Language selection

Search

Patent 2371382 Summary

Third-party information liability

Some of the information on this Web page has been provided by external sources. The Government of Canada is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability or currency of the information supplied by external sources. Users wishing to rely upon this information should consult directly with the source of the information. Content provided by external sources is not subject to official languages, privacy and accessibility requirements.

Claims and Abstract availability

Any discrepancies in the text and image of the Claims and Abstract are due to differing posting times. Text of the Claims and Abstract are posted:

  • At the time the application is open to public inspection;
  • At the time of issue of the patent (grant).
(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 2371382
(54) English Title: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING ADVERTISING AND GATHERING INFORMATION IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK
(54) French Title: SYSTEME ET PROCEDE DE DISTRIBUTION DE PUBLICITE ET DE COLLECTE D'INFORMATIONS DANS UN RESEAU DE COMMUNICATIONS SANS FIL
Status: Dead
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • H04W 4/12 (2009.01)
  • H04W 4/02 (2009.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • BLOW, ANTHONY T. (United States of America)
(73) Owners :
  • QUALCOMM INCORPORATED (United States of America)
(71) Applicants :
  • QUALCOMM INCORPORATED (United States of America)
(74) Agent: SMART & BIGGAR
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(86) PCT Filing Date: 2000-04-12
(87) Open to Public Inspection: 2000-10-19
Availability of licence: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): Yes
(86) PCT Filing Number: PCT/US2000/009793
(87) International Publication Number: WO2000/062564
(85) National Entry: 2001-10-11

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
09/290,506 United States of America 1999-04-12

Abstracts

English Abstract




A system and method for inserting and distributing commercial advertising to
wireless phone subscribers. The system and method also allows for information
gathering from participating subscribers. A subscriber enters a user profile
either when initially signing up for service or through an interactive menu on
the phone handset (330). Through phone registration messages transmitted as
overhead messages within the wireless network (320) the network (320) is
roughly able to determine the location of the phone (330). The system
transmits advertising messages to the user at call origination based upon the
user profile and cell location. The system may use the subscriber location to
decide to transmit messages to the user phone that will launch a browser (336)
like application within the phone (330). The browser (336) would then display
textual or graphical advertisements on the handset display. Additionally, the
system could initiate browser pop-up polling queries in which the user could
offer responses. The phone (330) would use packetized data transmission to
transmit the responses back to the base station (320). The system would then
accumulate and process the various user responses. The system could also use
location information to selectively transmit electronic coupon offers to local
subscribers.


French Abstract

L'invention concerne un système et un procédé permettant d'insérer une publicité commerciale et de la distribuer à des abonnés du téléphone sans fil. Le système et le procédé permettent également de recueillir des informations à partir des abonnés participants. Un abonné entre un profil utilisateur soit lorsqu'il souscrit initialement à un service, soit par l'intermédiaire d'un menu interactif se trouvant sur le poste à combiné téléphonique (330). Le réseau (320) peut, de façon générale, déterminer l'emplacement du téléphone (330) par l'intermédiaire de messages d'enregistrement téléphonique transmis dans le réseau sans fil comme des messages de service (320). Le système transmet des messages publicitaires à l'abonné lors d'un départ d'appel en fonction du profil utilisateur et de l'emplacement cellulaire. Il peut également utiliser l'emplacement de l'abonné pour décider de la transmission de messages à l'utilisateur du téléphone, ce qui lance une application du type navigateur (336) dans le téléphone (330). Ce navigateur (336) affiche, ensuite, des publicités graphiques ou textuelles sur l'affichage du combiné. Le système peut, également, lancer des demandes de sondage instantanées auxquelles l'utilisateur peut donner des réponses. Le téléphone (330) utilise la transmissions de données en paquets pour renvoyer les réponses à la station de base (320). Puis il accumule et traite les différentes réponses utilisateur. Il peut également utiliser une fonction d'information d'emplacement de façon à transmettre, de manière sélective, des offres de coupon électronique aux abonnés locaux.

Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.



