AU2009100110B4

AU2009100110B4 - An Electronic Classified Directory System with Telephony Services

Info

Publication number: AU2009100110B4
Application number: AU2009100110A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brian Gillett
Original assignee: BLOO WA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: BLOO (WA) Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-02-06
Filing date: 2009-02-06
Publication date: 2014-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-06
Also published as: AU2009100110A4

Abstract

-16 Abstract A user is able to select a good or service provider from a directory provided by the front end server 12 to the user by way of the first communications network 16. Once selected, the front end server 12 communicates a set of communication details of the 5 selected good or service provider and a set of communication details of the user to the back end server 14, the back end server 14 thereafter operable to initiate communication between the user and the good or service provider by way of the second communications network 18 with reference to the sets of communication details.

Description

-2 "An Electronic Classified Directory System with Telephony Services" FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an electronic classified directory system with telephony services. 5 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in L0 any jurisdiction as at the priority date of the application. In this digital age it is common for customers to look to electronic classified directories to provide them with details of suppliers of goods and services they seek. The problem with these directories is that most of these services require the customer to record the supplied details in order to make a telephone enquiry of the good or service provider. l5 Some more recent directories allow the customer to have the details sent to their mobile phone via a messaging service such as SMS. This functionality, however, does not relieve the customer of the need to initiate the telephone enquiry with the good/service provider themselves. From the viewpoint of the good/service provider who advertises, these systems have 20 further drawbacks. Most notably, the good/service provider needs to ask customers how they have become aware of the good/service provider in order to have some basis for assessing the effectiveness of their advertising in the electronic classified directory. This translates to a higher administrative burden on the good/service provider which is time consuming. 25 It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least alleviate in part, one or more of the problems mentioned above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION -3 Throughout this document, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the terms "comprising", "consisting of', and the like, are to be construed as non-exhaustive, or in other words, as meaning "including, but not limited to". In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is an electronic classified 5 directory system comprising: a front end server connected to a first communications network; and a back end server in communication with the first end server, the back end server connected to a second communications network; where a user is able to select a good or service provider from a directory provided by 10 the front end server to the user by way of the first communications network and, once selected, the front end server communicates a set of communication details of the selected good or service provider and a set of communication details of the user to the back end server, the back end server thereafter operable to initiate communication between the user and the good or service provider by way of the second L5 communications network with reference to the sets of communication details. Preferably, the back end server initiates communication between the user and the good or service provider by individually calling both the user and the good or service provider, communication between the user and the good or service provider being established once the back end server has connected its call to both parties. 20 Ideally, on establishing the call to the user, the back end server operates to deliver a first communication message to the user and, on establishing the call to the good or service provider, the back end server operates to deliver a second communication message to the good or service provider, the second communication message providing details of the intermediary service which is facilitating communication between 25 the user and the good or service provider. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is a method of establishing communication between a user and a good or service provider by way of an electronic classified directory, the method comprising: -4 receiving a first set of communication details in respect of a selected good or service provider listed in the electronic classified directory through a first communications network; receiving a second set of communication details in respect of a user through the 5 first communications network; initiating communication between the user and the good or service provider with reference to the first and second set of communication details. Preferably, the step of initiating communication between the user and the good or service provider including the sub-steps of: L0 establishing a call to the user; establishing a call to the good or service provider; delivering a first communication message to the user; and delivering a second communication message to the good or service provider, the second communication message providing details of the intermediary service 5 which is facilitating communication between the user and the good or service provider. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 20 Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a screen display of a home page as shown on a website that forms part of the invention as shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is screen display of a registration page as shown on a website that forms part of the invention as shown in Figure 1. 25 Figure 4 is a screen display of a location page as shown on a website that forms part of the invention as shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 is screen display of a positioning page as shown on a website that forms part of the invention as shown in Figure 1.

