Targeted messaging to end user terminal connected to a service node in a communications network

• US 20030163588A1
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Boberg, Christer, Eriksson, Mats, Persson, Borje, Eklof, Thommy, Gustafsson, Ake
• Granted Patent: US 7,339,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/249
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

Targeted messaging, for example advertisements, may be provided to an end user terminal connectable to a service node in a communications network, said network comprising a library node connected to the service node and comprising messages, such as advertisements, in different formats adapted to different access types, by the following steps: requesting the delivery of at least one message from the library node to the service node for distribution to the terminal, while specifying in the request the access type used by the terminal, and providing from the library node to the service node the appropriate version of the at least one message in dependence of the access type used by the terminal. One or more parameter, such as demographic data, may be specified for how to select a message from the library node.

Claims

1. A method of providing at least one message to an end user terminal connectable to a service node in a communications network, said network comprising a library node connected to the service node and comprising at least a first and a second version of at least a first message connected to the service node, said versions being adapted for terminals using different access types,

said method comprising the following steps:

requesting the delivery of at least one message from the library node to the service node for distribution to the terminal, while specifying in the request the access type used by the terminal, and

providing from the library node to the service node the appropriate version of the at least one message in dependence of the access type used by the terminal.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing at least a first and a second version of a second message in the library node, specifying in said request at least one parameter to be used when selecting the message to be provided from the library node to the service node, and selecting a message from the library node in accordance with said at least one parameter.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the requesting step is initiated by the step of requesting a service from the service node to the terminal.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said at least one parameter includes information about the service requested.

5. A method according to any one of the claims 2-4, wherein said at least one parameter includes information regarding the momentary geographical position of the mobile terminal.

6. A method according to any one of the claims 2-5, wherein said at least one parameter includes information about the capabilities of the terminal.

7. A method according to any one of the claims 2-6, wherein said at least one parameter includes information about the identity of the user of the terminal.

8. A method according to any one of the claims 1-7, wherein the terminal is a mobile terminal and the network is a mobile communications network.

9. A computer program product for use between a service node and a library node in a communications network, said library node comprising at least a first and a second version of at least a first message, said computer program product comprising software code means which, when run on a computer causes the method of any one of the claims 1-8 to be performed.