System and method of providing advertisements to mobile devices

• US 8,027,877 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crolley, C. Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss; John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHORNESKY, ADAM B
• Application Number:
  US11/517,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20070061205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/10, 705/14.27, 705/14.28, 705/14.45, 705/14.52, 705/14.6, 705/14.64, 705/14.4, 705/14.49, 705/14.58, 370/254, 370/259
• US Class Current: 705/14.63
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of providing advertisements to mobile devices. In an embodiment, an approximate position of a mobile device along a path can be determined based at least partially on data identifying the mobile device within a cellular coverage region. A service can be selected at least partially based on the approximate position, and an advertisement relating to the selected service can be sent to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of providing advertisements to mobile devices, the method comprising:

receiving first data at a system server from a mobile device, wherein the first data includes an identification of the mobile device, an identification of communication equipment providing a first coverage region, and a first time, the first data indicating that the mobile device is within the first coverage region at the first time;

receiving a travel plan and a user preference at the system server from the mobile device, the travel plan identifying a beginning position and an ending position, the user preference indicating a preference for at least one service;

determining, at the system server, an approximate position of the mobile device along a path based at least partially on the first data and the travel plan;

selecting, at the system server, a service from a plurality of services at least partially based on the approximate position, the user preference, and the first time; and

sending an advertisement related to the selected service to the mobile device from the system server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the approximate position of the mobile device along the path is determined without determining an approximate geographic location of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the approximate position along the path is determined at least in part by retrieving stored data identifying a portion of the path within the first coverage region.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the stored data is retrieved from a database that relates the first coverage region to a segment of a freeway.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication equipment includes a cellular tower, and wherein the first coverage region includes a cellular coverage region.

6. The method of claim 5, further including:

receiving second data at the system server from the mobile device, the second data identifying a second cellular tower and a second time;

estimating, at the system server, a travel of the mobile device along the path, wherein the estimated travel includes a direction of travel, a rate of travel, or any combination thereof; and

wherein the service is selected based at least partially on the estimated travel of the mobile device along the path and a position on the path of a business providing the service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the service is selected based at least partially on the approximate position located within a predetermined portion of the path.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising estimating, at the system server, a time of travel of the mobile device to the position of the business;

and wherein the service is selected based at least partially on the estimated time of travel.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the system server, second data identifying the mobile device within a second coverage region at a second time; and

determining, at the system server, a suspension of travel of the mobile device along the path.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, at the system server, third data identifying the mobile device within a third coverage region at a third time; and

determining, at the system server, a continuation of travel of the mobile device along the path.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the beginning position and the ending position are along a freeway route.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a restaurant service is selected when the first time is associated with a common meal time.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a lodging service is selected when the first time is associated with nighttime.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the approximate position of the mobile device is determined based at least in part on the travel plan and a distance traveled from the beginning position.

15. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a processor readable medium accessible to the processor, the processor readable medium containing instructions executable by the processor to;

receive first transmitted data identifying a mobile device, a cellular tower, and a time;

query a first database to receive first stored data correlating the cellular tower to a segment of a freeway route;

receive a travel plan and a user preference from the mobile device, the travel plan identifying a beginning position and an ending position, the user preference indicating a service preference;

determine an approximate position of the mobile device along the freeway route based at least partially on the first stored data and the travel plan;

query a second database to receive second stored data correlating an available service to the time, to the user preference and to at least one predetermined position along the freeway route; and

send an advertisement related to the service to the mobile device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the advertisement of the service conforms with the service preference, wherein the service preference specifies that a restaurant service is preferred when the time is associated with a common meal time, and wherein the service preference specifies that a lodging service is preferred when the time is associated with nighttime.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the approximate position of the mobile device is determined based at least in part on the travel plan and a distance traveled from the beginning position.

18. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor;

a processor readable medium accessible to the processor; and

a computer program embedded in the processor readable medium, the computer program comprising instructions executable by the processor to;

receive a travel plan and a user service preference from a user, the travel plan identifying a beginning position and an ending position;

transmit data to an advertisement provider system, the data identifying the mobile device, a first time, the travel plan, the user service preference, and a cellular tower providing cellular communication to the mobile device at the first time; and

communicate with the advertisement provider system to receive a selected advertisement, the selected advertisement selected based on at least the first time and the user service preference.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions executable by the processor to periodically transmit the data at a time interval.

20. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the computer program is an applet.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the applet includes an interface to receive input data to control an operation of the applet.

22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the interface is accessible by the advertisement provider system via a transmission from the cellular tower.

23. A processor readable medium embodying executable instructions, the executable instructions including instructions to:

receive a travel plan and a user service preference from a user of a mobile device at a first time, the travel plan identifying a beginning position and an ending position; and

transmit data to an advertisement provider system, the data identifying the mobile device, the first time, the travel plan, a cellular tower providing cellular communication to the mobile device at the first time, and the user service preference, wherein the user service preference specifies that a restaurant service is preferred when the first time is associated with a common meal time, and wherein the user service preference specifies that a lodging service is preferred when the first time is associated with nighttime.