U.S. patent application number 13/242458 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-26 for systems and methods of recommending the delivery of advertisements.
Invention is credited to Tzahi Efrati, Geoffrey Langos, Baruch Sterman.
Application Number | 20120101899 13/242458 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44764221 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120101899 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Langos; Geoffrey ; et
al. |
April 26, 2012 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF RECOMMENDING THE DELIVERY OF
ADVERTISEMENTS
Abstract
Systems and methods for recommending that a business deliver an
advertising message to an individual make use of information about
the individual's activity on a telephony system. The information
about the individual's activity on the telephony system can
indicate that the individual is in communication with certain types
of businesses. The information can also indicate the timing of
those communications. This information is used to recommend that
similar businesses send advertising messages to the individual. The
information can also be used to recommend that the advertising
messages be delivered at certain times.
Inventors: |
Langos; Geoffrey;
(Manalapan, NJ) ; Efrati; Tzahi; (Givataim,
IL) ; Sterman; Baruch; (Efrat, IL) |
Family ID: |
44764221 |
Appl. No.: |
13/242458 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61406729 |
Oct 26, 2010 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.53 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 3/2218 20130101;
G06Q 30/0255 20130101; H04M 2203/555 20130101; H04M 3/4878
20130101; G06Q 50/01 20130101; H04M 2203/353 20130101; H04M
2203/551 20130101; H04M 2203/655 20130101; H04M 2201/18 20130101;
H04W 4/21 20180201; H04M 7/0024 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/14.53 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20120101
G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1. A method of recommending the delivery of an advertising message,
comprising: analyzing a user's communications activity on a
telephony system to identify at least one communications activity
pattern; and recommending to a business that an advertising message
be delivered to the user based on the identified communications
activity pattern.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step comprises
determining a first type of businesses to which the user has sent
communications or from which the user has received communications,
and wherein the recommending step comprises recommending that an
advertising message be delivered to the user from a business that
is the same or similar to the first type of business.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the analyzing step further
comprises determining a timing of when the user has received
incoming communications from the first type of business or when the
user has sent outgoing communications to the first type of
business, and wherein the recommending step comprises recommending
that an advertising message be delivered to the user based on the
determined timing.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising obtaining information
about the user's movements from a mobile telephony device
associated with the user, and wherein the recommending step
comprises recommending that an advertising message be delivered to
the user based on the obtained information about the user's
movements.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step comprises
determining a timing of when the user has received incoming
communications or when the user has sent outgoing communications,
and wherein the recommending step comprises recommending that an
advertising message be delivered to the user based on the
determined timing.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining information
about the user's movements from a mobile telephony device
associated with the user, and wherein the recommending step
comprises recommending that an advertising message be delivered to
the user based on the obtained information about the user's
movements.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of obtaining information
about the user's movements comprises identifying at least one of
the user's common movement paths, and wherein the recommending step
comprises recommending that an advertising message be delivered to
the user from a businesses located along at least one of the user's
common movement paths.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of recommending to a
business that an advertising message be delivered to the user does
not divulge to the business the identity of the user.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising delivering an
advertising message to the user in response to instructions
received from a business.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing a user's
communications activity comprises: determining identifiers
associated with the user's communications activity; and determining
at least one type of businesses to which the user has sent a
communication or from which the user has received a communication
based on the determined identifiers.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the identifiers are telephone
numbers.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining
identifiers comprises extracting identifiers from transcriptions of
voicemail messages left for the user.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining
identifiers comprises extracting identifiers from transcriptions of
telephone conversations that the user has conducted over the
telephony system.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining
identifiers comprises extracting identifiers from incoming e-mail
messages that the user has received or outgoing e-mail messages
that the user has sent.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining
identifiers comprises extracting identifiers from incoming text
messages that the user has received or outgoing text messages that
the user has sent.
16. A system for recommending the delivery of an advertising
message, comprising: means for analyzing a user's communications
activity on a telephony system to identify at least one
communications activity pattern; and means for recommending to a
business that an advertising message be delivered to the user based
on the identified communications activity pattern.
17. A system for recommending the delivery of an advertising
message, comprising: an analyzing unit that analyzes a user's
communications activity on a telephony system to identify at least
one communications activity pattern; and an advertising
recommendation unit that recommends to a business that an
advertising message be delivered to the user based on the
identified communications activity pattern.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the analyzing unit determines a
first type of businesses to which the user has sent communications
or from which the user has received communications, and wherein the
advertising recommendation unit recommends that an advertising
message be delivered to the user from a business that is the same
or similar to the first type of business.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the analyzing unit also
determines a timing of when the user has received incoming
communications from the first type of business or when the user has
sent outgoing communications to the first type of business, and
wherein the advertising recommendation unit recommends that an
advertising message be delivered to the user based on the
determined timing.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein the analyzing unit obtains
information about the user's movements from a mobile telephony
device associated with the user, and wherein the advertising
recommendation unit recommends that an advertising message be
delivered to the user based on the obtained information about the
user's movements.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein analyzing unit identifies at
least one of the user's common movement paths, and wherein the
advertising recommendation unit recommends that an advertising
message be delivered to the user from a businesses located along at
least one of the user's common movement paths.
22. The system of claim 17, wherein the advertising recommendation
unit does not divulge to the business the identity of the user.
23. The system of claim 22, further comprising an advertising
delivery unit that delivers an advertising message to the user in
response to instructions received from the business.
24. The system of claim 17, wherein the analyzing unit determines
identifiers associated with the user's communications activity, and
determines at least one type of businesses to which the user has
sent a communication or from which the user has received a
communication based on the determined identifiers.
25. The system of claim 24, wherein the analyzing unit determines
the identifiers by extracting the identifiers from transcriptions
of voicemail messages left for the user.
26. The system of claim 24, wherein the analyzing unit determines
the identifiers by extracting the identifiers from transcriptions
of telephone conversations that the user has conducted over the
telephony system.
27. The system of claim 24, wherein the analyzing unit determines
the identifiers by extracting the identifiers from incoming e-mail
messages that the user has received or outgoing e-mail messages
that the user has sent.
