Description

TRANSACTION BROKERING SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH BOTH-DIRECTION VOICE MESSAGE TRANSMISSION

FUNCTION

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a transaction brokering system equipped with a both- direction voice message transmission function and, more particularly, to a technology for establishing a call connection for transactions between a seller and a purchaser. Background Art

[2] With the development of Internet technologies, a variety of e-commerce technologies for providing transaction services or transaction brokering services on websites have become commercialized. However, such e-commerce technologies need to be equipped with a number of web applications, such as an authentication module and a payment module. Accordingly, it is complex to construct a website for the e-commerce technology, and a lot of costs and time are required to maintain the website.

[3] Information services through phones, such as a calling party pay service, a collect call service and a company's representative phone service, have widely been used. For the calling party pay service, such as 060 service in South Korea, phone charges including information fee for providing information for a calling party are charged to the calling party. For the collect call service, such as 080 service in South Korea, information fee for providing information for a calling party is charged to a called party. Examples of the company's representative phone service in South Korea include 1588 of Korea Telecom, 1566 of Hanaro Telecom, 1544 of Dacom and 1688 of Onse Telecom.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Solution

[4] The present invention provides a transaction brokering system equipped with a both- direction voice message transmission function, which connects a purchaser's call to an actual phone number of a seller corresponding to a temporary phone number of the seller when the purchaser calls the seller at the temporary phone number, and charges for the transaction brokering service. In this case, while sending a call connection request voice message to the seller to establish a call connection between the purchaser and the seller, the transaction brokering system sends a promotional voice message to the purchaser. Advantageous Effects

[5] The transaction brokering system equipped with a both-direction voice message transmission function performs a transaction brokering service by connecting a purchaser's call to an actual phone number of a seller corresponding to a temporary phone number of the seller when the purchaser calls the seller at the temporary phone number of the seller. The temporary phone number is one of phone numbers rented from a telecommunication company by a transaction brokering service provider. The transaction brokering service provider can charge for the transaction brokering service.

[6] Furthermore, while sending a call connection request voice message to the seller to establish a call connection between the purchaser and the seller, the transaction brokering system sends a promotional voice message to the purchaser, thereby obtaining an efficient advertisement effect. Brief Description of the Drawings

[7] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a transaction brokering system equipped with a both-direction voice message transmission function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[8] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a transaction brokering system equipped with a both- direction voice message transmission function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[9] Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a transaction brokering service of a transaction brokering system equipped with a both-direction voice message transmission function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[10] The present invention provides a transaction brokering system equipped with a both- direction voice message transmission function, including a call processing center which includes: a call connection processor which retrieves an actual phone number corresponding to a temporary phone number of a seller with reference to temporary phone number issuance information when a purchaser calls the seller at the temporary phone number, and sends a call request voice message to the actual phone number to attempt a call connection to the seller; an advertisement processor which transmits a promotional voice message to the purchaser at a phone number of the purchaser during attempting the call connection to the seller; and a billing processor which performs a billing process for a brokering service for a transaction between the purchaser and the seller when the call connection is established between the purchaser and the seller. Mode for the Invention

[11] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various types. Therefore, the present

exemplary embodiments are provided for complete disclosure of the present invention and to fully inform the scope of the present invention to those ordinarily skilled in the art.

[12] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a transaction brokering system equipped with a both-direction voice message transmission function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[13] The transaction brokering system 100, which is equipped with a both-direction voice message transmission function, includes a web server 110, a call processing center 120, and a database 130. When a seller computer 210 requests registration of a product in operation 1, the transaction brokering system 100 issues a temporary phone number corresponding to an actual phone number of a seller of the product through the web server 110 in operation 2, stores information about the temporary phone number issuance in the database 130, and provides information about the product and the temporary phone number on a web page.

[14] A product purchaser accesses the web server 110 through a purchaser computer 310 and browses the web page for the product information and the temporary phone number in operation 3. If the product purchaser browses the web page for product information, obtains a temporary phone number of a seller in operation 4 and requests a call connection to the seller at the temporary phone number through a purchaser phone 320 in operation 5, the call processing center 120 searches the database 130 for an actual phone number of the seller corresponding to the temporary phone number, attempts to establish a call connection to the seller at the actual phone number in operation 6, and sends a promotional voice message to the purchaser in operation 7 during the call connection attempt. If the seller answers the phone, the call connection for the product transaction is established between the purchaser phone 320 and a seller phone 220. At that moment, a billing process is performed in operation 8 for charging for a brokering service for the product transaction.

