Systems and Methods to Provide Real Time Communication Connections
Methods and apparatuses to provide services to people who wish to make connections for real time communication, such as live telephone conversation, chat, video conferencing, etc. In one embodiment, a method includes: presenting a listing, including a reference to establish a connection for real time communications with a first entity and a price for a first predetermined period of real time communication with the first entity; in response to a request from a second entity received via the reference, determining contact information of the first entity based on the reference used to received the request; and connecting the second entity and the first entity for a first session of real time communications using the determined contact information according to the price.
1 . A method, comprising:
presenting a listing, including a reference to establish a connection for real time communications with a first entity and a price for a first predetermined period of real time communication with the first entity;
in response to a request from a second entity received via the reference, determining contact information of the first entity based on the reference used to received the request; and
connecting the second entity and the first entity for a first session of real time communications using the determined contact information according to the price.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the listing further includes at least one option provided by the first entity to continue beyond the first predetermined period of real time communication; and wherein the method further comprises:
presenting the option to continue the first session beyond the first predetermined period of real time communication.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
monitoring a duration of the first session;
wherein the option is presented when a predetermined portion of the first predetermined period of real time communication has elapsed.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first session is over a telephonic connection; and the option is presented over a network link before the first session ends.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first session is over a telephonic connection; and the option is presented over the telephonic connection.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the option is at least one of:
no longer charging a fee after the first predetermined period of real time communication;
charging a second price for purchasing a second predetermined period of real time communication, following the first predetermined period of real time communication; and
charging a third price on a per minute basis.
7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the option is at least one of:
no longer charging a fee after the first predetermined period of real time communication;
charging a second price for purchasing a second predetermined period of real time communication, following the first predetermined period of real time communication;
charging a third price on a per minute basis; and
ending a real time communication connection for the first session when the first predetermined period of real time communication is reached.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference comprises a call button; and the second entity is prompted to accept the price when the call button is selected.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a request from the second entity for a real time communication connection with the first entity after a communication connection for the first session is terminated; and
determining whether the request is a continuation of the first session.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the request is determined to be a continuation of the first session when the first predetermined period of real time communication has not elapsed and the request is received within a predetermined period of time.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined period of time is specified by the first entity.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined period of time is determined according to the first predetermined period of real time communication.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined period of time is from a starting time of the first session.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined period of time is from a time when the communication connection for the first session is terminated.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein if the request is determined to be a continuation of the first session, a communication connection is established to resume the first session without additional fee.
16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
providing guidance to the second entity according to a result of said determining whether the request is a continuation of the first session.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contact information comprises a user identifier of the first entity in a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) system, or a telephone number of the first entity.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first session to facilitate real time communications in at least voice conversation, video conferencing, text chatting, instant messaging, document sharing, screen sharing, or common whiteboarding.
19 . A machine readable media embodying instructions, the instructions causing a machine to perform a method, the method comprising:
presenting a listing, including a reference to establish a connection for real time communications with a first entity and a price for a first predetermined period of real time communication with the first entity;
in response to a request from a second entity received via the reference, determining contact information of the first entity based on the reference used to received the request; and
connecting the second entity and the first entity for a first session of real time communications using the determined contact information according to the price.
20 . A data processing system, comprising:
means for presenting a listing, including a reference to establish a connection for real time communications with a first entity and a price for a first predetermined period of real time communication with the first entity;
means for, in response to a request from a second entity received via the reference, determining contact information of the first entity based on the reference used to received the request; and
means for, connecting the second entity and the first entity for a first session of real time communications using the determined contact information according to the price.