System and Method for Determining Mobile Device Capabilities

• US 20080305778A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: CVON
• Inventors: Aaltonen, Janne, Ahopelto, Timo, Saru, Sami, Romppanen, Timo
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0245 Surveys
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Methodologies and system functionality are provided to determine mobile device capabilities and/or configuration setting and user abilities and/or inclinations as a precursor to or as part of the management, delivery and/or assessment of the efficacy of promotional material. The determination of the mobile device capabilities and/or configuration settings and user abilities and/or inclinations may be performed, for example, when provisioning a new service or after such a service has been utilized by a mobile device user. Further, such a determination may be performed in connection with a mobile device service that provides free or subsidized service to mobile device users.

Claims

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A method of determining capability to output material to at least one user via at least one mobile device, the method comprising:

transmitting at least one mobile device query to at least one mobile device;

determining whether at least one response to the at least one mobile device query has been received from a mobile device user; and

granting the mobile device user with rights to one or more services based on the determination of whether at least one response to the at least one mobile device query has been received from the mobile device user.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one mobile device query is included in a message.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one mobile device query is a Multimedia Messaging Service welcome message.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting a plurality of mobile device queries to a plurality of mobile devices and receiving responses to the plurality of mobile device queries from the a plurality of mobile device users each associated respectively with the plurality of mobile devices.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising analyzing responses to the plurality of mobile device queries from a particular mobile device user to determine user profile information for the mobile device user.

30. The method of any one of claim 25, wherein the at least one mobile device query is sent as a precursor to enable continued use of a service.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein, if no mobile device query response is received, the method further comprises terminating the mobile device user'"'"'s access to a service.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one mobile device query is sent in response to a recognition that a mobile device user has changed mobile devices.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one mobile device query is sent in response to a recognition that a mobile device user has changed subscription type.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one mobile device query is sent in response to the mobile device user'"'"'s activity in response to material distributed to the mobile device user in-activity for advertisements distributed as part of the one or more services.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein the material is promotional material distributed as part of an advertising campaign.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein analysis of the at least one response determines whether the mobile device used by the mobile device user has one or more capabilities.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the one or more capabilities includes any one of Short Messaging Service messaging, Multimedia Messaging Service messaging, WAP push messaging, Bluetooth messaging and Enhanced Messaging Service.

38. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting a plurality of mobile device queries, wherein the plurality of mobile device queries are ordered so that earlier transmitted queries are in formats that are less technically advanced than later transmitted queries.

39. The method of claim 25, wherein, if no mobile device query response is received the method further comprises:

transmitting at least one additional mobile device query to the at least one mobile device in a format that is less advanced than previously transmitted mobile device queries; and

determining whether the mobile device user has responded to the any mobile device query prior to granting the mobile device user with rights to one or more services.

40. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting a plurality of mobile device queries, wherein the plurality of mobile device queries are ordered so that earlier transmitted queries are in formats that are more technically advanced than later transmitted queries.

77. A computer program, or a suite of computer programs arranged to cause a computer, or a suite of computers to carry out the method of claim 25.

41-60. -60. (canceled)

61. A system for determining capability to output promotional

material to at least one user on at least one mobile device, the system comprising:

a mobile device query system configured to direct transmission of at least one mobile device query to a plurality of mobile devices;

a feedback analysis system configured to determine whether at least one response to the at least one mobile device query has been received from a mobile device user; and

wherein the mobile device query system is configured to grant the mobile device user with rights to one or more services based on the determination of whether at least one response to the at least one mobile device query has been received from the mobile device user.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one mobile device query is included in a message.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the at least one mobile device query is a Multimedia Messaging Service welcome message.

64. The system of claim 61, wherein the mobile device query system is configured to transmit a plurality of mobile device queries to a plurality of mobile devices and is arranged to receive responses to the plurality of mobile device queries from a plurality of mobile device users each associated respectively with the plurality of mobile devices.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the feedback analysis system is configured to analyze responses to the plurality of mobile device queries from a particular mobile device user to determine user profile information for the mobile device user.

66. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one mobile device query is sent as a precursor to enable continued use of a service.

67. The system of claim 61, wherein, if no mobile device query response is received, the system is further arranged to terminate the mobile device user'"'"'s access to a service.

68. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one mobile device query is sent in response to a recognition that a mobile device user has changed mobile devices.

69. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one mobile device query is sent in response to a recognition that a mobile device user has changed subscription type.

70. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one mobile device query is sent in response to the mobile device user'"'"'s activity in response to material distributed to the mobile device user in-activity for advertisements distributed as part of the one or more services.

71. The system of claim 61, wherein analysis of the at least one response determines whether the mobile device used by the mobile device user has one or more capabilities.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the one or more capabilities includes any one of Short Messaging Service messaging, Multimedia Messaging Service messaging, WAP push messaging, Bluetooth messaging and Enhanced Messaging Service.

73. The system of claim 61, wherein the mobile device query system is configured to transmit a plurality of mobile device queries, wherein the plurality of mobile device queries are ordered so that earlier transmitted queries are in formats that are less technically advanced than later transmitted queries.

74. The system of claim 61, wherein, if no mobile device query response is received, the mobile device query system is configured to transmit at least one additional mobile device query to the at least one mobile device in a format that is less advanced than previously transmitted mobile device queries, and to determine whether the mobile device user has responded to the any mobile device query prior to granting the mobile device user with rights to one or more services.

75. The system of claim, wherein the mobile device query system is configured to transmit a plurality of mobile device queries, wherein the plurality of mobile device queries are ordered so that earlier transmitted queries are in formats that are more technically advanced than later transmitted queries.

76. (canceled)