Method of creating incentives for using wireless hotspot locations

• US 7,526,272 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seshadri, Nambi, Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US11/517,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20070121839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.04, 455405-408, 455/411, 455/414.1, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/432.2, 455/435.1, 455/436, 379/112.01, 379/112.06, 379/114.03, 379/114.05, 379/468
• US Class Current: 455/408
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• 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 2215/46 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A system and method of distributing incentives for wireless hotspots is provided. The method includes providing an access point to a wireless hotspot for wireless devices to wirelessly connect to a larger network in a publicly accessible location, evaluating use statistics of the access point of the wireless hotspot by portable devices, and providing an inducement to a user of the wireless hotspot based on the evaluated use statistics. The system includes a first provider for providing an access point to a wireless hotspot for wireless devices to wirelessly connect to a larger network in a publicly accessible location, an evaluator for evaluating use statistics of the access point of the wireless hotspot by portables devices, and a second provider for providing an inducement to a user of the wireless hotspot based on the evaluated use statistics.

Claims

1. A method of distributing incentives for wireless hotspots, comprising:

providing an access point to a wireless hotspot for wireless devices to wirelessly connect to a larger network in a publicly accessible location;

evaluating use statistics of the access point of the wireless hotspot by portable devices; and

providing an inducement to a user of the wireless hotspot based on the evaluated use statistics.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein evaluating the use statistics of the access point comprises evaluating a number uses of the access point by the user.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein evaluating the use statistics of the access point comprises evaluating types of services utilized by the user of the access point of the wireless hotspot.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing an inducement comprises providing the user of the wireless hotspot with compensation based upon the use statistics.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing an inducement comprises providing a coupon redeemable for goods or services at a location of the wireless hotspot.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing an inducement comprises providing the user with a portion of free access to the wireless hotspot in accordance with the use statistics.

7. A system for monitoring and creating incentives for users of wireless hotspots, comprising:

first providing means for providing an access point to a wireless hotspot for wireless devices to wirelessly connect to a larger network in a public location;

evaluating means for evaluating use statistics of the access point of the wireless hotspot by users of portable devices; and

second providing means for providing an inducement to the users of the wireless hotspot based on the evaluated use statistics.

8. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein said evaluating means comprises a computation device configured to determine a number of uses by the user of the wireless hotspot.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said computation device is configured to evaluate types of services utilized by the user.

10. A system as recited in claim 7, further comprising authenticating means for authenticating use of the access point for a portable device by requiring submission of an account identifier to one of a wireless telephone service provider and a landline telephone service provider.

11. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein said second providing means comprises a third providing means for providing subsidized access to the access point of the wireless hotspot for selected users affiliated with the wireless hotspot.

12. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein said second providing means comprises advertising means for advertising services available from the wireless hotspot or a service provider at the location of the wireless hotspot to the user of the wireless hotspot.

13. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the evaluating means is configured to determine a number uses of the access point by the user.

14. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein evalutaing means is configured to evaluate types of services utilized by the user of the access point of the wireless hotspot.

15. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the second providing means is configured provide the user of the wireless hotspot with compensation based upon the evaluated use statistics.

16. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the second providing means is configured to provide the user with a redeemable coupon for goods or services at the location of the wireless hotspot based upon the evaluated use statistics.

17. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the second providing means is configured to provide the user with a quantity of free access to the wireless hotspot in accordance with the use statistics.

18. A system for monitoring of wireless hotspots and creating incentives for users of the wireless hotspot, comprising:

a first provider for providing an access point to a wireless hotspot for wireless devices to wirelessly connect to a larger network in a publicly accessible location;

an evaluator for evaluating use statistics of the access point of the wireless hotspot by portables devices; and

a second provider for providing an inducement to a user of the wireless hotspot based on the evaluated use statistics.

19. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein the evaluator is configured to evaluate types of services utilized by the user of the access point of the wireless hotspot.

20. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein the second provider is configured provide the user of the wireless hotspot with compensation based upon the evaluated use statistics.

21. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein the second provider is configured to provide the user with a redeemable coupon for goods or services at the location of the wireless hotspot based upon the evaluated use statistics.

22. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein the second provider is configured to provide the user with a quantity of free access to the wireless hotspot in accordance with the use statistics.