Electronic advertising device and method of using the same

• US 20030222134A1
• Filed: 09/16/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, John E
• Application Number:
  US10/221,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222134A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

Electronic advertising devices and methods of using the same for providing targeted advertisements to one or more individuals based on the individual(s) consumer profile(s). The device or systems include a sensor or receiver (101) for receiving identifying signals from individuals such as signals emitted by cellular telephones. Using information associated with or retrieved using the identifying signal, targeted advertisements are delivered to the individuals.

Claims

1. An electronic advertising device for delivering one or more targeted advertisements to one or more individuals comprising:

(a) a communication element for delivering said one or more targeted advertisements to said one or more individuals; and

(b) a receiver for receiving identifying signals emitted from one or more emitters carried by or associated with said one or more individuals;

wherein said targeted advertisements are selected using said identifying signals.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said identifying signals include a personal identification number.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said identifying signals are emitted by a electronic device selected from the group consisting of cellular telephone, beeper, handheld computer, personal organizer, automobile toll charge transponder and combinations thereof.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said identifying signals are electromagnetic signals.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said identifying signals are identified by said receiver when emitted from a location within the advertising range of the advertising device.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising an advertisement database including a plurality of advertisements or a link to said advertisement database.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a consumer profile database including a plurality of consumer profiles or a link to said consumer profile database.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising an association processor.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said association processor accesses a consumer profile using said identifying signal and selects one or more targeted advertisements based on the consumer profile.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein said association processor compares preset targeting criteria of said one or more advertisements with said consumer profile of said one or more individuals and thereby selects targeted advertisements to deliver to said one or more individuals via said communication element.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said communication comprises a housing for said communication element and said receiver.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said communication element comprises a visual display, a loudspeaker or combinations thereof.

13. The device of claim 6, wherein said advertisements are categorized by advertising content including advertised services, advertised products or combinations thereof.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said consumer profile database includes at least one type of consumer information selected from the group consisting of (a) recent purchases of consumer, (b) residence of consumer, (c) business and/or profession of consumer, (d) demographics of consumer, (e) recent product and/or service inquiries of consumer, (f) ethnicity, (g) age, (h) income, (i) hobbies or combinations thereof.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein said identifying signals comprise a minibrowser search request.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said identifying signals do not include personal information of said one or more individuals.

15. A system for distributing information comprising:

(a) a display connected to at least one database, said at least one database including advertising information; and

(b) a signal detector for detecting electromagnetic signals.

16. A method for selectively delivering targeted advertising on an advertising device comprising:

(a) detecting an identification signal from at least one individual;

(b) retrieving a consumer profile based on said identification signal;

(c) selecting one or more targeted advertisements based on said consumer profile; and

(d) delivering said one or more targeted advertisements via a communication element of said advertising device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said communication element comprises a visual display.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said identification signal is emitted by a mobile cellular telephone.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising repeating steps (a)-(d).

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said detecting includes detection two or more identification signals and retrieving two or more consumer profiles associated with said two or more identification signals and providing said one or more advertisements based on said two or more consumer profiles.