Method for prompting responses to advertisements

• US 20070214040A1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jain, Mukul, Kumar, Sanjeev, Patel, Labhesh, Shaffer, Shmuel
• Application Number:
  US11/373,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20070214040A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.170
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

An automated method, performed by a computer-based system, for promoting responses to advertisements via a service provider (SP) network includes wirelessly transmitting a message to a mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is within a predetermined boundary range of an advertising location. The message includes a telephone number for responding to an advertisement. The subscriber is compensated based on a variety of criteria that includes responding to the advertisement by calling the telephone number. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. An automated method, performed by a computer-based system, for promoting responses to advertisements via a service provider (SP) network comprising:

wirelessly transmitting a message to a mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is within a predetermined boundary range of an advertising location, the message including a telephone number for responding to an advertisement; and

compensating the subscriber for calling the telephone number.

2. The automated method of claim 1 further comprising:

mapping the telephone number to a soft-key button of the mobile communication device.

3. The automated method of claim 1 wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cellphone and the SP network comprises a cellular SP network.

4. The automated method of claim 1 wherein compensating the subscriber comprises:

providing a credit to an account of the subscriber.

5. The automated method of claim 1 wherein compensating the subscriber comprises:

providing a commission to the subscriber.

6. An automated method, performed by a computer-based system, for promoting responses to advertisements via a service provider (SP) network comprising:

determining that a mobile communication device of a subscriber to the SP network is within a predetermined boundary range of an advertising location;

wirelessly transmitting a message to a mobile communication device, the message mapping a telephone number for responding to an advertisement to a soft-key button of the mobile communication device; and

remunerating the subscriber each time the subscriber calls the telephone number to purchase products or services associated with the advertisement.

7. The automated method of claim 6 wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cellphone and the SP network comprises a cellular SP network.

8. The automated method of claim 6 wherein remunerating the subscriber comprises:

providing a credit to an account of the subscriber.

9. The automated method of claim 6 wherein remunerating the subscriber comprises:

providing a commission to the subscriber.

10. A method for promoting responses to ads transmitted via access points of a service provider (SP) network to a cellphone of a subscriber to the SP network, the method comprising:

agreeing by the subscriber to have a current location of the cellphone tracked when the cellphone is activated, and to have a telephone number associated with an ad mapped to a soft-key of the cellphone each time the cellphone is within a predetermined boundary range of an access point;

remunerating the subscriber based on a criteria which includes a number of advertisements mapped to the cellphone.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the criteria further includes a number of calls the subscriber places to telephone numbers mapped to the cellphone.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the criteria further includes a number of purchases made by the subscriber for products or services associated with the advertisement.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

filtering the ad based on a preference setting, such that the telephone number is only mapped to the soft-key of the cellphone when the ad satisfies the preference setting.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the preference setting comprises a subscriber-selected preference setting.

15. A method for promoting responses to an advertisement comprising:

hiring a driver of a vehicle installed with the mobile access point to drive in a local vicinity of a business establishment;

wirelessly transmitting a message to cellphones of subscribers to a service provider (SP) network when the cellphones are within a predetermined boundary range of the vehicle, the message including a telephone number for responding to an advertisement; and

compensating the driver based on a criteria which includes a number of telephone calls placed to the business establishment responsive to the message transmissions.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the criteria further includes a number of purchases made by the subscriber for products or services associated with the advertisement.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

filtering the ad based on a preference setting, such that the telephone number is only mapped to the soft-key of the cellphone when the ad satisfies the preference setting.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the compensating the driver comprises:

providing the driver with a commission.