Technique for call context based advertising through an information assistance service

• US 20040247092A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Inventors: Johnson, Karen L., Timmins, Timothy A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,023,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/00 Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/15 Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

In providing an information assistance service in a call by a user, the context of the call is ascertained. Context information is derived from information exchanges during the call. Inferences as to types of advertisement pertinent to the user location, event, etc. are drawn based on the context information. Pertinent advertisements, which may be further individualized based on personal preferences, are provided to the user at the conclusion of the call, or otherwise transmitted to the user via voicemail, SMS, email, WAP, paging, facsimile, instant messaging, text messaging, picture phone, video phone, etc.

Claims

1. A method for providing advertisements, comprising:

receiving a call in which a user requests an information assistance service;

identifying a context of the call;

deriving data relating to the context from information exchanges in the call;

selecting an advertisement based at least on the derived data; and

providing the advertisement to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information assistance service includes a service for conducting a transaction for the user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the transaction involves a purchase of a product or service.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the purchase includes a purchase of one or more tickets for a movie desired by the user.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the data concerns an address of a theater showing the movie.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the data concerns a genre of the movie.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the data concerns a title of the movie.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the data concerns a name of a theater showing the movie.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the advertisement is selected based also on a preference specified by the user before the call.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user in a language based on the language preference specified by the user before the call.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user during the call.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user via a method of transmission preferred by the user.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the information exchanges include vocal exchanges between the user and a provider of the information assistance service.

14. A method for providing advertisements, comprising:

receiving a call in which a user requests assistance relating to a first action;

identifying at least one data element relating to the first action;

deriving data for the at least one data element from information exchanges during the call;

determining a second action relating to the first action;

identifying an advertisement as a function of at least the second action and the data; and

providing the advertisement to the user.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first action includes attending an event.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second action includes purchasing a product or service relates to the event.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the event includes an exhibition of a movie.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second action includes purchasing a merchandise relating to the movie.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the first action includes going to a place.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the second action includes visiting a facility in a vicinity of the place.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the place includes a movie theater, and the facility includes a refreshment concession in the movie theater.

22. the method of claim 20 wherein the place includes a movie theater, and the facility includes a restaurant.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the data element concerns an address of a theater showing the movie.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the data element concerns a genre of the movie.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein the data element concerns a title of the movie.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein the data element concerns a name of a theater showing the movie.

27. The method of claim 14 wherein the advertisement is identified also as a function of a preference specified by the user before the call.

28. The method of claim 14 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user in a language based on the language preference specified by the user before the call.

29. The method of claim 14 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user during the call.

30. The method of claim 14 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user via a method of transmission preferred by the user.

31. The method of claim 14 wherein the information exchanges include vocal exchanges between the user and a provider of the assistance.

32. A system for providing advertisements, comprising:

an interface for receiving a call in which a user requests an information assistance service;

a processor for identifying a context of the call, data relating to the context being derived from information exchanges in the call; and

a mechanism for selecting an advertisement based at least on the derived data, the advertisement being provided to the user.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the information assistance service includes a service for conducting a transaction for the user.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the transaction involves a purchase of a product or service.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the purchase includes a purchase of one or more tickets for a movie desired by the user.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the data concerns an address of a theater showing the movie.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein the data concerns a genre of the movie.

38. The system of claim 35 wherein the data concerns a title of the movie.

39. The system of claim 35 wherein the data concerns a name of a theater showing the movie.

40. The system of claim 32 wherein the advertisement is selected based also on a preference specified by the user before the call.

41. The system of claim 32 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user in a language based on the language preference specified by the user before the call.

42. The system of claim 32 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user during the call.

43. The system of claim 32 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user via a method of transmission preferred by the user.

44. The system of claim 32 wherein the information exchanges include vocal exchanges between the user and a provider of the information assistance service.

45. A system for providing advertisements, comprising:

an interface for receiving a call in which a user requests assistance relating to a first action, at least one data element relating to the first action being identified;

a processor for deriving data for the at least one data element from information exchanges during the call, a second action relating to the first action being determined; and

a mechanism for identifying an advertisement as a function of at least the second action and the data, the advertisement being provided to the user.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the first action includes attending an event.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the second action includes purchasing a product or service relates to the event.

48. The system of claim 46 wherein the event includes an exhibition of a movie.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the second action includes purchasing a merchandise relating to the movie.

50. The system of claim 45 wherein the first action includes going to a place.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the second action includes visiting a facility in a vicinity of the place.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the place includes a movie theater, and the facility includes a refreshment concession in the movie theater.

53. the system of claim 51 wherein the place includes a movie theater, and the facility includes a restaurant.

54. The system of claim 48 wherein the data element concerns an address of a theater showing the movie.

55. The system of claim 48 wherein the data element concerns a genre of the movie.

56. The system of claim 48 wherein the data element concerns a title of the movie.

57. The system of claim 48 wherein the data element concerns a name of a theater showing the movie.

58. The system of claim 45 wherein the advertisement is identified also as a function of a preference specified by the user before the call.

59. The system of claim 45 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user in a language based on the language preference specified by the user before the call.

60. The system of claim 45 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user during the call.

61. The system of claim 45 wherein the advertisement is provided to the user via a method of transmission preferred by the user.

62. The system of claim 45 wherein the information exchanges include vocal exchanges between the user and a provider of the assistance.