15
CLAIMS
1. A system for delivering extended media messages to wireless
phone service subscribers comprising:
a wireless phone network for interfacing a Public Switched
Telephone Network (PSTN) to wireless phones;
a minimum of one active wireless phone capable of
communication with the wireless phone network; and
a computer server for monitoring presence of the minimum of
one active wireless phones within the wireless phone network and for storage
of an extended media message; wherein
the computer server transfers the extended media message to the
wireless land network for transmission to the minimum of one active wireless
phone.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer server comprises:
a customer interface for receiving extended media messages
transferred by extended media clients;
an administrative server for transferring the extended media
message from the customer interface server to the administrative server for
review and formatting and wherein billing and extended media statistics are
compiled on the administrative server;
a media server for hosting the extended media message and for
gathering and compiling information from replies to extended media messages;
and
a wireless phone network interface server for monitoring wireless
phone activity within the wireless phone network and for transferring the
extended media message to the wireless phone network for transmission to
active wireless phones.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the extended media message
comprises audio messages.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the extended media message
further comprises textual messages to be shown on a wireless phone display.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the textual messages comprise
interactive electronic media that a wireless phone subscriber interacts with
and


16
where said subscriber interactions are transmitted back to the wireless phone
network.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the extended media message
comprises audio messages.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the extended media message
further comprises textual messages to be shown on a wireless phone display.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the textual messages comprise
interactive electronic media that a wireless phone subscriber interacts with
and
where said subscriber interactions are transmitted back to the wireless phone
network.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the extended media message
transmitted to the active wireless phones is stored in a buffer memory within
the wireless phone.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the buffer memory stores multiple
transmissions of extended media messages.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the extended media message
transmitted to the wireless phone is a software routine which runs under an
application within the wireless phone.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the extended media message is
transmitted to the active wireless phones in response to a predetermined
event.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the predetermined event is a call
origination attempt by the active wireless phone.
14. The system of claim 12 wherein the predetermined event is a
specific time of day.
15. The system of claim 12 wherein the predetermined event is
registration by the active wireless phone within any one of a predetermined
number of cell sites.


17
16. The system of claim 12 wherein the predetermined event is a
match between client targeted demographics and demographic information
previously provided by the subscriber in a user profile.
17. The system of claim 1 wherein an extended media client transfers
the extended media message to the computer server using an internet link.
18. A method for delivering extended media messages to wireless
phone service subscribers and for gathering information from wireless phone
service subscribers comprising:
transferring the extended media message from an extended media
client to a computer server which monitors the presence of at least one active
wireless phone within a wireless phone network; and
transmitting the extended media message to a minimum of
one active wireless phone in response to a predetermined event.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps:
receiving electronic responses transmitted from any of the minimum of
one active wireless phones to the wireless phone network in response to the
extended media message; and
compiling the electronic responses in the computer server.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein the predetermined event is call
origination by any of the minimum of one active wireless phones.

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.




CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
1
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING ADVERTISING
AND GATHERING INFORMATION IN A WIRELESS
COMMUNICATION NETWORK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless communication. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a novel and improved system and
method of distributing advertising and gathering user information within a
wireless communication network.
II. Description of the Related Art
In a wireless communication network such as a wireless mobile phone
network many users simultaneously share common resources. A wireless
phone network connects to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
through a Base Station Controller (BSC). The BSC, in turn, connects to several
Base Transceiver Systems (BTS). The individual BTSs define individual cells
within the wireless phone network. Each of the BTSs transmits forward
channel messages to the Subscriber Units within the cell. Additionally, the
BTS
serves to receive, demodulate, and relay to the BSC the Subscriber Unit
reverse
channel transmissions. Subscriber Units maintain continuous communications
when travelling across several cells by utilizing handoffs from cell to cell.
Some
cells may be partitioned into multiple sectors to minimize adjacent cell
interference and to increase user capacity. The Subscriber Unit effectively
treats
each sector of a mufti-sectored cell as a distinct cell.
In a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless phone system a
Subscriber Unit is able to receive and transmit both voice and data messages.
The Subscriber Unit is able to commence voice and data transmissions once it
has registered within the network. Registration within the network occurs as a
minimum each time the Subscriber Unit is turned on. The Subscriber Unit
maintains registration with base stations with which it is currently in
communication. The Subscriber Unit may also maintain registration with base
stations, outside the current cell, to which the Subscriber Unit previously
sent
registration messages. The number of base stations in which the Subscriber
Unit is registered depends on the type of registration system the network is
capable of supporting.



