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:
Apr. 12, 2011
Filed:
Jul. 14, 2006
Assaf Baciu, Berkeley, CA (US);
Ryan J. Bush, Belmont, CA (US);
Kevin M. Stone, Mountain View, CA (US);
Assaf Baciu, Berkeley, CA (US);
Ryan J. Bush, Belmont, CA (US);
Kevin M. Stone, Mountain View, CA (US);
Bevocal LLC, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method commoditize browsing time in a self-service store for a communication carrier. The method comprises communicating with a user, enabling the user to browse the store, tracking the amount of time the user spends browsing the store, calculating a charge, if any, for the amount of time the user spent browsing the store, and, if a charge is incurred, charging the user's account for such charge. In one embodiment, the self-service store is a voice store in which a user calls into the store. However, the invention is not limited to voice stores, and the invention could apply to stores accessed via text messaging, the web, etc. Communication with a user can be initiated by the user or by the self-service system.