Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 INTEGRATED MOBILE APPLICATION SERVER
2 AND COMMUNICATION GATEWAY
3
4 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to wireless devices. More particularly, the
present
6 invention relates to an integrated mobile application server and
communication gateway,
7 and a method of operating an integrated application server and communication
gateway.
8
9 BACKGROUND
The internet is a significant venue for retail sales. Some internet
transactions are
11 made using a credit card, and some transactions are made using an
alternative payment
12 scheme, for instance PayPal. Banner ads on websites may be used to generate
interest in
13 an internet retail purchase opportunity.
14 Radio frequency ID (RFID) tags may be used for tracking stock or other
items (for
instance, packages), and operate by passing the item in the region of a
scanner. The
16 scanner creates an electromagnetic field which interacts with the RFID tag
causing the
17 RFID tag to emit a radio signal. The radio signal emitted by the RFID tag
may give
18 various information, including a serial number indicating the identity of
the item that has
19 just been scanned.
RFID systems are conventionally used in supply chain management to track
21 inventory, retail environments to enhance merchandise security, and at
retail locations to
22 initiate credit card payments.
23 An alternative identification system is the barcode system, which is
composed of a
24 symbol (for instance, a barcode) printed on the exterior of an item that is
adapted to be
read by a barcode reader, which may consist of a laser for reflecting off the
barcode and a
26 reader for receiving and interpreting the reflected image. Barcodes may be
visually
27 encoded numbers which are used to track inventory and identify products for
most
28 consumer packaged goods environments.
29 A magnetic strip reading system is used by swiping a magnetic strip past a
reader
and is conventionally used in credit card readers.
31 Mobile telephones are conventional, as are mobile phone originated SMS
(Short
32 Message Service) signals. SMS signals conventionally include a text
message.
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1 Optical character recognition (OCR) systems are currently used to extract
text
2 from images and are widely used in document management and document archival
3 systems.
4 Interactive voice recognition (IVR) systems are phone based voice driven
programs currently used in call support centers to provide customer assistance
in making
6 purchases and technical support.
7 Web banners are traditional display advertisements adapted to the World Wide
8 Web to allow for interactive capabilities.
9 E-commerce Web Stores are product catalogues that have been adapted to the
World Wide Web and enable product browsing and purchasing to create
interactive
11 shopping experiences.
12 Backend systems within the mobile and wireless communications industries
are
13 fragmented and incompatible. The fragmentation and system incompatibility
within these
14 markets makes seamless consumer communications and brand marketing cost
prohibitive
and functionally impractical. Conventionally, mobile operating systems
communicate
16 promotional content and information, without the ability to detect the user
handset or
17 integrate into 3rd party databases or systems. Current systems do not
enable the
18 purchasing of physical product, billing via premium SMS or integration into
commercial
19 databases, nor do they allow dynamic manipulation of their mobile content
These systems are distinct and have not been integrated to provide users with
a
21 seamless, convenient and efficient shopping experience. Thus, a need exists
to integrate
22 technology to provide a more efficient shopping experience.
23
24 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an integrated mobile application server (IMAS)
26 system adapted to integrate a consumer experience, corporate operations and
brand
27 communications across web, mobile, wireless, physical spaces and
traditional media. The
28 IMAS system enables commercial purchasing, user-profiling and community
building
29 using a mobile or wireless network as the initiating transaction vehicle
and/or as the
method of confirming a transaction.
31 Additionally, the present invention provides for billing the mobile
carrier's phone
32 bill, as well as allowing mobile and wireless transactions to be captured
via PayPal, credit
33 card, redemption of pre-paid transactions and/or crediting consumer
databases/loyalty
34 programs. Likewise, the present invention provides for initiating
transactions through
2
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1 banners, web applications, physical spaces via RFID, magnetic swipe and
optical image
2 recognition as well as traditional mobile originated Standard Rate SMS and
Premium
3 SMS. Furthermore, IMAS can be integrated with commercial fulfillment and
product
4 catalog registries for the authentication, payment, credit and fulfillment
of physical
products and commercial services.
6 The present invention integrates independent systems to create a viable
consumer
7 experience and commercial system in a cross communication environment. The
system
8 enables a consumer to interact with a single system seamlessly moving across
different
9 communication channels receiving medium specific messages, purchasing
material
goods, services, content, and/or crediting a loyalty account or consumer
profile.
11 This exemplary system enables connectivity and integration between mobile
12 telecommunications and wireless internet networks with product inventory
and
13 fulfillment databases, customer loyalty programs/databases, retail and
commercial
14 operating systems, eCommerce fulfillment systems and other such
transactional or
operational IP-based systems; in a manner that is seamless to the consumer.
16 A system is provided that includes a request module adapted to receive a
request
17 from an initiation interface initiated by a user and a user profile module
adapted to
18 associate the request with a user profile of the user. The user profile
includes at least a
19 payment plan selected by the user and an identification number of the user.
The system
also includes a payment interface adapted to submit a payment demand to the
payment
21 plan and a mobile communication interface adapted to transmit a
confirmation to a
22 mobile communication network for transmission to a wireless device
associated with the
23 identification number.
24 In the system, the initiation interface may be a wireless device, a
magnetic swipe
reader, a wireless barcode reading device, an RFID interface, a website,
and/or a web
26 banner interface.
27 In the system, the wireless communication interface may be adapted to
submit the
28 request in the form of an SMS message, an EMS message, an MMS message, a
wireless
29 web upload, an email, and/or a WAP mini site link.
In the system, the payment plan may be a credit card, a debit card, a prepaid
card,
31 and/or an internet-based payment plan.
32 The system may further include an order fulfillment module adapted to
receive the
33 request from the request module and send the request to an order
fulfillment center.
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1 In the system, the request may be for a consumer article, a consumer
service, a
2 credit to a loyalty program, and a media download.
