Patents Assigned to UTBK, Inc.
-
Publication number: 20070280443Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for specifying and obtaining services through audio commands, resulting in a live conversation between a user and a selected service provider using an audio-transmission medium (the telephone). A service seeker locates a service provider by entering a keypad code corresponding to a field of service or by speaking the name of a profession, which is recognized by the system. The seeker can then specify, via voice or keypad entry, a price range, quality rating, language, and keyword descriptors of the service provider, such as a service provider code number. In response, the system offers currently available service providers. Once an available service provider is selected, the system connects the service seeker with the service provider for a live conversation. The system bills the seeker for the time spent conversing with the service provider and compensates the service provider accordingly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2007Publication date: December 6, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Karl Jacob, Scott Faber, Sean Van der Linden
-
Patent number: 7289623Abstract: A systems and methods described herein may be incorporated into a “service marketplace” system that matches users with potential information or service providers and establishes a real-time communications connection between the user and a selected information provider. In one embodiment, an alternate is selected for the user when the service provider that the user is trying to connect with cannot be reached. In an alternative embodiment, the alternates can be used in conjunction with the service provider that does connect with the user in order to provide a second opinion or possibly deeper background information. In one embodiment, the service providers can either be a live person at the other end of the connection or a recording.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2001Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: UTBK, Inc.Inventor: Steven Lurie
-
Patent number: 7289612Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for ensuring a real-time connection between users and selected service providers using voice mail. The system enables seekers of a wide array of services to select, contact, converse, and pay for a service provider using a communications device such as the telephone. A seeker locates a service provider by providing the name of a profession, which is recognized by the system's software. Once a service provider is selected, the system connects the seeker with the service provider for a live conversation. However, during service provider unavailability, the system enables the seeker to leave a voice mail message for the service provider and reconnects the user and service provider once the message is reviewed by the service provider. The system automatically bills the seeker for the time spent conversing with the service provider and compensates the service provider.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2003Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: UTBK, Inc.Inventors: Steven Lurie, Scott Faber, Sean Van der Linden
-
Publication number: 20070242626Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2007Publication date: October 18, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Anuj AGARWAL, Nitin AHUJA, Mehul JAIN
-
Publication number: 20070230674Abstract: A method and system for converting a free call to a fee-based call are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the invention, an automated system establishes a connection between a first entity and a second entity. After the connection has been established, the system monitors the connection to determine if one participant has selected to convert the connection from a free connection to a fee-based connection. Upon detecting an indication that an entity has converted such a call, the system monitors the duration of the call to determine the proper fee for the connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Paul MANCA
-
Publication number: 20070230679Abstract: Methods and systems to facilitate real time communications via a telephonic apparatuses that support data communications. In one embodiment, a telephonic apparatus includes: a network interface to submit a query over a data communication network and to receive a listing with embedded information about the query; and a call module coupled to the network interface, the call module to embed the information about the query in a call signaling message for a telephonic connection according to the listing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Anuj AGARWAL, Nitin AHUJA, Mehul JAIN
-
Publication number: 20070230374Abstract: Methods and systems to facilitate real time communications via a telephonic apparatuses that support data communications. In one embodiment, a telephonic apparatus includes: a network interface to submit a query through a data communication network and to receive a listing with embedded information about the query; and a call module coupled to the network interface to establish a telephonic connection according to the listing and to identify a relation between the telephonic connection and the information about the query.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Anuj AGARWAL, Nitin AHUJA, Mehul JAIN
-
Publication number: 20070230671Abstract: Methods and systems to facilitate real time communications via a telephonic apparatuses that support data communications. In one embodiment, a telephonic apparatus includes: a network interface to submit a query over a data communication network and to receive a listing with embedded information about the query; and a call module coupled to the network interface, the call module to provide the received information about the query in a message sent over the data communication network for a telephonic connection according to the listing. In one embodiment, the telephonic apparatus receives a telephonic reference of a callee of the listing as a response to the message and initiates a telephonic connection to the callee using the telephonic reference of the callee received as a response to the message. In another embodiment, telephonic apparatus receives a callback responsive to the message for the telephonic connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Anuj AGARWAL, Nitin AHUJA, Mehul JAIN
-
Publication number: 20070201659Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2007Publication date: August 30, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Paul MANCA
-
Publication number: 20070189473Abstract: Systems and methods to collect information over a connection with a caller just in time for further connecting the caller to a callee. In one embodiment, a connection server is configured to provide to a caller a reference associated with the first criterion, to identify the first criterion based on the reference used to establish a connection with the caller for real time communications, to obtain a second criterion from the caller over the connection established for real time communications, to identifying a callee based at least in part on the first criterion and the second criterion, and to connect the caller from the established connection to the callee for real time communications.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2007Publication date: August 16, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Paul MANCA