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
2
A CDMA Subscriber Unit acquires and registers within a base station's
coverage area through a series of steps. The Subscriber Unit first receives a
Pilot signal. The Subscriber Unit correlates to the Pilot channel transmitted
by
each base station in order to align the Subscriber Unit timing with the Pilot
signal. Once the Subscriber Unit has acquired and has correlated the internal
timing to the Pilot signal the Subscriber Unit further refines its timing by
receiving the Sync Channel and processing the Sync Channel Message. Like
the Pilot signal, each base station continuously transmits a Sync Channel
Message. The Sync Channel Message contains information such as the System
Identification Number (SID), system time, and the paging rate. Once the Sync
Channel Message has been processed by the Subscriber Unit the Subscriber
Unit will send registration messages to the base station. CDMA Subscriber
Units are able to support nine different forms of registration methods that
may
be individually enabled. The available options include Power-Up registration,
Timer Based registration, Distance Based registration, and Zone Based
registration. The wireless service carriers determine which registration
methods will be supported and transmit this information to the Subscriber Unit
as an overhead message. The Subscriber Unit will then only utilize the
registration methods supported in the system. Registration enables the
wireless phone system to minimize the number of cells in which paging
messages are broadcast. This in turn increases the capacity of Paging Channels
in the wireless phone network.
Another benefit of registration within individual cell sites is the system's
ability to make a coarse determination of the location of a Subscriber Unit.
This
can be accomplished by identifying the cell and sector in which the Subscriber
Unit has registered. As Subscriber Units evolve, integration of Global
Positioning System (GPS) or similar position determination devices into the
phone may make location determination much more precise.
Once the Subscriber Unit has processed the Sync Channel Message and
registered within a system, the Subscriber Unit proceeds to an Idle State
where
the Subscriber Unit is able to receive overhead messages, receive paging
messages, transmit updated registration messages, originate calls, and receive
calls.
To assist the user when making and receiving calls and when: receiving
messages, Subscriber Units typically include a user display. The display may
provide the user Subscriber Unit status as well as provide visual feedback for
user initiated operations. A display typically can show received signal
strength, battery level, paging messages, dialed phone numbers, and received



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
3
phone numbers. Subscriber Units that utilize bitmapped displays can display
graphics in addition to text.
While feature rich phones may entice users into choosing particular
Subscriber Unit models, some users choose a service provider solely on the
basis of service coverage and cost. Service providers can reduce or eliminate
the user's non-recurring initial costs by subsidizing the costs of the
Subscriber
Unit if the user commits to a particular service plan. However, this does
little
to offset the recurring monthly service cost to the subscriber.
The invention described below discloses a system and method for
delivering commercial advertising to Subscriber Units and for gathering
information from participating users. Commercial advertising would provide
the service provider alternate sources of revenue. Service plans could then be
offered which discount the subscriber's recurring operating costs based upon
the subscriber's tolerance to advertisements and participation in interactive
media. Differing service plans based upon subscriber participation would
enable lower recurring service costs and allow a greater number of users to
benefit from wireless phone service.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a novel and improved system and method for
distributing advertising to, and for gathering information from, wireless
service
subscribers. The objective of the invention is to provide a manner in which
advertisers can distribute information to wireless service subscribers and
gather
information from those same subscribers. Interactive media data clients are
able to gather information from wireless service subscribers through broadcast
polls and questionnaires that the subscriber would answer. The advertisements
or interactive media could selectively be sent to subscribers based on user
profiles filled out by the subscribers or subscriber location determined by
phone registration within the wireless phone network. The general term
extended media is used to refer to all possible data that can be distributed
using
the current invention. Extended media includes advertisements as well as
interactive media in the form of questionnaires and polls. The extended media
may only require passive participation by the recipient, as in the case of
advertisements, or may require the recipient's active participation, as in the
case of user polls. Where the extended media requires only a passive
subscriber, the information is only transferred in one direction, from the
service
provider to the subscriber. Where the extended media requires active
subscriber participation, information is transferred from the service provider
to



