COMMUNITY BASED TARGETED ADVERTISING

• US 20090222333A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: RIVAS, PHILLIP A.
• Application Number:
  US12/039,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222333A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.530
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history

Abstract

Computing devices, computer-readable media, and methods are provided for facilitating community based targeted advertising. A message is received from a first user. At least one intended recipient of the message is determined. Additionally, at least one preferred active communication channel associated with the at least one intended recipient is determined. Supplemental information is selected based on one or more attributes associated with the at least one intended recipient. The message is combined with at least a portion of the supplemental information to create an enriched message. At least a portion of the enriched message is then communicated to the at least one intended recipient using the selected preferred communication channel or channels.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method for facilitating community based targeted advertising, the method comprising:

receiving an original message sent from a first user,

determining at least one intended recipient of the original message;

determining at least one active communication channel associated with the at least one intended recipient;

selecting at least one preferred active communication channel associated with the at least one intended recipient;

selecting supplemental information based on one or more attributes associated with the at least one intended recipient, wherein said attributes comprise the at least one preferred active communication channel and data associated with the at least one intended recipient, wherein said data is organized in a recipient profile;

combining the original message with at least a portion of the supplemental information to create an enriched message, wherein the enriched message comprises the original message and the supplemental information;

communicating at least a portion of the enriched message to the at least one intended recipient using the selected at least one preferred active communication channel.

2. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the first user and the at least one intended recipient are members of a peer-to-peer network.

3. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the original message comprises one of a text message, an email, and an instant message.

4. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 3, wherein said original message further comprises a set of characters, the set of characters comprising one of plain text and name-value pairs.

5. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 3, wherein said original message further comprises a set of characters arranged according to a simple grammar.

6. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the at least one intended recipient comprises at least one registered user, wherein said at least one registered user comprises at least one user associated with a recipient profile.

7. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the at least one intended recipient comprises at least one unregistered user, wherein said at least one unregistered user comprises at least one user not associated with a recipient profile.

8. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 7, wherein the at least one unregistered user is provided access to the original message via a website.

9. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the supplemental information comprises at least one advertisement.

10. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein said at least one advertisement comprises promotional material represented by at least one of graphical media, audio media, and video media.

11. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein said at least one active communication channel is associated with at least one presence associated with the at least one recipient.

12. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein said at least one presence comprises at least one active connection to a user communication device via at least one of a network service, an email service, a mobile phone service, and a website.

13. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein the at least one active connection comprises an interface with at least one pre-existing social network.

14. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein said one or more attributes further comprises a geographic location associated with said at least one recipient.

15. A method for facilitating community based targeted advertising, the method comprising:

registering a first user;

registering at least one second user;

associating the at least one second user with the first user to create a social group;

receiving one or more preferences from the first user, wherein said preferences comprise one or more rules associated with communicating messages to the at least one second user;

receiving a message from the first user;

enriching the message with supplemental information to create an enriched message;

communicating at least a portion of the enriched message to the at least one second user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said message comprises a notification regarding at least one of a product and a service.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said enriched message comprises said notification and information regarding the availability of said at least one of a product and a service.

18. A computing device operable to facilitate community based targeted advertising, the computing device comprising:

an input/output component for receiving messages from users and for communicating enriched messages to users;

a channel selection component for determining at least one preferred communication channel for communicating enriched messages to a user;

an ad selection component for enriching messages with supplemental information; and

a website management component for maintaining a community based website and facilitating the exchange of enriched messages within a community of social groups.

19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein determining at least one active communication channel associated with a user comprises determining whether at least one communication channel associated with the user is active and determining whether at least one preferred communication channel associated with the user is active.

20. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the ad selection component comprises:

at least one user profile database, the user profile database comprising facts associated with users;

at least one information database, the information database comprising supplemental information;

an analysis component that references the at least one user profile database and selects supplemental information from the at least one information database, wherein said supplemental information is selected based on at least one of a user profile, a communication between users, and an active communication channel.