-5 Figure 6 is a screen display of a design options page as shown on a website that forms part of the invention as shown in Figure 1. Figure 7 is screen display of a payment page as shown on a website that forms part of the invention as shown in Figure 1. 5 Figure 8 is a screen display of home screen as shown on a website that forms part of the invention as shown in Figure 1. Figure 9 is screen display of an advertiser editor applet as shown on a website that forms part of the invention as shown in Figure 1. Figure 10 is a screen display of a sample results page as shown on a website that 10 forms part of the invention as shown in Figure 1. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Specific embodiments of the present invention are now described in detail. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. .5 In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention there is an electronic classified directory system 10 comprising: " a front end server 12; and " a back end server 14. The front end server 12 is connected to a first communication network 16. In this 20 embodiment, the first communication network 16 is the internet. The back end server 14 is in data communication with the front end server 12. The back end server is connected to a second communication network 18. In this embodiment, the second communication network 18 is a telephone network. This embodiment of the invention will now be described and elaborated upon in the 25 context of its intended use. A good or service provider uses an internet browser program located on their computer system to access a website 20 hosted by front end server 12. Once accessed, the -6 good or service provider is presented with a home screen 22. The home screen 22 has three zones 24, 26, 28. The first zone 24 is provided to allow the good or service provider to register to advertise through the classified directory. The second zone 26 is provided for 5 registered good or service provider to login directly to their account. The third zone 28 is provided to allow potential customers to search the classified directory for advertisements of good or service providers. In this example, the good or service provider moves their input device to the first zone 24 and initiates the appropriate control to register to advertise through the classified L0 directory. Once initiated, the good or service provider is displayed a package screen 30 as shown in Figure 3. The package screen 30 shows example directory listings 32, 34. Example directory listing 32 illustrates a free directory listing. Example directory listing 34 illustrates a paid directory listing. As a free directory listing does not allow the good or service provider to access the [5 telephony services of the directory, this example will proceed on the basis that the good or service provider chooses to advertise through a paid directory listing. On choosing to advertise through a paid directory listing, a registration screen 34 is then loaded. The registration screen 36 presents a registration form 38 and a pricing summary 40. 20 The registration form 38 requests the good or service provider to provide a range of mandatory and optional information. This information includes: * Business/Company Name; e Company Registration Number; " Address; 25 0 Business Categories; * Contact Telephone Numbers; e Opening Hours; * E-mail Address; and -7 Proposed Password. Depending on the information entered by the good or service provider, the pricing summary 40 may update as required to illustrate the expected total cost of the listing to the good or service provider. 5 Once the good or service provider is happy with the information as entered, the good or service provider submits that information. In response, the good or service provider is displayed a location page 42. The location page 42 allows the good or service provider to choose what locations they want to be included in for location based searches made by customers. In this .0 example, the good or service provider may choose to have their advertisement limited to specific postcodes or to one or more aggregate regions. Again, depending on the location choices made by the good or service provider, a pricing summary 44 may update as required to illustrate the expected total cost of the listing to the good or service provider. Once the good or service provider is happy with 5 the selected location(s), the good or service provider submits that information. This causes a positioning page 46 to load. The positioning page 46, provides the good or service provider with a range of options that will effect the proposed listings position in any search results. The choice made from the range of options shown will affect the cost of the listing to the good or service 0 provider. Accordingly, a pricing summary 48 is automatically updated to show the total cost for the proposed listing, as presently specified, upon the good or service provider selecting a priority positioning option. Once a positioning option has been chosen, the good or service provider is presented with a design options page 50. 25 The design options page 50 presents the good or service provider with two options. The first option is to have the good or service provider's advertisement professionally designed for a fixed cost. The second option is to allow the good or service provider to design their advertisement themselves. The second option is provided to the good or service provider on the basis that if an advertisement has not been designed by them 30 within a defined time period, the good or service provider will be deemed to have -8 authorised for an advertisement to be professionally designed in accordance with the first option. In this example, the good or service provider chooses the second option. Before being able to access the advertisement designer, the good or service provider is 5 presented with a payment page 52. The payment page 52 requests further details from the good or service provider for accounting purposes, including credit/debit card details. Once the good or service provider has provided the required payment information, and payment has been processed, the front end server 12 creates a user account for the good or service provider. With an established account, the good or service provider [0 can now access their details through the second zone 26 of the home screen 22. On entering a correct e-mail address and password combination, or on completion of the registration process, the good or service provider is directed to a summary page (not shown). The summary page displays the recorded details of the good or service provider. The good or service provider has the option to access and change these t5 details through an action button. At the same time, the good or service provider is presented with a representation of their current advertisement. If the good or service provider has chosen to create their own advertisement, the good or service provider is also provided with a further action button through which they can access the advertisement editor. 20 In this example, the good or service provider, having chosen to create their own advertisement, presses the action button to access the advertisement editor. Pressing the action button causes the advertisement editor applet 54 to load. The advertisement editor applet 54 provides a work area 56, a picture list box 58, a text box 60, a shape list box 62 and an advert list box 64. 25 The work area 56 can be used by the good or service provider as a canvass for their intended advertisement. The picture list box 58 shows a range of graphics that the good or service provider may use in developing their advertisement. The text box 60 allows the good or service provider to place text in their advertisement as required. Similarly, the shape list box provides the good or service provider with a range of 30 shapes that they may use in developing their advertisement.