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
4
the subscriber as well as from the subscriber back to the service provider.
Interactive polls or questionnaires are electronically sent to the subscriber
and
the completed polls or questionnaires are electronically returned to the
service
provider.
In the present invention a series of computer servers are used as the
interface between the advertisers or interactive media data clients and the
service providers' wireless network. The servers may all be integrated into
one
piece of computer hardware or they may reside in separate computers. Setting
up the various servers on separate computers is preferred to a single piece of
computer hardware hosting all the servers because of reliability and
redundancy considerations. A customer interface computer server is used as
the interface between the wireless network and advertisers or market data
clients. This server interfaces to an administrative and screening computer
server. Advertisements and other interactive media would be reviewed for
content while on the administrative and screening server. Once the service
provider approves the content of the advertisements or interactive media the
relevant information on the server is formatted and transferred to a media
server. The media server is used as a host for the various advertisements and
interactive media approved for distribution. This server is also used as the
collection point for user responses. A separate CDMA Cellular Land Network
(CCLN) server is used to interface between the media server and a wireless
network. The CCLN interface server works with the wireless network to
determine when to distribute the advertisements or interactive media. The
distribution decision can be made based on previously entered user profiles or
subscriber location. Subscriber location is estimated using wireless network
phone registration information.
Audio messages and graphical or text displays can be transmitted to
selected subscribers upon call origination or call termination. Interactive
media
in the form of questionnaires or polls that run under a phone resident browser
application can be sent to subscribers. Interactive media can either prompt
the
user as to its presence, as in a paging message, or can load into a memory
buffer within the receiving phone to be accessed at a later time by the user.
Subscriber replies will be transmitted back to the base station using
packetized
data. The subscriber replies will be received by the CCLN and compiled in the
media server. Electronic coupon offers can also be distributed to subscribers.
The coupons could be redeemed by displaying the electronic offer or by
electronically transferring the coupon from the phone memory.
The servers track the number of instances in which audio and text or
graphical advertising messages are sent to the subscriber. Also tracked would



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
be the number of questionnaires or polls to which the subscriber responds. A
value is attached to each passive extended media message sent to the
subscriber. A higher value is attached to the interactive media message that
the
subscriber completes and returns. This is due to the greater amount of time
the
5 subscriber is required to invest as well as the greater value in the
information
retrieved from the subscriber in the case of interactive media. The number of
advertisements and responses would be totaled to establish a discounted
service rate. In this manner the subscriber's interactions would directly bear
on
the discount received. The ability to receive wireless phone service at a
discounted rate encourages increased consumption of wireless phones and
seances.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when
taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters
identify correspondingly throughout and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system
integrating the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the interface between the various users of
the system; and
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the hardware interfaces within the system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is a system and method for advertisement
distribution and information gathering within a wireless telephone system.
Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless telephone system integrating the present
invention is shown. A CDMA wireless phone system is described below.
However, one of ordinary skill in the art will immediately realize that the
invention is capable of integration into wireless phone systems utilizing
other
modulation schemes.
A Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 110 connects to the
wireless network through the Base Station Controller (BSC) 120. The BSC 120
converts the land line voice signals received from the PSTN 110 into a format
for use by the subsequent transmission stages. In a CDMA digital wireless
communication system the BSC 120 converts the land line voice signals into



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
6
vocoded frames. The BSC 120 also receives vocoded frames demodulated from
the reverse link transmissions 151 and converts them for use by the PSTN 110.
In addition to converting the voice signals to and from the PSTN 110 the BSC
120 handles billing 126, switching 124, and system features such as paging
128.
In the present invention the advertising and information gathering feature 122
is also integrated into the BSC 120. The advertising and information gathering
feature 122 utilizes functions already integrated into the BSC 120. The BSC
120
holds information relating to subscriber location based upon phone
registration. The BSC 120 also controls call origination and termination.
These
functions are used by the present invention to make decisions relating to the
transmission of advertising or interactive media.
The BSC 120 connects to many Base Transceiver Systems (BTS) 130. Each
BTS 130 is able to establish numerous RF communication links 150 - 151 with
Subscriber Units or phones 140. The BTS 130 converts the vocoded frames
received from the BSC 120 into the CDMA modulated forward link signal 150.
The BTS 130 transmits the forward link RF signals 150 to the subscribers and
receives the reverse link ItF transmissions 151 generated by the Subscriber
Units 140. The BTS 130 demodulates the received reverse link RF transmissions
151 and routes the demodulated vocoded frames to the BSC 120. The
Subscriber Unit 140 is the final piece of hardware in the wireless phone
system.
The Subscriber Unit 140 receives the user's voice signals and encodes them to
produce the reverse link CDMA modulated RF signals 151 that are transmitted
to the BTS 130. Additionally, the Subscriber Unit 140 receives the forward
link
RF transmission 150 from the BTS 130 and demodulates it. If the forward link
RF transmission 150 is a voice message it is demodulated to an audio signal
that
is sent to a speaker (not shown) within the Subscriber Unit 140. Received
paging messages will be shown on a display (not shown) integrated within the
Subscriber Unit 140. Advanced Subscriber Units 140 are able to receive
packetized data and instructions that will run under software applications
embedded within the phone.
Referring to FIG. 2, subscribers 250 are exposed to advertisements and
interactive media through their Subscriber Units 140. Since most subscribers
250 would be adverse to standard cold-call telemarketing techniques, the
present invention distributes extended media, in the form of advertisements
and interactive media, in a minimally intrusive manner. Subscribers 250 have
the option of signing up for service plans that allow extended media. The
service provider 230 could provide for reduced cost incentives for those
subscribers 250 willing to tolerate advertisements and interactive media.
Billing
discounts could be based on the quantity and type of media exposed to the