28. The system of claim 24, wherein the analyzing unit determines
the identifiers by extracting the identifiers from incoming text
messages that the user has received or outgoing text messages that
the user has sent.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to the filing date of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/406,729, filed Oct. 26,
2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY
[0002] The technology is related to Internet Protocol (IP)
telephony systems which connect telephone calls to or from devices
using data packet communications. In a typical IP telephony system,
users can place and receive telephone calls using IP based
telephones, computers running IP telephony software, or via a
normal analog telephone which is connected to the Internet via a
telephone adapter.
[0003] Each time that a customer of the IP telephony system places
a call or receives a call through the IP telephony system, a call
detail record (CDR) is established for the call. The CDR includes
various items of information about the call. For instance, the
information included in a CDR would typically include the telephone
number of the calling party, the telephone number of the called
party, the time the call was established, the time the call ended,
as well as various other items of information relating to the
elements of the IP telephony system that handled the call.
[0004] The technology is also related to social networking systems
which allow members to easily interact with one another via the
Internet. Typically, each member of a social networking system will
establish a presence on the social networking system, which can
include posting some basic information. Members then establish
links to one another through the social networking system. Once a
link is established between first and second members, the first
member can easily see information posted by the second member, and
vice versa.
[0005] Presently, there is no way for a social networking system to
obtain and utilize the information in CDRs that are recorded by a
IP telephony system in order to aid the social networking system in
providing services to the members of the social networking system.
Specifically, there is no way for a social networking system to
utilize the information contained in CDRs to recommend that two
unlinked members of a social networking system establish a link
between themselves.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a diagram of various elements which may be
associated with an IP telephony system, a typical public switched
telephone network (PSTN) and one or more social networking
systems;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a diagram of various elements of a processor which
can be part of an IP telephony system;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating selected elements of
an IP telephony system;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating how information obtained
from call detail records and social networking systems can be
correlated;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating steps of a first method of
determining when to recommend that two people establish a link on a
social networking system;
[0011] FIG. 6 illustrated the structure of an embodiment of an ID
cross-reference database;
[0012] FIG. 7A is a diagram of a second method of determining when
to recommend that one person establish a link on a social
networking system with a second person;
[0013] FIG. 7B is a diagram of a third method of determining when
to recommend that one person establish a link on a social
networking system;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating steps of a fourth method of
determining when to recommend that two people establish a link on a
social networking system;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating steps of a fifth method of
determining when to recommend that two people establish a link on a
social networking system;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating steps of a first method of
determining when to recommend targeted advertising;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating steps of a second method
of determining when to recommend targeted advertising;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating steps of a sixth method of
determining when to recommend that two people establish a link on a
social networking system;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating steps of a seventh method
of determining when to recommend that two people establish a link
on a social networking system; and
[0020] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating steps of a eighth method
of determining when to recommend that two people establish a link
on a social networking system;
[0021] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating steps of a method of
adding information to an address book maintained for a customer by
an IP telephony system
[0022] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating steps of a first method of
determining when to invite a person to join a social networking
system; and
[0023] FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating steps of a second method
of determining when to invite a person to join a social networking
system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates different elements which can be a part of
an IP telephony system, a public switched telephone network (PSTN),
a cellular telephone network, and one or more social networking
systems.
[0025] As shown therein, an IP telephony system 120 enables
connection of telephone calls between its own customers and other
parties via data communications that pass over a data network. The
IP telephony system might also deliver SMS or MMS messages to or
from its customers, as well as deliver other forms of
communications. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the data network is
commonly the Internet. The IP telephony system 120 is connected to
the Internet 110. In addition, the IP telephony system 120 is
connected to a PSTN 130 via a gateway 122.
[0026] The gateway 122 allows users and devices that are connected
to the PSTN to connect with users and devices that are reachable
through the IP telephony system 120, and vice versa. In some
instances, the gateway 122 would be a part of the IP telephony
system 120. In other instances, the gateway 122 could be maintained
by a third party.
[0027] Customers of the IP telephony system 12Q can place and
receive telephone calls using an IP telephone 108 that is connected
to the Internet 110. Such an IP telephone could be connected to an
Internet service provider via a wired connection or via a wireless
router. In some instances, the IP telephone 108 could utilize a
cellular telephone system to access the Internet.
[0028] Alternatively, a customer could utilize a normal analog
telephone 102a which is connected to the Internet 110 via a
telephone adapter 104. The telephone adapter converts analog
signals from the telephone into data signals that pass over the
Internet 110, and vice versa. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 1,
multiple analog telephone devices 102a, 102b and 102c could all be
coupled to the same telephone adaptor 104. Analog telephone devices
include but are not limited to standard telephones and document
imaging devices such as facsimile machines. A configuration using a
telephone adapter 104 is common where all of the analog telephone
devices 102a, 102b and 102c are located in a residence or business,
and all of the telephone devices are connected to the same
telephone adapter. With this type of a configuration, all of the
analog telephone devices 102a, 102b, 102c share the same telephone
number assigned to the telephone adaptor 104. Other configurations
are also possible where multiple communication lines (e.g., a
second telephone number) are provisioned by the IP telephony
system.
[0029] In addition, a customer could utilize a soft-phone client
running on a computer 106 to place and receive IP based telephone
calls, and to access other IP telephony systems. In some instances,
the soft-phone client could be assigned its own telephone number.
In other instances, the soft-phone client could be associated with
a telephone number that is also assigned to an IP telephone 108, or
to a telephone adaptor 104 that is connected to one or more analog
telephones.
[0030] A third party using an analog telephone 132 which is
connected to the PSTN 130 may call a customer of the IP telephony
system 120. In this instance, the call is initially connected from
the analog telephone 132 to the PSTN 130, and then from the PSTN
130, through the gateway 122 to the IP telephony system 120. The IP
telephony system 120 would then route the call to the customer's IP
telephony device. A third party using a cellular telephone 134
could also place a call to an IP telephony system customer, and the
connection would be established in a similar manner, although the
first link would involve communications between the cellular
telephone 134 and a cellular telephone network. For purposes of
this explanation, the cellular telephone network is considered part
of the PSTN 130.
[0031] In addition, mobile computing devices which include cellular
telephone capabilities could also be used to place telephone calls
to customers of the IP telephony system. A mobile computing device
136 as illustrated in FIG. 1 might connect to the PSTN 130 using
its cellular telephone capabilities. However, such devices might
also have the ability to connect wirelessly via some other means.
