Abstract:
A method is disclosed for the presentation of telephone information about a company or other enterprise over the Internet in response to consumer searches for names or products. Department information is included. The system uses a database to determine product slightly sold my search for companies to provide advertisers or sponsors with preferential placement of their ads. Revenue is charged response to clicking on an advertisement. The system also places telephone calls over the Internet to users of the inventive search engine. Advertisers are charged for such calls. Optionally, the system may not allow direct dialing for non-advertisers.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to apparatus for providing telephone number directory assistance and methods for implementing the same, for example on a publicly accessible electronic communications network, such as the Internet. 
       CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    (Not applicable) 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    (Not applicable) 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention is concerned with dealing with the common problem of initiating a voice connection with the right department of an enterprise, such as a retail department store. These days, live operators have largely been replaced by prerecorded directory trees which present the potential consumer with a great amount of inconvenience. Nevertheless, such directory trees are in increasingly common use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The inventive method provides for the display of a directory of information elements, comprising displaying said . . . directory of information elements with a configuration which is humanly perceptible but with a size that may not be humanly discernable. The elements are divided into at least first, second and third tiers of information. The first, second and third tiers of information are displayed simultaneously. The first tier of information is displayed in a first size. The second tier of information is displayed in a second size smaller than said first size, and said third tier of information does displayed in a third size smaller than said second size. The information elements each comprise an identification subelement and an address subelement. A user may drag the display to reveal other parts of the display. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the invention, a method for providing telephone directory assistance from a database containing a plurality of telephone numbers and respective party identification data associated with each of the telephone numbers is achieved. Generally, a user enters name of any product or goods desired and/or the name of a supplier of the same and is presented with telephone contact information. This is done through a number of steps starting with, for example, a screen display which is presented on a computer monitor. The screen display comprises a called party field for the entry of called party identification data. A called party activation element associated with the called party field is presented. An entry of called party identification data is received by the inventive system. The actuation of the called party activation element is received by the system. The respective party identification data is searched for a match or matches to the received called party identification data. The matched party identification data is displayed together with its associated respective telephone number. A plurality of elements communicating associated party identification data associated with the matched party identification data are displayed. The associated party identification data is presented in a manner that indicates the association, for example by physical proximity, color coding, subpositioning with indentation, or lines. 
         [0007]    A selection of one of the plurality of elements communicating associated party identification data may be made. For the selected one of the plurality of elements communicating associated party identification data, one or a plurality of subelements communicating associated subparty identification data may be displayed. The associated subparty identification data may be presented in a manner that indicates the association. 
         [0008]    A request may be received from a user to dial a selected one of the matched subparty telephone numbers. The selected one of the matched subparty telephone numbers may be dialed. 
         [0009]    In accordance with on embodiment of the invention, an indication of the selection of associated party identification data may be received. An indication of a request for associated information associated with the elected associated party identification data may be received. The requested associated information may be displayed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    One or more embodiments of the invention and ways of making and using the invention, as well as the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention, are described in detail below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart generally illustrating a general implementation of the method of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an apparatus for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3-12  illustrate screens presented in accordance with the method of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 13-21  illustrate the preferred embodiment of the display useful with the method of the invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 22  illustrates the software for implementing the methodology of the invention on a personal computer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of the method  10  of the present invention is illustrated. Where practical, numbering of elements in  FIG. 1  is between 1 and 99 for purposes of clarity of explanation.  FIG. 2  illustrates apparatus  110  for implementing the inventive method  10 . Where practical, numbering of elements in  FIG. 2  is between 100 and 199 for purposes of clarity of explanation. Method  10  is commenced by a potential customer  112  such as a potential customer  112  accessing the website at step  12 . Such access is made by, for example, via the Internet  114 . 
         [0017]      FIGS. 3-11  illustrate screens presented to potential customer  112  over the Internet. These illustrated computer screens, for purposes of clarity of illustration, do not include conventional elements as are supplied, for example by an Internet browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, or search engine websites such as Google. However, the same would appear on an actual computer screen implementing the invention. Where practical, numbering of elements in  FIGS. 3 through 11  is between 200 and 299 for purposes of clarity of explanation. 
