Method of creating incentives for establishing hotspot locations

• US 7,873,538 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• 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:
  US11/976,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.13, 705/1, 705/10, 705/14.4, 705/14.44, 705/14.49, 705/14.53, 705/14.62, 705/14.64, 705/14.66, 705/14.72, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 455/414.1, 455/566
• US Class Current: 705/14.64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0245 Surveys
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• 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 15/93 using near field or similar technologies
• 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 12/50 : Secure pairing of devices
• 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 process of creating incentives for wireless hotspots by a service provider is disclosed. An access point is provided to a wireless hotspot for wireless devices to wirelessly connect to a larger network in a publicly accessible location. Use of the access point for a portable device is authenticated by requesting submission of an account identifier to the service provider and billing data for a user of the portable device for use of the access point is generated. Use statistics are evaluated of the access point of the wireless hotspot by portables devices and an inducement is provided to the publicly accessible location based on the evaluated use statistics.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by at least one mobile device, an image relating to one or both of a good and/or a service associated with an entity operating a wireless hotspot, the image for modifying an appearance of a screen of the at least one mobile wireless device;

providing, by the at least one mobile device, via the wireless hotspot, to one of a wireless telephone provider or a landline telephone provider, information about the amount and types of services being used by a user of the at least one mobile wireless device; and

receiving, by the at least one mobile device, an offer of services from the wireless hotspot, wherein said offer of services is based on a determination of whether previous services offered from the wireless hotspot should be expanded, decreased, or maintained, wherein the determination is made by the one of a wireless telephone provider or a landline telephone provider and is based on the provided information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the image for bundled goods and/or services to the at least one mobile wireless device for modifying a browser window configured to allow users of the at least one mobile wireless device to make a selection.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving data associated with at least one good and/or service associated with the entity configured to provide the wireless hotspot.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying the connection comprises receiving an identifier of the wireless hotspot.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying comprises identifying the connection to the wireless hotspot configured to provide wireless access via an IEEE 802.11 local area network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying comprises providing the connection to the wireless hotspot via an IEEE 802.11 local area network to a user of the at least one mobile wireless device free of charge in exchange for the user'"'"'s consent to receive ads.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting advertising ads for the entity configured to provide the wireless hotspot to the at least one mobile wireless device.

8. A system, comprising:

an access point configured to transmit an image relating to one or both of a good and/or a service associated with an entity operating a wireless hotspot, the image for modifying an appearance of a screen of at least one mobile wireless device, wherein the wireless hotspot provides, to one of a wireless telephone provider or a landline telephone provider, information about the amount and types of services being used by a user of the at least one mobile wireless device, and wherein services to the wireless hotspot are expanded, decreased, or maintained based on the provided information.

9. A system, comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting an image relating to one or both of a good and/or a service associated with an entity operating a wireless hotspot, for modifying an appearance of a screen of at least one mobile wireless device; and

wherein the wireless hotspot provides, to one of a wireless telephone provider or a landline telephone provider, information about the amount and types of services being used by a user of the at least one mobile wireless device, and wherein services to the wireless hotspot are expanded, decreased, or maintained based on the provided information.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a mobile wireless device, an image relating to one or both of a good and/or a service associated with an entity operating a wireless hotspot;

modifying an appearance of a screen of the mobile wireless device;

providing information, from the mobile wireless device, about the amount and types of services being used by a user of the mobile wireless device, wherein the feedback is provided to one of a wireless telephone provider or a landline telephone provider, wherein the feedback is used to expand, decrease or maintain services to the mobile device from the wireless hotspot.

11. A method, comprising:

transmitting an image relating to one or both of a good and/or a service associated with an entity operating a wireless hotspot, the image for modifying an appearance of a screen of at least one mobile wireless device;

receiving, by the wireless hotspot, information from the at least one mobile device about the amount and types of services being used by a user of the at least one mobile wireless device;

providing, by the wireless hotspot, the information to one of a wireless telephone provider or a landline telephone provider; and

offering services from the wireless hotspot, wherein said offering is based on a determination of whether previous services offered from the wireless hotspot should be expanded, decreased, or maintained, wherein the determination is made by the one of a wireless telephone provider or a landline telephone provider and is based on the provided information.