Abstract: A system and method to automatically generate display text for advertisements. The generated creatives may be distributed in text, banner, email, or other advertising formats through online advertising distribution networks. To generate creatives, the system utilizes a record of the grammatical structure (or “grammar”) of creatives and combinations of two or more words (“N-grams”) to populate each grammar. To generate grammars of creatives, the system analyzes a large set of creatives that have previously been used in advertisements to populate grammar and N-gram datasets. Once the grammar and N-gram datasets are populated with a sufficient number of grammars and N-grams, the system is able to generate new creatives for advertisements. The system populates the selected grammars using N-grams that are obtained from the N-gram dataset in order to form new creatives.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing information associated with voice calls placed during a telephone number advertising campaign is described. The system receives information characterizing voice calls to advertiser telephone numbers and information from advertisers such as information about the outcome of the voice call (e.g., conversion information). The system correlates the voice call information with the advertiser information and generates reports based on the correlated information. The system can perform or enable the performance of other actions based on the correlated information. For example, the system may modify an ongoing advertising campaign based on an analysis of the correlated information.

Abstract: A facility for blocking telephone calls is described. The facility is implemented by a telecommunications system that manages assigned and unassigned telephone numbers. The facility determines that a call originator has made two telephone calls to two different unassigned telephone numbers. The facility adds the call originator to a blacklist for a default time period. If the call originator calls any managed telephone number during the default time period, the facility renews the default time period. After the default time period expires, if the call originator makes additional telephone calls to other unassigned telephone numbers, the facility adds the call originator to the blacklist for a time period that is increased from the default time period. The facility increases the time period with each additional call to an unassigned telephone number. Accordingly, the time period is a function of the number of unassigned telephone numbers called by the call originator.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing information associated with voice calls placed during a telephone number advertising campaign is described. The system receives information characterizing voice calls to advertiser telephone numbers and information from advertisers such as information about the outcome of the voice call (e.g., conversion information). The system correlates the voice call information with the advertiser information and generates reports based on the correlated information. The system can perform or enable the performance of other actions based on the correlated information. For example, the system may modify an ongoing advertising campaign based on an analysis of the correlated information.

Abstract: A system and method for highlighting telephone numbers that are sponsored by advertisers on electronic content, and directing voice calls to those numbers to the corresponding advertiser. The call advertising system receives parameters of an advertising campaign from an advertiser, including telephone numbers in the campaign and an amount per call that the advertiser is willing to pay. The call advertising system transmits an indication of the advertised telephone numbers to a voice communication system. The voice communication system, upon determining that a campaign number is contained in electronic content, can to indicate to users that a call can be made at a rate reduced from what a user would normally pay in order. When the user calls the number, the voice communications system directs the call to the advertiser. The call advertising system tracks the call so that the advertiser can be charged the per-call amount.

Abstract: Advertisers submit advertising campaigns to a call advertising system, each campaign including a telephone number associated with the advertiser and an amount per call that the advertiser is willing to pay to receive calls from users at the advertised telephone number. When an advertised telephone number is contained in content that is displayed on a computing device of a user, or when a user enters a telephone number that corresponds with the advertised telephone number, the computing device highlights the advertised telephone number to indicate to the user that the call can be made at a free or reduced rate to what a user would normally pay in order to make such a call. If the user initiates a call to the advertised telephone number, the call is routed to the advertiser and the advertiser is charged the amount that they agreed to pay to receive the call.

Abstract: A facility for the reconciliation of data records pertaining to business entities. One or more fitness functions are applied to fields contained in two conflicting data records to assess the similarity of each field. The results of the fitness functions are then weighted and combined to assess the likelihood that the two data records are associated with the same business entity. When the weighted fitness functions are applied to conflicting data records, the fitness functions generate a confidence level that the compared records are associated with the same business entity. If the confidence level exceeds a certain threshold, the facility accepts that the data records refer to the same business entity and synthesizes a business record from the data records.

Abstract: A search facility for classifying search queries prior to executing the search queries. The facility can receive a search query from a user and perform one or more of a set of evaluations of the search query to determine likely query classifications. The facility can also decompose the search query into constituent parts and perform one or more of a set of evaluations of the individual constituent parts to determine likely classifications. The facility can then arbitrate amongst the likely query classifications and rank the arbitrated likely query classifications. The ranked arbitrated query classifications can be mapped to data sources and services. The facility can retrieve content from the mapped data sources and services using the user's original search query. Each of the ranked arbitrated query classifications can correspond to a display region that can display content from the mapped one or more data sources and services to the user.