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
7
subscriber 250. Questionnaires and polls the subscriber 250 fills out
electronically and electronically returns would generate a greater billing
discount due to the increased requirement in subscriber time and activity.
However, the greater discounts associated with questionnaires and other
interactive media would only be available to those subscribers 250 that own a
phone with the sufficient level of complexity to allow interactive media.
These
phones would need to have displays and browser type software embedded in
the phone memory. This minimal browser software, such as software using
Wireless Applications Protocol (WAP) or software developed by UNWIRED
PLANET, already exists and has already been implemented within wireless
phones. Wireless phone manufacturer also have developed limited browsers
and integrated them within phones. Examples of manufacturer produced
browser software include the pdQ browser implemented in the QUALCOMM
pdQ phone.
Once the subscriber 250 signs up for an extended media service plan, the
subscriber 250 would fill out a user profile. The user profile may be filled
out in
hard copy at the time the service plan is initiated or as an alternative, the
subscriber 250 may fill out the user profile from handset menus generated
using a browser application embedded in the phone software. The user profile
would then be sent to the service provider 230 as a data transmission.
Submitting the user profile electronically is preferred because the
information
can be automatically extracted in the service provider's computer.
Additionally, when in electronic format, the subscriber 250 always has the
opportunity to conveniently modify and resubmit the user profile. The user
profile serves multiple purposes. The demographic information is used by the
service provider 230 and extended media clients 210 in deciding whether to
send specific items of extended media to particular subscribers 250. The user
profiles allow advertisers to target specific demographic groups with a
certainty not available in any other form of mass media marketing. The
subscriber 250 can adjust the user profiles to scale their level of media
exposure
to their tolerance level. The subscriber 250 could set lock out periods when
extended media is not permissible. This allows a subscriber 250 that uses a
phone for both business and personal purposes to block extended media during
business hours. However, a subscriber 250 that is most interested in a
discounted billing rate and that has a high tolerance for extended media
messages could choose to allow all extended media messages. Using the
electronic user profile format, subscribers 250 are able to update their
profiles
as their tolerance changes.



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
8
Referring again to FIG. 2 the service provider 230 through its advertising
agency 232 sells message distribution to advertising and marketing agencies
220. A Service Provider Alternative Revenue (SPAR) agency 232 can be used to
help encourage use of the services. The revenue the service provider 230
receives from the clients is used to subsidize the service rate of the
subscribers
250 who receive the extended media. The service provider 230 is able to sell a
variety of extended media to suit client needs. The two main types of extended
media are advertising services and market data services.
The service provider 230 can distribute advertisements to the subscribers
250 either in the form of audio advertisements broadcast to the phone or
visual
advertisements shown on the phone display. Audio advertisements can be
distributed to subscribers 250 at call origination, call termination, or from
phone buffer memory as in the case of passive advertisements. Call origination
advertisements can be distributed by modifying the normal call origination
routine. When the BSC detects a subscriber call origination attempt a short
advertisement is transmitted to the subscriber 250 prior to connecting the
call.
Once the advertisement has completed the BSC will connect the call, the ringer
will sound and the call proceeds as a normal wireless phone call.
Alternatively,
the advertisement can continue while the ringer is sounding, with the ringer
tone muted to a volume level lower than that of the advertisement. Once the
call is answered, the ringer tone and the advertisement cease. In this manner
an advertisement is distributed to a subscriber 250 during a time period when
the subscriber's attention is captive. During the time frame after the
subscriber
250 has dialed the number, but before the called party has answered, the
subscriber's attention is focused on the audio output of the phone in
anticipation of the called party's answer. Although perhaps not as effective,
advertisements can be distributed when the BSC detects a call termination.
Advertisement insertion on call termination is not limited to calls that the
subscriber 250 initiates. However, a subscriber's attention is not nearly as
captive as in the case of call origination advertisements.
Visual advertisements can be broadcast to subscribers 250 in conjunction
with audio advertisements or independent of audio advertisements. Phones
with text only displays would be restricted to text based advertisements
showing price, driving instructions, etc. However, phones utilizing bitmapped
displays would be able to display graphics in addition to text.
In addition to formatting an advertisement as an audio signal or visual
display the advertiser 210 chooses the mode for targeting recipients. The
various modes are not necessarily exclusive of each other but may be
combined.



