Systems, devices and methods for providing a reward based upon use of a mobile communications device

• US 7,640,032 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Donald John
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor; Barry W
• Application Number:
  US12/102,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20080221925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/418, 455/419
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide systems, devices and methods for providing a reward to a user of a mobile communications device. The described embodiments, for example, may include a mobile communications device that exchanges query data and response data, with a computer system over a communications network. The computer system includes an evaluation application operable to determine a predetermined reward based on, at least in part, the received response data. The response data is received by the mobile communications device from the user in response to query data presented to the user by the mobile communications device. The predetermined reward, for example, may affect an operational characteristic of the mobile communications device on the wireless network. Also disclosed are systems, devices and methods that include an outcome application, associated with the computer system, that generates an outcome determination based on, at least in part, the response data.

Claims

1. A computer system to communication with a mobile communication device, the computer system comprising:

a communication interface adapted to transmit query data to the mobile communication device and adapted to receive response data from the mobile communication device over a network;

a processor having an evaluation application coupled to the communication interface; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing predefined criteria, wherein the evaluation application is adapted to compare the response data received by the communication to predefined criteria, such that

the evaluation application is adapted to provide a reward based on the comparison of the response data to the predefined criteria.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the processor causes the reward to be transmitted to a communications service provider.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the evaluation application is adapted to provide one of a plurality of rewards based on the comparison of the response data to the predefined criteria.

4. The computer system of claim 3 wherein the plurality of rewards comprises a series of graduated rewards.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the processor is adapted to download a resident evaluation application to a mobile communication device such that the resident evaluation application causes the query data to be displayed on the mobile communication device.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the predefined criteria is selected from a group of criteria consisting of one or more of:

how well a participant feels;

how well a participant feels a product is working, or test results.

7. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the predefined criteria comprises evaluating the response data over time.

8. A mobile communications device, comprising:

a communications module adapted to transmit and receive data over a communication network;

a processor to run a resident evaluation application;

a display, the resident evaluation application in response to query data adapted to cause the display to display the query data to a user; and

an input adapted to allow a user to input response data in response to the query data displayed on the display;

such that

the resident evaluation application is adapted to transmit the response data over the communication network to an evaluation application that compares the response data to a predefined criteria to determine one of a plurality of rewards for providing the response data.

9. The mobile communications device of claim 8 wherein the resident evaluation application is downloaded over the communication network.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 8 wherein the mobile communication device is selected from the group of communication devices consisting of:

a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, or a mobile personal computer.

11. The mobile communications device of claim 8 wherein the resident application causes the query data to be displayed to solicit response data selected from a group of response data consisting of:

how well a participant feels;

how well a participant feels a product is working, or test results.

12. A system for evaluating the effectiveness of medical product or drug that facilitates participation by providing a reward based on response data, comprising:

transmitting query data to a mobile communications device relating to the medical product or drug;

receiving response data from the mobile communications device, the response data corresponding to the query data and adapted to be compared to a predefined criteria;

comparing the response data received from the mobile device to the predefined criteria;

determining a reward based on the comparison of the response data received from the mobile communications device to the predefined criteria; and

awarding the reward.

13. The system for evaluating of claim 12, comprising establishing the predefined criteria.

14. The system for evaluating of claim 12 wherein transmitted query data is designed to solicit the response data selected from a group of response data consisting of:

how well a participant feels;

how well a participant feels a product is working, or test results.

15. The system for evaluating of claim 12, comprising downloading a resident evaluation application to the mobile communications device, the resident evaluation application adapted to cause the query data to be displayed on a display of the mobile communications device.

16. The system for evaluating of claim 12, wherein the determining the reward comprises selecting one of a plurality of rewards.

17. The system for evaluating of claim 16, wherein the plurality of rewards are graduated rewards.

18. The system for evaluation of claim 12, wherein awarding the reward comprises updating a user account with the reward.

19. A computer system in selective communication with at least one mobile communications device, comprising:

means for transmitting and receiving data over a communication network, the means for transmitting adapted to transmit query data to the mobile communications device, the means for receiving data adapted to receiver response data transmitted from the mobile communications device in response to the query data;

means for evaluating the response data against a predefined criteria; and

means for awarding a reward wherein the reward is based on the means for evaluating the response data against the predefined criteria.

20. The computer system of claim 19 wherein the predefined criteria data is designed to solicit response data selected from a group of response data consisting of:

how well a participant feels;

how well a participant feels a product is working, or test results.

21. Computer readable code encoded on a computer readable medium that when executed, directs a computer system in communication with a communication network to perform the acts of:

transmitting at least one query data to a communication network to be received by a communication device;

receiving at least one response data from the communication network transmitted by a communication device relating to the at least one query data;

evaluating the at least one response data from the communication network to at least one predefined criteria relating to performance of a medical product, drug, or procedure; and

awarding a reward based on the evaluation of the at least one response data from the communication network to at least one predefined criteria.