3 The system may further include a data mining module, a reporting module, a
4 handset identification module, and/or a content management module.
The system may further include a loyalty system and/or a transaction record
6 database.
7 In the system, the confirmation may be adapted to prompt a response from the
8 user to authorize the request and the payment demand, adapted to communicate
to the
9 user the request and the payment demand, and/or an IVR interface adapted to
obtain at
least one datum from the user. In the system, the at least one datum may be a
size datum,
11 a color datum, and/or a style datum.
12 The system may further include a download module adapted to send data to
the
13 wireless communication network for downloading to the wireless device.
14 In the system, the wireless device includes a mobile phone, a mobile phone
including a camera, a personal digital assistant, and a WIFI-enabled mobile
handset.
16 A method of operating a server is provided that includes receiving at the
server a
17 selection from a purchase interface by a user and accessing by the server a
user profile
18 including at least a payment plan selected by the user and an
identification number of the
19 user. The method also includes requesting by the server an authorization
from a wireless
device associated with the identification number, the wireless device being
operated by
21 the user.
22 The method may further include submitting a payment demand to the payment
23 plan.
24 The method may further include, if the authorization is sent by the user to
the
server, performing a downloading of data from the server to the wireless
device,
26 submitting a fulfillment request to a fulfillment center for sending a
consumer article to
27 the user, and/or crediting a loyalty program associated with the user.
28 In the method, the purchase interface may be the wireless device, a
magnetic
29 swipe reader, a wireless barcode reading device, an RFID interface, a
website, and/or a
web banner interface.
31 The method may further include performing an interactive voice response
32 dialogue with the user to determine at least one datum from the user.
33 A computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for a
34 processor is provided. The set of instructions includes receiving at the
server a selection
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1 from a purchase interface by a user and accessing by the server a user
profile including at
2 least a payment plan selected by the user and an identification number of
the user. The
3 method also includes requesting by the server an authorization from a
wireless device
4 associated with the identification number. The wireless device is operated
by the user.
The computer-readable storage medium may further include, if the authorization
6 is sent by the user to the server, performing a downloading of data from the
server to the
7 wireless device, submitting a fulfillment request to a fulfillment center
for sending a
8 consumer article to the user, and crediting a loyalty program associated
with the user.
9 The computer-readable storage medium may further include submitting a
payment
demand to the payment plan.
11 These and other features and aspects of the present invention will be
better
12 understood with reference to the following figures and detailed
description.
13
14 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figure 1 illustrates an RFID system.
16 Figure 2 illustrates RFID as a security enhancement.
17 Figure 3 illustrates RFID as a payment initiator.
18 Figure 4 illustrates an OCR system as a document archiving tool.
19 Figure 5 illustrates a barcode reader as a product identification tool.
Figure 6 illustrates a web banner.
21 Figure 7 illustrates diagrammatically a portion of an Integrated Mobile
22 Application Server (IMAS) according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present
23 invention.
24 Figure 8 illustrates diagrammatically another portion of an Integrated
Mobile
Application Server (IMAS) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
26 invention.
27 Figure 9 illustrates diagrammatically a further portion of an Integrated
Mobile
28 Application Server (IMAS) according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present
29 invention.
Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary IMAS system with RFID.
31 Figure 11 illustrates an exemplary IMAS system with an OCR system and a
32 barcode system.
33 Figure 12 illustrates an exemplary IMAS system with an image processing
34 system.
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1 Figure 13 illustrates an exemplary IMAS system with an IVR system.
2 Figure 14 illustrates an exemplary IMAS system with web banners.
3 Figure 15 illustrates an exemplary IMAS system with eCommerce.
4 Figure 16 illustrates an exemplary IMAS system with Web-based Instant
Messaging (IM).
6 Figure 17 illustrates an exemplary IMAS system with Global Positioning
System
7 (GPS).
8 Figure 18 illustrates an exemplary IMAS system with a broadcast system.
9 Figure 19 illustrates an exemplary IMAS system using SMS to purchase
physical
products or commercial services.
11
12 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
13 The present invention relates generally to the field of mobile (GSM, CDMA,
14 TDMA, 3G, EVDO, etc...) and wireless (Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, etc...)
communications. More
specifically, the present invention is related to the development of a fully
integrated
16 system for processing, distributing and routing communications between IP
and
17 telecommunications systems. The system provides interactive consumer
experiences and
18 brand communications across Internet, Mobile, Wireless, Physical Spaces and
Traditional
19 marketing to enable commerce and community building functionality.
Figure 1 illustrates an RFID system used to track inventory. In Figure 1, RFID-
21 enabled card 100 may be placed on an article being tracked. RFID signal
reader 120 may
22 be coupled to local data server 130 by network 160, which may in turn be
coupled to
23 central data repository 140 over network 161. The sequence of action may
begin as
24 RFID-enabled card 100 passes within range of the field for RFID signal
reader 120. This
may trigger RFID signal 150 including the data stored in the embedded chip in
RFID-
26 enabled card 100 to RFID signal reader 120. Next, RFID signal reader 120
may pass the
27 collected data to local data server 130. Local data server 130 may then
pass the data with
28 any additional relevant information along network 161 to by network 160,
which may in
29 turn be coupled to central data repository 140. This type of system is may
be used to track
shipments of goods entering and leaving warehouses.
31 Figure 2 illustrates RFID as a security enhancement of a retail operation.
Article
32 200 is a retail item with RFID-enabled card 100 attached as an RFID tag.
RFID signal
33 reader 120 is coupled to alarm 210. The sequence of action in this scenario
begins when
34 article 200 passes within range of RFID signal reader 120, which senses
whether RFID-
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1 enabled card 100 is active or not. If RFID-enabled card 100 is active, then
RFID signal
2 reader 120 signals to alarm 210 to sound. This mechanism may be found in
retail
3 environments where the RFID tags are placed on the merchandise being sold.