For instance, a mobile computing device 136 might communicate with
a wireless data router to connect the mobile computing device 136
directly to a data network, such as the Internet 110. In this
instance, communications between the mobile computing device 136
and other parties could be entirely carried by data communications
which pass from the mobile computing device directly to a data
network 110. Of course, alternate embodiments could utilize any
other form of wireless communications path to enable
communications.
[0032] Users of the IP telephony system 120 are able to access the
service from virtually any location where they can connect to the
Internet. Thus, a customer could register with an IP telephony
system provider in the U.S., and that customer could then use an IP
telephone 108 located in a country outside the U.S. to access the
services. Likewise, the customer could also utilize a computer
outside the U.S. that is running a soft-phone client to access the
IP telephony system.
[0033] Additional elements illustrated in FIG. 1 are introduced and
discussed in greater detail below.
[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates elements of a computer processor that can
be used as part of the IP telephony system 120 to accomplish
various functions. The IP telephony system 120 could include
multiple processors 150 located at various locations in the system,
along with their operating components and programming, each
carrying out a specific or dedicated portion of the functions
performed by the VOIP based telephony service 120.
[0035] The processor 150 shown in FIG. 2 may be one of any form of
a general purpose computer processor used in accessing an IP-based
network, such as a corporate intranet, the Internet or the like.
The processor 150 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 152, a
memory 154, and support circuits 156 for the CPU 152. The processor
150 also includes provisions 158/160 for connecting the processor
150 to customer equipment and to service provider agent equipment,
as well as possibly one or more input/output devices (not shown)
for accessing the processor and/or performing ancillary or
administrative functions related thereto. The provisions 158/160
are shown as separate bus structures in FIG. 2; however, they may
alternately be a single bus structure without degrading or
otherwise changing the intended operability of the processor
150.
[0036] The memory 154 is coupled to the CPU 152. The memory 154, or
computer-readable medium, may be one or more of readily available
memory such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM),
floppy disk, hard disk, flash memory or any other form of digital
storage, local or remote, and is preferably of non-volatile nature.
The support circuits 156 are coupled to the CPU 152 for supporting
the processor in a conventional manner. These circuits include
cache, power supplies, clock circuits, input/output circuitry and
subsystems, and the like.
[0037] A software routine 162, when executed by the CPU 152, causes
the processor 150 to perform processes of the disclosed
embodiments, and is generally stored in the memory 154. The
software routine 162 may also be stored and/or executed by a second
CPU (not shown) that is remotely located from the hardware being
controlled by the CPU 152. Also, the software routines could also
be stored remotely from the CPU. For example, the software could be
resident on servers and memory devices that are located remotely
from the CPU, but which are accessible to the CPU via a data
network connection.
[0038] The software routine 162, when executed by the CPU 152,
transforms the general purpose computer into a specific purpose
computer that performs one or more functions of the IP telephony
system 120. Although the processes of the disclosed embodiments may
be discussed as being implemented as a software routine, some of
the method steps that are disclosed therein may be performed in
hardware as well as by a processor running software. As such, the
embodiments may be implemented in software as executed upon a
computer system, in hardware as an application specific integrated
circuit or other type of hardware implementation, or a combination
of software and hardware. The software routine 162 of the disclosed
embodiments is capable of being executed on any computer operating
system, and is capable of being performed using any CPU
architecture.
[0039] In the following description, references will be made to an
"IP telephony device." This term is used to refer to any type of
device which is capable of interacting with an IP telephony system
to conduct a telephone call, to send or receive text messages, or
to send and receive other forms of communications. An IP telephony
device could be an IP telephone, a computer running IP telephony
software, an IP telephony adapter which is itself connected to a
normal analog telephone, or some other type of device capable of
communicating via data packets. An IP telephony device could also
be a cellular telephone or a portable computing device that runs a
software client that enables the device to act as an IP telephone.
Thus, a single device might be capable of operating as both a
cellular telephone and an IP telephone.
[0040] Moreover, certain devices that are not traditionally used as
IP telephony devices may act as IP telephony devices once they are
configured with appropriate client software. Thus, some devices
that would not normally be considered IP telephony devices may
become IP once they are running appropriate software.
[0041] FIG. 1 also illustrates a first social networking system 140
and a second social networking system 142. Both social networking
systems are connected to the Internet. As explained above, members
of a social networking system are able to access the social
networking system via the Internet. In some instances, access would
be obtained using a computer. In other instances, a member might
obtain access to the social networking system using a cellular
telephone or a mobile computing device.
[0042] Members of a social networking system are able to post
information, text, Internet links, and possibly photos, videos and
other forms of media to the social networking system. Members of a
social networking system are also able to selectively establish
links between each other. Once a link has been established between
first and second members, information posted by the first member
can be accessed and viewed by the second member, and vice
versa.
[0043] Some social networking systems also allow users to record
their own contact information, and to make this information
available to other members to whom they are linked. In fact, some
social networking systems have as their primary purpose, a way for
two people to easily exchange their respective contact information.
In such systems, a first member could be linked to a large number
of other members. If the first member needs to update an item of
his own contact information due to a residential move, a
professional move, or because of a change in a telephone number or
e-mail address, the first member need only update his contact
information posted on the social networking system. Once that
change has been made, the changed information will become
immediately available to the other members linked to the first
member. Thus, the social networking system provides a simple and
expedient way to make one's current contact information available
to many other people.
[0044] Often, two people who are both members of a social
networking system, and who are personally acquainted or may
otherwise have common contacts, are not linked to one another
simply because each person is unaware that the other person is also
a member of the social networking system. In some instances, a
first member of a social networking system might be aware that one
of his friends is also a member of the same social networking
system, but the first member may not be able to find the friend
using a name or e-mail address for purposes of establishing a link.
Systems and methods of determining whether to recommend that two
people link to one another on a social networking system will now
be described with reference to FIGS. 3-5.
[0045] FIG. 3 is a block diagram that presents some of the elements
of an IP telephony system which is capable of determining when to
recommend that two members of a social networking system establish
a link on the social networking system.
[0046] The IP telephony system 120 includes a database 310 that
includes information about calls, text messages and other forms of
communications that have been placed through or completed through
the IP telephony system. A CDR Analysis Unit 370 is coupled to the
CDR database 310. The CDR Analysis Unit 370 is capable of analyzing
the CDR data in various ways, as will be explained in more detail
below. The CDR Analysis Unit 370 may also be linked to various
other assets both inside and outside the IP telephony system. For
example, the CDR Analysis Unit 370 may be linked to various
databases of telephone numbers, various databases of businesses,
and/or reverse telephone number databases that correlate telephone
numbers to particular individuals or businesses.