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
9
In a passive advertising mode advertisements are sent to the subscriber
250 and stored in a memory buffer 142 within the phone 140. The subscriber
250 is then able to scroll through archived advertisements using the phone
display and keypad strokes. The subscriber 250 could choose visual
advertisements to display or could choose audio advertisements to play back.
Advertisements can be cleared from the memory buffer as they are accessed or
may remain in memory until overwritten by newer advertisements.
General audience mode does not attempt to distinguish between
subscribers 250. Advertisers 210 could choose to have their advertisements
active within a certain time window and have the advertisements distributed to
all active subscribers 250 during that time frame. In the case of a call
origination audio advertisement, all subscribers 250 on extended media service
plans placing a call within the advertising window would receive the
advertisement. Where multiple advertisers 210 activate general audience
advertisements during the same or overlapping time frames the service
providers' system distributes the advertisements using a sequential or random
algorithm.
Demographically targeted mode allows advertisements to be sent to
particular subscribers 250 based upon previously entered user profiles or
subscriber replies sent in response to market data polls. The advertising
system
in the service provider network 240 matches advertisement demographic target
information with the demographics retrieved from user profiles to determine
whether a particular subscriber 250 should receive a given advertisement. This
allows the advertiser 210 to choose the scope of the demographic target. A
narrow scope allows the advertiser 210 to target intended consumers with
specificity at a cost of a decrease in the number of potential consumers
exposed.
Push mode notification is a form of demographic targeting in which the
subscriber 250 has increased control. A subscriber 250 would choose to
participate in push mode advertisements. The subscriber 250 would indicate an
interest in obtaining information relating to certain events. When those
events
occur the subscriber 250 would automatically be sent the information. As an
example a subscriber 250 could reply to a poll and request information
whenever promotional sales occur at particular department stores. Prior to
those promotional sales the subscriber 250 would be notified of their
occurrence
through a push advertisement. Although conventional audio and visual means
could be used to transmit the advertisement the subscriber 250 could also be
called directly and played the advertisement. Push mode notification would be
one condition in which a direct call advertisement would likely not be
objectionable to the subscriber 250 since they have specifically requested the



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
information. Push mode notification could also be used in non-advertisement
instances such as to notify a subscriber 250 when requested standby seating
airline tickets are available.
Position targeted mode utilizes the position information available from
5 the service provider network 240 to make advertisement decisions. Position
determination can be made using wireless phone registration information or
tracking of wireless phone handoffs. A wireless phone handoff occurs when a
phone moves from one cell coverage area to another and the BTS handling the
call changes. In CDMA networks, handoffs occur both when the phone is
10 engaged in active communication and when the phone is in the idle state. As
methods for wireless phone position determination advance, wireless phones
may integrate position determination algorithms such as GPS that will provide
almost exact subscriber location. Since wireless networks encompass vast areas
an advertiser 210 may choose position targeted mode to limit advertisements to
consumers nearer to the advertiser's place of business. As subscribers 250
move into targeted cells they would be exposed to the advertisement.
The second type of service sold to extended media clients 210 is market
data service. Market data services allow the extended media clients 210 to
gather information from wireless phone subscribers 250. Unlike the majority of
the advertising modes, market data services require a subscriber 250 to
actively
interface with the interactive media sent. To offset the increased subscriber
interaction a service provider 230 could offer a heightened discount value for
interactive media completed by the subscriber. Thus a subscriber 250 that
responds to interactive market data media would pay a lower monthly bill than
a subscriber 250 that merely accepts advertisements. Just as in the case of
advertisements, there are multiple modes that the service provider 230 and
extended media client 210 can choose to distribute interactive market data
media.
In passive polling mode the graphical or text poll is sent to the
subscriber 250 and saved in buffer memory within the phone. The subscriber
250 is then able to use the phone display in conjunction with the phone keypad
to scroll through the subjects of multiple polls saved within the buffer
memory.
T'he subscriber 250 can choose to answer specific polls or clear them from the
buffer memory. Once a subscriber 250 completes a poll they would send the
completed poll back to the service provider 230. This can easily be
accomplished with a final question in the poll that asks if the subscriber 250
has
completed the poll and wishes to submit the results. If the subscriber 250
answers the question affirmatively the phone would automatically start a
routine to dial a predetermined number and transmit the poll results.



