Method and apparatus for correlating a phone call with a display

Abstract

A computerized method for correlating a phone call with a telephone-number, comprising receiving at a service facility, comprising an at least one processor, a query from a computer about a status of a phone call with a telephone-number, and sending to the computer a response with information related to the status, and an apparatus for performing the same.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for associating a telephone call with a client computer connection, comprising:
 receiving a request from a client computer containing client identification information;   providing a client-specific telephone number to said client computer based at least on said client identification information;   receiving call status information from a telephone exchange regarding a status of a telephone call made to said client-specific telephone number;   associating said call status information with said client computer connection; and   providing an update to said client computer based at least on said status of said telephone call.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , said client identification information comprising browser session identification information. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , said client identification information comprising information identifying a user of said client computer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , said client identification information comprising geographic information about the location of said client computer. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , said client identification information comprising internet protocol (IP) address information of said client computer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , providing an update comprising sending updated content to a browser of said client computer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , providing an update comprising sending data to said client computer to control an action of said client computer. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , said client-specific telephone number being uniquely associated with a client browser session and a geographic location of said client computer. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , said call status information comprising an indication that a call has been made to said client-specific telephone number. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , said call status information comprising an indication that a call has not been made to said client-specific telephone number. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising pre-configuring a web page of a third party host with instructions that cause said client computer to receive said client-specific telephone number. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing instructions to said client computer, said instructions causing the client computer to receive updated content in a client browser session corresponding to the status of said call to the client-specific telephone number. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising determining said client-specific telephone number in a service facility in communication with said client computer, the service facility providing to a host server data including said client-specific telephone number, by way of said client computer. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising determining said client-specific telephone number in a service facility in communication with said client computer, the service facility providing to said client computer data including said client-specific telephone number, and presenting the client-specific telephone number on a client computer display in the context of said client connection. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising receiving updates from said client computer so as to maintain a substantially up-to-date connection with said client computer. 
     
     
         33 . A computerized service facility comprising:
 at least one processor adapted for executing program instructions;   said service facility including a communication link to a client computer;   said service facility further including a communication link to a telephone exchange;   said processor programmed and adapted to receive from said client computer client identification information and to generate a client-specific telephone number based at least on said client identification information;   said processor further programmed and adapted to receive from said telephone exchange call status information indicative of a status of a call to said client-specific telephone number; and   said service facility providing an output corresponding to said status of said call.   
     
     
         34 . The service facility of  claim 33 , comprising a server computer having at least one computer processor, a storage memory device and at least one communication port capable of communicating using the TCP/IP protocol. 
     
     
         35 . The service facility of  claim 33 , further comprising a communication port coupled to a host computer containing advertising content. 
     
     
         36 . The service facility of  claim 33 , further comprising instructions for determining a time interval at which to update said call status.