[0047] The IP telephony system 120 also includes a voicemail
recording storage unit 320. The voicemail recordings could be
recordings of voicemail messages left for customers or users of the
IP telephony system. In other instances, the voicemail recordings
could be recordings that customers or users of the IP telephony
system have left for people who obtain telephony services from some
other service provider.
[0048] The IP telephony system 120 further includes a telephone
call recording storage unit 330 that contains recordings of
telephone calls placed over the IP telephony system. This could
include recordings of outgoing telephone calls placed by customers
of the IP telephony system, and recordings of incoming telephone
calls placed to customers of the telephony system by
non-customers.
[0049] A transcription unit 335 is coupled to the voicemail
recording storage unit 320 and the telephone call recording storage
unit 330. The transcription unit 335 utilizes speech recognition
assets to generate transcriptions of the recorded voicemail
messages and telephone calls.
[0050] The transcription unit 335 is coupled to a content analysis
unit 360. The content analysis unit 360 may also be coupled to a
text message storage unit 340 and an e-mail storage unit 350. The
text messages stored in the text message storage unit 340 and the
e-mails stored in the e-mail storage unit 350 could include both
text messages and e-mails generated by the customers of the IP
telephony system, as well as incoming text messages and e-mails
that were generated by non-customers and that were sent to the
customers of the IP telephony system. The content analysis unit 360
would analyze the content of the voicemail recordings, the
telephone conversations, the text messages and the e-mails in
various different ways as is explained in more detail below.
[0051] A social networking system interface 375 is used to access
the information available to a customer on a social networking
system. The capabilities and functions of the social networking
system interface 375 are described in more detail below.
[0052] The IP telephony system 120 also includes an identifier
cross-reference database 385. As described in more detail below,
the identifier cross-reference database 385 cross-references
different types of information used to identify individuals and
businesses. For example, the identifier cross-reference database
385 could tie a telephone number for an individual to the e-mail
address and instant messaging identifier for that individual. The
identifier cross-reference database 385 can be loaded with
information obtained from many different sources over an extended
period of time, as explained in more detail below.
[0053] A Link Recommendation Unit 380 is coupled to the CDR
Analysis Unit 370, the Content Analysis Unit 360, the social
networking system interface 375 and the identifier cross-reference
database 385. In addition, the Link Recommendation Unit 380 may
also receive information from other assets both inside the IP
telephony system 120 and outside the IP telephony system 120. For
example, the Link Recommendation Unit 380 may interfacing with and
obtain information from a social networking system, as is described
in more detail below. Based on the information it obtains and
analyses, the Link Recommendation Unit 380 generates
recommendations that one member of a social networking system form
a link with another member of the social networking system. Such
recommendations could be sent to one of the two members, or to both
of the members.
[0054] An Advertising Recommendation Unit 390 is also coupled to
the CDR Analysis Unit 370 and the Content Analysis Unit 360. In
addition, the Advertising Recommendation Unit 390 may receive
information from other assets both inside the IP telephony system
120 and outside the IP telephony system 120. For example, the
Advertising Recommendation Unit 390 may interface with and obtain
information from various databases of telephone numbers, businesses
and/or from reverse telephone number databases that correlate
businesses to telephone numbers, as is described in more detail
below. Based on the information it obtains and analyses, the
Advertising Recommendation Unit 390 generates recommendations about
whether, when and possibly how to send advertisements to
individuals.
[0055] An Advertising Transmission Unit 395 is used to deliver
advertising messages. The Advertising Transmission Unit 395 may
receive instructions regarding the delivery of advertising messages
from the Advertising Recommendation Unit 390. The Advertising
Transmission Unit 395 delivers advertising messages to individuals
in any of multiple different ways, as is discussed in more detail
below.
[0056] FIG. 4 illustrates CDR data for two customers of an IP
telephony system 120. Customer 1 has a telephone number of
617-551-6789. Customer 2 has a telephone number of 312-991-4321. As
explained above, each time that a customer of an IP telephony
system places a call to another party, or receives a call from
another party, information about the call is recorded in call
detail records. Similarly, when a customer sends or receives a text
message or some other form of communication, information about the
communication is recorded. This can include the telephone number
from which an incoming communication was received, or the telephone
number to which an outgoing communication was sent.
[0057] Although FIG. 4 illustrates telephone numbers associated
with incoming and outgoing communications, in some instances a
communication received by a customer or sent by a customer of an IP
telephony system may not be associated with a telephone number.
Instead, some other identifier may be used to identify the party
that sent an incoming communication to a customer or to whom a
customer has sent an outgoing communication. Thus, the illustration
of telephone numbers in FIG. 4 should in no way be considered
limiting. The methods and systems described herein could utilize
other types of identifiers to route communications to and from
customers of the IP telephony system.
[0058] FIG. 4 shows the telephone numbers to which customer 1 has
sent outgoing communications 404 and the telephone numbers
associated with incoming communications 402 received by customer 1
over a certain period of time. This same type of information is
also shown for customer 2 in call lists 408 and 406, respectively.
Although only a few telephone numbers are illustrated in FIG. 4,
one of skill in the art would appreciate that a much larger number
of calls might be placed by some individuals over a given period of
time.
[0059] FIG. 4 also illustrates that customer 1 and customer 2 are
both members of a social networking system. Some of the contact
information of people to whom they are linked through the social
networking system is also shown for each of customer 1 and customer
2 in contact lists 410 and 412. One of skill in the art would also
appreciate that each customer may be linked to a much larger number
of other members. The three contacts/links shown for each of
customer 1 and customer 2 are only for illustrative purposes.
[0060] It is possible for the customers of an IP telephony system
120 to provide the IP telephony system with credentials that allow
the IP telephony system 120 to access the information available to
the customer on a social networking system. Once the IP telephony
system has a customer's credentials, the IP telephony system can
access the same information stored on the social networking system
that would be directly available to the customer. Thus, an IP
telephony system 120 could access the contact information available
to the customer.
