Methods and computer-readable media for location-based targeted advertising

• US 20080195457A1
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Neil, Douglas, Sherman, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

Methods and computer-readable media are provided for providing targeted advertising to subscriber devices based on the location of the subscriber device and a set of advertiser-defined and subscriber-defined criteria. In one embodiment, the method includes retrieving location information that identifies the location of the subscriber device. Advertising is matched and transmitted to the subscriber device according to the location of the device. Matching advertising to the subscriber device is based on a set of advertiser-defined matching criteria that matches both the location of the subscriber device and a set of subscriber characteristics stored in a subscriber profile. A subscriber may define a set of parameters within the subscriber profile that further filters the set of matched advertisements.

Claims

1. A method for providing targeted advertising according to a location of a subscriber device, comprising:

retrieving location information identifying the location of the subscriber device;

matching an advertisement to the subscriber device according to the location of the subscriber device; and

transmitting the advertisement to the subscriber device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is derived from a Global Positioning System (“

GPS”

) receiver located within the subscriber device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is derived from cellular signal triangulation within a cellular network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is derived from a known location of a fixed device that detects the presence of the subscriber device within a predetermined proximity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein matching the advertisement to the subscriber device comprises selecting the advertisement from a plurality of stored advertisements according to the location of the subscriber device and according to at least one subscriber characteristic defined by a provider of the advertisement.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one subscriber characteristic comprises subscriber demographic data.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein matching the advertisement to the subscriber device further comprises selecting the advertisement according to subscriber-defined parameters.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the subscriber-defined parameters comprise an advertisement content-type preference.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the subscriber characteristics and the subscriber-defined criteria are stored within a subscriber profile.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining whether a contact provider associated with the advertisement is authorized to access the subscriber profile.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber device is a cellular telephone.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising recalling the advertisement from the subscriber device upon the detection of a recall event.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the recall event comprises the expiration of a predetermined time period.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the recall event comprises a change in location of the subscriber device.

15. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 1.

16. A method for providing targeted advertising according to a location of a subscriber device, comprising:

retrieving location information identifying the location of the subscriber device;

selecting at least one advertisement from a plurality of advertisements based on a subscriber profile associated with the subscriber device and the location of the subscriber device; and

transmitting the advertisement to the subscriber device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining the current time of day and wherein selecting at least one advertisement is further based on the time of day.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the subscriber profile comprises subscriber-defined advertisement parameters and subscriber characteristics.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

retrieve location information identifying the location of a wireless subscriber device;

identify at least one advertisement from a plurality of advertisements for transmission to the subscriber device according to a subscriber profile associated with the subscriber device and according to the location of the subscriber device; and

transmit the identified at least one advertisement to the subscriber device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the wireless subscriber device comprises a cellular telephone and wherein the subscriber profile comprises subscriber identification, subscriber demographic data, and subscriber preferences for receiving advertisements.