Dynamically and predictively updating mobile devices as mobile users pass through projected locations

• US 10,127,580 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bishop, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Macasiano, Marilyn G
• Application Number:
  US14/198,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 705 1464, 709217, 4554563, 4554565, 340990
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

This description provides tools and techniques for dynamically and predictively updating mobile devices as mobile users pass through projected locations. These tools may provide methods that include defining thresholds applicable to at least portions of travel itineraries on which mobile users are traveling. The methods may also identify advertisements to send to mobile devices associated with the mobile users, upon meeting the threshold. The methods may also send the selected advertisements, as associated with corresponding advertisers, to the mobile devices.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a system, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

monitoring signals exchanged between a mobile device and a component of a communications network to determine, based at least in part on the signals, that the mobile device has resumed movement after being stationary at a location;

establishing a threshold based on a distance from the location to a projected location for the mobile device;

in response to determining that the mobile device has resumed movement after being stationary at the location, initiating a measurement;

determining whether, based on the measurement, the threshold has been met; and

in response to determining that the threshold has been met,

identifying advertiser-related information to use to configure the mobile device based at least in part on the projected location for the mobile device, wherein the projected location for the mobile device is determined based at least in part on the threshold, and wherein the advertiser-related information comprises a representation of a keyword, a representation of a first geographic area corresponding to the projected location for the mobile device, and a representation of a first advertiser having a right to respond to the keyword when the keyword is activated while the mobile device is within the first geographic area corresponding to the projected location, and

configuring a contact list of the mobile device comprising a plurality of contacts to include an enhanced contact, wherein the enhanced contact comprises the representation of the keyword associated with the representation of the first advertiser having the right to respond to the keyword when the keyword is activated while the mobile device is within the first geographic area corresponding to the projected location.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise in response to determining a change in location of the mobile device from the first geographic area to a second geographic area, updating the enhanced contact of the contact list of the mobile device to associate the representation of the keyword with a second advertiser, instead of the first advertiser, wherein the second advertiser has a right to respond to the keyword when the keyword is activated while the mobile device is within the second geographic area.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the keyword is activated when a user of the mobile device navigates through the contact list and selects the enhanced contact corresponding to the representation of the keyword, when the user of the mobile device speaks the keyword, or when the user of the mobile device initiates a search on the mobile device using the keyword.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device offers, in response to activation of the keyword within the first geographic area, to initiate at least one of:

a voice-based communication between the mobile device and the first advertiser identified by the advertiser-related information as having the right to respond to the keyword when the keyword is activated within the first geographic area;

a data-based communication between the mobile device and the first advertiser, wherein the data-based communication comprises at least one of an email-based exchange between the mobile device and the first advertiser, a text message-based exchange between the mobile device and the first advertiser, or an instant message exchange between the mobile device and the first advertiser;

or

a simultaneous voice and data-based communication between the mobile device and the first advertiser.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 4, wherein the mobile device initiates presenting, by way of a user interface of the mobile device, an option allowing an affirmative user response or a negative user response regarding an offer by the mobile device to initiate at least one of the voice-based communication, the data-based communication, or the simultaneous voice and data-based communication between the mobile device and the first advertiser.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise providing an advertisement associated with the first advertiser to the mobile device, wherein the advertisement is based on a nature of a previous stop associated with the mobile device.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise providing an advertisement associated with the first advertiser to the mobile device, wherein the advertisement is based on operating hours of the first advertiser.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the distance to the projected location of the mobile device is based on information regarding a type of vehicle in which a user of the mobile device is traveling.