[0061] The social networking system interface 375 of the IP
telephony system 120 uses a customer's credentials to access
various social networking systems for purposes of accessing the
information available to the customer on the social networking
system. The customer's credentials might be stored in the social
networking system interface 375, or at other locations.
[0062] Once the social networking system interface 375 has accessed
a social networking system using a customer's credentials, the
social networking system interface 375 is able to review the
customer's contact or link information. Such information can
provide the names, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and other
items of data that can be used to uniquely identify an individual
or a business.
[0063] Because the IP telephony system also has access to the
information stored on CDRs for its customers, it is possible for
the IP telephony system to use both pieces of information together
to determine if it makes sense to recommend that one of its
customers establish a link to another party on the social
networking system. A method of doing so is illustrated in FIG.
5.
[0064] In step S502, the IP telephony system first examines
customer 1's CDRs to determine the telephone numbers or identifiers
to which customer 1 has sent communications, and from which
customer 1 has received communications. This might include
reviewing CDRs for customer 1 that have accumulated over a week, a
month, or for longer periods of time.
[0065] In step S504, the social networking system interface 375 of
the IP telephony system 120 uses previously obtained credentials
from customer 2 to access customer 2's contact information within a
social networking system. Typically, the contact information is for
the members of the social networking system to whom customer 2 is
linked on the social networking system. The IP telephony system 120
compares the telephone numbers or other identifiers obtained from
customer 1's CDRs in lists 402 and 404 to the telephone numbers or
other identifiers that are part of customer 2's contact information
412 on the social networking system.
[0066] If there is a match, that means customer 1 is communicating
with someone to whom customer 2 is linked on the social networking
system. In the data illustrated in FIG. 3, one can see that the CDR
data for customer 1 indicates that customer 1 sent a communication
to telephone number 312-333-1234, which is the telephone number for
Sue Johnson, one of the people to whom customer 2 is linked on the
social networking system. Likewise, customer 1 has also sent a
communication to telephone number 808-215-5555, which is the
telephone number for Kate Jackson, another of the people to whom
customer 2 is linked on the social networking system.
[0067] Given those connections, in step S506 the system would issue
a recommendation that customer 1 establish a link on the social
networking system to customer 2, and/or vice versa. The
recommendation to create a link on the social networking system
could be delivered to one or both of the customers via the IP
telephony system 120 or via the social networking system.
[0068] The fact that the IP telephony system is able to access both
its customers' CDR data, as well as its customers' contact or link
information on a social networking system makes it possible for the
IP telephony system to identify connections between members of the
social networking system that could not be identified by the
information present only within the social networking system alone.
Increasing the number of links between its members is one way for a
social networking system to increase its utility to its members.
Thus, recommending links in this fashion should be desirable to
both the customers, and to the operators of the social networking
system.
[0069] In the method described above, telephone numbers and/or
other identifiers from one customer's CDR data are compared to the
contact information stored for a second customer on a single social
networking system. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the
telephone numbers and/or identifiers obtained from customer 1's CDR
data could be compared to the contact information for a large
number of members of the social networking system. Likewise, one of
skill in the art will appreciate that the telephone numbers and/or
identifiers obtained from customer 1's CDRs could also be compared
to the contact data for a large number of members of other social
networking systems.
[0070] Information about customer 2's contacts that were obtained
when the social networking system interface 375 accessed the social
networking system with customer 2's credentials can be stored in
the identifier cross-reference database 385 of the IP telephony
system 120. An illustration of an embodiment of a data structure of
such an identifier cross-reference database 385 is provided in FIG.
6.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 6, the IP telephony system 120 can assign a
unique identifier to each individual or business that is entered
into the database. Each unique identifier is then matched to other
identifiers for individuals or businesses, such as a name, various
telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, instant messaging identifiers,
addresses information, and other identifiers.
[0072] The identifier cross-reference database 385 can be built up
over time as the IP telephony system acquires information from a
variety of different sources. For example, the IP telephony system
120 could begin creating an identifier cross-reference database 385
with the information it possess for its own customers. The IP
telephony system could access contact lists or address books that
it maintains for its own customers, and this information could be
used to begin building the identifier cross-reference database 385.
Each time a new individual or business is identified, a new entry
for that individual or business would be created in the identifier
cross-reference database 385. As much information as possible will
then be entered into the identifier cross-reference database 385
from the information available in the customers' contact lists and
address books.
[0073] If the social networking system interface 375 of the IP
telephony system 120 obtains credentials from a first social
networking system for one of its customers, the social networking
system interface 375 will access the customer's contact/link
information available on the first social networking system. If the
social networking system interface 375 discovers a listing for a
new individual or business in the customer's contact/link lists on
the social networking system that is not already present in the
identifier cross-reference database 385, a new listing for that
individual or business will be created in the identifier
cross-reference database 385, and all available information will be
copied into the identifier cross-reference database 385. If one of
the entries in the customer's contact/link list on the social
networking system corresponds to a pre-existing entry in the
identifier cross-reference database 385, the social networking
system interface 375 may be able to add new items of identifier
information to the ID cross-reference database 385 for that
pre-existing entry. For example, if a first social networking
system has assigned its own unique identifier to an individual,
that information could be added to the ID cross-reference database
385.
[0074] If the social networking system interface 375 of the IP
telephony system 120 obtains the credentials for the same customer
on a second social networking system, the social networking system
interface 375 will access the customer's contact/link information
available on second social networking system and try to add yet
additional information to the identifier cross-reference
database.
[0075] In some instances, identifier information obtained for an
individual/business from the contact/link information available on
a first social networking system may prove valuable in obtaining
additional identifier information for that individual/business from
a second social networking system. For example, assume that before
any reviews of social networking system data are performed, an
individual's listing in the identifier cross-reference database 385
only includes the individual's name and a mobile telephone number.
Assume that during a review of a customer's contact/link
information on a first social networking system, the IP telephony
system 120 is able to identify the individual's entry on the
contact/link list in the first social networking system based on
the mobile telephone number present in the identifier
cross-reference database 385. Assume also that the contact/link
information on the first social networking system includes the
individual's e-mail address. This would allow the IP telephony
system to add the individual's e-mail address to the ID
cross-reference database 385.
[0076] Assume further that the same individual is listed in the
customer's contact/link information on a second social networking
system. But the contact/link entry in the second social networking
system includes only an e-mail address and an instant messaging
identifier.