4 Figure 3 illustrates RFID being used to initiate a payment. Personal item
300, for
instance keys, may include RFID-enabled card 100. Vending kiosk 310, for
instance a gas
6 pump, may be embedded with an RFID reader and may be coupled by network 163
to
7 cash register 330. The sequence of events in this scenario begins when
personal item 300
8 passes within range of the RFID reader embedded in vending kiosk 310. At
that point,
9 RFID-enabled card 100 passes payment infomzation to the RFID card reader
including
details matching the consumer possessing personal item 300 to a credit
account. This
11 information is passed from vending kiosk 300 via network 163 to cash
register 330. Cash
12 register 330 may communicate with a credit card payment system and may
record the
13 transaction. This mechanism may be found at gas stations and other quick
pay
14 environments.
Figure 4 illustrates using an OCR system with a digital document archiving
16 system. Document 400 includes characters which are to be entered into the
digitizing
17 system. Optical scanner 410 is coupled by network 164 to computer system
430 that
18 analyzes document 400 and stores it for archiving. The method begins when
document
19 400 is scanned and translated to a digital format. The digital data is sent
from optical
scanner 410 via network 164 to computer system 430 for analysis. Computer
system 430
21 may extract the text from document 400, which may be stored in an indexed
system for
22 later retrieval.
23 Figure 5 illustrates the components in a bar code system that is used to
identify
24 products. Cash register 500 coupled to barcode scanner 510. Barcode scanner
510 reads
barcode 530 on product 530, which results in a unique code that cash register
500 can use
26 to price product 530. This system may be found in retail environments in
order to assist in
27 centralized pricing systems and/or inventory systems.
28 An Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system may be a network that provides
29 interactive voice response via telephone systems. The customer may interact
with a
computer which has voice recognition software, thereby enabling the system to
follow a
31 script walking the customer through a series of interactions. The system
may provide
32 purchase support for consumers.
33 Figure 6 illustrates a web-based banner advertisement system. Online banner
34 advertisement 610 included in web page 600 faces the consumer 1. Server 620
hosts
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1 banner advertisement 610 and controls its display. Web server 630 hosts web
page 600
2 and the associated website that the consumer is viewing. The basic scenario
begins with
3 the consumer requesting web page 610 from the web site hosted by web server
630. Upon
4 receiving web page 600, the consumer's web browser is instructed to download
banner
advertisement 610 from server 620.
6 An eCommerce system may allow a user to visit an eCommerce enabled web site
7 in order to shop for goods and services. On the eCommerce website, special
applications
8 may support the consumer shopping experience, such as a shopping card. One
part of the
9 eConimerce system is the integration with a payment gateway which may allow
the
consumer to pay the retailer with a credit card, and to provide the
authorization and
11 capture of funds by the retailer without physical interaction between the
retailer and
12 consumer.
13 Integrated Mobile Application Server (IMAS) 700 according to an exemplary
14 embodiment of the present invention may include data mining module 701 that
enables
the reporting of activity by cross referencing certain fields of information
within other
16 modules in the system. Content management module 702 may assign
identification and
17 instructional information to content assets. Asset hosting module 703 may
host content
18 assets like text, images, audio files, video clips and other like content.
WAP mini-site
19 module 704 may host WAP pages for wireless web browsing. User profile
module 705
may store the users profile with mobile number, purchasing history and/or
other such
21 preferences. OCR/barcode module 706 may read, translate and/or process
alpha/numeric
22 characters and/or barcodes. Handset detect module 707 may detect the model
of the user's
23 wireless handset. Authentication module 708 may systematically communicate
with the
24 consumer to confirm and ensure that the user of a certain wireless phone
number and/or
device ID desires the requested transaction, thereby confirming the purchase
and/or
26 transaction. Transaction manager 709 may queue the requested purchase until
the user
27 authenticates the purchase and billing is approved. Image processing module
710 may
28 read, translate and/or process visual images. Image manipulation module 711
may enable
29 users to dynamically alter their mobile visual content into customized
assets by, for
instance, adding text to a still image. Product/catalog reference ID module
712 may store
31 the information that identifies each unique merchant, the supplementary
information that
32 is gathered from the user, and/or appropriate routing information to
fulfill orders.
33 Figure 7 illustrates diagrammatically a portion of IMAS 700 according to an
34 exemplary embodiment of the present invention. IMAS 700 may be coupled by a
network
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1 to any or all of Paypal 730, credit card system 731, 3rd party user database
732, and 3Td
2 party inventory database 733. Additionally, IMAS 700 may be networked with
any other
3 appropriate payment method and/or any other appropriate fulfillment center,
including
4 product shipping warehouses and/or loyalty programs.
Figure 8 illustrates diagrammatically another portion of IMAS 700 according to
6 an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. IMAS 700 may be coupled by
a
7 network to any or all of print system 800, SMSC/MMSC system 810, web system
840
8 and web banner system 850. An instant message system may be coupled to web
system
9 840 as well as SMSC/MMSC system 810.
Figure 9 illustrates diagrammatically a further portion of IMAS 700 according
to
11 an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. IMAS 700 may be coupled
by a
12 network to any or all of RFID/magnetic swipe system 900, broadcast system
910, and/or
13 global positioning system (GPS) 920.
14 There are several external communication interfaces by which the integrated
system is able to interact with in order to provide the seamless experience
for consumers.
16 These interfaces include internet, mobile, print, RFID and magnetic swipe,
GPS, and
17 broadcast. Additionally, IMAS interacts with each of these interfaces via
two-way
18 channels illustrated in the diagram.
19 Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with
RFID. RFID-enabled card 100 is adapted to be read by RFID signal reader 120,
which
21 may be coupled to local data server 130 by network 160. Local data server
130 may be
22 coupled by network 165 to IMAS 700, which may be coupled to mobile gateway
1020.
