Systems and methods for providing mobile advertising and directory assistance services

• US 8,140,649 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Durand, Terry, Cenciarelli, Fulvio
• Primary Examiner(s): Dennison, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US12/962,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 715/201
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

Rich multimedia content is provided to a wireless device, particularly in response to a request for directory assistance generated by a client application. The multimedia content is provided as a multimedia message including bundled multimedia elements such as images, sound, text, and video files. The multimedia elements are compiled into a single multimedia presentation or deck that includes multiple screens that are automatically advanced for the convenience of the wireless device user. The user can interact with elements of the multimedia presentation, for example by placing orders, providing payment information, controlling playback, and forwarding or saving the deck to the wireless device. Multiple decks may be retrieved by a single request, and the decks are presented in an order determined by a bidding system or according to user preferences. Elements can be presented visually and/or audibly, and the user can interact using voice commands, manual entries, or stored entries.

Claims

1. A device for placing an order in a wireless telecommunications network, the device comprising:

an input interface;

an output interface;

a transceiver;

a processor in communication with the input interface, the output interface, and the transceiver; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory being configured to store instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to;

responsive to receiving a search parameter via the input interface, generate a search query for content, the search query comprising the search parameter;

transmit, via the transceiver, the search query to a server by way of the wireless telecommunications network;

receive, from the server via the transceiver as at least one multimedia messaging service (MMS) message, at least one bundle of multimedia content related to an entity identified by the search parameter, the bundle of multimedia content being compiled into an interactive multimedia presentation;

present, via the output interface, the interactive multimedia presentation, the interactive multimedia presentation comprising at least one item associated with the entity;

receive, via the input interface, an input, the input comprising a selection of at least one of the at least one item presented in the interactive multimedia presentation; and

transmit, via the transceiver, an order to the entity, the order comprising the item selection.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to generate the search query comprising the search parameter comprise instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to generate the search query, the search query comprising the search parameter, wherein the search parameter comprises a parameter selected from a group of parameters consisting of a location of the device, a geographic target location, a location of the entity, an entity type, an entity name, a product type, an entity characteristic, and a search radius.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to transmit the order to the entity comprise instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to transmit the order to the entity, the order comprising order details, wherein the order details comprise order details selected from a group of order details consisting of a user identification information, a payment method, a billing address, a delivery address, an email address, a telephone number, an order fulfillment method consisting of pickup, delivery, and download, a quantity, a color, and a size.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to present, via the output interface, the interactive multimedia presentation comprise instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to present, via the output interface, the interactive multimedia presentation comprising a menu, wherein the menu comprises the at least one item associated with the entity.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to store instructions that, when executed, make the processor also operable to:

receive, via the transceiver, an update for the interactive multimedia presentation; and

update the interactive multimedia presentation according to the update.

6. A device for redeeming a coupon in a wireless telecommunications network, the device comprising:

an input interface;

an output interface;

a transceiver;

a processor in communication with the input interface, the output interface, and the transceiver; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory being configured to store instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to;

responsive to receiving a search parameter via the input interface, generate a search query for content, the search query comprising the search parameter;

transmit, via the transceiver, the search query to a server by way of the wireless telecommunications network;

receive, from the server via the transceiver as at least one multimedia messaging service (MMS) message, at least one bundle of multimedia content related to an entity identified by the search parameter, the bundle of multimedia content being compiled into an interactive multimedia presentation comprising a coupon for an item;

present, via the output interface, the interactive multimedia presentation, the interactive multimedia presentation comprising a representation of the coupon for the item; and

transmit, via the transceiver, the coupon to the entity.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the memory is further configured to store instructions that, when executed, make the processor also operable to:

receive, via the input interface, a selection of the item presented in the interactive multimedia presentation, wherein the item is presented in the interactive multimedia presentation as one selection option of a plurality of selection options in a menu of the interactive multimedia presentation;

wherein the instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to transmit, via the transceiver, the coupon comprise instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to transmit a request for the item to the entity, the request comprising the coupon.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the coupon comprises a redemption code.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the coupon comprises a redemption code.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to transmit, via the transceiver, the coupon comprise instructions that when executed, make the processor operable to, place a voice call to the entity, the voice call being used to provide the redemption code to the entity.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to transmit, via the transceiver, the coupon comprise instructions that when executed, make the processor operable to, generate and send a text message to the entity, the text message being used to provide the redemption code to the entity.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to transmit, via the transceiver, the coupon comprise instructions that when executed, make the processor operable to, generate and send an MMS message to the entity, the MMS message being used to provide the redemption code to the entity.

13. The device of claim 6, wherein the memory is further configured to store instructions that, when executed, make the processor also operable to:

receive, via the transceiver, an update for the interactive multimedia presentation; and

update the interactive multimedia presentation according to the update.

14. A device for receiving entity-related directory assistance data in a wireless telecommunications network, the device comprising:

an input interface;

an output interface;

a transceiver;

a processor in communication with the input interface, the output interface, and the transceiver; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory being configured to store instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to;

responsive to receiving a parameter via the input interface, generate a text message comprising a request for content from an entity, the request comprising the parameter selected from a group of parameters consisting of;

a location of the device, a geographic target location, a location of an entity, an entity type, an entity name, a product type, an entity characteristic, and a search radius;

transmit, via the transceiver, the text message to a server by way of the wireless telecommunications network;

receive, from the server via the transceiver, at least one multimedia messaging service (MMS) message comprising multimedia content related to the entity, the multimedia content being formatted as an interactive multimedia presentation; and

present, via the output interface, the interactive multimedia presentation.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the interactive multimedia presentation comprises presentation content selected from a group of presentation content consisting of contact information, directions, coupons, and advertisements.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to generate the text message comprise instructions that, when executed, make the processor operable to generate the text message in response to receiving a feature code via the input interface.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the memory is further configured to store instructions that, when executed, make the processor also operable to:

receive, via the transceiver, an update for the interactive multimedia presentation; and

update the interactive multimedia presentation according to the update.