[0077] If the IP telephony system uses the customer's credentials
to access and review the customer's contact/link information on the
second social networking system, the newly added e-mail address in
the identifier cross-reference table 385 can be used to identify
the individual's entry in the contact/link list on the second
social networking system. And once the individual's entry has been
identified, the IP telephony system 120 will be able to further add
the individual's instant messaging identifier to the identifier
cross-reference database 385.
[0078] If the individual's e-mail address had not first been
obtained from a review of the contact/link information on the first
social networking system, the IP telephony system 120 would not
have been able to identify the individual's entry in the second
social networking system. And this would have prevented the IP
telephony system 120 from obtaining the individual instant
messaging identifier and adding the instant messaging identifier to
the identifier cross-reference database 385. Thus, maintaining the
identifier cross-reference database 385, and updating the
information stored in the identifier cross-reference database 385
each time that new information becomes available helps the IP
telephony system to create a comprehensive listing of all
identifiers that can be used identify an individual or a business.
And correctly identifying an individual/business allows the IP
telephony system to recommend links within a social networking
system, as well as recommend the delivery of advertising messages,
as discussed below.
[0079] Steps of another method of determining when to recommend a
link on a social networking system with a customer of an IP
telephony system is illustrated in FIG. 7A. As shown therein, in
step S702, the CDRs that are created for a first customer within an
IP telephony system are analyzed to determine the telephone numbers
or identifiers that the first customer sends communications to
and/or receives communications from. Next, the names of individuals
and/or businesses associated with those telephone numbers and
identifiers are determined in step S704. This could be accomplished
by using internal or external databases that correlate telephone
numbers or other identifiers to individuals and/or businesses.
[0080] In step S706, the names of those individuals/businesses, and
possibly also their associated telephone numbers or other
identifiers, are used to determine if the individuals/businesses
are members of the same social networking system as the first
customer. If so, the IP telephony system issues a recommendation
for a link. This could include recommending that the first customer
establish a link to another person or business who is a member of
the social networking system, or recommending that an individual or
business establish a link to the first customer. Of course, this
could also include issuing recommendations for forming a link to
both parties.
[0081] A method similar to the one discussed above could also be
performed using transcriptions of recordings of telephone
conversations or voicemail messages for the first customer. In this
alternate method, names and telephone numbers would be extracted
from transcriptions of telephone conversations, voicemail
recordings and possibly also text messages and e-mail messages.
Those names and telephone numbers would then be used to determine
if any of the individuals with whom the first customer has been
communicating are members of the same social networking system as
the first customer. If so, a recommendation to form a link is sent
to the first customer and/or to the other identified individual
[0082] FIG. 7B illustrates another method of determining when to
recommend a link on a social networking system. As shown therein,
in step S710, an address book maintained for a first customer is
examined to obtain names, telephone numbers and other identifiers
for the people and businesses listed in the first customer's
address book. If an entry in the customer's address book contains a
telephone number or another identifier, but not a name, internal or
external databases that correlate telephone numbers or identifiers
to individuals and businesses could be used to obtain names
associated with the telephone numbers and identifiers.
[0083] In step S712, the names of those individuals and businesses,
and possibly also their associated telephone numbers or
identifiers, are used to determine if the individuals/businesses
are members of the same social networking system as the first
customer. If so, then in step S714 a recommendation to form a link
on the social networking system is issued to the first customer
and/or to the identified individual/business.
[0084] Another method of determining when to recommend a link on a
social networking system is illustrated in FIG. 8. As shown
therein, in step S802, the IP telephony system 120 examines a first
customer's CDRs to determine the telephone numbers or identifiers
to which the first customer has sent communications, and from which
the first customer has received communications. In step S804, the
IP telephony system 120 does the same thing for a second customer.
In step S806, if there is a match between the telephone numbers or
identifiers acquired from the first customer's CDRs and the
telephone numbers or identifiers acquired from the second
customer's CDRs, then the IP telephony system recommends a link on
the social networking system. This could include sending a link
recommendation to one or both of the first and second
customers.
[0085] Examples of data patterns which would lead to such link
recommendations are illustrated in FIG. 4, which shows that both
customer 1 and customer 2 have received communications from
telephone number 212-555-1234. Thus, one can assume that customer 1
and customer 2 are both acquainted with the same
individual/business. Likewise, FIG. 4 shows that customer 1 has
received communications from telephone numbers 847-555-1212 and
567-321-2123, which are the same telephone numbers to which
customer 2 has sent communications. If any of these matches were
noted in step S606, the system would recommend that customer 1 and
customer 2 establish a link on a social networking system where
they are both members. Here again, because the social networking
system itself does not have access to the CDR data stored on the IP
telephony system, there would be no way for the social networking
system to use similar information to make the recommendation for a
link between two of its members.
[0086] FIG. 9 illustrates another method of determining when to
recommend that two people establish a link on a social networking
system. In this method, in step S902, the IP telephony system 120
utilizes previously obtained credentials to access and review the
contact or link information for a first customer that is stored on
a social networking system. The IP telephony system identifies the
telephone numbers, names and other identifiers associated with the
individuals and businesses in the first customer's contact/links
information.
[0087] In step S904, the IP telephony system 120 does the same
thing for a second one of its customers. In step S906, the IP
telephony system compares the obtained telephone numbers, names and
other identifiers, to determine if there are any matches. If so,
the IP telephony system recommends that a link be established on
the social networking system between the first and second
customers. Such a link recommendation could be sent to one or both
of the customers.
[0088] Examples of data patterns which would lead to such link
recommendations are also shown in FIG. 4, which illustrates that
customer 1's contact or link information on the social networking
system includes John Smith, who has a telephone number of
847-555-1212. Customer 2's contact or link information on the
social networking system lists the same person. And if both
customer 1 and customer 2 have linked to the same person, the IP
telephony system recommends that customer 1 and customer 2
establish a link on the social networking system. In some
embodiments, the recommendation to form a link between two members
of a social networking system might only be issued if the first and
second customers have a minimum number of contacts or links in
common.
[0089] FIG. 10 illustrates steps of a method of using information
obtained from customer CDRs to recommend or sell targeted
advertisements to businesses. This method begins in step S1002,
when the IP telephony system would review a customer's CDRs to note
communications patterns. This step could take a number of different
forms. A few examples are discussed below. However, the method
would apply to virtually any type of analysis that renders useful
data.