23 Mobile gateway 1020 may alternatively be a messaging gateway including a
gateway for
24 all types of messages including Wi-Fi. Mobile gateway 1020 may couple to
mobile
communication network 1010, which may couple wirelessly to wireless device
1000,
26 which may be for example a consumer mobile phone. Mobile communication
network
27 1010 may be any type of mobile carrier or ISP network, and may be adapted
to
28 accommodate for Wi-Fi/Wi-Max phones and/or devices. The process may begin
when
29 RFID-enabled card 100 passes within range of RFID signal reader 120 causing
RFID-
enabled card 100 to emit RFID signal 150, which may include data stored in the
31 embedded chip in RFID-enabled card 100, to RFID signal reader 120. RFID
signal reader
32 120 may send the unique identification code to local data server 130. Next,
local data
33 server 130 communicates via network 165 to transmit the unique
identification and any
34 additional infonnation necessary in order to identify the location of local
data server 130
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1 to IMAS 700. With the unique identification number, IMAS 700 looks up the
2 corresponding mobile phone number in a database and/or look-up table in a
user profile
3 module of IMAS 700. IMAS 700 then sends multimedia content to mobile gateway
1020.
4 Mobile gateway 1020 may send the multimedia content to the correct mobile
communication network 1010 for transmission to wireless device 1000, which may
be the
6 consumer's mobile phone. This system may be used for loyalty cards and
location based
7 activation of marketing campaigns. Additionally or alternatively, IMAS 700
may transmit
8 an SMS message to wireless device 1000 to authorize a sale transaction
initiated by the
9 present of RFID-enabled card 100 being within reading presence of RFID
signal reader.
This sale may be for an article to be shipped via a fulfillment center to a
user.
11 Figure 11 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with
OCR
12 and barcode scanning technologies. Printed illustration 1100 includes
barcode 1102,
13 product image 1101, and/or a textual description of an article, for
instance shoes. Wireless
14 device 1000 includes an embedded camera, and may be, for instance, a
consumer mobile
phone. Mobile communication network 1010 couples to mobile gateway 1020, which
16 couples to IMAS 700. IMAS is coupled to fulfillment system 1110 which
stocks, tracks,
17 and ships package 1120 including consumer product 1130.
18 This method begins with a consumer taking a photograph with their camera
phone
19 (wireless device 1000) of barcode 1102 embedded in printed illustration
1100 poster of
consumer product 1130. Next, the consumer sends the photograph via mobile
21 communication network 1010, which passes via mobile gateway 1020 to arrive
at IMAS
22 700. IMAS 700 then uses barcode recognition software to extract the product
identifier,
23 and/or OCR to extract any textual instructions from the photograph. The
mobile phone
24 number detected from the transmission from wireless device 1000 is used to
lookup a user
profile stored in IMAS 700. Using the preferred consumer payment method, IMAS
700
26 may charge the cost of the product to the specified consumer account. Once
payment
27 authorization is received, IMAS 700 may send confirmation of the purchase
to the
28 consumer, via mobile gateway 1020 and mobile communication network 1010,
which
29 may then be received by wireless device 1001, which may be the wireless
device
displaying an image of the product. Concurrently, IMAS 700 may send
instructions to
31 fulfillment system 1110 to have package 1120 including product 1130 shipped
to the
32 address of record in the user's profile stored in the user profile module
of IMAS 700. This
33 system can be used to enable retailers to sell physical goods at locations
where the retailer
34 has no infrastructure. Alternatively, the exemplary method may used to vend
multimedia
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1 content for mobile phones for which there is no physical product component,
for example
2 ringtones.
3 Figure 12 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with
4 Image processing. Printed illustration 1100 includes pictorial icon 1200,
product image
1101, and/or a textual description of an article, for instance shoes. Wireless
device 1000
6 includes an embedded camera, and may be, for instance, a consumer mobile
phone.
7 Mobile communication network 1010 couples to mobile gateway 1020, which
couples to
8 IMAS 700. IMAS is coupled to fulfillment system 1110 which stocks, tracks,
and ships
9 package 1120 including consumer product 1130.
This method begins with a consumer taking a photograph with their camera phone
11 (wireless device 1000) of pictorial icon 1200 embedded in printed
illustration 1100 poster
12 of consumer product 1130. Next, the consumer sends the photograph via
mobile
13 communication network 1010, which passes via mobile gateway 1020 to arrive
at IMAS
14 700. IMAS 700 then uses image processing software to match the product to a
known
product and OCR to extract any textual instructions from the photograph. The
mobile
16 phone number detected from the transmission from wireless device 1000 is
used to
17 lookup a user profile stored in IMAS 700. Using the preferred consumer
payment
18 method, IMAS 700 may charge the cost of the product to the specified
consumer account.
19 Once payment authorization is received, IMAS 700 may send confirmation of
the
purchase to the consumer, via mobile gateway 1020 and mobile communication
network
21 1010, which may then be received by wireless device 1003, which may be the
wireless
22 device displaying a receipt for the product. Concurrently, IMAS 700 may
send
23 instructions to fulfillment system 1110 to have package 1120 including
product 1130
24 shipped to the address of record in the user's profile stored in the user
profile module of
IMAS 700. This system can be used to enable retailers to sell physical goods
at locations
26 where the retailer has no infrastructure. Alternatively, the exemplary
method may used to
27 vend multimedia content for mobile phones for which there is no physical
product
28 component, for example ringtones.
29 Figure 13 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with
IVR.
Printed illustration 1100 includes barcode 1102, product image 1101, and/or a
textual
31 description of an article, for instance shoes. Wireless device 1000
includes an embedded
32 camera, and may be, for instance, a consumer mobile phone. Mobile
communication
33 network 1010 couples to mobile gateway 1020, which couples to IMAS 700.