[15] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a transaction brokering system equipped with a both- direction voice message transmission function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[16] The web server 110 includes a temporary phone number issuer 111 and a product information provider 112. The call processing center 120 includes a call connection processor 121, an advertisement processor 122, and a billing processor 123. The web server 110 and the call processing center 120 may be operated by an information provider, i.e., a provider of the transaction brokering system equipped with a both- direction voice message transmission function, which rents temporary phone numbers from a telecommunication company. Alternatively, the web server 110 may be operated by the information provider and the call processing center 120 may be

operated by the telecommunication company. The call processing center 120 may process phone calls over a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or Internet phone calls over Internet.

[17] The temporary phone number issuer 111 issues a temporary phone number corresponding to an actual phone number of a seller and stores the temporary phone number issuance information. A provider of the transaction brokering system equipped with a both-direction voice message transmission function rents a plurality of temporary phone numbers from a telecommunication company for a transaction brokering service. The temporary phone numbers include phone numbers for information services through phones, such as a calling party pay service, a collect call service and a company's representative phone service. For the calling party pay service, such as 060 service in South Korea, phone charges including information fee for providing information for a calling party are charged to the calling party. For the collect call service, such as 080 service in South Korea, information fee for providing information for a calling party is charged to a called party. Examples of the company's representative phone service in South Korea include 1588 of Korea Telecom, 1566 of Hanaro Telecom, 1544 of Dacom and 1688 of Onse Telecom.

[18] The seller accesses the web server 110 using the seller computer 210, provides information about a product and requests the product registration from the web server 110. Upon the request of the seller computer 210, the web server 110 issues a temporary phone number corresponding to an actual phone number of the seller through the temporary phone number issuer 111, and stores temporary phone number issuance information in the database 130. The temporary phone number issuance implies one-to-one matching of one of the temporary phone numbers, which are rented from the telecommunication company, with the actual phone number of the seller. The temporary phone number issuance information stored in the database 130 includes at least the actual phone number of the seller and the temporary phone number corresponding to the actual phone number.

[19] If a purchaser clicks on the product information of the seller on the web page, the temporary phone number issuer 111 issues the temporary phone number corresponding to the actual phone number of the seller. Accordingly, a unique temporary phone number may be assigned to each product.

[20] The product information provider 112 provides the product information, which is requested by the seller to be registered, and the temporary phone number, which is issued to the seller, on the web page. That is, if the temporary phone number corresponding to the actual phone number of the seller is issued by the temporary phone number issuer 111 upon the registration request of the seller computer 210, the web server 110 provides the product information and the temporary phone number through

the product information provider 112 on the web page. For example, the product information may be provided in an image banner bar on a web page, and the banner bar may be linked to a web page which is configured to output the temporary phone number issued to the seller.

[21] When the purchaser reads the product information on the web page and calls the seller at a temporary phone number of the seller, the call connection processor 121 retrieves an actual phone number corresponding to the temporary phone number with reference to the temporary phone number issuance information stored by the temporary phone number issuer 111, and attempts a call connection by sending a call connection request voice message to the actual phone number. The purchaser accesses the web server 110 using the purchaser computer 310 and reads the product information of sellers on the web page which is provided by the product information provider 112. If the purchaser wishes to purchase a product which is requested by a seller to be registered, the purchaser uses the purchaser phone 320 to call the seller at a temporary phone number issued to the seller which has registered the product information on the web page.

[22] Using the call connection processor 121, the call processing center 120 retrieves the actual phone number with reference to the temporary phone number issuance information stored in the database 130, and attempts to call the seller at the actual phone number of the seller by sending a call connection request voice message, for example, "Your registered product is demanded on the phone. Will you reply?" Such a call connection technology between a calling party's phone and a called party's phone is a general technology applicable to exchanges used in telecommunication companies and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted herein.

[23] The advertisement processor 122 transmits a promotional voice message to the purchaser at his/her phone number while the call connection processor 121 attempts to make a call connection. That is, upon the call connection request of the purchaser phone 320, the advertisement processor 122 retrieves promotional voice messages stored in the database 130, selects one of the voice messages, and sends the selected voice message to the purchaser at his/her phone number, while the call processing center 120 attempts to make a call connection through the call connection processor 121, i.e., before the purchaser replies to the call connection request voice message. For example, the advertisement processor 122 equipped with interactive voice response (IVR) equipment may transmit the promotional voice message to the purchaser at his/ her phone number.

