Method and apparatus for time-aware and location-aware marketing

• US 7,421,278 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intellions, Inc.
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Kannan, Shamos, Michael I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Blane J.
• Application Number:
  US09/805,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20020022488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,730 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.4, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method of communicating inferred information to a wireless communication device user is provided. That method includes determining a location of the wireless device, inferring a likely interest of the user from the location of the wireless device, and transmitting data related to the interest to the wireless device. The method may also ascertain time at the location of the wireless communication device user and infer an interest of the user from the time and location of the user. In addition, the method may include inferences made from information related to preferences of the user.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information to a wireless communication device user, comprising:

determining a location of the wireless device;

predicting information potentially of interest to the user from the location of the wireless device, a time of day associated with the wireless device, and at least one preference of the user;

automatically pushing the information potentially of interest to the user of the wireless device, wherein the automatic pushing is based upon at least the location of the wireless device;

wherein the order in which the information is automatically pushed is based upon the at least one preference of the user;

wherein the at least one preference of the user is predicted by utilizing a profile of preferences of the user; and

wherein the profile of preferences of the user is obtained by ascertaining trends in selections made by the user.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of predicting information potentially of interest further comprises:

predicting information potentially of interest to the user from a surge in demand at a time proximate to the time of day associated with the wireless device, wherein the surge in demand is determined by detecting an increase in requests for information by other users at a location proximate to the location of the wireless device.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the information potentially of interest comprises both static and dynamic information.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of predicting information potentially of interest further comprises:

where the time of day associated with the wireless device is proximate to a peak traffic time for a location proximate to the location of the wireless device, alternate routes for commuting are included as information potentially of interest to the user.

2. A method of communicating information to a wireless communication device user, comprising:

determining a location of the wireless device;

predicting information potentially of interest to the user from the location of the wireless device, a time of day associated with the wireless device, and at least one preference of the user;

automatically pushing the information potentially of interest to the user of the wireless device, wherein the automatic pushing is based upon at least the location of the wireless device;

wherein the order in which the information is automatically pushed is based upon the at least one preference of the user;

wherein the at least one preference of the user is predicted by utilizing a profile of preferences of the user; and

wherein profile of preferences of the user is based upon historical data associated with the user.

3. A method of communicating information to a wireless device user, comprising:

determining a location of the wireless device;

predicting information potentially of interest to the user from the location of the wireless device, a time of day associated with the wireless device, and at least one preference of the user;

automatically pushing the information potentially of interest to the user of the wireless device, wherein the automatic pushing is based upon at least the location of the wireless device;

wherein the order in which the information is automatically pushed is based upon the at least one preference of the user;

wherein the at least one preference of the user is predicted by utilizing a profile of preferences of the user; and

wherein the profile of preferences of the user is obtained by ascertaining trends in selections made by the user and based upon historical data associated with the user.

4. A method of communicating information to a wireless device user, comprising:

determining a location of the wireless device;

predicting information potentially of interest to the user from the location of the wireless device, a time of day associated with the wireless device, and at least one preference of the user;

automatically pushing the information potentially of interest to the user of the wireless device, wherein the automatic pushing is based upon at least the location of the wireless device and the order in which the information is automatically pushed is based upon the at least one preference of the user;

encouraging the user to make a selection from an information set corresponding to the automatically pushed information; and

storing information associated with the selection made in a database for subsequently predicting information potentially of interest to the user;

wherein the at least one preference of the user is predicted by utilizing a profile of preferences of the user; and

wherein the profile of preferences is obtained by ascertaining trends in selections made by the user and based upon historical data associated with the user.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the information potentially of interest comprises restaurant selections provided based upon at least one type of food preferred by the user.

6. The method according to claim 4 wherein the step of predicting information potentially of interest to the user further comprises:

comparing known preference data associated with the user with a database of products and services; and

matching products and services within the database with the known information.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of predicting information potentially of interest further comprises:

where the at least one user preference is a preference for a restaurant of a particular style, the information potentially of interest will include a listing of restaurants contained in a database corresponding to the particular style located within a predetermined distance of the location of the wireless device.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the at least one user preference indicates a preference for a time of day when the restaurant of a particular style is preferred, the information potentially of interest will include a listing of restaurants contained in a database corresponding to the particular style located within a predetermined distance of the location of the wireless device.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the automatically pushed information comprises a list of no more than twenty of the restaurants predicted to be potentially of interest to the user.

13. The method according to claim 4 wherein the step of predicting information potentially of interest to the user further comprises:

utilizing the profile of preferences of the user by comparing repeated selections of a particular product with a database containing product providers that are both located proximately to the wireless device and offering the product to predict a potential preference of the user for that provider, wherein the potential preference and the provider are matched and further wherein at least one short message containing information associated with the product provider is utilized to represent the information potentially of interest to the user.