[0090] For example, the analysis could reveal that a customer calls
a certain telephone number on a regular basis. The IP telephony
system then consults one or more reverse telephone number databases
to determine if the telephone number is for a business. If so, the
IP telephony system determines the type of business. Once that
pattern has been noted, in step S1004 the IP telephony system
recommends to other competing businesses that an advertisement be
sent to the customer.
[0091] In some instances, the databases consulted to identify the
business connected with a telephone number called by the customer
could be created and maintained by the IP telephony system itself.
In other instances, the IP telephony system might consult databases
maintained by a third party. Also, the IP telephony system might
build its own databases over time by adding information to its own
databases each time information is drawn from a third party
database.
[0092] One example would be to note that a customer frequently
places calls to a certain pizza business. Once the IP telephony
system knows that the customer regularly orders pizza, the IP
telephony system, in step S1004, could recommend to other competing
pizza shops that an advertisement be sent to the customer. And
because the IP telephony system is able to identify an individual
who is known to purchase pizza on a regular basis, one would expect
the competing pizza shops to pay a premium to obtain the customer's
identity, or to have an advertisement delivered to the
customer.
[0093] In step S1006, the IP telephony system itself could offer to
deliver the advertisement to the customer. The advertisement could
be delivered to the customer in the form of a SMS or MMS message,
via e-mail, via a voice call from a live operator, by calling the
customer and delivering a recorded message, or by calling the
customer and connecting the customer to an interactive voice
response system. In the case of an interactive voice response
system, the customer could be presented with multiple options, with
the ability to obtain various different items of information, or
with the ability to obtain a discount coupon for the advertized
service or product in any one of multiple different ways. In any
event, if the IP telephony system itself becomes involved in
delivery of the advertisement, it would provide another potential
way for the IP telephony system to obtain revenue from the delivery
of the advertisement. Also, if the advertisement were delivered in
that fashion, it would be possible for the IP telephony system to
never reveal the identity of the customer to which the
advertisement is sent. And this could ally any fears that use of
the customer's CDR data would lead to a breach of client
confidentiality.
[0094] The IP telephony system 120 might also be able to obtain
information about the customer's movements based on position data
reported from GPS enabled telephones. If the customer's movements
are also known, this information could be combined with information
obtained from an analysis of the CDR data to even better identify
those competing businesses who might be interested in sending an
advertisement to the customer.
[0095] For example, and continuing with the pizza analogy given
above, the analysis of the CDR data might indicate that the
customer typically calls a pizza shop at about 6 pm each Friday. An
analysis of the customer's movements might also reveal that the
customer travels from his office to his residence at about the same
time each Friday night by an identifiable path. Given this
information, the IP telephony system could then search for
competing pizza shops that are along the route traveled by the
customer as he travels to his residence. If a competing pizza shop
along that route is identified, the IP telephony system could
recommend that the competing shop send the customer an
advertisement. And this advertisement would be even more highly
targeted because it would be from a shop along the customer's
normal route home.
[0096] Taking this example one step further, the IP telephony
system could offer to deliver an advertisement from the competing
pizza shop to the customer, with the advertisement to be delivered
to the customer at 5:30 pm on Friday evening, which is just before
the customer typically places an order for a pizza. Thus, the
timing of the delivery of advertising messages could also be
controlled based on an analysis of the customer's CDR data.
[0097] In addition to analyzing CDR data to determine the
businesses that a customer calls, the analysis could reveal the
locations that are regularly called. For example, an analysis of a
customer's CDR data could reveal that the customer regularly places
calls to a particular foreign country. In this instance, the IP
telephony system might recommend that a travel service that
specializes in trips to that country send an advertisement to the
customer.
[0098] An analysis of a customer's CDR data might be used by the IP
telephony system itself to recommend an alternate calling plan that
would result in better or less expensive service for the
customer.
[0099] As noted above, the analysis of CDR data can take many
forms. However, the analysis would be designed to identify
information about the customer, his habits, his spending patterns,
and his affiliations. As also noted above, the timing of the
customer's communications may provide important clues about the
customer's behavior patterns. Further, it may be possible to tie
together both information from an analysis of a customer's CDRs,
and his movement patterns. All of this information would be used to
target advertisements to the customer.
[0100] FIG. 11 illustrates another method of determining when to
recommend that certain businesses send advertisements to a
customer. This method begins in step S1102 where a customer's
telephone conversations and/or voicemail messages are recorded.
Next, in step S1104, the recordings are transcribed. In step S1106,
the transcriptions are analyzed for information. Here again, the
analysis could take many different forms. But the core idea is to
extract information about the customer's habits, spending patterns,
behavior and affiliations. And based on this information, in step
S1108, the IP telephony system recommends to certain businesses
that they send advertisements to the customer.
[0101] As in the previous discussion, the method could include step
S1110, where the IP telephony system itself delivers an advertizing
message to the customer. As explained above, this could be done to
protect the privacy of the customer.
[0102] In addition to analyzing transcriptions of voicemail or
telephone conversations, the IP telephony system might also analyze
the text from text messages, emails or other forms of
communications that have been generated by a customer or that were
directed to or delivered to a customer. Here again, the IP
telephony system would be attempting to extract information about
the customer's habits, spending patterns, behavior and
affiliations.
[0103] In the methods discussed above, if recordings of voicemail
messages and telephone conversations are being analyzed, and if
text messages and email messages are being examined, the customer
may have to positively provide permission for these actions to
eliminate any privacy considerations.
[0104] FIG. 12 illustrates another method of determining when to
recommend that two VOIP customers establish a link on a social
networking system. This method also makes use of transcriptions of
recorded conversations and voicemail messages and/or text messages
e-mail messages and other forms of communications.
[0105] In step S1202, customer 1's telephone conversations and
voicemail messages are recorded. In step S1204, customer 2's
telephone conversations and voicemail messages are recorded. In
step S1206, the recordings are transcribed. In step S1208, the
transcribed information, and possibly also text messages, e-mail
messages and other communications, are examined and analyzed to
determine if key information matches.
