Abstract: A technology platform for the delivery of dynamic, interactive audio advertisements played in response to a consumer initiated request for information via a telephone. The platform provides advertising supported information services that are related to past responses made to a specific consumer who initiated the request. In one specific embodiment, a consumer uses a telephone is connected to a call processing system. The call processing system receives a request for information from the consumer. In determining a response, the consumer's request is examined to identify the customer that originated the request. This in turn identifies a profile file associated with the consumer, which then permits the system to determine one or more advertisement selection parameters. The customer profile may comprise one or more records of past requests from the identified customer station.

Abstract: A platform for the delivery of dynamic, interactive audio advertisements played in response to a consumer initiated request for information via a telephone. The platform invention provides advertising supported information services that are related to a geographic location associated with a response to a consumer initiated request. In one specific embodiment, at a customer station, a consumer dials an information access number and is connected to a call processing system. The call processing system receives a request for information from the consumer, and determines a response. The response is then further processed to determine a geographic location associated with the response. An advertisement is then selected that is associated with the geographic location of the response (as opposed to the geographic location specified in request, or as opposed to the geographic location of the consumer, which may not necessarily be the same).

Abstract: A platform for ordering search results according to result popularity a directory assistance service, itself, to determine the popularity of the listings associated with a particular category and, therefore, the order in which those listings should be delivered resulting from a category search. Priority may be determined by the popularity of each search result. For example, directory assistance users in a particular location will likely know which businesses have a reputation for providing the best service or highest-quality products. Such factors will determine the popularity of these businesses. Businesses that are more popular are likely to be selected more frequently from the category search results than those that are less popular. The system may examine the history of search results for each listing and order the results of a particular category search according to the number of historical requests for each returned listing.

Abstract: The current invention is a system for providing telephone directory assistance service in which a telephone user calls to the system and the system will, based on the requested number or type of service, hear a recorded advertisement selected from a category related to the requested service. The advertisements are selected from a databank, which may include any number advertisements, according to selection criteria. After the advertising announcement is completed, the directory assistance call is processed as usual. The selection criteria can include the use of SIC codes.

Abstract: The current invention is a system for providing directory assistance service in which a user sends a request to the system and the system will, based on the request, return one or more advertisements. The user may select one of the advertisements, which may be in a visible or audible form. The request, and the advertisement, may be transmitted by Short Message Service (SMS). Additionally, the request may be in one form, such as speech, with the advertisement provided by another, such as text. The advertisements are selected from a databank, which may include any number advertisements categorized within the category associated with the service, according to selection criteria. After the advertising announcement is completed, the directory assistance call is processed as usual.

Abstract: A platform for contacting an identified service provider after connection by a consumer via a free information service allows the free information service to generate additional advertising sales leads. After the free information service contacts the identified service provider and connects the calls between the consumer and the identified service provider, a sales representative of the free information service contacts the identified service provider to solicit advertising sales from the identified service provider.

Abstract: A technique that allows an advertising supported information service to hand off a call in progress to another system, such as may be provided by a third party service provider, for all or part of the call. This permits the analysis of the results of a query, playback of an advertisement, read back of the requested telephone number, or call completion, etc. by third party system(s).

Abstract: A platform for the delivery of dynamic, interactive audio advertisements played in response to a consumer initiated request for information via a telephone. The platform invention provides advertising supported information services that are related to a geographic location associated with a response to a consumer initiated request. In one specific embodiment, at a customer station, a consumer dials an information access number and is connected to a call processing system. The call processing system receives a request for information from the consumer, and determines a response. The response is then further processed to determine a geographic location associated with the response. An advertisement is then selected that is associated with the geographic location of the response (as opposed to the geographic location specified in request, or as opposed to the geographic location of the consumer, which may not necessarily be the same).

Abstract: A technology platform for the delivery of dynamic, interactive audio advertisements played in response to a consumer initiated request for information via a telephone. The platform provides advertising supported information services that are related to past responses made to a specific consumer who initiated the request. In one specific embodiment, a consumer uses a telephone is connected to a call processing system. The call processing system receives a request for information from the consumer. In determining a response, the consumer's request is examined to identify the customer that originated the request. This in turn identifies a profile file associated with the consumer, which then permits the system to determine one or more advertisement selection parameters. The customer profile may comprise one or more records of past requests from the identified customer station.

Abstract: A technology platform for the delivery of dynamic, interactive audio advertisements which may be played in response to a consumer initiated request for information via a telephone. More specifically, the invention provides advertising supported information services that are related to a keyword specified in the consumer initiated request. In one specific embodiment, at a customer station, a consumer is connected to a call processing system. The call processing system then receives a request for information from the consumer. To determine a response, the request is examined for the presence of one or more keywords that are not necessarily associated with telephone directory assistance and/or business categories as assigned by a telephone service or other directory provider. The keyword is then used to determine a subject matter area associated with the request, and an advertisement categorized within the associated subject matter area is identified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing for the construction of customized advertisement banners for Web pages on a client computer. The advertisement banners are customized based upon various factors including user profile information, technographic information, geographic information, demographic information and user interaction information. The information being either stored on the user's computer, server computers or obtained from the user's interaction with the Web page containing the advertisement banner. Once specific information is obtained, customized advertisement content is selected from Web server computers and the advertisement banner is dynamically constructed and displayed on the user's computer.

Abstract: Quantizing optimizes compression encoding for transmission of audio data. A working set of most frequent sound levels in a sequence of audio samples is determined from a histogram. Sound levels from the working set are then substituted for original sound levels in the subject audio data. This filters the audio data by increasing redundancy and decreasing granularity/resolution.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and method in an object-oriented computer operating system for efficiently assigning to object classes document objects created on a different computer system.

Abstract: The foregoing has described a method of providing a template in a computer system graphical user interface by supplying a visual cue which readily identifies the template and by supplying a direct template manipulation feature to increase the ease by which users can create objects. The template visual cue is provided to distinguish an instance of an object from its template form. Any object of any class which contains data and settings can be made into a template by turning on its template setting. When an object becomes a template, the icon which represents it is immediately altered. In particular, its icon becomes miniaturized or scaled down and superimposed on top of a normal size icon which resembles a pad of sheets of paper. This metaphor or visual cue is used to symbolize a stack of objects, of which new objects can be peeled off the top of the stack. With a drag and drop mouse action, a new object can be picked off of a template stack and dropped into any folder.

Abstract: A computer system and method of operation thereof are provided including an improved graphical user interface (GUI). A conditional cascading menuing method and apparatus which shield novice users from being overwhelmed by advanced operations in the desktop which appears on the user's computer screen. The conditional cascading feature provides the user with the ability to select a basic function or action from a main menu on the desktop, in which case the default behavior of the function will be performed, or to conditionally display, by pressing a mini push-button next to the main menu item text, a submenu of all forms of function or action. The default submenu behavior or item is indicated by a checkmark adjacent the default item in the submenu. Each time the user selects a submenu item which is different from the default submenu item, the presently selected submenu item becomes the default item or behavior.