PROVIDING RELEVANT ADVERTISEMENTS OR OTHER CONTENT BASED ON A COMMUNICATIONS IDENTIFIER

• US 20090203361A1
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Mahajan, Milind V., Khune, Abhiram G., Huang, Xuedong
• Granted Patent: US 8,874,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

Described is a technology by which a communications identifier such as a telephone number is used in selecting relevant content (e.g., an advertisement) for outputting as audible and/or visible information to a destination device. The communications identifier is used like a search term/keyword to determine content relevant to that identifier. A telephone number may be the identifier, selected based on a partially-dialed or actually dialed number, or a user'"'"'s current scrolling position among listed telephone numbers. A telephone number of an incoming call may be used as the identifier. Profile data and/or state data may be used in selecting relevant content. Some of the profile data may be mined based on previous user activities. In one example, the content may be provided via a remote source of the content, and used immediately or cached for later use (e.g., output).

Claims

1. In a data communications environment, a method comprising:

receiving a communications identifier corresponding to a communication; and

using the identifier to select content associated with that communications identifier, in which the content corresponds to visible information or an audible advertisement, or a combination of visible information and an audible advertisement.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein using the identifier to select the content comprises selecting visible information corresponding to at least one advertisement, at least one review, at least one rating, at least one media listing, at least one menu of offerings, at least one set of directions, or at least one map;

or any combination of at least one advertisement, at least one review, at least one rating, at least one media listing, at least one menu of offerings, at least one set of directions, or at least one map.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the identifier comprises receiving a telephone number.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein receiving the telephone number comprises obtaining a telephone number corresponding to a scrolling position among a list of telephone numbers, obtaining a telephone number corresponding to a call send request, or obtaining a telephone number corresponding to at least some entered digits.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the identifier comprises receiving a telephone number corresponding to a source of an incoming telephone call.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the identifier comprises receiving an email address, receiving a chat address, receiving a Windows Live™

ID, receiving user credentials, or receiving a QQ number.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein using the identifier to select the content comprises selecting text for a message comprising a text message or an email message, or selecting graphics, or selecting both text and graphics.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the content for output on a device that is initiating the communication, or for output on a device that is receiving the communication, and wherein providing the information comprises accessing a remote source of the content, or accessing a local cache synchronized from a remote source of the content, or accessing a remote source for at least part of the content and accessing a local cache for at least part of the content.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the content for output on a first device that is associated with a user of a second device that is initiating the communication, or for output on a first device that is associated with a user of a second device that is receiving the communication.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising using profile data in selecting the content, or using current state data in selecting the content, or using profile data and current state data in selecting the content.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising, mining at least some of the profile data based on previous user activities.

12. In a data communications environment, a system comprising:

a communications device;

a data store coupled to the communications device; and

selection logic that receives a communications identifier associated with the communications device and selects content for that communications identifier from the data store, in which the content corresponds to visible information or an audible advertisement, or a combination of visible information and an audible advertisement.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the communications device comprises a telephone and wherein the communications identifier associated with the communications device comprises a telephone number of a destination, or a telephone number associated with an incoming call.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the data store is incorporated into the communications device, and further comprising synchronization logic that obtains data in the data store from a remote source.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the data store is coupled to the communications device via an external coupling.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the selection logic selects the content by looking up an action in the data store based on the identifier.

17. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform steps, comprising:

receiving data corresponding to an identifier associated with a device or person;

determining content to provide to a destination device based on that identifier; and

providing the content to the destination device.

18. The one or computer-readable media of claim 17 wherein the destination device includes a data store, and wherein providing the content to the destination device comprises downloading information to the data store.

19. The one or computer-readable media of claim 17 wherein determining the content to provide comprises using profile data in selecting the content, or using current state data in selecting the content, or using profile data and current state data in selecting the content.

20. The one or computer-readable media of claim 17 having further computer-executable instructions comprising, outputting a representation of the content on a user interface of the destination device.