METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING CUSTOMIZED INFORMATION TO A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE BASED ON USER AFFILIATIONS

• US 20090156190A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blaze Mobile, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobile Candy Dish, Inc.
• Inventors: Fisher, Michelle
• Granted Patent: US 8,693,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• 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

A method and system for customizing a mobile application running on a mobile communication device of a user. In one implementation, the method includes providing the mobile application to the mobile communication device of the user, the mobile application having a generic platform; determining a special interest group (SIG) that is affiliated with the user; and customizing the generic platform of the mobile application based on information specific to the special interest group (SIG) that is affiliated with the user.

Claims

1. A method for customizing a mobile application running on a mobile communication device of a user, the method comprising:

providing the mobile application to the mobile communication device of the user, the mobile application having a generic platform;

determining a special interest group (SIG) that is affiliated with the user; and

customizing the generic platform of the mobile application based on information specific to the special interest group (SIG) that is affiliated with the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein customizing the generic platform of the mobile application comprises displaying one or more of a logo, advertisement, coupon, alert, notification, or map that is associated with the special interest group (SIG) through the mobile application running on the mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the special interest group (SIG) is one of a university, corporation, military, government, sports team, or alumni association.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generic platform of the mobile application is customizable by a plurality of different special interest groups (SIGs).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the generic platform of the mobile application comprises a generic user interface having default screens, controls, or logos that are changeable based on an affiliation of the user to the plurality of different special interest groups (SIGs).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein customizing the generic platform of the mobile application comprises updating only content that is being displayed through the mobile application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein customizing the generic platform of the mobile application comprises customizing a number of modules that are presented to users through the mobile application.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the modules comprise one or more of a money management module that permits a user to access account information from a financial institution, a what'"'"'s nearby module that permits a user to find points of interest (POI) and directions, a rewards module that permits a user to keep track of reward or loyalty cards, a ticket module that permits a user to purchase a ticket for an event, and an options module that permits a user to change the look-and-feel of the mobile application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is one of a cellular phone or a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA).

10. A system comprising:

a management server to provide a mobile application to a mobile communication device of a user, the mobile application having a generic platform;

the management server to determine a special interest group (SIG) that is affiliated with the user; and

the management server to customize the generic platform of the mobile application based on information specific to the special interest group (SIG) that is affiliated with the user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the management server customizes the generic platform of the mobile application by sending one or more of a logo, advertisement, coupon, alert, notification, or map that is associated with the special interest group (SIG) for display on the mobile application running on the mobile communication device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the special interest group (SIG) is one of a university, corporation, military, government, sports team, or alumni association.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the generic platform of the mobile application is customizable by a plurality of different special interest groups (SIGs).

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the generic platform of the mobile application comprises a generic user interface having default screens, controls, or logos that are changeable based on an affiliation of the user to the plurality of different special interest groups (SIGs).

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the management server customizes the generic platform of the mobile application by updating only content that is being displayed through the mobile application.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the mobile communication device is one of a cellular phone or a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA).