US 11227303

US Patent 11227303, titled "Method and apparatus for content presentation in association with a telephone call," was invented by Wendell D. Brown. The application was filed on October 9, 2019, and the patent was issued on January 18, 2022. The current assignee is Vusura Technology LLC, though the original assignee was listed as an individual.

The abstract describes a method and apparatus for presenting multimedia content to a caller and/or a called party during a telephone call. This content can be shown before the phone rings (pre-ring), during the call (in-call), or after the call ends (post-call). The content might be related to the other party in the call or a third party, such as an advertiser. The presented content can be interactive, allowing the caller to perform actions like changing the call's destination, accepting an offer, redeeming a coupon, or scheduling a follow-up call. The patent also covers enhanced search capabilities for finding contact information or initiating calls.

Here is a plain-language overview of each independent claim:

Independent Claim 1: Method of controlling content presentation during a call
This claim describes a method where a phone call is initiated, but its voice component is intentionally delayed. Simultaneously, a data connection is established between the calling device and a "call controller." This controller receives information about who is calling and who is being called. Based on this information, the call controller selects multimedia content and sends it to the calling device via the data connection for display. After this content is presented, the voice portion of the call is then routed through a standard voice channel.

Independent Claim 11: Apparatus for controlling content presentation during a call
This claim outlines an apparatus (a device or system) that includes a processor and memory. The memory stores instructions that enable the processor to perform several actions: it establishes a data connection with a communication device, receives the caller's and called party's numbers, selects multimedia content based on these numbers, transmits the content to the communication device for display, and arranges for the voice part of the call to be routed.

Independent Claim 12: Method involving a call processor and delayed voice channel
This claim details a method where a "call processor" on a communication device detects an outgoing call. This call processor then connects to a "call server" and sends the caller's and destination's phone numbers. The call server then picks multimedia content based on these numbers and sends it back to the communication device for display. Crucially, the communication device itself delays setting up the voice connection for the call until after the multimedia content has been presented.

Independent Claim 20: Method involving content auctions and call routing
This claim describes a method where a call server maintains a list of organizations and their phone numbers. This server holds auctions where various entities can bid for the right to display content to people calling those organizations. When a caller dials one of these numbers, the call server receives notification, selects content from the winning bidder, transmits it to the caller's device for display, and then routes the voice portion of the call to the intended destination.

Regarding legal status, the patent is currently "Active." The Google Patents information notes that the patent family has ongoing litigation, including a PTAB case (IPR2026-00255) filed in 2026, which is currently pending. Additionally, a US case related to this patent has been filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (case number 2:25-cv-00871). There is no specific mention of a CAFC 2026 docket directly related to US11227303 in the provided information or search results.