         [0018]    At step  12 , in response to the potential customer  112  accessing the server system  116  of the company operating the inventive website, system  116  presents to potential customer  112  by sending over Internet  114  a screen  210 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Screen  210  may include an advertisement  212  from a sponsor company. In the present specification, in references made to any “Company” it is understood that the same may be a formal corporation, an individual operating a business, or the like. 
         [0019]    Screen  210  may also include a field  214  for the entry at step  14  by potential customer  112  of the name of, for example, a store for which direct telephone number information is desired. Such a store may be an advertiser. In response to the query, “Company Name:”, the potential customer  112  might type in the name of a store, for example, “Lacey&#39;s”, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Screen  210  may also include an actuation icon or hyperlink  216 . When the potential customer  112  completes typing in “Lacey&#39;s”, icon  216  is clicked on with the mouse cursor positioned over icon  216 . 
         [0020]    Upon clicking, this information is sent via Internet  114  to server central processing unit  118 , which is a conventional computer programmed to execute the method of the present invention. System  116  then proceeds to step  16 , where central processing unit  118  consults database  120  to determine if the company name is associated with an advertiser or other sponsor  122  of the inventive website. If system  116  determines that the company sought is an advertiser, an advertisement  218  is selected by system  116  according to a request from sponsor  122  at step  18 , and the selected advertisement  218 , obtained from database  120 , is sent by system  116  over the Internet at step  20  for display on the screen of  FIG. 5 . Generally, it is contemplated that many major commercial enterprises in an area will be sponsors of the inventive website. Consideration would be paid by sponsors to the operator of the website in exchange for the various advantages detailed herein. 
         [0021]    If potential customer  112  has not identified an advertiser in field  214 , system  116  proceeds to step  22 , where central processing unit  118  consults database  124  to determine those products sold by the company whose name has been entered by potential customer  112  into field  214 . 
         [0022]    In this specification, in connection with references made to a “product”, it is understood that the same refers to goods or services or any similar commodity which may be involved in commerce. 
         [0023]    Database  124  contains a comprehensive list of companies in the region served by the inventive website, for example the United States. Database  124  also contains a list, for each of those companies, of the principal products sold by those companies. The same may be gathered by any number of various techniques. Based on this information and the name of the company name entered in field  214 , at step  24 , system  116  can determine which sponsor  122  or sponsors sell competitive products. At step  26 , system  110  can display an advertisement or advertisements selected by the competitive sponsor  122  or sponsors contained in database  120 . Such selection may be a function of the goods likely to be sold by the competitive company. In accordance with the invention, it is contemplated that database  124  may be populated by sponsors and/or by data assembling techniques, such as the making of manual telephone calls to principal advertisers likely to be searched for. It is also possible to generate information using web crawlers or the like. In connection with this, existing databases and search engines may be employed. In accordance with the invention it is contemplated that if an advertiser is being looked for, his name will appear. If the company being searched is not an advertiser, it is contemplated that advertisements of sponsor competitors will be displayed. If goods are being searched for, sponsors are given preferential treatment in the presentation of results. Otherwise, other indicators may be used to determine which company is displayed, for example the assumption may be made the companies most often searched for will be presented. Alternatively, a selection of such companies may be displayed. In accordance with the invention it is contemplated that to the extent that geographical information may be input into the system (in an appropriate field presented to the user/searcher by the inventive system) by the searcher, such information will be presented. To the extent that such information is available without searcher input, the same will determine results. 
         [0024]    System  116  then proceeds to step  28 , where system  116  presents to potential customer  112  response  220  to the query of potential customer  112 . This response can include information on the search for company as well as competitor advertisements calculated to gain the interest of the searcher. Such response may be another query  222 , “Location” and a field  224  to receive the location of the store on which potential customer  112  is seeking information. Potential customer  112  then fills in his location (causing the system to present information on the store closest to the customer&#39;s location) and then clicks on icon  216  at step  30 , causing system  116  to proceed to step  32  and determine if the selected company is an advertiser. At the same time the potential customer  112  may be sent locations of the closest stores as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , as a result of central processing unit  118  consulting database  126 . 
