System and method for the distribution of advertising and associated coupons via mobile media platforms

• US 7,463,898 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony J. Bayne
• Original Assignee: Anthony J. Bayne
• Inventors: Bayne, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELCENKO, ERIC J
• Application Number:
  US11/105,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20050239495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 455/560, 455/466, 455/550.1, 455/569.1, 455/412.1, 4555751-5753
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/021 using combined folding and rotation motions combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A mobile terminal apparatus, systems, and methods for a mobile service provider to deliver advertising content, via a wireless protocol, to a user'"'"'s mobile terminal are provided. The user'"'"'s mobile terminal may be both multimedia and Bluetooth enabled, and may be able to be located by the service provider when it is powered on, so that the advertising content presented may be relevant to the viewer'"'"'s location. When the mobile terminal is presenting advertising content according to the invention, it may simultaneously transmit to other nearby Bluetooth enabled devices, digital coupons that can be used by the recipients for the advertiser'"'"'s products or services. Some embodiments include a mobile terminal having a display that folds into a second orientation, above or alongside the mobile terminal'"'"'s main profile to face outward, so that persons standing by can see the advertising being displayed, as hands-free functionality will be temporarily suspended requiring the user to hold the terminal at his ear to speak. The user may receive incentives (reduced/free minutes, free content, e.g., ring tones, etc.) to use the terminal. Service providers will receive advertising revenues and an effective means to monitor the effectiveness of a mobile advertising campaign. Nearby people may receive information and electronic coupons, and advertisers will receive brand recognition.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

housing adapted to be held by a user;

a keypad disposed on the housing;

a transceiver disposed within the housing and configured to transmit and receive voice data, the transceiver further configured to receive multi media content;

a first earpiece disposed within the housing and configured to output the voice data; and

a display disposed in the housing and configured to display the multi media content during a voice call via the transceiver,

wherein the display is positionable in at least two positions, wherein in a first position the display faces substantially a same direction as said keypad and said first earpiece so as to be viewable concurrently with said keypad and wherein in a second position the display faces substantially in an opposite direction as said keypad and said first earpiece wherein the multi media content displayed on the display in the second position is viewable by at least one other person during the voice call when the first earpiece is positioned in proximity to an ear of the user and is in other than a hands-free mode.

2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising a second transceiver configured to communicate directly with at least one other mobile terminal.

3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 2, wherein the second transceiver comprises a Bluetooth transceiver.

4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 2, wherein the second transceiver is configured to communicate data associated with the multi media content to the at least one other mobile terminal.

5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 4, wherein the data associated with the multi media content comprises a coupon.

6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 5, wherein the coupon comprises data identifying the mobile communication terminal.

7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the multi media content comprises at least one advertisement.

8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 7, wherein the at least one advertisement is received by the transceiver based on the geographic location of the mobile terminal.

9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises first and second portions, the display being disposed in the first portion of the housing, and wherein the first and second portions of the housing are adapted to be positioned in at least two positions relative to each other.

10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 9, further comprising:

a second earpiece, wherein the second earpiece is disposed on the second face of the first portion of the housing.

11. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises at least two portions, the display being disposed in a first of the at least two portions, and wherein the at least two portions of the housing are adapted to be positioned in at least two positions relative to each other.

12. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising at least two hinged arms attaching the display to a portion of the housing, wherein the at least two hinged arms are positioned adjacent to the first earpiece.

13. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a second earpiece, wherein the first earpiece is disposed on a first face of the housing and wherein the second earpiece is disposed on a second face of the housing.

14. A method of measuring the effectiveness of a mobile advertising campaign using a first mobile terminal having a display configured to display data to at least one other person other than a user when the terminal is positioned proximate to the ear of the user, comprising:

outputting a voice call via the first mobile terminal;

presenting an advertisement on the display of the first mobile terminal during the voice call and when the first mobile terminal is in other than a hands-free mode, said advertisement being visible to at least one non-user;

comprising disabling hands-free modes of the first mobile terminal when presenting the advertisement;

identifying a second mobile terminal of said at least one non-user;

communicating a coupon from the first mobile terminal to the second mobile terminal; and

storing data indicative of whether the at least one viewer redeems the coupon.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein presenting an advertisement on the display comprises presenting an advertisement on the display so as to be visible to the at least one non-user.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicating the advertisement to the first mobile terminal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein comprising communicating the advertisement to the first mobile terminal comprises identifying the advertisement based at least in part on the location of the first mobile terminal.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the coupon comprises data identifying the user of the first mobile terminal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the stored data comprises the data identifying the user.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein storing data indicative of whether the at least one non-user redeems the coupon comprises storing the data identifying the user of the first mobile terminal.

21. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

means for communicating voice data and multi media content;

means for receiving alphanumeric input;

means for outputting the voice data to the ear of a user;

means for displaying the multi media content during a voice call; and

means for positioning the means for displaying in at least two positions, wherein in a first position the displaying means faces substantially a same direction as said input receiving means and said outputting means so as to be viewable concurrently with said input means in a first position and wherein in a second position said displaying means faces substantially in an opposite direction as said input receiving means and said outputting means wherein the multi media content is viewable by at least one other person during the voice call when the means for outputting voice data is positioned in the second position at the ear of the user and is in other than a hands-free mode.

22. The mobile communication terminal of claim 21, further comprising a second means for communicating directly with at least one other mobile terminal.

23. The mobile communication terminal of claim 22, wherein the second means for communicating is configured to communicate data associated with the multi media content to the at least one other mobile terminal.

24. The mobile communication terminal of claim 23, wherein the data associated with the multi media content comprises a coupon.

25. The mobile communication terminal of claim 24, wherein the coupon comprises data identifying the mobile communication terminal.

26. The mobile communication terminal of claim 21, wherein the multi media content comprises at least one advertisement.

27. The mobile communication terminal of claim 26, wherein the at least one advertisement is received based on the geographic location of the mobile terminal.

28. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

housing adapted to be held by a user;

a keypad disposed on the housing;

a transceiver disposed within the housing and configured to transmit and receive voice data, the transceiver further configured to receive multi media content;

a first earpiece disposed within the housing and configured to output the voice data; and

a display disposed in the housing and configured to display the multi media content during a voice call via the transceiver,

wherein the display is positionable in at least two positions, wherein in a first position the display faces substantially a same direction as said keypad and said first earpiece so as to be viewable concurrently with said keypad and wherein in a second position the display faces substantially in an opposite direction as said keypad and said first earpiece wherein the multi media content displayed on the display in the second position is viewable by at least one other person during the voice call when the first earpiece is positioned in proximity to an ear of the user and wherein hands-free mode has been disabled when displaying the multi media content.

29. A method of measuring the effectiveness of a mobile advertising campaign using a first mobile terminal having a display configured to display data to at least one other person other than a user when the terminal is positioned proximate to the ear of the user, comprising:

presenting an advertisement on the display of the first mobile terminal during a voice call, said advertisement being visible to at least one non-user;

disabling hands-free mode of the first mobile terminal when presenting the advertisement;

identifying a second mobile terminal of said at least one non-user;

communicating a coupon from the first mobile terminal to the second mobile terminal; and

storing data indicative of whether the at least one viewer redeems the coupon.