System and Method for Interactive Marketing

• US 20070294096A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TPG Specialty Lending Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Monster Patents LLC (Monster Media LLC)
• Inventors: Randall, Stephen, Potter, Jeffrey, An, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,886,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

A system and method of interactive, location-based presentation and advertising that enables users with wireless network addressable communications devices to control multi-media content on network addressable screens and enables marketers to track, monitor and respond to users interactions in real time. A Proxy Gateway directs a network addressable client PC, connected to a digital display, to serve local content or pull content from one or more web servers. A wireless, network addressable device, typically a mobile phone, is used to communicate commands to the physically remote Proxy Gateway. The Proxy Gateway bridges between the communications device and the display by interpreting the commands from the communications device, forwarding them to the client PC which may pull content from the appropriate web server, or display native message content.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A system for interactive display, comprising:

a plurality of network addressable screens, each screen being addressable via a first network;

a web server in communication with the screens over the first network, for providing content particularized to each of the screens, the web server being accessible, via the first network, by other computers coupled to the first network; and

a gateway, in communication with the web server, for communication, over a second network, dissimilar to the first network, with user communication devices, wherein each user communication device separately communicates, via the gateway, with the web server to affect content on a selected one of the screens.

22. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the gateway translates between a first protocol used on the first network and a second protocol used on the second network.

23. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the user communication devices comprise mobile telephones.

24. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the user communication devices comprise wireless personal digital assistants.

25. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein:

the gateway is configured to send, over the second network, text messages in response to text message communications from the user communication devices; and

the web server is configured to cause display on at least one of the screens of at least a portion of the text messages from the gateway.

26. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein:

each of at least some of the screens displays a screen identifier; and

the gateway is configured to receive a screen identifier from a user communication device, such that the user communication device communicates, via the gateway, with the web server to affect content on a screen selected based on the received screen identifier.

27. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein:

each of at least some of the screens displays a content identifier; and

the gateway is configured to receive a content identifier from a user communication device, such that the user communication device communicates, via the gateway, with the web server to affect content on a screen selected based on the received content identifier.

28. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein:

each of at least some of the screens displays a destination telecommunication address; and

the gateway is configured to receive a communication initiated to a destination telecommunication address displayed on at least one of the screens, such that the user communication device communicates, via the gateway, with the web server to affect content on a screen selected based on the destination telecommunication address to which the communication was initiated.

29. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 28, wherein the destination telecommunication address comprises a telephone number.

30. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 28, wherein the destination telecommunication address comprises a telephone number and an extension number.

31. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 28, wherein the destination telecommunication address comprises a short message service address.

32. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 28, wherein the destination telecommunication address comprises a short message service short code.

33. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 28, wherein the destination telecommunication address comprises an electronic mail address.

34. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 28, wherein the destination telecommunication address comprises an instant message address.

35. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the web server provides presence information related to user communication devices associated with ones of the network addressable screens.

36. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the web server provides information related to users having at least one of a predetermined list of interests.

37. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 36, wherein the web server provides the information to at least one of the screens.

38. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 36, wherein the web server provides the information to at least one of the other computers.

39. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the web server provides information related to users having at least one of a predetermined list of interests and whose user communication devices are associated with respective ones of the network addressable screens.

40. A system for interactive display as defined in claim 39, wherein the web server provides the information to at least one of the screens.

41. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 39, wherein the web server provides the information to at least one of the other computers.

42. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the web server provides interactive game content and modifies the provided game content in response to communications from at least one of the user communication devices.

43. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the web server provides interactive multi-player game content and modifies the provided multi-player game content in response to communications from each of at least two of the user communication devices.

44. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein:

the first network comprises the Internet; and

the second network comprises a wireless communication carrier network.

45. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the second network comprises a wireless communication carrier network.

46. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the second network comprises a wired communication carrier network.

47. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the gateway comprises a dual-tone multi-frequency detector for receiving communications from the user communication devices.

48. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the gateway comprises an automatic speech recognizer for receiving communications from the user communication devices.

49. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, wherein the gateway is configured to provide an audio prompt for rendition by at least one of the user communication devices and to cause display, on at least one of the screens, of content related to the audio prompt.

50. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, further comprising:

a short message service center coupled to the gateway; and

wherein;

the gateway comprises a text message receiver for receiving communications from the user communication devices.

51. A system for interactive display, according to claim 21, wherein the web server provides, to the network addressable screens, pointers to content residing outside the web server.

52. A system for interactive display, according to claim 21, wherein the gateway is configured to translate communications from the user communication devices received over the second network in a first protocol to a second protocol and to send the translated communications, over the second network, to the web server.

53. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, further comprising:

a memory for storing a telephone number of one of the user communication devices captured in a first transaction for use in a subsequent transaction.

54. A system for interactive display, according to claim 53, wherein the telephone number has been captured automatically on receipt of a telephone call from the one of the user communication devices.

55. A system according to claim 53, wherein the telephone number has been provided by a user.

56. A system according to claim 53, wherein the memory is for storing information related to the first transaction, in addition to the telephone number, captured in the first transaction for use in the subsequent transaction, such that the first and the subsequent transactions may each be conducted over a different one of the first and the second network.

106. A system for interactive display, as defined in claim 21, further comprising means for patching one of the user communication devices to a separate subsystem.

57. A method for providing interactive displays, the method comprising:

making available, from an IP address, web pages for serving over a first network;

to a plurality of network addressable screens, each screen being addressable via the first network, so as to provide content particularized to each of the screens; and

to other computers coupled to the first network in communication with the IP address; and

translating commands received over a second network from user communication devices and using the translated commands to affect content on the screens, wherein each user communication device separately affects content on a selected one of the screens.

58. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, wherein translating commands comprises translating between a first protocol used on the first network and a second protocol used on the second network.

59. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, wherein the user communication devices comprise mobile telephones.

60. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, wherein the user communication devices comprise wireless personal digital assistants.

61. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57,

wherein translating commands comprises:

receiving a first text message, over the second network, from one of the user communication devices;

sending, over the second network, a second text message in response to the received first text message; and

causing display on at least one of the screens of at least a portion of the second text message.

62. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, further comprising:

displaying a screen identifier on each of at least some of the screens;

receiving a screen identifier from a user communication device; and

affecting content on a screen selected based on the received screen identifier.

63. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, further comprising:

displaying a content identifier on each of at least some of the screens;

receiving a content identifier from a user communication device; and

affecting content on a screen selected based on the received content identifier.

64. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, further comprising:

displaying a destination telecommunication address on each of at least some of the screens;

receiving a communication initiated to a destination telecommunication address displayed on at least one of the screens;

affecting content on a screen selected based on the destination telecommunication address to which the communication was initiated.

65. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 64, wherein the destination telecommunication address comprises a telephone number.

66. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 64, wherein the destination telecommunication address comprises a telephone number and an extension number.

67. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 64, wherein the destination telecommunication address comprises a short message service address.

68. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 64, wherein the destination telecommunication address comprises a short message service short code.

69. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 64, wherein the destination telecommunication address comprises an electronic mail address.

70. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 64, wherein the destination telecommunication address comprises an instant message address.

71. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, further comprising providing presence information related to user communication devices associated with respective ones of the network addressable screens.

72. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, further comprising providing information related to users having at least one of a predetermined list of interests.

73. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 72, wherein providing the information comprises providing the information to at least one of the screens.

74. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 72, wherein providing the information comprises providing the information to at least one of the other computers.

75. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, further comprising providing information related to users having at least one of a predetermined list of interests and whose respective user communication devices are associated with respective ones of the network addressable screens.

76. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 75, wherein providing the information comprises providing the information to at least one of the screens.

77. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 75, wherein providing the information comprises providing the information to at least one of the other computers.

78. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, further comprising:

providing interactive game content; and

modifying the provided game content in response to communications from at least one of the user communication devices.

79. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, further comprising:

providing interactive multi-player game content; and

modifying the provided multi-player game content in response to communications from each of at least two of the user communication devices.

80. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, wherein:

the first network comprises the Internet; and

the second network comprises a wireless communication carrier network.

81. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, wherein the second network comprises a wireless communication carrier network.

82. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, wherein the second network comprises a wired communication carrier network.

83. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, wherein translating the commands comprises detecting dual-tone multi-frequency signals.

84. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, wherein translating the commands comprises automatically recognizing spoken commands.

85. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, further comprising:

providing an audio prompt for rendition by at least one of the user communication devices; and

causing display, on at least one of the screens, of content related to the audio prompt.

86. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, wherein translating commands comprises receiving a text message, over the second network, from one of the user communication devices.

87. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, wherein making available the web pages comprises providing pointers to content residing outside the IP address.

88. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, wherein translating the commands comprises translating commands received in a first protocol to a second protocol.

89. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, further comprising:

in association with a first transaction, capturing a telephone number of one of the user communication devices;

storing the captured telephone number; and

in association with a subsequent transaction, using the stored telephone number.

90. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 89, wherein capturing the telephone number comprises automatically capturing the telephone number on receipt of a telephone call from the one of the user communication devices.

91. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 89, wherein capturing the telephone number comprises capturing a telephone number entered by a user.

92. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 89, further comprising:

in association with the first transaction, storing information, in addition to the telephone number, related to the first transaction;

in association with the subsequent transaction, using the stored information, such that the first and the subsequent transactions may each be conducted over a different one of the first and the second network.

107. A method for providing interactive displays, as defined in claim 57, further comprising patching one of the user communication devices to a separate subsystem

93. A method, comprising:

in association with a first transaction, receiving information identifying a mobile communication device;

storing, in a location other than on the communication device;

the mobile communication device identifying information received in association with the first transaction; and

other information related to the first transaction;

in association with a subsequent transaction;

receiving information identifying the mobile communication device; and

completing the subsequent transaction by using;

the mobile communication device identifying information received in association with the subsequent transaction;

the stored mobile communication device identifying information; and

the stored information related to the first transaction.

94. A method as defined in claim 93, wherein completing the subsequent transaction comprises displaying, to a user of the mobile communication device, on a screen other than a screen on the mobile communication device, information related to the first transaction.

95. A method as defined in claim 93, further comprising:

in association with the first transaction, receiving information identifying an account; and

storing, in a location other than on the mobile communication device, the received account information; and

wherein completing the subsequent transaction comprises;

accepting a purchase request; and

using the stored account information to fund the purchase request.

96. A method as defined in claim 93, wherein the first transaction is initiated by the mobile communication device.

97. A method as defined in claim 93, wherein the first transaction is initiated by a device other than the mobile communication device.

98. A method as defined in claim 93, wherein the subsequent transaction is initiated by the mobile communication device.

99. A method as defined in claim 93, wherein the subsequent transaction is initiated by a device other than the mobile communication device.

100. A method as defined in claim 93, wherein the information identifying the mobile communication device comprises a telephone number of the mobile communication device.

101. A method as defined in claim 93, wherein receiving the information identifying the mobile communication device in association with the first transaction comprises automatically receiving the mobile communication device identifying information.

102. A method as defined in claim 93, wherein receiving the information identifying the mobile communication device in association with the first transaction comprises receiving an indication of user-entered identifying information.

103. A method as defined in claim 93, wherein receiving the information identifying the mobile communication device in association with the subsequent transaction comprises automatically receiving the mobile communication device identifying information.

104. A method as defined in claim 93, wherein receiving the information identifying the mobile communication device in association with the subsequent transaction comprises receiving an indication of user-entered identifying information.

105. A method according to any of claims 102 or 104, wherein receiving the information identifying the mobile communication device comprises providing a visual display on a device other than the mobile communication device inviting the user to enter into the first or the second transaction.