Method and system for phone number cleaning

Abstract

A system for tracking telephone calls made in response to advertising campaigns in electronic or other media is provided. The system permits an advertiser to associate specific and distinct telephone numbers with associated advertising campaigns. The system cleans at least one phone number to be assigned to a campaign by determining that unwanted phone traffic associated with the at least one phone number is below a defined threshold.

1 . A method for enabling data collection for a plurality of advertising campaigns, comprising:
 creating at least one advertising campaign;   cleaning at least one phone number by determining that unwanted phone traffic associated with the at least one phone number is below a defined threshold;   assigning at least one phone number to the at least one advertising campaign, including assigning at least one cleaned phone number to the at least one advertising campaign; and   storing configuration data including the at least one advertising campaign and at least one phone number.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cleaning the at least one phone number comprises monitoring phone traffic associated with the at east one phone number over an interval of time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cleaning the at least one phone number is performed prior to assigning the at least one phone number. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cleaning the at least one phone number is performed concurrently with assigning the at least one phone number. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving at least one request associated with at least one of the advertising campaigns;   analyzing the at least one request to determine which advertising campaign is associated with the at least one request;   retrieving the configuration data for the at least one advertising campaign associated with the at least one request; and   causing the at least one phone number to be displayed.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein causing the at least one phone number to be displayed comprises:
 generating at least one new webpage, wherein the at least one new webpage is substantially a copy of the at least one webpage with the at least one phone number included from the configuration data added to the at least one new webpage; and   transmitting the at least one new webpage.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 analyzing the at least one webpage to identify at least one pre-existing phone number;   
       wherein the at least one new webpage is substantially a copy of the at least one webpage with at least one phone number inserted in place of the at least one pre-existing phone number. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one pre-existing phone number on the at least one webpage and the at least one phone number on the at least one new webpage are displayed as text. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one pre-existing phone number on the at least one webpage and the at least one phone number on the at least one new webpage are displayed as graphics. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising transmitting at least one cookie to facilitate future requests. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one phone number is assigned to at least one of the advertising campaigns based on a bid received from an owner of the at least one of the advertising campaigns. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising associating a revenue with at least one advertising campaign associated with the at least one request. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 accepting at least one phone call placed to the at least one phone number;   identifying the advertising campaign associated with the at least one phone number; and   recording phone call data associated with the at least one phone call.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising playing at least one ring tone on the at least one phone call. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 . further comprising:
 determining a time at which the at leas one phone call is accepted;   determining whether the time is within business hours; and   playing a first message on the at least one phone call if the time is within business hours and playing a second message on the at least one phone call if the time is not within business hours.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising generating at least one report using the phone call data. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising transferring the at least one report to at least one advertiser. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising transferring the at least one phone call to at least one advertiser. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising terminating the at least one phone call after recording the phone call data. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising terminating the at least one phone call after playing the first message or the second message. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 identifying at least one phone number as a blacklisted number associated with an inactive campaign;   determining whether the at least one phone number is blacklisted after accepting the at least one phone call; and   terminating the at least one phone call if the at least one phone number is blacklisted,   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising running an answer application on the at least one phone call. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising running a call wrap-up application on the at least one phone call. 
     
     
         24 . A system for enabling data collection for at least one advertising campaign, the system comprising:
 at least one server;   at least one telephony interface coupled to the at least one server; and   at least one database coupled to the at least one server and at least one telephony interface;   wherein the at least one telephony interface comprises at least one telephony application configured to:   clean at least one phone number by determining that unwanted phone traffic associated with the at least one phone number is below a defined threshold;   assign at least one phone number to the at least one advertising campaign, including assigning at least one cleaned phone number to the at least one advertising campaign; and   store configuration data including information concerning the at least one advertising campaign and the at least one phone number in the at least one database.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one telephony application is configured to clean the at least one phone number by monitoring phone traffic associated with the at least one phone number over an interval of time. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one telephony application is configured to clean the at least one phone number prior to assigning the at least one phone number. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one telephony application is configured to clean the at least one phone number concurrently with assigning the at least one phone number. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one server application is further configured to:
 receive at least one request associated with at least one of the advertising campaigns;   analyze the at least one request to determine which advertising campaign is associated with the at least one request;   retrieve the configuration data for the at least one advertising campaign associated with the at least one request; and   cause the at least one phone number to be displayed.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one server application is configured to cause the at least one phone number to be displayed by:
 generating at least one new webpage, wherein the at least one new webpage is substantially a copy of the at least one webpage with the at least one phone number included from the configuration data added to the at least one new webpage; and   transmitting the at least one new webpage.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one server application is further configured to:
 analyze the at least one webpage to identify at least one pre-existing phone number;   wherein the at least one new webpage is substantially a copy of the at least one webpage with at least one phone number inserted in place of the at least one pre-existing phone number.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one pre-existing phone number on the at least one webpage and the at least one phone number on the at least one new webpage are displayed as text. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one pre-existing phone number on the at least one webpage and the at least one phone number on the at least one new webpage are displayed as graphics. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one server further comprises at least one proxy server. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the server application is further configured to transmit at least one cookie to facilitate future requests. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one telephony application is further configured to assign the at least one phone number to at least one of the advertising campaigns based on a bid received from an owner of the at least one of the advertising campaigns. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one server application is further configured to associate a revenue with at least one advertising campaign associated with the at least one request. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 at least one recording server comprising at least one recording application;   at least one telephonic connector coupled to at least one telephone network; wherein:   the at least one telephonic connector is configured to accept at least one phone call placed to the at least one phone number,   the at least one server application is further configured to determine whether the at least one phone number to which the at least one phone call is placed is associated with an advertising campaign and identify the advertising campaign associated with the at least one phone number to which the at least one phone call is placed, and   the at least one recording application is configured to record phone call data associated with the at least one phone call.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one telephony application is further configured to:
 identify at least one phone number as a blacklisted number associated with an inactive campaign;   determine whether the at least one phone number is blacklisted after accepting the at least one phone call; and   terminate the at least one phone call if the at least one phone number is blacklisted.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one telephonic connector is configured to play at least one ring tone on the at least one phone call. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the at least one telephony application is further configured to determine a time at which the phone call is accepted and determine whether the time is within business hours, and   the at least one telephonic connector is further configured to play a first message on the at least one phone call if the time is within business hours and play a second message on the at least one phone call if the time is not within business hours.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one server application is further configured to generate at least one report using the phone call data. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one server application is further configured to transfer the report to at least one advertiser. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one telephonic connector is further configured to transfer the phone call to at least me advertiser. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the telephonic connector is further configured to terminate the phone call after the phone call data is recorded. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the telephonic connector is further configured to terminate the phone call after playing the first message or the second message. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one telephonic connector is farther configured to run an answer application on the at least one phone call. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one telephonic connector is further configured to run a call wrap-up application on the at least one phone call.