         [0025]    If potential customer  112  has selected an advertiser (for example in response to a query respecting goods), an advertisement  218  is selected by system  116  according to a request from sponsor  122  at step  34 , and the selected advertisement  218 , obtained from database  120 , is sent by system  116  over the Internet, also at step  34 , for display on the screen of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0026]    If potential customer  112  has not identified an advertiser/sponsor in field  214 , system  116  proceeds to step  40 , where central processing unit  118  consults database  124  to determine those products sold by the company whose name has been entered by potential customer  112  into field  214 . Based on this information and the name of the company, entered in field  214 , at step  38 , system  116  can determine which sponsor  122  or sponsors sell competitive products. At step  40 , system  116  can display an advertisement or advertisements selected by the competitive sponsor  122  or sponsors contained in database  120 . 
         [0027]    After the potential customer  112  enters a desired location into field  224  on the screen illustrated in  FIG. 5 , system  116  proceeds to step  42 , and consults database  126  and compares locations in the database to the requested location. System  116  them lists the closest locations  226  in the screen of  FIG. 6 . This also results in the recordal of a charge to the advertiser at step  43 . In accordance with the invention it is contemplated that each time an advertisement presented by an advertiser is clicked on, a charge is recorded. These charges are then accumulated and sent to advertiser&#39;s monthly. It is also contemplated in accordance with the invention that if there are no results for a search for company which is not a sponsor within a certain mileage range, system  116  may so inform potential customer  112  and produce sponsor  122  information, but give the option of store locations at greater distances. 
         [0028]    Alternatively, instead of the screen of  FIG. 5 , system  116  can go directly to  FIG. 6  with the list of locations. Alternatively, telephone numbers may be provided for each location at step  44 . In either case, potential customer  112  may click icon  228  and place a call from his computer, with telephone service being provided by the operator of the inventive website or the regular provider to potential customer  112 . Alternatively, potential customer  112  may place a call using a cellular telephone or other telephone service and manually dialing the number. Such function may also be provided by central processing unit  118 . In addition, other services, such as Skype may be used. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , at step  46  potential customer  112  may click on a desired location (causing it to be highlighted, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 ) and click on icon  216  or double click on a desired location to actuate a subcategory information retrieval. This actuation is sent over the Internet to central processing unit  118 , which searches database  126  and produces a list of departments for the selected location, together with telephone numbers for all displayed locations and general departments, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The result is a listing of the various categories of products in the store and the department telephone numbers at step  48 . 
         [0030]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a department, such as “Ladies Wear” may be highlighted  235  by potential customer  112  at step  50 , and the “Please Connect Me” icon can be highlighted, as illustrated. The display also includes an advertisement  236 . Potential customer  112  may click on advertisement  236  at step  52 . This results in the recordal of a charge to the advertiser at step  54 . This is done by system  116  by recording a charge in register  128 . System  116  then proceeds at step  56  to respond to the clicking on the advertisement, for example by the transfer of potential customer  112  to a particular page on the web site of the advertiser. 
         [0031]    After acting on the selection of the advertisement, potential customer  112  may return to the web site at step  58 . The potential customer  112  may then highlight the department and telephone number and may then be automatically connected by having thus caused system  116  to dial at step  60 . Charges for dialing are recorded in registry  130  at step  62 . More particularly, the objective is to charge sponsors for each telephone call placed to them. In this way the inventive system enables potential customers to initiate voice contact with the proper department at a particular store which they initially input into the system or to which they were led by the system. At step  64 , system  116  implements connection of the potential customer  112  through module  132 . 
         [0032]    Such connection may be done in one of two ways. Either connection can be made through a telephone connection provided by the web site operator (with the advantage of charging an advertiser for minutes of usage), or in the computer of potential customer  112  may be caused to use the Internet connection of potential customer  112 . Other methods may also be used. 
         [0033]    A yet further alternative is to provide the option of direct connection only for advertisers, as contractual relations with such advertisers can provide for payment, while providing connection to all parties will not cover costs of making connections through the web site, which may provide for a simpler execution of the function. In this respect it is possible to present the alternative of direct connection via the search website to the advertiser, based on the most up-to-date estimation of the types of products or services being sought by the potential consumer. More particularly, if the consumer wishes to dial a non-sponsor/advertiser, he may be required to use his own telephone account and make a separate entry of the telephone number. On the other hand, the consumer can simply click on the sponsor&#39;s name or department and the connection can be made to the computer immediately and the potential customer may simply talk to a microphone connected to his computer and listen to the other side of the conversation using the speaker on the computer. 
