/or an explicitly user confirmation of the detected dissatisfaction.

Abstract: A computing apparatus configured in the communication system to store data about advisers, including availability status of the advisers for real time communications with customers, ratings of the advisers by prior customers, compensate rates of the advisers, probability of being connected within a period of time for real time communication with customers, etc. The computing apparatus customizes the selection of lists of advisers for presentation to customers and/or the sequences of the lists to reduce collisions in concurrent requests for connections to same advisers for real time communication connections. The customization may include randomizing top portions of the lists, selecting and/or ranking the advisers in real time based on probability of advisers being connected within a period of time for real time communication with customers, etc.

Abstract: A computing apparatus uses an interactive user assessment test to identify and/or assess the need and skills of the user as part of an enrollment process for the user to register for the services of the system that provides real time communications connections between users and advisers. The advisers provide coaching services over real time communications connections provided via the system. A recommendation engine is configured to use the assessment results to recommend advisers for the user based on the need and skills of the user, as well as the real time availability of the advisers to provide the coaching services.

Abstract: A computing apparatus configured to perform natural language processing, e.g., by comparing the words in a communication transcript of a user to a list of keywords, to generate an input vector representing a pattern of text in the communication transcript. A predictive model is generated from correlating input vectors to user ranking scores, e.g., for retention. The input vector determined from a communication transcript is applied to the computation model to compute a predicted retention score of the user. The retention score can be used, for example, to select a personalized recommendation for a communication connection to an adviser and/or a targeted offer.

Abstract: A computing apparatus configured in the communication system to store data about advisers, including availability status of the advisers for real time communications with customers, ratings of the advisers by prior customers, compensate rates of the advisers, probability of being connected within a period of time for real time communication with customers, etc. The computing apparatus presents the advisers to customers based on the stored information and provide real time communication connections in response to selections of the presented advisers. Based on monitoring customer interaction with the system, the computing apparatus is configured to detect dissatisfactions, determine authenticity of the dissatisfactions based on user history and usage patterns of the system, and automatically provide a refund to the user without a refund request from the user and/or an explicitly user confirmation of the detected dissatisfaction.

Abstract: A computing apparatus uses an interactive user assessment test to identify and/or assess the need and skills of the user as part of an enrollment process for the user to register for the services of the system that provides real time communications connections between users and advisers. The advisers provide coaching services over real time communications connections provided via the system. A recommendation engine is configured to use the assessment results to recommend advisers for the user based on the need and skills of the user, as well as the real time availability of the advisers to provide the coaching services.

Abstract: A computing apparatus configured to perform natural language processing, e.g., by comparing the words in a communication transcript of a user to a list of keywords, to generate an input vector representing a pattern of text in the communication transcript. A predictive model is generated from correlating input vectors to user ranking scores, e.g., for retention. The input vector determined from a communication transcript is applied to the computation model to compute a predicted retention score of the user. The retention score can be used, for example, to select a personalized recommendation for a communication connection to an adviser and/or a targeted offer.

Abstract: A computing apparatus configured in the communication system to store data about advisers, including availability status of the advisers for real time communications with customers, ratings of the advisers by prior customers, compensate rates of the advisers, probability of being connected within a period of time for real time communication with customers, etc. The computing apparatus customizes the selection of lists of advisers for presentation to customers and/or the sequences of the lists to reduce collisions in concurrent requests for connections to same advisers for real time communication connections. The customization may include randomizing top portions of the lists, selecting and/or ranking the advisers in real time based on probability of advisers being connected within a period of time for real time communication with customers, etc.

Abstract: A computing apparatus configured in the communication system to store data about advisers, including availability status of the advisers for real time communications with customers, ratings of the advisers by prior customers, compensate rates of the advisers, probability of being connected within a period of time for real time communication with customers, etc. The computing apparatus presents the advisers to customers based on the stored information and provide real time communication connections in response to selections of the presented advisers. Based on monitoring customer interaction with the system, the computing apparatus is configured to detect dissatisfactions, determine authenticity of the dissatisfactions based on user history and usage patterns of the system, and automatically provide a refund to the user without a refund request from the user and/or an explicitly user confirmation of the detected dissatisfaction.

Abstract: A computing apparatus uses an interactive user assessment test to identify and/or assess the need and skills of the user as part of an enrollment process for the user to register for the services of the system that provides real time communications connections between users and advisers. The advisers provide coaching services over real time communications connections provided via the system. A recommendation engine is configured to use the assessment results to recommend advisers for the user based on the need and skills of the user, as well as the real time availability of the advisers to provide the coaching services.

Abstract: A computing apparatus configured to perform natural language processing, e.g., by comparing the words in a communication transcript of a user to a list of keywords, to generate an input vector representing a pattern of text in the communication transcript. A predictive model is generated from correlating input vectors to user ranking scores, e.g., for retention. The input vector determined from a communication transcript is applied to the computation model to compute a predicted retention score of the user. The retention score can be used, for example, to select a personalized recommendation for a communication connection to an adviser and/or a targeted offer.

Abstract: A computing apparatus configured to perform natural language processing, e.g., by comparing the words in a communication transcript of a user to a list of keywords, to generate an input vector representing a pattern of text in the communication transcript. A predictive model is generated from correlating input vectors to user ranking scores, e.g., for retention. The input vector determined from a communication transcript is applied to the computation model to compute a predicted retention score of the user. The retention score can be used, for example, to select a personalized recommendation for a communication connection to an adviser and/or a targeted offer.

Abstract: A computing apparatus configured in the communication system to store data about advisers, including availability status of the advisers for real time communications with customers, ratings of the advisers by prior customers, compensate rates of the advisers, probability of being connected within a period of time for real time communication with customers, etc. The computing apparatus presents the advisers to customers based on the stored information and provide real time communication connections in response to selections of the presented advisers. Based on monitoring customer interaction with the system, the computing apparatus is configured to detect dissatisfactions, determine authenticity of the dissatisfactions based on user history and usage patterns of the system, and automatically provide a refund to the user without a refund request from the user and/or an explicitly user confirmation of the detected dissatisfaction.

Abstract: A method including: dynamically allocating a telephone number to an advertisement on a just-in-time basis; and if the telephone number is not called for a predefined period of time, unallocating the telephone number.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a method. The method includes dynamically allocating a telephone number to an advertisement on a just-in-time basis; and if the telephone number is not called for a predefined period of time, then unallocating the telephone number.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to connect people for real time communications to access diverse categories of information. One embodiment includes; storing data representing a privilege of a user during a predetermined period of time; responsive to a first request made via a presentation of a listing of the first entity for a service of the first entity, establishing a connection for real time communications between the user and the first entity to deliver the service of the first entity, if the user has the privilege at a time of the first request; and responsive to a second request made via a presentation of a listing of the second entity for a service of the second entity, establishing a connection for real time communications between the user and the second entity to deliver the service of the second entity, if the user has the privilege at a time of the second request.

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 apparatuses to prioritize requests for speaking privilege in a communication session. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving from an audience one or more bids for privilege to speak in a communication session; selecting one or more speakers from the audience based at least in part on the one or more bids; receiving voice communications from the one or more speakers; and transmitting the voice communications to the audience in the communication session.

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.