Method of creating incentives for establishing hotspot locations

• US 20080059315A1
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seshadri, Nambi, Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Granted Patent: US 7,873,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0245 Surveys
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/93 using near field or similar technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 : Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

A process of creating incentives for wireless hotspots by a service provider is disclosed. An access point is provided to a wireless hotspot for wireless devices to wirelessly connect to a larger network in a publicly accessible location. Use of the access point for a portable device is authenticated by requesting submission of an account identifier to the service provider and billing data for a user of the portable device for use of the access point is generated. Use statistics are evaluated of the access point of the wireless hotspot by portables devices and an inducement is provided to the publicly accessible location based on the evaluated use statistics.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing access to a wireless hotspot at a rate subsidized by an entity; and

transmitting advertising ads for the entity to at least one wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises providing the access to the wireless hotspot configured to provide access to a network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises providing the access to the wireless hotspot free of charge.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises providing the access to the wireless hotspot at the rate subsidized by an entity different from a provider of the wireless hotspot.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises providing the access to one of an Internet and a private intranet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises providing the access to the wireless hotspot comprising an access point configured to provide wireless access through an IEEE 802.11 local area network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises providing the access at the rate subsidized by at least a portion of a payment received by the entity as advertising revenue.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the providing the access at the subsidized rate comprises identifying an address of the wireless hotspot accessed by the at least one wireless device which has selected the advertising ads for the entity.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the providing further comprises providing the access at the rate subsidized by the entity in response to providing the access at a reduced cost for access or with user incentives.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing further comprises providing the access in further response to the at least one wireless device selecting an advertised service provided by the entity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises providing the access to a plurality of wireless hotspots at the rate subsidized by the entity.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one of a portion of advertising or sales revenue and a direct payment of revenue from services selected by the at least one wireless device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises providing the access in response to the at least one wireless device using a service provided by the entity.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

an access point configured to provide access to a wireless hotspot at a rate subsidized by an entity; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit advertising ads for the entity.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the subsidized rate comprises at least a portion of a payment received by the entity as advertising revenue.

16. A system, comprising:

communication means for providing access to a wireless hotspot at a rate subsidized by an entity; and

transmission means for transmitting advertising ads for the entity.

17. A system, comprising:

communication means for providing access to a wireless hotspot at a rate subsidized by an entity;

transmission means for transmitting an advertising ad of the entity; and

receiving means for receiving at least a portion of a payment received for the advertising ad by the entity.

18. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform:

providing access to a wireless hotspot at a rate subsidized by a entity; and

transmitting advertising ads for the entity to at least one wireless device.

19. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform:

providing access to a wireless hotspot at a rate subsidized by a entity;

transmitting an advertising ad to at least one wireless device configured to access the wireless hotspot; and

receiving at least a portion of a payment received for the advertising ad for providing the access.

20. A method, comprising:

providing access to a wireless hotspot; and

transmitting advertising ads to at least one wireless device configured to access the wireless hotspot,

wherein the advertising ads comprise advertisements for the wireless hotspot based on a predetermined criterion.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting advertising ads comprising advertisements based on a location of the wireless hotspot.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting advertising ads comprising advertisements based on a service of an entity configured to perform the providing.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting advertising ads comprising advertisements selected by an entity configured to perform the providing.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting advertising ads comprising advertisements based on an identity of the wireless hotspot.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the transmitting further comprises transmitting advertising ads comprising advertisements based on preferences of a user of the wireless hotspot.

26. A method, comprising:

providing access to a wireless hotspot; and

transmitting advertising ads to at least one wireless device configured to access the wireless hotspot,

wherein the advertising ads comprise advertisements based on at least one of a location of the wireless hotspot, a service of an entity configured to perform the providing, advertisements selected by the entity configured to perform the providing, an identity of the wireless hotspot, and preferences of a user of the wireless hotspot.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

communication means for providing access to a wireless hotspot; and

transmission means for transmitting advertising ads to at least one wireless device configured to access the wireless hotspot,

wherein the advertising ads comprise advertisements for the wireless hotspot based on a predetermined criterion.

28. An apparatus, comprising:

communication means for providing access to a wireless hotspot; and

transmission means for transmitting advertising ads to at least one wireless device configured to access the wireless hotspot,

wherein the advertising ads comprise advertisements based on at least one of a location of the wireless hotspot, a service of an entity configured to provide the wireless hotspot, advertisements selected by the entity configured to provide the wireless hotspot, an identity of the wireless hotspot, and preferences of a user of the wireless hotspot.

29. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform:

providing access to a wireless hotspot; and

transmitting advertising ads to at least one wireless device configured to access the wireless hotspot,

wherein the advertising ads comprise advertisements for the wireless hotspot based on a predetermined criterion.

30. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform:

providing access to a wireless hotspot; and

transmitting advertising ads to at least one wireless device configured to access the wireless hotspot,

wherein the advertising ads comprise advertisements based on at least one of a location of the wireless hotspot, a service of an entity configured to provide the wireless hotspot, advertisements selected by the entity configured to provide the wireless hotspot, an identity of the wireless hotspot, and preferences of a user of the wireless hotspot.

31. A method, comprising:

identifying a connection to a wireless hotspot; and

transmitting an image relating to at least one of a good and a service associated with an entity configured to provide the wireless hotspot for modifying an appearance of a screen of at least one wireless device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the image for bundled goods and/or services to the at least one wireless device for modifying a browser window configured to allow users of the at least one wireless device to make a selection.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

receiving data associated with at least one good and/or service associated with the entity configured to provide the wireless hotspot.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the identifying the connection comprises receiving an identifier of the wireless hotspot.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the identifying comprises identifying the connection to the wireless hotspot configured to provide wireless access via an IEEE 802.11 local area network.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the identifying comprises providing the connection to the wireless hotspot via an IEEE 802.11 local area network to a user of the least one wireless device free of charge in exchange for the user'"'"'s consent to receive ads.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

transmitting advertising ads for the entity configured to provide the wireless hotspot to the at least one wireless device.

38. A method, comprising:

transmitting a first image relating to goods and services associated with an entity configured to provide a first wireless hotspot for modifying a browser window of at least one wireless device;

determining that the at least one wireless device has moved from the first wireless hotspot to a second wireless hotspot; and

transmitting a second image relating to goods and services associated with the second wireless hotspot to the at least one wireless device for modifying an appearance of a screen of the at least one wireless device for replacing the first image with the second image.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the determining comprises monitoring the movement of the at least one wireless device from the first wireless hotspot to the second wireless hotspot, the first wireless hotspot and the second wireless hotspot being configured to provide wireless access via an IEEE 802.11 local area network.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the determining further comprises providing the wireless access hotspot via the IEEE 802.11 local area network to a user of the least one wireless device free of charge in exchange to the user'"'"'s consent to receive ads.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the transmitting the first image comprises transmitting advertising ads for the goods and services associated with the first wireless hotspot, and the transmitting the second image comprises transmitting advertising ads for the goods and services associated with the second wireless hotspot.

42. A system, comprising:

a controller configured to identify a connection to a wireless hotspot; and

an access point configured to transmit an image relating to at least one of a good and a service associated with an entity configured to provide the wireless hotspot for modifying an appearance of a screen of at least one wireless device.

43. A system, comprising:

communication means for identifying a connection to a wireless hotspot; and

transmission means for transmitting an image relating to at least one of a good and a service associated with an entity configured to provide the wireless hotspot for modifying an appearance of a screen of at least one wireless device.

44. A system, comprising:

an access point configured to transmit a first image relating to goods and services associated with an entity configured to provide a first wireless hotspot for modifying a browser window of at least one wireless device; and

a controller configured to determine that the at least one wireless device has moved from the first wireless hotspot to a second wireless hotspot,

wherein the access point is further configured to transmit a second image relating to goods and services associated with the second wireless hotspot to the at least one wireless device for modifying an appearance of a screen of the at least one wireless device for replacing the first image with the second image.

45. A system, comprising:

transmission means for transmitting a first image relating to goods and services associated with an entity configured to provide a first wireless hotspot for modifying a browser window of at least one wireless device; and

determination means for determining that the at least one wireless device has moved from the first wireless hotspot to a second wireless hotspot,

wherein the transmission means is further for transmitting a second image relating to goods and services associated with the second wireless hotspot to the at least one wireless device for modifying an appearance of a screen of the at least one wireless device for replacing the first image with the second image.