[24] The advertisement processor 122 may be configured to further transmit a promotional image to the purchaser at his/her phone number. In this case, while the call processing center 120 attempts to make a call connection through the call connection

processor 121, i.e., before the purchaser replies to the call connection request voice message, a multimedia advertisement consisting of voice and image is sent to the purchaser at his/her phone number. For example, the advertisement processor 122 equipped with intelligent network equipment may transmit the multimedia advertisement to the purchaser at his/her phone number.

[25] The advertisement processor 122 may be configured to send different advertisements according to temporary phone numbers of the seller. A unique advertisement relating to each registered product is preferably assigned to each temporary phone number. That is, this embodiment is configured such that the purchaser obtains more detailed product information about the product by promotional voice or multimedia message related to the product registered by the seller during attempting a call connection between the purchaser phone 320 and the seller phone 220.

[26] The billing processor 123 performs a billing process for a transaction brokering service, i.e., information fee for the rented temporary phone number, when a call connection is established between the purchaser phone 320 and the seller phone 220. In this case, the billing processor 123 may perform a billing process for making a charge to the purchaser phone 320 for both the purchaser's phone use and the transaction brokering service, or for making a charge to the seller phone 220 for both the seller's phone use and the transaction brokering service.

[27] That is, when a purchaser makes a call to a temporary phone number, which is rented from a telecommunication company, of a provider of the transaction brokering system equipped with both-direction voice message transmission function, the transaction brokering system switches the temporary phone number to an actual phone number of a seller and provides a transaction brokering service. Accordingly, the transaction brokering service provider can charge for the transaction brokering service. Furthermore, while sending a call connection request voice message to the seller to establish a call connection between the purchaser and the seller, the transaction brokering system sends a promotional voice message to the purchaser, thereby obtaining an efficient advertisement effect.

[28] In another embodiment, the call processing center 120 may further include a call controller 124. The call controller 124 performs call initiation, call rejection or product registration cancellation according to an operating signal from the seller phone 220.

[29] That is, when the seller picks up the seller phone 220 while the call connection processor 121 attempts to establish a call connection between the purchaser phone 320 and the seller phone 220, a call connection request voice message, such as "Your registered product is demanded on the phone. Will you reply?", is output. When the seller replies to the call connection request voice message by pushing a button of the seller phone 220, a signal requesting the call initiation, the call rejection or the product

registration cancellation is transmitted to the call processing center 120.

[30] The call processing center 120 performs call initiation, call rejection or product registration cancellation through the call controller 124. The signal may be a dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) signal or a digital control signal consisting of zero (0) and one (1) created by software.

[31] For example, it is assumed that the signal is a DTMF signal. If the seller pushes a button of one (1), the call controller 124 determines it as call initiation and establishes a call connection between the purchaser phone 320 and the seller phone 220 to perform a transaction brokering service.

[32] If the seller pushes a button of two (2), the call controller 124 determines it as call rejection and terminates a call connection between the purchaser phone 320 and the seller phone 220. This may be used when the registered product is sold out.

[33] If the seller pushes a button of three (3), the call controller 124 determines it as product registration cancellation and requests registration cancellation of a registered product from the web server 110 and terminates a call connection between the purchaser phone 320 and the seller phone 220. This may be used when the registered product is sold out. The web server 110 deletes the registered product information from the web page and the database.

[34] In another embodiment, when the call connection processor 121 provides information about commission for the transaction brokering service through the purchaser phone 320 and obtains permission from the purchaser phone 320, a call connection may be established between the seller phone 220 and the purchaser phone 320.

[35] That is, this embodiment is configured to obtain permission from a user using a paid transaction brokering service through establishment of a call connection between a purchaser and a seller. If a purchaser reads product information on a web page and makes a call to a seller at a temporary phone number through the purchaser phone 320, the call processing center 120 provides information about commission for the transaction brokering service through the purchaser phone 320 prior to establishing a call connection to an actual phone number of the seller corresponding to the temporary phone number. If the call processing center 120 obtains permission from the purchaser phone 320, the call connection processor 121 establishes a call connection between the seller phone 220 and the purchaser phone 320. For example, the information about commission for the transaction brokering service may be a voice message "This service will be charged at 100 Korean Won per minute after the beep."

