System and method for interactive marketing using networked devices

• US 7,870,020 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Andreasson, Markus, Bengtsson, Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): TARAE, CATHERINE MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US11/857,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/14.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems

Abstract

An interactive marketing technique may include distributing a marketing item to electronic devices. The users of the electronic devices may share the marketing item with other electronic devices to progressively attain credit that leads to an ability to use the marketing item. Also, sharing of the marketing item may progressively display larger portions of an image content component of the marketing item on a display of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method of displaying an image in accordance with progressive user action, comprising:

receiving an image component with a first electronic device;

displaying an initially viewable portion of the image component on a display of the first electronic device;

passing a data file or a message associated with the image component to a second electronic device;

attributing credit in the form of a predetermined number of pixels to the first electronic device for the passing of the data file or message; and

refreshing the display of the image component to display a portion of the image component that corresponds to the initially viewable portion and a portion corresponding to the attributed pixel credit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image component is associated with a marketing item and the method further comprising providing a discount for a product or service in response to redemption of the marketing item by a user of one of the first or second electronic devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein credit resulting from a combination of passes from the first electronic device to other electronic devices and passes initiated by at least some of the other electronic devices are aggregated.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the aggregated credit permits the first electronic device to display a portion of the image component that is larger than the initial portion of the image component and that corresponds to a value associated with the aggregated credit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a predetermined amount of aggregated credit permits display of the entire image component.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein a remainder portion of the image component that does not form part of the displayable portion is displayable in a faded form.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein a predetermined amount of aggregated credits qualifies a marketing item associated with the image component for redemption.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the passing from the first electronic device to the second electronic device includes sending a message related to a marketing item from the first electronic device to the second electronic device and the second electronic device obtaining the marketing item from a server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein additional passing attributes additional pixel credits to the first electronic device and, when a predetermined number of pixel credits are accumulated, displaying the entire image component.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying in a faded form a remaining portion of the image component that is not available for display based on the pixel credits attributed to the electronic device.

11. An electronic device in which an image is displayed in accordance with progressive user action, comprising:

a display; and

a control circuit configured to;

process an image component and cause display of an initially viewable portion of the image component on the display;

pass a data file or a message associated with the image component to a second electronic device;

process credit in the form of a predetermined number of pixels that is attributed to the first electronic device for the passing of the data file or message; and

refresh the display of the image component to display a portion of the image component that corresponds to the initially viewable portion and a portion corresponding to the attributed pixel credit.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein additional passing attributes additional pixel credits to the electronic device and the controller is further configured to display the entire image component when a predetermined number of pixel credits are accumulated.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to display in a faded form a remaining portion of the image component that is not available for display based on the pixel credits attributed to the electronic device.