SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR COMMUNICATING SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20100222038A1
• Filed: 03/02/2009
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dragt, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US12/396,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20100222038A1
• 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 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for communicating supplemental information associated with a product or service to mobile devices. One device may be a mobile device that includes a memory, a microphone, and a processor in communication with the memory and the microphone, where the processor is configured to execute computer executable instructions to receive a tone via the microphone, where the tone comprises supplemental information. The processor is further configured to execute computer executable instructions to extract the supplemental information from the tone, and store the supplemental information in the memory of the mobile device. The device may further include the ability to initiate a purchase, using the mobile device, of a product or service associated with one or more tones received by the mobile device.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a memory;

a microphone; and

a processor in communication with the memory and the microphone, wherein the processor is configured to execute computer executable instructions to;

receive, by the microphone, a tone, wherein the tone comprises supplemental information,

extract the supplemental information from the tone, and

store the supplemental information in the memory of the mobile device.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the supplemental information comprises a location identifier.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display; and

wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer executable instructions to;

display at least a portion of the supplemental information on the display.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

a network interface in communication with the processor, and

wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer executable instructions to;

transmit, via the network interface, a signal comprising at least a portion of the location identifier;

receive, via the network interface, additional supplemental information associated with the location identifier from the remote information source; and

store the additional supplemental information in the memory of the mobile device.

5. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the supplemental information may comprise one or more product or service attributes, purchase information, sponsor information, inventory information, or promotional information.

6. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer executable instructions to:

transmit, via the network interface, a purchase request from the mobile device to a remote information source via a network,

receive a confirmation message, wherein the confirmation message indicates acceptance or rejection of the purchase request.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the tone received by the microphone is substantially inaudible to the human ear.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the tone received by the microphone is between 16 KHz and 22 kHz.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a microphone, a tone, wherein the tone comprises supplemental information;

extracting, by a mobile device processor, the supplemental information from the tone; and

storing the supplemental information in a memory of the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the supplemental information comprises a location identifier.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying, at a display of the mobile device, at least a portion of the supplemental information on the display.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting, via a network interface of the mobile device, a signal comprising at least a portion of the location identifier;

receiving, via the network interface, additional supplemental information associated with the location identifier from the remote information source; and

storing the additional supplemental information in the memory of the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the supplemental information may comprise one or more product or service attributes, purchase information, sponsor information, inventory information, or promotional information.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting, via the network interface, a purchase request from the mobile device to a remote information source via a network,

receiving, via the network interface, a confirmation message, wherein the confirmation message indicates acceptance or rejection of the purchase request.

15. A system comprising:

a memory for storing computer-executable instructions; and

an information source processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to;

associate a location identifier with supplemental information,

transmit the location identifier to a tone transmission device, wherein the location identifier is embedded in a tone,

receive the location identifier, wherein the location identifier was sent from a mobile device that received the tone from the tone transmission device,

retrieve, from the memory, supplemental information based on at least the location identifier, and

transmit the supplemental information to the mobile device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the supplemental information comprises a user interface, wherein the user interface includes at least one prompt associated with a purchase transaction.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the supplemental information comprises an offer for sale for a product or service associated with the tone.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the information source processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

receive purchase information from a mobile device;

process the purchase information; and

transmit a confirmation message, wherein the confirmation message indicates acceptance or rejection of the purchase request.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processing the purchase information includes the information source processor being further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

transmit at least a portion of the purchase information to another information source for further processing.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the information source processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

update a user profile based on processing the purchase information.