Internet-audiotext electronic advertising system with inventory management

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic advertising system. More specifically, the present invention creates a means to select ads for publication in the newspaper based on past performance of individual personal ads, thus attempting to optimize the number of responses to the printed personal ad column as a whole. At the same time, all personal ads are published on the Internet so as to accommodate all advertisers regardless of the past performance of their ad. Finally, by fully integrating the Internet personal ads service with the audiotext personal ad service, advertisers whose ad only is published on the Internet are in no way disadvantaged by fewer features or options.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for storing an audio file and listening to said audio file via the Internet, said method comprising: 
 a means for selecting said audio file;    a means for storing said audio file in digital memory;    a means for transferring said audio file to an Internet access node; and    a means for controling said transfer;    wherein said means for transferring said audio file formats said audio message for output into humanly perceivable form.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for storing audio files and transferring said audio files to the Internet comprising: 
 a digital information storage device,    a transfer means,    an Internet access node, and    an inventory management control device;    wherein said digital information storage device stores phonemes indicative of audio and wherein said transfer means formats said digital information for output in humanly perceivable form via said Internet access node