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

• US 7,844,288 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• 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): Edouard; Patrick N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JUSTIN YE
• Application Number:
  US12/330,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/466, 455/412.1, 455/575.1
• 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:

a 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;

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

a display disposed in the housing, wherein the display faces substantially in an opposite direction as the earpiece and wherein the display is configured to display multimedia content during a voice call, when hands-free modes of the mobile communication terminal are not in use, and the earpiece is positioned proximate to an ear of the user.

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 is configured to communicate data associated with the multimedia content to the at least one other mobile terminal.

4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 3, wherein the data associated with the multi media content comprising at least one of a coupon and identifying information of the user.

5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 3, wherein the data associated with the multi media content comprises a coupon.

6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 5, wherein the at least one advertisement is received by the transceiver based on the geographic location of mobile communication terminal.

7. 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 opposite the earpiece, and wherein the first and second portions of the housing are adapted to be positioned in at least two positions relative to each other.

8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 7, further comprising at least one hinged arm attaching the first and second portions.

9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the multimedia content is displayed during a phone call.

10. A method of providing incentives to a mobile communications terminal user for displaying multimedia content via a mobile terminal display that is disposed in a housing of the mobile terminal facing substantially opposite in direction from an earpiece of the mobile terminal when that earpiece is held proximate to an ear of a user during a non-hands free voice call, comprising:

receiving input via a input device of the mobile terminal indicative of a user response to an incentive;

configuring the mobile terminal to present multimedia content during a non-hands free voice call in response to said received input; and

presenting multimedia content via the display of the mobile terminal that faces substantially opposite the earpiece when the earpiece is positioned proximate to the ear of the user during a non-hands free voice call.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining whether incentives are available to the user based at least in part on the location of the mobile terminal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, from a service provider, notification when a determination is made that incentives are available.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a user interface for the user to opt-in for the notifications.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a user interface for the user to opt-out of the notifications.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said incentive comprises at least one of discounted talk time, free talk time, free internet access, and free content downloads.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the multimedia content comprises advertising.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising communicating the advertisement to the mobile terminal.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising communicating a coupon related to the multimedia content and the identifier of the user to a person other than the user.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing the user notification of additional incentives provided based on information indicating that a communicated coupon from the user has been redeemed.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing an interface for the user to choose categories of multimedia to be displayed via the mobile communication terminal display.