9. A method comprising:

monitoring, by the system, signals exchanged between a mobile device and a component of a communications network to determine, based at least in part on the signals, that the mobile device has resumed movement after being stationary at a location;

establishing, by a system comprising a processor, a threshold based on a distance from the location to a projected location for the mobile device;

in response to determining that the mobile device has resumed movement after being stationary at the location, initiating, by the system, a measurement;

determining, by the system, whether, based on the measurement, the threshold has been met; and

in response to determining that the threshold has been met,

identifying, by the system, advertiser-related information to use to configure the mobile device based at least in part on the projected location for the mobile device, wherein the projected location for the mobile device is determined based at least in part on the threshold, and wherein the advertiser-related information comprises a representation of a keyword, a representation of a first geographic area corresponding to the projected location for the mobile device, and a representation of a first advertiser having a right to respond to the keyword when the keyword is activated while the mobile device is within the first geographic area corresponding to the projected location, and

configuring, by the system, a contact list of the mobile device comprising a plurality of contacts to include an enhanced contact, wherein the enhanced contact comprises the representation of the keyword associated with the representation of the first advertiser having the right to respond to the keyword when the keyword is activated while the mobile device is within the first geographic area corresponding to the projected location.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising in response to determining a change in location of the mobile device from the first geographic area to a second geographic area, updating the enhanced contact of the contact list of the mobile device to associate the representation of the keyword with a second advertiser, instead of the first advertiser, wherein the second advertiser has a right to respond to the keyword when the keyword is activated while the mobile device is within the second geographic area.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile device offers, in response to activation of the keyword within the first geographic area, to initiate at least one of:

a voice-based communication between the mobile device and the first advertiser identified by the advertiser-related information as having the right to respond to the keyword when the keyword is activated within the first geographic area;

a data-based communication between the mobile device and the first advertiser, wherein the data-based communication comprises at least one of an email-based exchange between the mobile device and the first advertiser, a text message-based exchange between the mobile device and the first advertiser, or an instant message exchange between the mobile device and the first advertiser;

or

a simultaneous voice and data-based communication between the mobile device and the first advertiser.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile device initiates presenting, by way of a user interface of the mobile device, an option allowing an affirmative user response or a negative user response regarding an offer by the mobile device to initiate at least one of the voice-based communication, the data-based communication, or the simultaneous voice and data-based communication between the mobile device and the first advertiser.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the distance to the projected location of the mobile device is based on information regarding a type of vehicle in which a user of the mobile device is traveling.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing an advertisement associated with the first advertiser to the mobile device, wherein the advertisement is based on a nature of a previous stop associated with the mobile device.

15. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

monitoring signals exchanged between a mobile device and a component of a communications network to determine, based at least in part on the signals, that the mobile device has resumed movement after being stationary at a location,

establishing a threshold based on a distance from the location to a projected location for the mobile device,

in response to determining that the mobile device has resumed movement after being stationary at the location, initiating a measurement,

determining whether, based on the measurement, the threshold has been met, and

in response to determining that the threshold has been met,

identifying advertiser-related information to use to configure the mobile device based at least in part on the projected location for the mobile device, wherein the projected location for the mobile device is determined based at least in part on the threshold, and wherein the advertiser-related information comprises a representation of a keyword, a representation of a first geographic area corresponding to the projected location for the mobile device, and a representation of a first advertiser having a right to respond to the keyword when the keyword is activated while the mobile device is within the first geographic area, and

configuring a contact list of the mobile device comprising a plurality of contacts to include an enhanced contact, wherein the enhanced contact comprises the representation of the keyword associated with the representation of the first advertiser having the right to respond to the keyword when the keyword is activated while the mobile device is within the first geographic area corresponding to the projected location.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise in response to determining a change in location of the mobile device from the first geographic area to a second geographic area, updating the enhanced contact of the contact list of the mobile device to associate the representation of the keyword with a second advertiser, instead of the first advertiser, wherein the second advertiser has a right to respond to the keyword when the keyword is activated while the mobile device is within the second geographic area.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the keyword is activated when a user of the mobile device navigates through the contact list and selects the enhanced contact corresponding to the representation of the keyword, when the user of the mobile device speaks the keyword, or when the user of the mobile device initiates a search on the mobile device using the keyword.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the distance to the projected location of the mobile device is based on information regarding a type of vehicle in which a user of the mobile device is traveling.

19. The system claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise providing an advertisement associated with the first advertiser to the mobile device, wherein the advertisement is based on a nature of a previous stop associated with the mobile device.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise providing an advertisement associated with the first advertiser to the mobile device, wherein the advertisement is based on operating hours of the first advertiser.