Patents by Inventor Paul G. Manca
Paul G. Manca has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10380637Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to dynamically allocate location dependent telephone numbers to facilitate voice connections between people. One embodiment includes: responsive to a request from a user, selecting a telephone number from a plurality of telephone numbers of a connection server to match a location indicator of the request; embedding the telephone number in an advertisement, the telephone number to be used by the user to initiate a telephone call to the connection server for further connection to an advertiser of the advertisement; and providing the advertisement with the telephone number of the connection server as a response to the request. In one embodiment, responsive to receiving the telephone call at the telephone number of the connection server from the user, whether to play a prompt message to the user is determined based at least in part on statistic data about telephone calls collected at the connection server.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Christopher Scott Crothers, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Paul G. Manca, Sean Van Der Linden
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Patent number: 10380631Abstract: Systems and methods to provide advertisements based on the content of documents in which the advertisements are presented. One embodiment includes: a web server to receive a request for an advertisement in reference to a document provided to a user by a content provider; a backend server to identify the advertisement based on relevancy of the advertisement to the content of the document and to associate a communication reference with the advertisement and the content provider, the web server to provide the advertisement and the reference for inclusion in the document; and a telecommunication server coupled to a session border controller and the backend server to receive a connection request via the reference, to determine contact information of the advertiser and identify the content provider based on the reference, and to establish the connection between the user and the advertiser using the determined contact information.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Paul G. Manca
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Patent number: 10210531Abstract: Methods and systems to specify complex geographic areas for advertisements to connect advertisers and customers for real time communications. One embodiment includes: a web server to present a user interface to receive input specifying a plurality of geographic areas and one or more operations to combine the plurality of geographic areas into a geographic area of service of an advertisement and to provide the advertisement with a reference of a connection server for presentation to a customer when a location of the customer matches with the geographic area of service of the advertisement; and a connection server to receive a request from the customer for a connection to an advertiser of the advertisement and to provide the connection for real time communications between the customer and the advertiser in response to the request made via the reference of the connection server.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Paul G. Manca, Sean Van Der Linden, Jennifer R Zagofsky
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Patent number: 10089658Abstract: Systems and methods to selectively block calls from reaching destinations based on an input received from a callback connection. One embodiment includes a web server to receive a selection of an advertisement from an customer and to obtain a communication reference from the customer in response to the selection; a session border controller to interface with a packet switched network; and one or more telecommunication servers coupled to the session border controller and the web server, the one or more telecommunication servers to establish a connection for real time communications using the communication reference, to initiate a connection for real time communications with an advertiser of the advertisement after receiving an indication of acceptance of the connection established using the communication reference; where the advertiser is charged an advertisement fee in response to establishing a connection for real time communications between the advertiser and the customer.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Paul G. Manca, Sean Van Der Linden, Virginia Hong-Jia Yang
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Patent number: 9984377Abstract: A method and system of advertising. In response to a request received from an advertiser, an audio advertisement is generated based on visual advertisement information. The audio advertisement is provided for presentation on behalf of the advertiser. In one embodiment, the audio advertisement is an abbreviated form of the visual advertisement information. A determination is made as to whether a call from a customer has been connected to the advertiser via the audio advertisement. The advertiser is charged a predefined fee if it is determined that a call from a customer has been connected to the advertiser via the audio advertisement. In one embodiment, a text for a first advertisement presentable in a first media type is received to generate an abbreviated text for a second advertisement presentable in a second media type.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2007Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Ben Harris Lyon, Paul G. Manca
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Publication number: 20170270569Abstract: Systems and methods to selectively block calls from reaching destinations based on an input received from a callback connection. One embodiment includes a web server to receive a selection of an advertisement from an customer and to obtain a communication reference from the customer in response to the selection; a session border controller to interface with a packet switched network; and one or more telecommunication servers coupled to the session border controller and the web server, the one or more telecommunication servers to establish a connection for real time communications using the communication reference, to initiate a connection for real time communications with an advertiser of the advertisement after receiving an indication of acceptance of the connection established using the communication reference; where the advertiser is charged an advertisement fee in response to establishing a connection for real time communications between the advertiser and the customer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Paul G. Manca, Sean Van Der Linden, Virginia Hong-Jia Yang
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Patent number: 9704182Abstract: Systems and methods to selectively block calls from reaching destinations based on an input received from a callback connection. One embodiment includes a web server to receive a selection of an advertisement from an customer and to obtain a communication reference from the customer in response to the selection; a session border controller to interface with a packet switched network; and one or more telecommunication servers coupled to the session border controller and the web server, the one or more telecommunication servers to establish a connection for real time communications using the communication reference, to initiate a connection for real time communications with an advertiser of the advertisement after receiving an indication of acceptance of the connection established using the communication reference; where the advertiser is charged an advertisement fee in response to establishing a connection for real time communications between the advertiser and the customer.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2015Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Paul G. Manca, Sean Van Der Linden, Virginia Hong-Jia Yang
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Patent number: 9462121Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2013Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Paul G. Manca, Virginia Hong-Jia Yang
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Publication number: 20160196583Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to dynamically allocate location dependent telephone numbers to facilitate voice connections between people. One embodiment includes: responsive to a request from a user, selecting a telephone number from a plurality of telephone numbers of a connection server to match a location indicator of the request; embedding the telephone number in an advertisement, the telephone number to be used by the user to initiate a telephone call to the connection server for further connection to an advertiser of the advertisement; and providing the advertisement with the telephone number of the connection server as a response to the request. In one embodiment, responsive to receiving the telephone call at the telephone number of the connection server from the user, whether to play a prompt message to the user is determined based at least in part on statistic data about telephone calls collected at the connection server.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2016Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Christopher Scott Crothers, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Paul G. Manca, Sean Van Der Linden