IMAS is
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1 coupled to fulfillment system 1110 which stocks, tracks, and ships package
1120
2 including consumer product 1130. IMAS 700 is also coupled to IVR system
1300.
3 This method begins with a consumer taking a photograph with their camera
phone
4 (wireless device 1000) of barcode 1102 embedded in printed illustration 1100
poster of
consumer product 1130. Next, the consumer sends the pliotograph via mobile
6 communication network 1010, which passes via mobile gateway 1020 to arrive
at IMAS
7 700. IMAS 700 then uses barcode recognition software to extract the product
identifier,
8 and/or OCR to extract any textual instructions from the photograph. The
mobile phone
9 number detected from the transmission from wireless device 1000 is used to
lookup a user
profile stored in IMAS 700.
11 Upon identification of consumer product 1130, IMAS 700 instructs IVR system
12 1300 to initiate an automated call to the consumer via mobile gateway 1020
and mobile
13 communication network 1010 to wireless device 1003. IVR system 1300 then
performs
14 an interactive voice response process with the consumer via wireless device
1003 that can
collect additional information about the desired purchase, such as, but not
limited to, size,
16 configuration, or color choices for the product. Upon completion of the IVR
session,
17 IMAS 700 receives from IVR system 1300 any additional instructions
collected from the
18 consumer and processes the transaction.
19 Then, using the preferred consumer payment method, IMAS 700 may charge the
cost of the product to the specified consumer account. Once payment
authorization is
21 received, IMAS 700 may send confirmation of the purchase to the consumer,
via mobile
22 gateway 1020 and mobile communication network 1010, which may then be
received by
23 wireless device 1003. Concurrently, IMAS 700 may send instructions to
fulfillment
24 system 1110 to have package 1120 including product 1130 shipped to the
address of
record in the user's profile stored in the user profile module of IMAS 700.
This system
26 can be used to enable retailers to sell physical goods at locations where
the retailer has no
27 infrastructure. Alternatively, the exemplary method may used to vend
multimedia content
28 for mobile phones for which there is no physical product component, for
example
29 ringtones.
Figure 14 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with
web
31 banners. Web page 1400 includes banner ad 1410, while web page 1401
includes post-
32 transactional banner ad 1411. IMAS 700 is coupled to banner ad 1410, post-
transactional
33 banner ad 1411, and mobile gateway 1020. Mobile gateway 1020 couples to
mobile
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1 communication network 1010, which communicates wirelessly with wireless
device
2 1000.
3 In this scenario, a consumer browses web page 1400 having banner ad 1410.
4 Banner ad 1410 is an online advertisement offering the immediate purchase of
a product
by having the consumer enter their mobile phone number into a form on the
6 advertisement. The product may be either physical or multimedia. The
consumer then
7 submits the information relating to the desired purchase which is
transmitted to IMAS
8 700. In response, IMAS 700 sends a confirmation of the purchase and alters
the image
9 displayed in the banner advertisement so that web page 1401 displays post-
transactional
banner ad 1411. Next, IMAS 700 identifies the desired payment method from the
user
11 profile, processes the payment, and transmits the confirmation and
multimedia product to
12 the consumer through mobile gateway 1020 to mobile communication network
1010 to
13 wireless device 1000. Alternatively, the method above may be used to
purchase a
14 consumer article by coupling IMAS 700 to a fulfillment center for sending a
product to
the consumer.
16 Figure 15 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with
17 eCommerce web stores and web sites. A user may enter main webstore website
1500,
18 sign in, and enter transactional page 1501. Once the user confirms their
purchase on
19 transaction page 1501 and submits the request, the request is passed to
IMAS 700. IMAS
700 processes the request, transacts the purchase and passes the content
and/or
21 confirmation of the purchase through mobile gateway 1020 to mobile
communication
22 network 1010 to wireless device 1000.
23 Figure 16 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with
IM.
24 IM user A 1600 communicates with IM user B 1601 by sending a text
communication
over Web 1610 to web server 1620, which processes and communicates the
26 communication via Web 1611 to IM User B 1601. In this process, if mobile
content (e.g.
27 a ringtone) or a transaction (e.g. purchase of a consumer article) were
desired by either
28 user, web server 1620 would process keywords or requests in the transcript
between the
29 IM clients and transmit the request with a user ID to IMAS 700. IMAS 700
processes the
request and, if the request was for mobile content, IMAS 700 would transact
the purchase
31 and pass the content or confirmation of purchase to mobile gateway 1020
onward to
32 mobile communication network 1010 and on to wireless device 1000. If the
request was
33 for a commercial product or service, IMAS 700 would transact the purchase
and pass the
34 fulfillment order to fulfillment system 1110 for fulfillment.
13
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1 Figure 17 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention using
2 GPS. GPS System 1700 provides positioning information to GPS-enabled
wireless device
3 1004, which is programmed to recognize when it is positioned in a purchase
initiation
4 area 1710. As device 1004 enters area 1710 at point 1720, device 1004
initiates a
communication to IMAS 700 via mobile communication network 1010 and mobile
6 gateway 1020. After IMAS 700 identifies the consumer and the account and
processes the
7 payment, IMAS 700 sends confirmation to device 1004 of the purchase as well
as an
8 order to fulfillment center 1110 to ship the product or provide the service.
9 Figure 18 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with
a
broadcast system. The user initiates a communication with mobile device 1000
via mobile
11 carrier network 1010), which is connected to the mobile gateway 1020.
Mobile gateway
12 1020 passes the data to IMAS 700, where the submission is processed. Once
the data is
13 processed, IMAS may send a confirmation of the purchase to mobile device
1000. IMAS
14 700 may also send the appropriate graphic, text or other resulting asset is
output by IMAS
700 and delivered on a dedicated connection to broadcast studio 1800. The user
may
16 purchase any type of broadcast by the system displayed in Figure 18,
including pay-per-
17 view, play-on-demand, and a digital recording of a broadcast, for example
TiVo.
