Method and system for an incentive program based on camera phone usage

• US 7,868,910 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Barbeau, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US11/243,644
• Time in Patent Office: 1,924 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416, 370/352, 370/356
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4784 receiving rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A method and system for (i) detecting each performance of any function of a plurality of functions associated with an incentive program, (ii) changing a stored value in response to detecting each performance of the function(s) associated with the incentive program, and (iii) transmitting to a network, an update value that corresponds to the stored value, for transmission in turn of the update value to a system coupled to the network. An incentive program may be arranged to provide incentive for users to perform the functions associated with the incentive program, so as to facilitate an entity in achieving a given objective or set of objectives. The incentive provided to the users may take the form of an award and is based on the update value(s) transmitted to the network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a camera phone detecting performance of any of a plurality of camera phone functions associated with an incentive program;

the camera phone changing a stored value in response to detecting performance of any of the plurality of camera phone functions associated with the incentive program; and

the camera phone transmitting an update value to a network, for transmission in turn to a system coupled to the network, wherein the update value corresponds to the stored value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the stored value in response to detecting each performance of any of the plurality of camera phone functions, comprises incrementing the stored value if the camera phone function performed and detected is a first type of function.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the stored value in response to detecting each performance of any of the camera phone functions, further comprises decrementing the stored value if the camera phone function performed and detected is a second type of function.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising decrementing the stored value by an amount corresponding to the update value, in response to transmitting the update value to the network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the network, an acknowledgement, sent by the system, that indicates the system has received the update value; and

decrementing the stored value by an amount corresponding to the update value, in response to receiving the acknowledgement from the network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the update value at the system; and

adding the update value to a cumulative value stored in data storage of the system.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising selecting an incentive award that corresponds with a given incentive value, wherein the given incentive value is less than or equal to the cumulative value.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

decrementing the cumulative value stored in data storage of the system by the given incentive value.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a communication session with the system prior to transmitting the update value to the network.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the camera phone displaying the stored value, a menu that lists the functions associated with the incentive program, and an indication that the stored value is greater than or equal to a given incentive value.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the camera phone playing out an audible tone that indicates a function of the plurality of camera phones associated with the incentive program has been performed.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the camera phone playing out an audible tone that indicates the stored value is greater than or equal to a given incentive value.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the update value is a percentage of the stored value.

14. A camera phone comprising:

a processor for executing program logic to (i) detect performance of any of a plurality of camera phone functions associated with an incentive program, and (ii) change a stored value in response to detecting performance of any of the plurality of camera phone functions associated with the incentive program;

data storage for storing the program logic and the stored value; and

a communication interface for transmitting an update value to a network, for transmission in turn to a system coupled to the network, wherein the update value corresponds to the stored value.

15. The camera phone of claim 14, wherein the program logic to change the stored value comprises logic for incrementing the stored value if a camera phone function performed and detected is a first type of function.

16. The camera phone of claim 15, wherein the first type of function is selected from the group consisting of (i) capturing an image, (ii) sending an image to share, (iii) sending an image to store, (iv) accessing a stored image, (v) receiving an image via the communication interface, (vi) viewing an image, (vii) formatting an image, (viii) applying a fun-frame graphic to an image, (ix) editing an image, (x) correlating an image with a recipient identifier, and (xi) sending a signal to enroll in the incentive program.

17. The camera phone of claim 15, wherein the program logic to change the stored value further comprises logic for decrementing the stored value if a camera phone function performed and detected is a second type of function.

18. The camera phone of claim 17, wherein the second type of function is selected from the group consisting of (i) deleting a digital image, (ii) deleting a digital image that has not been sent to share, (iii) deleting a digital image that has not been sent to store, and (iv) sending a signal to end participation in the incentive program.

19. The camera phone of claim 14, further comprising a user interface for performing the plurality of camera phone functions associated with the incentive program.

20. The camera phone of claim 14, wherein the communication interface comprises a wireless communication interface for establishing a wireless data session through which to communicate with the system.

21. The camera phone of claim 14, wherein the program logic comprises logic for decrementing the stored value by an amount that corresponds to the update value.

22. The camera phone of claim 14, wherein the system comprises (i) another processor for executing additional program logic for adding the update value to a cumulative value that corresponds to the camera phone, and (ii) data storage for storing the additional program logic and the cumulative value.

23. A camera phone comprising:

means for detecting performance of any of a plurality of camera phone functions associated with an incentive program;

means for changing a stored value in response to detecting performance of any of the plurality of camera phone functions associated with the incentive program; and

means for transmitting an update value to a network, for transmission in turn to a system that adds the update value to a cumulative value, wherein the update value corresponds to the stored value.

24. The camera phone of claim 23, further comprising means to perform the plurality of camera phone functions associated with the incentive program.