-
Publication number: 20070189520Abstract: A method and system to facilitate the conversion from communications to commerce. In one embodiment, a method includes: establishing a communication session between a first user and a second user; facilitating communications between the first user and the second user for a first period of time of the communication session; after the first period of time, receiving from the first user a request to charge the second user during the communication session; responsive to the request received from the first user, prompting the second user to accept a price to continue the communication session; and responsive to a response from the second user, charging the second user according to the price for a second period of time of the communication session.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2007Publication date: August 16, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Paul MANCA, Amit AKHOURI
-
Publication number: 20070174124Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for presenting selected listings as featured listings sorted based on value scores. One embodiment includes: selecting a first subset of listings from a set of listings according to one or more predetermined criteria; computing value scores of the first subset of listings based on an indicator of advertisement earning potential and an indicator of transaction earning potential, at least one listing from the first subset of listings offering an advertisement fee for preferential placement, at least one listing from the first subset of listings offering a commission fee for revenue generated from a service provided over a communication connection established via listing presentation; and presenting the first subset of listings in an order according to the value scores of the first subset of listings.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2007Publication date: July 26, 2007Applicant: UTBK, Inc.Inventors: Jennifer ZAGOFSKY, Kelvin HO, Ron HIRSON, Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Paul MANCA
-
Publication number: 20070174187Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide services to transfer funds to an automatically identified account. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a communication at a communication reference assigned to a first entity, the communication instructing an amount of funds and an account from which the funds are to be transferred; identifying an account of the first entity based on the communication reference; and transferring the amount of funds to the account of the first entity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2006Publication date: July 26, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN
-
Patent number: 7249045Abstract: This invention provides for a method of (or apparatus for) facilitating the delivery of advice to consumers using a server unit which can store and display the names and characteristics of experts and then rapidly assist in connecting the expert and consumer for real-time communication. The server can also have the ability to receive keywords from the consumer, match those keywords to one or more experts, and tell the consumer how to contact an expert.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2004Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: UTBK, Inc.Inventor: Randall B. Lauffer
-
Publication number: 20070165821Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to block calls from reaching destinations. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a call for a connection to an entity via a reference; based on the reference used for the call, determining a reference of the entity; determining whether the call is to be blocked; and responsive to a determination that the call is not to be blocked, establishing the connection to the entity using the reference of the entity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2007Publication date: July 19, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Paul MANCA
-
Publication number: 20070165608Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to prioritize a queue of waiting requests which are queued to be process sequentially. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving one or more price bids on queuing priority; and determining an order of a plurality of pending requests based on at least the one or more price bids.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2007Publication date: July 19, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Paul MANCA
-
Publication number: 20070165805Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for advertising where the performance is determined via tracking the communication leads generated from the advertisements. One embodiment includes: providing an advertisement on behalf of a specific party; and charging an advertisement fee responsive to a customer making a request for an in person communication with the specific party via the advertisement.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2007Publication date: July 19, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Paul MANCA
-
Publication number: 20070165804Abstract: A method and system for converting a free call to a fee-based call are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the invention, an automated system establishes a connection between a first entity and a second entity. After the connection has been established, the system monitors the connection to determine if one participant has selected to convert the connection from a free connection to a fee-based connection. Upon detecting an indication that an entity has converted such a call, the system monitors the duration of the call to determine the proper fee for the connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2007Publication date: July 19, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Paul MANCA
-
Publication number: 20070162296Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to present audio advertisements and deliver communication leads. One embodiment includes: providing an advertisement, on behalf of a party, to a customer over a real time communication channel that is capable of audio transmission; connecting the customer to the party according to a response to the advertisement; and charging for the advertisement according to a count of communication leads connected to the party.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2006Publication date: July 12, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN, Virginia YANG
-
Publication number: 20070160077Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide services to people who wish to make connections for real time communication, such as live telephone conversation, chat, video conferencing, etc. In one embodiment, a method includes: presenting to a communicatee a plurality of requests for real time communication connections to the communicatee, the requests being received from a plurality of communicators; prioritizing the requests according to an input from the communicatee; and establishing a real time communication connection to the communicatee according to the prioritizing of the requests.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2006Publication date: July 12, 2007Applicant: UTBK, INC.Inventors: Ebbe ALTBERG, Scott FABER, Ron HIRSON, Sean VAN DER LINDEN