COMMERCIALLY SUBSIDIZED MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES AND SERVICES
First Claim
1. A method of connecting a user of a mobile communication device with at least one provider of a service solicited by the user, the mobile communication device having a processor and access to a provider database and coupled with a service cost, the method comprising:
- executing on the processor instructions configured to;
upon detecting a user query of at least one solicited service;
identify in the provider database at least one provider offering the solicited service, andpresent to the user the at least one provider;
upon detecting a user selection of a provider, initiate a communication session between the user and the provider; and
charge to the at least one provider at least a portion of the service cost.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones, may be capable of recommending to a user various providers of one or more solicited services, e.g., by identifying a user location and identifying providers near the user location that provide the services, and by initiating a call between the user and a selected provider. However, the equipment and service costs of such devices may be prohibitive, particularly for mid-range mobile communication devices that may appeal to cost-conscious users. The prohibitive costs may be diminished by redirecting part or all of the cost of providing the recommendation service from the providers, e.g., by charging the provider a service cost upon initiating a call from the user to the provider, or upon representing the provider in a provider database. In one such embodiment, all service costs may be borne by providers, providing to the user a free recommendation service via the mobile communication device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of connecting a user of a mobile communication device with at least one provider of a service solicited by the user, the mobile communication device having a processor and access to a provider database and coupled with a service cost, the method comprising:
executing on the processor instructions configured to; upon detecting a user query of at least one solicited service; identify in the provider database at least one provider offering the solicited service, and present to the user the at least one provider; upon detecting a user selection of a provider, initiate a communication session between the user and the provider; and charge to the at least one provider at least a portion of the service cost. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system interfacing with a mobile communication device having access to a provider database and coupled with a service cost, the system configured to connect a user of the mobile communication device with at least one provider of a service solicited by the user, the system comprising:
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a provider presenting component configured to, upon detecting a user query of at least one solicited service; identify in the provider database at least one provider offering the solicited service, and present to the user the at least one provider; a communication session initiating component configured to, upon detecting a user selection of a provider, initiate a communication session between the user and the provider; and a provider charging component configured to charge to the at least one provider at least a portion of the service cost. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a processor of a mobile communication device comprising a mobile phone having coupled a metered data plan and having a display, a geolocation component, and access to a provider database comprising at least one advertisement of at least one service offered by at least one provider, connect a user of the mobile communication device with at least one provider of a service solicited by the user by:
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upon detecting a user query of at least one solicited service; querying the geolocation component to identify a user location, searching the provider database for nearby providers near the user location offering the solicited service and near the user location, and presenting to the user on the display the at least one advertisement of the solicited service offered by the at least one nearby provider; upon detecting a user selection of a provider; initiating a communication session comprising a call initiated to a telephone number of the provider outside of the metered data plan, compute a route from the user location to the provider, and present the route to the user; and charging at least a portion of a service cost to the at least one provider that is proportional to a duration of the communication session between the user and the provider.
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Specification