         [0034]    Optionally, a search field  234  may be provided to receive a search input. For example, potential customer  112  may input the search term “cold weather” into field  234 , and then click on icon  216 , causing the system  116  to return the screen of  FIG. 8 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the system  116  discloses they number of products which are responsive to the search query input into the system  116  in  FIG. 7 , as described above but not illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The screen illustrated in  FIG. 8  also provides for the possibility of further search queries. Optionally, such search fields and functions may be provided in any of the system  116  screens together with descriptive material, if desired. 
         [0035]    In similar fashion, simply clicking on the “Home” can cause system  116  to connect the potential customer  112  to the selected department. This causes system  116  to return to database  126  to look at categories under “Home”, causing system  116  to go to the screen of  FIG. 9 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , such actuation results in the display of additional departments, namely, “Bath” and “Dining”. 
         [0036]    In similar fashion, simply double-clicking on “Home” can cause system  116  to connect the potential customer  112  to the selected department. Alternatively, this may be made to cause system  116  to return to database  126  to look at categories under “Home”, causing system  116  to return the screen of  FIG. 9 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , such actuation results in the display of additional departments, namely, “Bath” and “Dining”. 
         [0037]    In accordance with the invention, it is also contemplated that the system  116  will produce statistical reports on potential customers  112 , for example reports which are accessible over the Internet, by accumulating data in register  134 . 
         [0038]    In accordance with the present invention, it is further contemplated that data respecting advertisers is gathered from advertisers directly. 
         [0039]    In the case of companies which are not advertisers, company name, product and telephone information may be collected through publicly accessible search engines  136  and  138 , such as Google. In addition, telephone calls placed by the system  116  to prior art telephone voice tree answered systems  116  may be used to gather department, subdepartment, category and subcategory information. This may be done by human operators, or, alternatively, an automated system  116  may navigate existing telephone voice trees using voice recognition software and ask automated questions generated using voice synthesis technology. 
         [0040]    Still yet another possibility for a screen display is illustrated in  FIG. 12 . In this example, the number is not automatically displayed. Instead, an icon  238  allows potential customer  112  to request the telephone number while another icon  240  allows the potential customer  112  to simply request connection. 
         [0041]    In accordance with the present invention, and in the case where a telephone connection is provided by the operator of the inventive web site, for example, for telephone calls only to paying advertisers, the opportunity exists to provide an opening message prior to placement of the call. Such opening message may only be provided while the potential customer  112  is waiting for a telephone receiver to be answered. In this case, the circumstance may be explained to potential customer  112 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , a particularly useful embodiment of the system of the present invention is illustrated. Generally, information is provided in the form of a map with various divisions associated in the display with their respective telephone numbers. Conceptually, larger divisions are shown in larger type. As information becomes more granular, the size of the associated graphics is reduced. This allows the user to see the high points of the organization and then use the computer to see more granular information by, for example, clicking on difficult to read information to increase display alphanumeric size, zooming with the mouse, picking a center point and zooming on it, selecting a zoom function and then clicking on the center point and so forth. 
         [0043]    In accordance with the invention, such differences in size may be set as varying from one discrete value to another, for example decreasing in size by 33⅓% or increasing in size by 50%. Sizes of alphanumeric displays in different parts of the display may also be varied in the same manner, thus providing for uniform font size for all parts of the display at some level of zoom. In addition, the power of the zoom in/zoom out function may be keyed to the same increase and decrease, thus allowing all functions to track each other and give a uniform display. 
         [0044]    An alternative implementation is to have variable levels of zoom which may be implemented by the user depressing the control key and either using the scroll portions of a touchpad or a conventional mouse wheel to implement a variable zooming function. 
         [0045]    Also in accordance with the invention, different gestures or keyboard keys may be used to control the display. For example, a single click may cause the display to zoom away, while double-clicking may cause the display to zoom in on parts of the display showing greater levels of granularity. Optionally, zoom in or zoom out commands may result in images centered on the position of click or double-click cursor locations during the time of clicking or double-clicking. Alternatively, the system may present a predetermined display in response to clicking within a particular defined area, for example during zooming in. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , a town, such as the town of Pleasantville, may provide a website display  510  for providing the telephone numbers of its various departments and other attractions. At the very highest level this could be an advertisement  512 , which may be attractive pictures, video, text, or the like in a designated area. 