18 Figure 19 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
using
19 SMS to purchase physical products or commercial services. Printed
illustration 1100
includes a product or service representational image 1101 along with a
character
21 combination for destination identifcation 1201 and character combination
for product
22 identification 1202. Also shown in Figure 19 is mobile communication
network 1010
23 coupled to mobile gateway 1020, which is coupled to IMAS 700. IMAS is
coupled to
24 fulfillment system 1110 which stocks, tracks, and ships package 1120
including consumer
product 1130.
26 This method begins with a consumer entering text message destination
characters
27 1201 into the 'TO' field and the product identification characters 1202
into the message
28 body field on wireless device 1000. The user would then initiate a
communication via
29 mobile communication network 1010 which is connected to 1020 The messaging
gateway
1020 passes the data to IMAS 700 where the submission is processed.
31 IMAS may detect from the transmission from wireless device 1000 the mobile
32 phone number and lookup a user profile stored in IMAS 700. Using the
preferred
33 consumer payment method, IMAS 700 may charge the cost of the product to the
specified
34 consumer account. Once payment authorization is received, IMAS 700 may send
14
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1 confirmation of the purchase to the consumer, via mobile gateway 1020 and
mobile
2 communication network 1010, which may then be received by wireless device
1001,
3 which may be the wireless device displaying an image of the product.
Concurrently,
4 IMAS 700 may send instructions to fulfillment system 1110 to have package
1120
including product 1130 shipped to the address of record in the user's profile
stored in the
6 user profile module of IMAS 700.
7 The Integrated mobile application server has a payment interface comprised
of credit
8 cards, an internet-based payment system (for instance, Paypal) and carrier
billing
9 components. Each of these components allow for the consumer to pay for
goods, services,
and the consumer's preferred billing mechanism is stored in their user
profile.
11 When used in conjunction with the RFID interface, this embodiment allow for
12 consumers to activate purchasing of mobile content from interacting with a
physical
13 space.
14 When used in conjunction with the OCR, Barcode, and Image processing
components, the payment component allows the consumer to make payments for
goods
16 and services by taking a snapshot with a digital camera and sending the
photograph to
17 IMAS.
18 When used in conjunction with the IVR interface, the payment component
allows
19 for consumers to complete their transactions by submitting payment for
their desired
goods and services.
21 When used in conjunction with the web banners component, the payment
22 coniponent allows for consumers to complete purchases initiated from the
banner
23 advertisements, based on their stored preferences.
24 The Integrated mobile application server has a loyalty program component by
which marketing programs can be run which allow for consumers to accrue
rewards
26 points. These points are accumulated according to a marketing promotional
plan.
27 When used in conjunction with the RFID interface, the loyalty program can
grant
28 consumers points when they attend an event or visit a physical space. When
the
29 consumer's loyalty card is enabled with RFID, each time they pass an IMAS
RFID
reader, they can receive rewards points.
31 When used in conjunction with the OCR, Barcode, and Image processing
32 components, the loyalty program can grant consumers points. When the
consumer sends
33 in a photograph to IMAS, IMAS can grant points according to the subject
matter included
34 in the photograph, detennined by the OCR, Barcode and image processing
components.
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1 When used in conjunction with the Web banner component, a consumer can be
2 granted rewards points for activating the form embedded in the IMAS enabled
banner ad.
3 For example, a consumer viewing a banner ad for a product can enter their
phone number
4 to receive a coupon on their mobile phone. In addition, by using the IMAS
interface, they
can receive rewards points as well.
6 Currently companies provide some solutions discussed in this invention as
stand-
7 alone components without the means of communicating or transmitting data to
and from
8 the consumer; or the stand-alone component is not connected to a support
component, or
9 the systems do not have any method processing a commercial transaction, thus
making
the system impractical for commercial use. Even for those systems that do have
premium
11 SMS billing, this method is very expensive for the content provider because
of the
12 carrier's mark up and the cost to route a billing code into their
mainframe. Additionally,
13 premium SMS transactions may be capped at $4.99. This system provides the
option to
14 businesses to bill for products and services or pay for material goods on
PayPal, Credit
Cards and/or pre-paid redemption in addition to Premium SMS.
16 The major system components include mobile messaging and connectivity,
mobile
17 asset hosting, WAP mini sites (which are scaled down websites with reduced
graphics to
18 allow easier access by a mobile device), data mining, reporting and content
management.
19 The system includes subcomponents that will drive loyalty programs and
process
consumer transactions, manage user profiles, perform mobile authentication,
manage
21 mobile download queues, automate mobile handset detection, barcode image
processing
22 and manage consumer subscriptions.
23 The web banner interface provides a mechanism by which consumers browsing
24 the internet may opt in to mobile programs or purchase mobile products from
within a
banner ad. The interaction with the banner ad does not require that the
consumer leave the
26 host website that they are currently browsing.
27 The interface will connect the banner ads with the transaction server,
which then
28 manages the request and appropriately links the ad with one of the
transaction server
29 major or sub components.
The web interface provides a mechanism by which consumers can browse web
31 sites that will interact with mobile programs. This interaction may include
downloading
32 programs to a mobile device. Such actions that consumers may participate in
would be
33 web stores for online products, opt in for mobile programs, sign up for
mobile
34 subscription services, or other similar activities.
16
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1 The web interface provides for a custom look and feel to be created for the
2 particular campaign while allowing for the reuse of the internal transaction
server major
3 and sub components.
4 The RFID interface provides a mechanism by which the transaction server
receives messages directly or via an intermediate server connected to an RFID
reader.