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
11
In push polling a subscriber 250 is sent an audio or text poll upon call
origination or call termination. Push polling can be further narrowed in scope
by limiting polls by position or subscriber demographics.
Electronic coupon offers can be transmitted to subscribers 250. The
electronic coupons would be distributed as text based messages that would be
saved in a buffer memory within the wireless phone. The subscriber 250 could
redeem the coupon at the retailer by displaying the serial number of the
transmitted electronic coupon or through a download of the electronic coupon
at the retailer. Alternatively, the electronic coupon offer could direct the
subscriber 250 to a direct phone merchant where the coupon could be
redeemed using the serial number of the coupon. The service provider 230
would accumulate the information regarding the subscriber's consumption
patterns and utilize it as part of the subscriber's user profile.
To summarize operation of the system, extended media clients 210 work
with their advertising and marketing agencies 220 to develop extended media
that is optimized for distribution through a wireless network. T'he extended
media clients 210 through their advertising and marketing agencies 220
transfer
the extended media to the service provider's system 230. The transfer may be
accomplished through a dedicated communication link or may be
accomplished over the Internet using secure protocol. Once the extended
media is on the service provider's system 230 the extended media is reviewed
for content and formatted for use by the service provider network 240. The
service provider's system 230 waits for a predetermined event to occur prior
to
broadcasting the extended media message. The predetermined event
triggering broadcast can be defined as falling within one of various modes,
including time based passive mode, demographically targeted mode, push
mode, and position targeted mode. The extended media is broadcast to the
appropriate active phones 140 once the predetermined event occurs. The
subscribers 250 are then exposed to the extended media through their phones
140. In the case of interactive media, the subscriber 250 has the option of
completing the poll or questionnaire and electronically returning it to the
service provider's system 230. The process of electronically returning a poll
is
performed using a reverse link from the phone 140 to the service provider
network 240. The service provider's system 230 then extracts and compiles the
replies.
Referring to FIG. 3 the present invention is comprised of a set of
computer servers that provide the interface between the extended media clients
the CCLN, and at least one subscriber wireless phone. The extended media
portion of the system 310 resides in several computer servers. These different



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
12
computer servers are described as separate computers for clarity in
description.
Any or all of the servers can be combined into individual computers of
sufficient processing ability.
The Customer Interface Server 312 is used as the bridge between the
extended media clients and the service provider. This server could be linked
to
the extended media clients through the Internet or could be accessed using a
phone connection. The extended media clients connect to this server to
transfer
the advertising or interactive media that is to be distributed to the user.
Access
to the server would be via password protected accounts. If the server is
Internet web accessible, the upload to the server would be accomplished using
secure communications such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). The extended
media client would upload to the server the audio message or software code
needed to present text/graphical messages. The format of the software
uploaded would correspond to the requirements of the application within the
wireless phone that the software is expected to run under. In the case of
limited browser type applications the software loaded would be a form of
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).
The Customer Interface Server 310 is connected within the system to the
Administrative Server 314. While the extended media is on the Administrative
Server 314 the content is reviewed and if required, further formatted. Billing
information is also compiled on the Administrative Server 314. In addition to
billing of the extended media client, the Administrative Server 314 would
calculate the billing discount that the subscribers accumulate. The subscriber
billing discount is based on the subscriber's exposure to, and participation
in,
extended media from statistics accumulated on the Media Server 316.
The Media Server 316 receives the fully formatted extended media from
the Administrative Server 314. The Media Server 316 is the host for the audio
messages, text messages, and interactive applications. The Media Server 316
accumulates the subscriber responses to polls and questionnaires, including
the
subscriber user profiles. The Media Server 316 also makes the decisions as to
which particular advertisement or interactive message is sent. The Media
Server 316 tracks the sequential or random message selection and also
determines the demographic match between the extended media target and the
user profiles. The Media Server 316 also factors in subscriber location if
required.
Requests for initiation of extended media messages and subscriber
location are received from the CCLN Interface Server 318. The CCLN Interface
Server 318 bridges the extended media messages archived in the Media Server
316 to the CCLN. The CCLN Interface Server 318 monitors the BSC within the