[0106] For example, in step S1208, the analysis of the
transcriptions or text from text messages and e-mail messages may
be designed to extract names and telephone numbers that were spoken
in telephone conversations and voicemail messages or that appeared
in the text or e-mail messages. Such information would frequently
be spoken in a voicemail message where a caller is leaving contact
information so that the called party can return the call. If the
analysis of customer 1's and customer 2's recorded conversations,
voicemail messages, text and e-mail messages indicate matching
information, then the IP telephony system issues a recommendation
that customer 1 and customer 2 establish a link on a social
networking system.
[0107] FIG. 13 illustrates another method of determining when to
recommend that two customers establish a link on a social
networking system. In step S1302, the IP telephony system records
customer 1's telephone conversations and voicemail messages. In
step S1304, the IP telephony system transcribes the recordings. In
step S1306, the IP telephony system extracts names, telephone
numbers and other identifiers from the transcriptions. Step S1306
may also include extracting names, telephone numbers and other
identifying information from text messages and e-mail messages, as
described above.
[0108] In step S1308, the IP telephony system uses previously
obtained credentials to access customer 2's contact or link
information on a social networking system. The IP telephony system
then compares the names, telephone numbers and other identifiers
extracted from the transcriptions of the recordings to the names,
telephone numbers and other identifiers appearing in customer 2's
contact/link information on the social networking system. If there
is a match, in step S1310, the IP telephony system recommends that
a link be established between customer 1 and customer 2 on the
social networking system.
[0109] Another method of determining when to recommend that two
individual establish a link on a social networking system is
illustrated in FIG. 14. As shown therein, in step S1402, a first
customer's telephone conversations and voicemails are recorded. In
step S1404, the recordings are transcribed. In step S1406, the
transcriptions are examined, and names, telephone numbers and other
identifiers are extracted from the transcriptions. This step may
also include extracting names, telephone numbers and other
identifiers from text messages, e-mail messages and other
communications generated by or sent to the first customer.
[0110] In step S1408, a second customer's CDRs are analyzed to
extract the telephone numbers and other identifiers to which the
second customer has sent communications and from which the second
customer has received communications. Once a telephone number or
other identifier has been obtained, the IP telephony system may
also use this information to obtain the name of an individual or
business associated with the telephone number and identifier.
Identifying the names of individual and businesses could be
accomplished using internal or external databases.
[0111] In step 1410, the names, telephone numbers and identifiers
extracted from the first customer's communications are compared to
the names, telephone numbers and identifiers extracted using the
second customer's CDRs. If there are matches, then a recommendation
is made to establish a link between the first and second
customer.
[0112] In many of the methods discussed above, an IP telephony
system recommends that two customers establish a link on a social
networking system based on information drawn from one or more
customers' use of the IP telephony system. In a similar fashion, it
is possible to update or add information to customer information
and databases stored by an IP telephony system based on the
customer's use of the social networking system.
[0113] FIG. 15 illustrates a method of adding information to a
customer's address book maintained on an IP telephony system based
on that customer's use of or information stored on a social
networking system. In step S1502, the IP telephony system would
utilize a customer's credentials with a social networking system to
access the information stored on the social networking system.
Specifically, the IP telephony system would identify some or all of
the individuals to which the customer is linked on the social
networking system. The IP telephony system might also access
contact information that the customer has stored on the social
networking system.
[0114] In step S1504, this information would then be compared to
the information stored in an address book maintained by the
customer with the IP telephony system. If one or more of the
individuals to whom the customer is linked on the social networking
system are not already present in the customer's address book, new
entries would be created in the address book for those people.
Also, even if there is already an entry in the customer's address
book for one of the individuals to whom the customer is linked on
the social networking system, the IP telephony system may be able
to obtain additional information about that person which can then
be added to the address book maintained by the IP telephony system.
Thus, information stored on the social networking system can be
used to add or update information stored by the IP telephony
system.
[0115] FIG. 16 illustrates steps of a method of inviting
individuals to join a social networking system and to link to a
customer of an IP telephony system on that social networking
system. In step S1602, information for a customer of an IP
telephony system is used to determine the telephone numbers, names
or other identifiers of individuals and businesses with whom the
customer communicates. This can include obtaining names and
addresses from an address book maintained by or for the customer on
the IP telephony system. This could also include reviewing CDRs for
the customer to obtain the telephone numbers or identifiers that
the customer has sent communications to or received communications
from. If only a telephone number is available, it may be possible
to use internal or external databases to determine a name
associated with the telephone number.
[0116] In step S1604, invitations are sent to some or all of the
individuals or businesses with whom the customer communicates. This
could include an invitation to join the social networking system,
and also an invitation to establish a link with the customer on the
social networking system. In some instances, it may be possible to
first check to determine if one of the individuals with whom the
customer has been communicating is already a member of the social
networking system. If so, the invitation may be limited to an
invitation to establish a link with the customer.
[0117] FIG. 17 illustrates steps of another method of determining
when to invite individuals to join a social networking system, and
possibly also to link to a customer of an IP telephony system. In
step S1702, the customer's telephone conversations and voicemail
messages are recorded. In step S1704, transcriptions of those
recordings are made. In step S1706, the transcriptions are analyzed
to extract names, telephone numbers and other identifiers for the
individuals and businesses with whom the customer has been
communicating. This step might also include analyzing text
messages, e-mail messages and other forms of communications that
are generated by or sent to the customer to extract names,
telephone numbers and other identifiers.
[0118] In step S1708, invitations are sent to some or all of the
individuals or businesses with whom the customer has been
communicating. This could include an invitation to join the social
networking system, and also an invitation to establish a link with
the customer on the social networking system. Here again, in some
instances it may be possible to first check to determine if one of
the individuals with whom the customer has been communicating is
already a member of the social networking system. If so, the
invitation may be limited to an invitation to establish a link with
the customer.
[0119] In many of the methods described above, recommendations that
two individuals should consider establishing a link on a social
networking system or invitations to join a social networking system
are issued. Those recommendations and invitations could be sent by
either a social networking system or by an IP telephony system,
depending on the situation. They could be delivered to the
individuals in many different ways. They could be delivered via
text messages or e-mail communications. They could be delivered via
audio recordings, via live operators, or by having the individuals
connect to an interactive voice response system. Any method of
issuing and delivering such recommendations and invitations could
be used.
[0120] While the foregoing description made reference to an IP
telephony system, the methods and concepts described above are
equally applicable to other types of telephony systems. Thus,
references to an IP telephony system should not be considered in
any way limiting.
[0121] While the technology has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the technology is not to
be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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