6 The RFID reader is able to transmit unique, encrypted consumer
identifications to the
7 transaction server to indicate the consumer's participation in a given
mobile campaign.
8 The participation could include registration for a mobile program, purchase
of a mobile
9 product, or some other similar feature. Alternatively, instead of an RFID
reader, a
magnetic swipe reader could be seamlessly interchanged.
11 The credit card interface allows the transaction server to place credits
and debits
12 on major credit cards via a credit card processing gateway.
13 The PayPal interface allows the transaction server to place credits and
debits using
14 the PayPal service.
The mobile messaging and connectivity component will provide the interfaces to
16 SMSC, WAP Push and MMSC systems. Each of these systems is connected to a
mobile
17 phone interoperability and messaging system that provides cross carrier
messaging.
18 Additionally, this mobile connectivity component provides the interface for
the premium
19 billing capabilities for mobile messaging. This component also provides the
link to the
WAP gateway for mobile web browsing.
21 The mobile asset hosting component provides mobile phones access to the
mobile
22 content that has been requested. Upon receiving a WAP Push message the
consumer will
23 follow an embedded link to the mobile content. This content will only be
available for a
24 limited number of downloads and a limited time.
In addition to images and applications, other types of multimedia assets will
be
26 available for download through the system. These can be audio or video,
either clips of
27 streaming.
28 The WAP mini sites component will support building dynamic content for WAP
29 Push mobile programs. Such programs will enable the content to change on a
regular
basis without need to send a new message to the content user.
31 The data mining component will provide an interface to extract usage
reports
32 enabling the analysis of consumer behavior. The data extracted to provide
access to
33 content usage by region, carrier, or additionally collected consumer
demographic
34 information.
17
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1 The reporting component will provide standardized reports on the activity
and
2 performance of each campaign. Additionally, reports will be available on
particular usage
3 statistics. Transaction reconciliation reports will be utilized to determine
content or other
4 partnership distributions amounts.
The mobile content manager provides an administrative interface to update
6 content for the mobile campaigns. The content will be available for the
given handset
7 classes specified by the handset detection component, and made available
through the
8 various interfaces, either web, WAP site, WAP Push or MMS.
9 The system will track user participation in mobile programs in order to
create
reward programs.
11 The system will connect the web, web banner, and RFID/magnetic swipe
12 interfaces with the credit card and PayPal billing interfaces in order to
complete consumer
13 purchases.
14 The system will create a universal consumer profile which connects the
user's
unique mobile phone number with their purchasing preferences, credit card
information,
16 subscriptions, and purchase history.
17 The system will utilize an authentication component that will be used to
send a
18 SMS message to a consumer's phone requiring them to reply in order to
confirm that they
19 are in possession of the mobile phone.
The system will utilize a download queue so that when a consumer initiates a
21 purchase; their mobile download will not be sent, but rather queued for
delivery, waiting
22 for the completion of the mobile authentication.
23 The system will utilize a handset detection component that will recognize
the type
24 of handset upon receipt of the SMS authentication. Based on the handset
type and mobile
product in the download queue, the resulting mobile content will be optimized
for the
26 target handset device specifications.
27 The system will utilize a component that will manage and maintain
subscription
28 services for consumers. This will enable consumers to opt in for daily,
weekly, and
29 monthly programs without having to opt in or approve each transaction
individually.
Consumers will have charges placed automatically through the transaction
management
31 component.
32 The system will use the gifting and bundling component to allow for
consumers to
33 send mobile products as gifts to other consumers and downloading of
multiple mobile
34 products at a single time.
18
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1 The dynamic image manipulation component will allow for mobile products to
be
2 customized in real time to allow for personalized messages to be included in
the mobile
3 product. Such messages could be names or short quotes that would become
embedded in
4 an image. The image would then be pushed back to the consumer or sent to
another
consumer in conjunction with the gifting and bundling component.
6 The images that receive the message could be gif, jpeg, png, flash or other
visual
7 medium which a mobile phone is capable of displaying either natively or
through a
8 custom application or internet browser.
9 The barcode image processing component will allow for the consumer to take a
photograph with their mobile phone of a barcode and submit the image as a
picture
11 message, MMS or other similar transmission protocol, and be received and
processed by
12 the transaction server. This processing will interpret the barcode using
OCR to extract a
13 product identification number, and by associating the mobile phone number
with the
14 product identification number, complete the purchase by integrating with
the transaction
manager.
16 Additional text can be included with the submitted image for further
instructions
17 as to how the transaction should be handled. For example, text could refer
to bidding
18 instructions for an auction, where the item up for auction is identified by
the barcode.
19 This component can be used in conjunction with the mobile authentication to
allow for one consumer to initiate a purchase by photographing a barcode, and
once
21 received by the IMAS system send a message to another mobile user requiring
their
22 approval before completing the transaction.
23 Building on the barcode image processing component, the image processing
24 component will allow for iconography other than barcodes to be used for
identifying a
product. For example, the consumer would take a photograph of an icon
representing a
26 shoe which would then be associated with a particular product, and the
image processing
27 component would interpret the icon and associate it with the designated
product in order
28 to complete the transaction.
29 A custom interface can be developed that would allow for integration
between the
integrated mobile application server (IMAS) and an IVR system. This interface
would
31 support two basic modes of operation: initiating an IVR session via mobile
activation and
32 initiating a mobile download from an IVR session.
33 Initiating an IVR session via mobile activation would begin with a consumer
34 taking a snapshot with their mobile phone of a PayPaUIMAS enabled barcode.
This image
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1 would then be sent to the IMAS which would process the product request. In
order to
2 complete the transaction, the IMAS would contact with the IVR system through
this
3 interface to initiate a session with the consumer. The consumer would use
IVR system to
4 verify their purchase and add additional processing information such as
shipping address
or specifying other instructions such as product sizes. During the
transaction, the IVR
6 would query IMAS product catalog for additional information as needed
7 Initiating a mobile download from IVR session would begin during an IVR
8 session when a consumer requests mobile product or a mobile receipt for the
purchase.