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
13
CCLN for information such as subscriber location, call origination, and call
termination. When one of these threshold events occur the CCLN Interface
Server 318 initiates an extended media message by receiving the appropriate
message from the Media Server 316 and transferring it to the CCLN for
transmission to the subscriber. In addition to subscriber initiated events
other
events such as time of day or push advertisement availability can be used to
initiate the transmission of extended media messages to the subscriber.
The CCLN 322 performs the actual transmission of the extended media
message to the subscriber. Where passive messages are used the CCLN 322 can
transmit the messages in the same manner in which paging messages are
transmitted. However, passive messages would not activate the user alert on
the phone. Where messages are sent in response to call origination, the system
does not complete the call connection until the message has been transmitted
to
the subscriber. Alternatively, the message can continue to be transmitted to
the
user in a continuous loop while the ringer is sounding. The ringer tone would
be attenuated to allow the extended media message to be the dominant audio
message. As in an ordinary call origination, the ringer tone as well as the
extended media message would be interrupted once the called party answers
the call. Where messages are sent in response to call termination, the CCLN
322 will disconnect the call but will not break the communication link with
the
subscriber until the extended media message is transmitted. When passive
polling mode is used to distribute interactive media the CCLN 322 receives any
subscriber replies and routes them to the CCLN Interface Server 318 to be
accumulated in the Media Server.
The subscriber's phone 330 represents the final piece of hardware in the
system. Digital phones, such as CDMA wireless phones, are able to handle
voice as well as data transmission. The phone 330 is required to have a
display
to receive visual messages. Preferably the phone 330 has a bitmapped display
such that graphics as well as text can be displayed. The phone 330 is required
to have buffer memory 334 where passive advertisements and polls can be
stored. A greater capacity of buffer memory 334 allows storage of larger and
more complex messages. The phone 330 must also incorporate some form of
embedded program that the interactive media will run under. Perhaps the
most relevant form of embedded phone software is a minimal browser
application 336. Limited functionality browsers already exist and
programming languages for software running under the browser have already
been established. The browser application runs under the phone operating
system 332. The browser application 336 automatically starts when a subscriber



CA 02371382 2001-10-11
WO 00/62564 PCT/US00/09793
14
scrolls through the contents of the buffer memory 334 and chooses an
advertisement or interactive media to view.
The previous description of the preferred embodiments is provided to
enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. The
various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those
skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied
to
other embodiments without the use of the inventive faculty. Thus, the present
invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is
to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel
features disclosed herein.
What is claimed is:

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

For a clearer understanding of the status of the application/patent presented on this page, the site Disclaimer , as well as the definitions for Patent , Administrative Status , Maintenance Fee  and Payment History  should be consulted.

Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date Unavailable
(86) PCT Filing Date 2000-04-12
(87) PCT Publication Date 2000-10-19
(85) National Entry 2001-10-11
Dead Application 2006-04-12

Abandonment History

Abandonment Date Reason Reinstatement Date
2005-04-12 FAILURE TO REQUEST EXAMINATION
2005-04-12 FAILURE TO PAY APPLICATION MAINTENANCE FEE

Payment History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Amount Paid Paid Date
Application Fee $300.00 2001-10-11
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 2 2002-04-12 $100.00 2002-03-22
Registration of a document - section 124 $100.00 2002-09-23
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 3 2003-04-14 $100.00 2003-03-25
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 4 2004-04-12 $100.00 2004-03-16
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Past Owners on Record
BLOW, ANTHONY T.
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
Documents

To view selected files, please enter reCAPTCHA code :



To view images, click a link in the Document Description column. To download the documents, select one or more checkboxes in the first column and then click the "Download Selected in PDF format (Zip Archive)" or the "Download Selected as Single PDF" button.

List of published and non-published patent-specific documents on the CPD .

If you have any difficulty accessing content, you can call the Client Service Centre at 1-866-997-1936 or send them an e-mail at CIPO Client Service Centre.


Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Abstract 2001-10-11 1 65
Representative Drawing 2002-03-27 1 5
Claims 2001-10-11 3 122
Drawings 2001-10-11 3 51
Description 2001-10-11 14 928
Cover Page 2002-03-28 2 53
PCT 2001-10-11 8 417
Assignment 2001-10-11 2 88
Correspondence 2002-03-25 1 25
Assignment 2002-09-23 5 206
Assignment 2002-10-23 1 33