Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for advertising where the advertisement performance is determined via tracking the deals made as a result of communication leads generated from the advertisements. One embodiment includes: providing an advertisement containing a communication reference to a customer on behalf of a party; providing a connection via the reference for real time communications between the customer and the party; and charging an advertisement fee in response to an action of a predetermined type being performed by the customer (or an agreement between the customer and the party being reached) as a result of the real time communications.

Abstract: Systems and methods to integrate point of sale processing, online order processing, and supply chain and store management over the Internet. In one aspect, a central server provides point of sale, online order processing, and supply chain and store management functions via browser based interfaces. The system enables users to enter orders from remote locations for order fulfillment at brick and mortar retail locations, where the POS terminals configured based on the browser based interfaces can be changed into a self service mode to allow customers to place orders for themselves at the retail locations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to identify user terminals in providing connections for real time communications. In one embodiment, a method implemented on a connection server includes: establishing a first connection with a first terminal over a communication network for real time communications; in response to the first connection, assigning a first communication reference to uniquely identify the first terminal among a plurality of terminals on the communication network; establishing a second connection with a second terminal for real time communications; bridging the first and second connections to connect the first and second terminals for real time communications; and identifying the first terminal to a user of the second terminal using the first communication reference.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to connect people for real time communications via optional advertisements presented via directory assistance. One embodiment includes: receiving a directory assistance request from a user over a telephonic connection with the user; providing directory assistance information responsive to the directory assistance request; presenting an option related to an advertisement to the user; if the user declines the option, charging the user a fee for providing the directory assistance information; and if the user accepts the option, reducing the fee for providing the directory assistance information.

Abstract: Methods and systems to obtain information in a virtual reality environment for real time communication connections. One embodiment includes: a virtual reality server to host a virtual reality world and an avatar representing a participant of the virtual reality world, the virtual reality world including a virtual object to receive a message from an avatar; a controller to determine a context of the message and select an advertisement based on the context for presentation via the virtual object, the presented advertisement including an embedded reference to be used to request for a connection for real time communications; a session border controller to interface with a packet switched network; and one or more telecommunication servers coupled to the session border controller to connect the avatar to an advertiser of the advertisement for real time communications in response to a user of the avatar selecting the reference.

Abstract: Methods and systems for connecting people to services delivered via a virtual reality environment. One embodiment includes: a virtual reality server to host a three dimensional virtual reality world; and a connection provider to interface between the virtual reality server and a customer and to interface between the virtual reality server and an advisor, the connection provider to present the advisor and to cause the virtual reality server to teleporting an avatar, representing the customer or the advisor in the virtual reality world, to a location in the virtual reality world for a meeting between the customer and the advisor, the connection provider to monitor a duration of the meeting in the virtual reality world and to charge the customer on behalf of the advisor for services delivered by the advisor during the meeting in the virtual reality world.

Abstract: Methods and systems for connecting people for real time communications via a virtual reality environment. One embodiment includes: a virtual reality server to host a virtual reality world and to present, to a customer in the virtual reality world, an advertisement including a reference assigned to the advertisement; a session border controller to interface with a packet switched network; and one or more telecommunication servers coupled to the session border controller to connect the customer to an advertiser of the advertisement for real time communications in response to a request received via the reference embedded in the advertisement and presented to the customer in the virtual reality world. In one embodiment, the advertiser is charged an advertisement fee based on connecting the customer and the advertiser for real time communications via the advertisement presented in the virtual reality world.

Abstract: Methods and systems to determine availability of people for real time communications via a virtual reality environment. One embodiment includes: associating an avatar with an advertisement; determining a location of the avatar in a virtual reality world; and determining whether an advertiser of the advertisement is available for real time communications based at least in part on the location of the avatar in the virtual reality world. In one embodiment, the availability of the advertiser is determined for real time communications via the virtual reality world and for real time communications outside the virtual reality world based on an online presence status of the avatar, a schedule of the advertiser, and/or the location of the avatar in the virtual reality world.

Abstract: Methods and systems for connecting people for real time communications in a virtual reality environment. One embodiment includes: a virtual reality server to host a virtual reality world; a web server to provide an advertisement to a customer, the advertisement including a reference to a meeting with an advertiser of the advertisement in the virtual reality world, a selection of the reference from the customer to cause the virtual reality server to teleport at least one avatar to a meeting location in the virtual reality world; a session border controller to interface with a packet switched network; and one or more telecommunication servers coupled to the session border controller to connect the customer to the advertiser of the advertisement for real time communications in response to the customer selecting the advertisement. In one embodiment, the advertiser of the advertisement is charged an advertisement fee per completion of the teleporting.

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.