The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1996
Eugene John Joseph, Shrewsbury, NJ (US);
Rosemarie C Newberry, Shrewsbury, NJ (US);
Thomas D Snodgrass, Bridgewater, NJ (US);
Dale Eugene Stone, Hanover, NJ (US);
AT&T Corp, Middletown, NJ (US);
Abstract
A subscriber to a chat service is provided with at least one announcement by the chat service provider about product and/or service offerings available to the subscriber from the chat service provider. The announcement typically takes the form of a menu of choices, thereby prompting the subscriber to respond. Following the announcement, the chat service provider listens for the subscriber's response. If the subscriber elects to accept the offer, then the chat service provider undertakes the necessary action to provide the offered product and/or service. The announcement may be made to the subscriber prior to bridging of the subscriber's call to facilitate entry of the subscriber into a chat session. Alternatively, or in addition, the announcement may be made after the subscriber has entered the chat session, but before (or after) the subscriber has requested an enhanced chat service feature, such as a private conversation or information access.