-9 The advert list box 64 shows the various advertisements that the good or service provider has developed. This allows the good or service provider to keep track of all their various advertisements. It also allows the good or service provider to quickly switch between specialist advertisements they may have developed, such as ads 5 specific for certain sales or occasions. It should be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the functionality of an advertisement editor need not be elaborated further here as such would be part of the common general knowledge. Once the good or service provider is happy with the advertisement created, they 10 indicate that the ad is ready for use by checking the check box associated with the advertisement as named in the advert list box. As there can be only one listed advertisement at any one time, the checking of a check box for one ad causes each other checkbox for any other ads to be cleared. With the advertisement listed, operation of the electronic classified directory continues 15 as follows. A potential customer uses their internet browser to access the home screen 22. The potential customer then moves to the third zone 28 to initiate a search of the classified directory. The third zone 28 requires the potential customer to enter in search text and location 20 information. The search text to be entered is determined with reference to a set of radio buttons 66. The set of radio buttons 66 determine whether the search will be a comparison of the search text and the name of each good or service provider or whether the comparison will be between the search text and the category headings maintained by the classified directory 10. 25 As the methods by which such searches may be conducted would be apparent to the person skilled in the art, we will not discuss the mechanisms of the searches further in this specification. After executing a search, a results page 68 is displayed. The results page shows the advertisements of each good or service provider who matches the appropriate search 30 criteria. Advertisements are displayed based firstly, on their priority categorisation and then on the date of registration of the good or service provider.

-10 Figure 10 shows a sample results page of paid advertisement 70 retrieved during a search by a potential customer. As mentioned above, it is only paid advertisements 70 that have access to the telephony services of the electronic directory, therefore, the remainder of our discussion will be with respect to paid advertisements only. 5 Each paid advertisement 70 has a graphic advertisement 72, a descriptive pane 74 and a set of service icons 76. If the potential customer selects service icon 76a, the potential customer is taken to a further page (not shown) which provides more information in respect of the associated good or service provider. [0 If the potential customer selects any other service icon 76b, 76c, 76d, a pop-up window 78 is displayed. The pop-up window 78 requests the potential customer's name and a contact destination address. If service icon 76d is selected, the contact destination address is the potential customer's e-mail address. Once entered, and confirmed, the front end server 12 [5 sends the entered information to the back end server 14 along with details of the good or service provider selected by the potential customer. The back end server 14 then compiles an appropriate e-mail including the details of the selected good or service provider to the potential customer. The e-mail is then sent using the appropriate protocols. 20 If service icon 76c is selected, the contact destination address is the potential customer's mobile phone number. Once entered, and confirmed, the front end server 12 sends the entered information to the back end server 14 along with details of the good or service provider selected by the potential customer. The back end server 14 then compiles an appropriate SMS message including the details of the selected good 25 or service provider to the potential customer. The SMS message is then sent using the appropriate SMS protocols of the second communication network 18. If service icon 76b is selected, the contact destination address is the potential customer's voice phone number. Once entered, and confirmed, the front end server 12 sends the entered information to the back end server 14 along with details of the good 30 or service provider selected by the potential customer. The back end server 14 then operates to initiate a first voice call to the potential customer by way of the second -11 communication network 18, with reference to the entered voice phone number of the potential customer. Once connected, the back end server 14 operates to play a first recorded message to the potential customer. In this example, the first recorded message advises the potential customer that it is trying to connect them to the selected 5 good or service provider. Simultaneously to calling the potential customer, the back end server 14 operates to initiate a second voice call to the selected good or service provider by way of the second communication network 18. Once connected, the back end server 14 operates to play a second recorded message to the good or service provider. The second [0 recorded message advises the good or service provider that they are being connected to a potential customer through the electronic classified directory or other details of the intermediary service that allow the good or service provider to identify that the call is a result of their listing with the electronic classified directory 10. Once both the first and second voice call are connected, and each recorded message .5 has finished playing, the back end server 14 then operates to patch the two voice calls together, then allowing for the potential customer to talk directly to the selected good or service provider. It should be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the above invention is not limited to the embodiment described. In particular, the following modifications and 10 improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention: " The front end server 12 may be remote to the back end server 14 or may be co-located. Similarly, the front end server 12 and back end server 14 may share the same physical hardware, potentially as two virtualised systems, separate executable computer programs or as separate functional modules of 25 a single executable computer program. " Controls provided on the website may include one or more of the following: radio buttons, checkboxes, action buttons, menus and dropdown lists. * The advertisement editor may include further functionality such as allowing the good or service provider to upload images from their computer for use 30 and manipulation by the editor. Similarly, images used in the editor may have effects applied thereto such as blurring, shading, etc.