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Patent number: 9317855Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to dynamically allocate location dependent telephone numbers to facilitate voice connections between people. One embodiment includes: responsive to a request from a user, selecting a telephone number from a plurality of telephone numbers of a connection server to match a location indicator of the request; embedding the telephone number in an advertisement, the telephone number to be used by the user to initiate a telephone call to the connection server for further connection to an advertiser of the advertisement; and providing the advertisement with the telephone number of the connection server as a response to the request. In one embodiment, responsive to receiving the telephone call at the telephone number of the connection server from the user, whether to play a prompt message to the user is determined based at least in part on statistic data about telephone calls collected at the connection server.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2007Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Christopher Scott Crothers, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Paul G. Manca, Sean Van Der Linden
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Publication number: 20160042406Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Ben Harris Lyon, Paul G. Manca
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Publication number: 20160012476Abstract: Systems and methods to provide advertisements based on the content of documents in which the advertisements are presented. One embodiment includes: a web server to receive a request for an advertisement in reference to a document provided to a user by a content provider; a backend server to identify the advertisement based on relevancy of the advertisement to the content of the document and to associate a communication reference with the advertisement and the content provider, the web server to provide the advertisement and the reference for inclusion in the document; and a telecommunication server coupled to a session border controller and the backend server to receive a connection request via the reference, to determine contact information of the advertiser and identify the content provider based on the reference, and to establish the connection between the user and the advertiser using the determined contact information.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Paul G. Manca
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Publication number: 20160005087Abstract: Systems and methods to selectively block calls from reaching destinations based on an input received from a callback connection. One embodiment includes a web server to receive a selection of an advertisement from an customer and to obtain a communication reference from the customer in response to the selection; a session border controller to interface with a packet switched network; and one or more telecommunication servers coupled to the session border controller and the web server, the one or more telecommunication servers to establish a connection for real time communications using the communication reference, to initiate a connection for real time communications with an advertiser of the advertisement after receiving an indication of acceptance of the connection established using the communication reference; where the advertiser is charged an advertisement fee in response to establishing a connection for real time communications between the advertiser and the customer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Paul G. Manca, Sean Van Der Linden, Virginia Hong-Jia Yang
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Patent number: 9209984Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to facilitate connections between peoples for real time communications. In one embodiment, a method includes: identifying an entity based at least in part on relevancy to a content of a document to be presented to a user; and for presentation to the user adding a communication reference separately from the content used to identify the entity; where the communication reference has been assigned to the entity and the communication reference can be used to request a connection for real time communications with the entity.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2008Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: YellowPages.com LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van der Linden, Paul G. Manca
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Patent number: 9208496Abstract: Systems and methods to provide a reference for communication with a business is disclosed here. One embodiment includes providing a reference for real-time communication with a business to be placed in a representation of a geographical region at a location within the representation corresponding to a location of the business, tracking usage of the reference, and billing the business for providing the reference for real-time communication based on quantitative usage of the reference.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2006Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Ben Harris Lyon, Paul G. Manca, Dmitry Dave Yevdayev
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Patent number: 9118778Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Ben Harris Lyon, Paul G. Manca
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Patent number: 9105032Abstract: Systems and methods to provide advertisements based on the content of documents in which the advertisements are presented. One embodiment includes: a web server to receive a request for an advertisement in reference to a document provided to a user by a content provider; a backend server to identify the advertisement based on relevancy of the advertisement to the content of the document and to associate a communication reference with the advertisement and the content provider, the web server to provide the advertisement and the reference for inclusion in the document; and a telecommunication server coupled to a session border controller and the backend server to receive a connection request via the reference, to determine contact information of the advertiser and identify the content provider based on the reference, and to establish the connection between the user and the advertiser using the determined contact information.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2008Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Paul G. Manca
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Patent number: 9106704Abstract: Systems and methods to selectively block calls from reaching destinations based on an input received from a callback connection. One embodiment includes a web server to receive a selection of an advertisement from an customer and to obtain a communication reference from the customer in response to the selection; a session border controller to interface with a packet switched network; and one or more telecommunication servers coupled to the session border controller and the web server, the one or more telecommunication servers to establish a connection for real time communications using the communication reference, to initiate a connection for real time communications with an advertiser of the advertisement after receiving an indication of acceptance of the connection established using the communication reference; where the advertiser is charged an advertisement fee in response to establishing a connection for real time communications between the advertiser and the customer.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2007Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Paul G. Manca, Sean Van Der Linden, Virginia Hong-Jia Yang
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Patent number: 9092793Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide user interfaces dynamically customized according to partners through which the user interfaces are accessed in a customer acquisition process. One embodiment includes providing to a plurality of entities a platform, configured to assign references for embedding in listings for presentation and configured to connect people for real time communications according to the references embedded in the listings, the references to be used to request the platform to provide the connections; responsive to a request received via a first entity of the plurality of entities, presenting a user interface of the platform in a first format to identify the first entity; and responsive to a request received via a second entity of the plurality of entities, presenting the user interface of the platform in a second format to identify the second entity.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Paul G. Manca
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Patent number: 8937887Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: YP Interactive LLCInventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Vander Linden, Paul G. Manca