         [0047]    Increasing levels of granularity are displayed in the form of three departments of the city, city hall, a mall and the Main Street shopping area. Each has its own telephone number (many shown with the same number for purposes of simplicity of illustration in this application, but all of which would probably have different numbers in a real world application). Main Street has no number because it likely would not have a central marketing office. On the other hand, the “Running River Mall” does have its own number for marketing purposes. 
         [0048]    As can be seen from  FIG. 13 , stores in the Main Street area would appear underneath Main Street. Similarly, retailers  514  in the Running River Mall would appear under that mall. Going to a greater level of granularity, departments  516  of one store, Lacey&#39;s appear in smaller type and sub-departments  518  in yet smaller type while their sub-sub-departments  520  are in even smaller type. 
         [0049]    In accordance with the invention, a user may zoom in on a particular region, such as the region  522  which, in the example, includes the retailers in the Main Street area of Pleasantville. A double click may be used to instruct the system to zoom in, while a single click may be used to cause the system to zoom out. Thus, double-clicking on region  522  will cause the system to output the display of  FIG. 14 . Other functionalities may also be included. For example, if the mouse is moved to the left, the region to the left of the display may be displayed. The opposite occurs when the mouse is moved to the right, and movement of the mouse up and down causes corresponding movement in the display. 
         [0050]    In accordance with the invention, if the mouse is not moved, the system may be programmed so that the display area shown stops displaying lines connecting to other parts of the map, as is the case in  FIG. 14 . In addition to this, the cessation of movement may also trigger the download of graphic or other information, such as video, audio and so forth. On the other hand, if one begins to move the mouse, connection lines between different items may be restored to the display. 
         [0051]    As can be seen from  FIG. 15 , the relationship in size between different levels of granularity is one of a 50% gain in size when zooming in and a 33⅓% loss in size when zooming out. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 16 , yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the system is preprogrammed with regions  524  through  532 . In this example, each region is defined as a rectangle. Each rectangle has a center, or rectangle region centerpoint, not illustrated. In accordance with this embodiment, clicking on the drawing with a single click causes the display of the rectangle region associated with the nearest rectangle region centerpoint. Double-clicking causes zooming in and triple clicking causes zooming out. Simple movement of the mouse may be used to move the display, or a click and drag movement may be employed for the same purpose. If the mouse is not moved for a period of time, for example 2 seconds, connections to other regions cease to be displayed and additional or different material may be downloaded. 
         [0053]    It is also possible to use gestures of the type used in the Apple iPhone or other gestures to control the display in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0054]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 17-21 , clicking on different regions will cause displays such as those illustrated in the figures to be presented on the screen of the computer, with different regions of different sizes being sized properly to fill the computer screen. For example, each of the  FIGS. 17-21  may, in accordance with the preferred embodiments, represent a full screen display. 
         [0055]    Further in accordance with the present invention, the system may detect the point of interest, for example based on cursor movement, for example stopping or slowing down for an extended period of time and then zoom in or zoom out, optionally slowly, to a magnification appropriate to allow the viewer to easily view the information, but allowing the user to override the automatic zooming feature. Such automatic zooming is not resumed until certain conditions are met, for example, resumed substantial mouse movement (i.e. including touchpad or other pointing device movement). 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 22 , a flowchart for software for performing the method of the present invention as outlined in  FIGS. 13-21  is illustrated. Generally, the software  610  detects cursor movement at step  612 . This information, in the simplest case, results in a determination of frame content at step  614  where the system derives information from database  616 . This, in turn, drives the display of the computer at step  618 . 
         [0057]    More complex functions are determined by gestures, single clicking, double-clicking, triple clicking and so forth. Such gestures are detected at step  620 . If the gestures indicate that centerpoint detection is appropriate in order to reduce the display of a predetermined region, the system detects the predetermined gesture at step  622 , causing the system to determine scaling at step  624 . The system may also be responsive to gestures detected at increase or decrease scaling. In connection with this, the position of the cursor is detected at step  626 , which information may be used to extract the frame at step  614 , or to determine at step  628  that the cursor is dwelling for a period of time in an area, causing the system to add or subtract display elements to simplify the display at step  630 . Alternatively, the system may go to a predefined area display, begin the download of video or other advertising material, or make a centerpoint determination at step  622 . 
         [0058]    While an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described, it is understood that some variations and equivalents are within the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims and their elements, including equivalents thereof.