The present invention relates to shopping assistance solutions, and in particular, to methods and systems for maintaining purchase records, creating shopping lists, and comparing merchant pricing. The user experience in performing shopping functions is simplified and enhanced over existing methods.

Methods and systems for receipt management and price comparison

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.

Methods and apparatuses to connect people for real time communications via voice over internet protocol (voip)

The present invention relates to inventory management solutions, and in particular, to methods and systems for inventorying items over wireless and data networks, using digital imaging, positioning, and data terminals. The user experience in performing inventory management is simplified and enhanced over existing methods.

Methods and systems for inventory management

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.

Systems and methods to provide advertisements for real time communications

Methods and apparatuses to present advertisements which provide references to request real time communication connections. One embodiment includes presenting an advertisement including information usable to request a real time communication connection to a predetermined advertiser, which is to be charged a fee for the advertisement responsive to the real time communication connection established to the advertiser using the information.

Methods and apparatuses for advertisement presentation

A method is disclosed for enhancing the predictability, scalability and cost effectiveness of online advertising with voice over IP connectivity and event tracking technologies. A service provider maintains a list of merchants who have offered to pay for customer VoIP calls to their establishment. The service provider maintains a real time connection with this merchant list and renders an advertisement in a distinguishing way in real time. A potential customer who views this advertisement on a web page may establish a VoIP call session with a merchant by selecting a free click-to-call link on the web page. When the customer places the call, the service provider pays for the call. Merchants in turn pay the service provider for displaying the ads that generated the calls on a price per call, price per impression or fixed fee basis.

Benita A. Howe

Papers

Merchant powered click-to-call method