Systems and methods to provide communication references from different sources to connect people for real time communications

摘要

Methods and apparatuses to present communication references obtained from different sources to connect people for real time communications. One embodiment includes: receiving a search request from a user; searching a first data source according to the search request to obtain information about a first entity; assigning to the first entity a first reference to be used to request a connection server to provide a connection between the user and the first entity for real time communications; searching a second data source according to the search request to obtain information about a second entity, including a second reference for requesting a connection for real time communications with the second entity without going through the connection server; and providing to the user a combined, sorted list of entities in response to the search request, including the first reference for the first entity and the second reference for the second entity.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, via a computing device, a search request from a user; searching, via the computing device, a first data source based on the search request to identify a first entity; assigning, via the computing device, a first reference to the first entity, the first reference to be used to request a connection for real time communications with the first entity via a connection server, wherein the first entity is a business; searching, via the computing device, a second data source based on the search request to obtain a second reference for a second entity, the second reference to be used to request a connection for real time communications with the second entity without going through the connection server; providing, via the computing device, to the user a combined and sorted list of entities in response to the search request, the combined and sorted list including the first reference for the first entity and the second reference for the second entity; establishing via the first reference a first connection for real time communications between the user and the first entity; and charging the first entity an advertisement fee per the first connection, wherein the second entity is not to be charged the advertisement fee for a second connection established via the second reference.