9 This would result in the IVR system beginning a notification to IMAS which
sends
message with product or receipt to mobile phone number on record for given
account.
11 Figure 1 shows an exemplary system according to the present invention.
Element
12 10 is a server, also referred to herein as an integrated mobile application
server and
13 communication gateway. Server 10 includes an authorization and queue
application, a
14 loyalty application, a transaction database, and a database of user
profiles. Alternatively
or additionally, Server 10 may access another server or other memory for any
or all of
16 these functions or features. Server 10 access may be accessed by a web
interface, for
17 instance a web banner interface. For example, a user may input a mobile
phone number in
18 a web banner as a method of initiating a purchase of a mobile device
download, for
19 instance a ringtone, game, picture, video, or other download. Inputting the
mobile phone
number may access a previously formed account identified by the mobile phone
number.
21 The account may include billing information. In the event that no
previously formed
22 account for the inputted mobile phone number exists, the web interface may
direct, the
23 user to set-up an account, by for instance creating a new web interface or
redirecting the
24 existing web interface.
The user may set up an account by inputting personal information, a mobile
phone
26 number or numbers, personal preferences, and/or payment information.
Payment
27 information may be any of credit card information, Paypal or another
appropriate web-
28 based payment system, and/or a mobile telecommunication billing plan.
29 After the user inputs the mobile phone number in the web banner or other
web
interface, and after the mobile phone number is associated with an existing
account,
31 server 10 associates the authorization with the requested download in a
queue. Server 10
32 would then send an SMS message to the mobile phone to confirm the purchase
and
33 download and thereby confirm that the person inputting the information in
the web
34 banner interface is the owner of the phone and the person listed in the
user profile. The
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1 SMS message would require a response, which may be simply a reply, a simple
2 affirmative response (e.g., "yes"), and/or may be a response including a
personal
3 identification number.
4 After the authorizing response, server 10 would send the download to the
mobile
device and would complete the billing to the selected payment plan.
Additionally, server
6 10 would also log the transaction in a transaction database and/or input the
purchase into
7 a loyalty program to assist in future marketing efforts directed at the
consumer.
8 The row of connections on the top of Figure 1 represent connections between
9 server 10 and a mobile device. Included are WAP mini sites, asset hosting
(which may
represent a mobile telecommunication company, a mobile barcode, and a MMS, WAP
11 push, or SMS messaging service. In particular, the mobile barcode may allow
the user of
12 a mobile phone, in which the mobile phone has a picture-taking capability,
to take a
13 picture of a barcode and send the picture to server 10. The user would also
authorize
14 server 10 to complete a purchase of the item having the barcode. The
purchase may be
fulfilled through an online retailing system operated in conjunction with
server 10 and/or
16 through another online retailer. Server 10 may access a user profile and/or
a billing
17 selection when a mobile device sends a picture image of a barcode in this
manner.
18 Connecting to server 10 from the bottom of Figure 1 is an arrow leading out
of
19 server 10 to a data mining and reporting box, which indicates a reporting
function that
leverages information in any of the user profile component, the loyalty
component, and/or
21 the transaction component of server 10 for the preparation of a report. A
data mining or
22 other report prepared in this manner may be useful for marketing, planning,
or any other
23 business function.
24 An arrow leading into server 10 in Figure 1 represents the input of content
to
server 10, which may include photos, ringtones, games, videos, and/or any
other
26 appropriate download for a mobile device.
27 The RFID interface for server 10 may provide a location-based download for
a
28 user having an RFID which is associated with a user profile, user account,
and/or
29 payment plan. The user may initiate a purchase by arranging the RFID in
proximity to an
RFID interface (for instance a scanner/reader). The RFID interface may then
inititate the
31 purchasing operation by sending the unique RFID tag and selected item to
server 10. The
32 remainder of the purchasing operation may proceed in the same manner as the
purchasing
33 operation described above in the context of a web interface.
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1 Additionally, the present invention provides for an article of manufacture
2 comprising computer readable program code contained within implementing one
or more
3 modules to aid in the purchase of mobile content download initiated from an
interactive
4 web advertisement. Furthermore, the present invention includes a computer
program
code-based product, which is a storage medium having program code stored
therein
6 which can be used to instruct a computer to perform any of the methods
associated with
7 the present invention. The computer storage medium includes any of, but is
not limited
8 to, the following: CD-ROM, DVD, magnetic tape, optical disc, hard drive,
floppy disk,
9 ferroelectric memory, flash memory, ferromagnetic memory, optical storage,
charge
coupled devices, magnetic or optical cards, smart cards, EEPROM, -EPROM, RAM,
11 ROM, DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, or any other appropriate static or dynamic memory
or
12 data storage devices.
13 The above enhancements are implemented in various computing environments.
14 For example, the present invention may be implemented on a conventional IBM
PC or
equivalent, multi-nodal system (e.g., LAN) or networking system (e.g.,
Internet, WWW,
16 wireless web). All programming and data related thereto are stored in
computer memory,
17 static or dynamic, and may be retrieved by the user in any of: conventional
computer
18 storage, display (i.e., CRT) and/or hardcopy (i.e., printed) formats. The
programming of
19 the present invention may be implemented by one of skill in the art of
wireless
applications and web-based programming.
21 This application discusses specific embodiments of the present invention.
The
22 specific features described herein may be used in some embodiments, but not
in others,
23 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth
in the foregoing
24 disclosure. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art
that the illustrative
examples do not define the metes and bounds of the invention. For example, the
present
26 invention should not be limited by software/program, computing environment,
or specific
27 computing hardware.
22