-12 " Good or service providers may be assigned a unique code as part of the registration process. This unique code can then be used by the front end server 12 to communicate which good or service provider a potential customer wishes to contact to the back end server 14 instead of the good or 5 service provider's full details. The back end server 14 can then use this code to look up the full details from a shared good or service provider database. This allows for the system to operate on reduced bandwidth requirements. * Patched calls may be time limited. Warning tones may be emitted to both the potential customer and good or service provider indicating that a patched call [0 has a limited time period before being terminated. " Good or service providers who choose a paid advertisement may be allocated a call credit account. Where a call credit account is established, the call credit account may be debited a pre-set value whenever the back end server is able to connect a call to the potential customer, the good or service [5 provider, or both. The good or service provider may then be reminded periodically of the balance of their call credit amount as well as being warned when the call credit amount has reached a level where customers can no longer call the good or service provider using the electronic directory system's telephony services. !0 0 The second communication network may also be the Internet. In this situation, the voice calls may be made using Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") services. * The method by which the back end server 14 connects to the potential customer and good or service provider may be modified from that described 25 above. For instance, the customer may initiate a VoIP call to the back end server 14 by pressing service icon 74c. The back end server 14 can then initiate communication with the selected good or service provider using the method described above. Patching of the calls can then proceed as described above but with reference to the differences in communication 30 formats as would be known to the person skilled in the art. " The firs and second communication messages may be omitted.

-13 * The user may formally establish an account with the electronic classified directory. The use of such an account system can eliminate the need for pop-up window 78 as the information required to be entered in the pop-up window 78 could be obtained from the user's account. Alternatively, a similar 5 variation can be achieved through the use of cookies. Furthermore, the features described in the above embodiment and the additional features mentioned above may be combined to form yet additional embodiments that fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electronic classified directory system comprising: a front end server connected to a first communications network; and a back end server in communication with the first end server, the back end 5 server connected to a second communications network; where a user is able to select a good or service provider from a directory provided by the front end server to the user by way of the first communications network and, once selected, the front end server communicates a set of communication details of the selected good or service provider and a set of communication details of the user 10 to the back end server, the back end server thereafter operable to initiate communication between the user and the good or service provider by way of the second communications network with reference to the sets of communication details.

2. An electronic classified directory system according to claim 1, where the back end [5 server initiates communication between the user and the good or service provider by individually calling both the user and the good or service provider, communication between the user and the good or service provider being established once the back end server has connected its call to both parties.

3. An electronic classified directory system according to claim 2, where, on 20 establishing the call to the user, the back end server operates to deliver a first communication message to the user and, on establishing the call to the good or service provider, the back end server operates to deliver a second communication message to the good or service provider, the second communication message providing details of the intermediary service which is facilitating communication 25 between the user and the good or service provider.

4. A method of establishing communication between a user and a good or service provider by way of an electronic classified directory, the method comprising: receiving a first set of communication details in respect of a selected good or service provider listed in the electronic classified directory through a first 30 communications network; -15 receiving a second set of communication details in respect of a user through the first communications network; initiating communication between the user and the good or service provider with reference to the first and second set of communication details.

5 5. A method according to claim 4, the step of initiating communication between the user and the good or service provider including the sub-steps of: establishing a call to the user; establishing a call to the good or service provider; delivering a first communication message to the user; and 10 delivering a second communication message to the good or service provider, the second communication message providing details of the intermediary service which is facilitating communication between the user and the good or service provider.