[36] In another embodiment, the call processing center 120 may further include a call information storage unit 125. The call information storage unit 125 stores call information between the seller phone 220 and the purchaser phone 320.

[37] That is, this embodiment is configured to store call information between the seller phone 220 and the purchaser phone 320, such as phone numbers of the seller and purchaser and the call date, in the database 130 of the call information storage unit 125 to prepare for troubles or conflict related to the transaction, such as product returns. The call information may further include conversation between the seller and the purchaser.

[38] In another embodiment, when the seller computer 210 requests a contact phone number of the purchaser, the temporary phone number issuer 111 retrieves an actual phone number of the purchaser with reference to the call information stored in the call information storage unit 125, issues a temporary phone number corresponding to the actual phone number of the purchaser to the seller computer 210, and stores the temporary phone number issuance information. That is, this embodiment is configured to allow the seller to call back the purchaser.

[39] At this time, when the seller obtains the temporary phone number of the purchaser and requests a call connection to the purchaser at the temporary phone number, the call processing center 120 retrieves the actual phone number of the purchaser corresponding to the temporary phone number with reference to the temporary phone number issuance information stored in the temporary phone number issuer 111 and establishes a call connection to the actual phone number through the call connection processor 121. The call processing center 120 performs a billing process for the commission for the transaction brokering service through the billing processor 123. The billing process is preferably configured to make a charge to the seller for both the seller's phone charges and the commission for the transaction brokering service. Accordingly, the seller may call back the purchaser through the transaction brokering system.

[40] In another embodiment, the web server 110 may further include a membership manager 113. The membership manager 113 receives private information including phone numbers from the seller computer 210 and the purchaser computer 220, performs a membership registration procedure for a transaction brokering service, and stores the membership information in the database 130. That is, this embodiment is configured to provide a membership-based transaction brokering service through the transaction brokering system. Such a membership management technology for the membership registration/management procedures is well known in the art and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted herein.

[41] Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a transaction brokering service of a transaction brokering system equipped with a both-direction voice message transmission function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[42] When receiving a product registration request from the seller computer 210 in

operation SI lO, the web server 110 of the transaction brokering system 100 equipped with a both-direction voice message transmission function issues a temporary phone number corresponding to an actual phone number of a seller through the temporary phone number issuer 111 and stores temporary phone number issuance information in the database 130 in operation S 120.

[43] In operation S 130, the web server 110 of the transaction brokering system 100 provides information about a product, which is requested by the seller to be registered, and the temporary phone number on a web page. If a purchaser accesses the web page through the purchaser computer 310, reads the product information and wishes to purchase the product, the purchaser requests a call connection to the seller at the temporary phone number included in the web page in operation S 140.

[44] In operation S 150, the call processing center 120 of the transaction brokering system

100 retrieves the actual phone number corresponding to the temporary phone number with reference to the temporary phone number issuance information stored in the database 130 and sends a call connection request voice message to the actual phone number to attempt to make a call connection to the seller through the call connection processor 121. While attempting to make a call connection in operation S 150, the call processing center 120 of the transaction brokering system 100 sends a promotional voice message to the purchaser at his/her phone number through the advertisement processor 122 in operation S 160.

[45] If the seller phone 220 replies to the call connection request, the call processing center 120 establishes a call connection between the purchaser phone 320 and the seller phone 220 to enable a transaction therebetween in operation S 170. In operation S 180, the billing processor 123 of the call processing center 120 performs a billing process for the transaction brokering service through the call connection between the seller phone 220 and the purchase phone 320. The billing process may be performed to make a charge for the commission for the transaction brokering service and the seller's phone charges or the purchaser's phone charges.

[46] Accordingly, the transaction brokering system equipped with a both-direction voice message transmission function performs the transaction brokering service by connecting the purchaser s call to the actual phone number of the seller corresponding to the temporary phone number of the seller when the purchaser calls the seller at the temporary phone number of the seller. The temporary phone number is one of phone numbers rented from a telecommunication company by a transaction brokering service provider. The transaction brokering service provider can charge for the transaction brokering service. Furthermore, while sending a call connection request voice message to the seller to establish a call connection between the purchaser and the seller, the transaction brokering system sends a promotional voice message to the purchaser,

thereby obtaining an efficient advertisement effect.

[47] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Industrial Applicability

[48] The present invention can be effectively applied to industrial fields relating to a brokering system for transactions between sellers and purchasers through a call connection for transactions between the sellers and the purchasers.