Phone Enabled Direct Response
An acoustic transmission is retransmitted by telephone to a network operations center over one path. The network operations center receives acoustic transmissions containing inaudible marks from other sources over secondary paths. The retransmitted acoustic transmission and secondary transmissions are processed and compared to determine a best match between the retransmitted acoustic transmission and one of the secondary transmissions. An acoustic mark in the best match secondary transmission is decoded and associated with the retransmitted acoustic transmission. This association in combination with decision rules stored at the operations center may be used to trigger a variety of transactions with the user.
1 - 17 . (canceled)
18 . A method operating on a computer system, comprising:
receiving an acoustic transmission retransmitted through a communication device during a communication session;
comparing the retransmitted acoustic transmission to a set of original transmissions;
matching the retransmitted acoustic transmission to one of the original transmissions;
decoding a mark encoded in the acoustic transmission;
associating the acoustic mark with a decision rule; and
executing the decision rule.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the decision rule is to send a voice response to the communication device.
20 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the decision rule is to route the communication session to a third party.
21 . The method according to claim 18 , further including the step of retrieving identifying information for the communication session.
22 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the identifying information includes a phone number, caller ID information, a previously stored profile or a user input.
23 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the user input is a keypad entry, touch screen entry, stylus entry, voice entry, or voice recognition process.
24 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the identifying information includes GPS location information, EE911 position data, cell site information, or transmitter location.
25 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the identifying information is used to reduce the number of transmissions in the set of original transmission.
26 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the decision rule is to send an e-mail to an e-mail address included in the identifying information.
27 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the decision rule is to use the identifying information for a further commercial transaction.
28 . The method according to claim 18 wherein the retransmitted acoustic transmission is generated from a radio broadcast, a television broadcast a public address system, or a media player.
29 . The method according to 18 , wherein the mark is inaudible or near inaudible.
30 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the mark is a watermark.
31 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the mark is encoded into music, an advertisement news, an announcement, a television program, or a movie.
32 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the communication device is a cellular phone, a mobile wireless handset a portable phone; a plain old telephone, a personal digital assistant or a digital wireless communication.
33 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the decoded mark identifies an advertiser, a station, a cable channel, a broadcast stream, or a satellite uplink/downlink.
34 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the retransmitted acoustic transmission is a voice communication session.
35 . The method according to claim 18 , where in the retransmitted acoustic transmission is a data communication session.
36 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the original transmissions are received from an over the air radio broadcast, and over the air TV broadcast, a cable broadcast, a satellite broadcast, the Internet, or a data communication.
37 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the matching step further comprises correlating the retransmitted acoustic transmission to acoustic transmissions in the set of original transmissions.