Method of providing targeted information using wireless subscription management

• US 8,457,052 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fingerhut, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Jagannathan, Melanie
• Application Number:
  US13/527,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20120259708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A wireless communication device receives targeted information and/or advertisements. The wireless communication device is preprogrammed with a generic network address only. To communicate over a network, the wireless communication sends an activation request message to the network, including its generic network address (GNA) and information indicative of the base station via which communication is taking place. Knowing the geographical location of the base station, it is possible to send to the wireless communication device via its GNA, or a subsequently provided unique network address (UNA), information or advertisements targeted to the geographical location or particular wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for providing targeted information, the method comprising:

receiving, at a computer, an activation request message from a device, the activation request message comprising a generic network address assigned to the device and base station information identifying a base station via which the activation request message was transmitted;

detecting, by the computer from the activation request message, the base station information identifying the base station via which the activation request message was transmitted; and

transmitting, by the computer via the base station, the targeted information to the device using the generic network address assigned to the device as an address for the device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the activation request message is approved for receiving a unique network address;

upon determining that the activation request message is approved, generating an activation response message comprising a unique network address; and

upon determining that the activation request message is not approved, returning the unique network address to a unique network address pool for subsequent use by another device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting, by the computer, the activation response message comprising the unique network address to the device upon determining that the activation request message is approved.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the activation response message comprising the unique network address to the device upon determining that the activation request message is approved comprises broadcasting the activation response message through the base station that originally transmitted the activation request message.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the activation response message further comprises a welcome message from a service provider.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the target information comprises an offer for sale of a service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the base station information comprises a node number and a base station number inserted in fields of the activation request message.

8. A system for providing targeted information, the system comprising:

a memory that stores a program containing computer-executable instructions for providing the targeted information; and

a processor functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to the computer-executable instructions contained in the program that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to

receive an activation request message from a device, the activation request message comprising a generic network address assigned to the device and base station information identifying a base station via which the activation request message was transmitted,

detect the base station information identifying the base station via which the activation request message was transmitted, and

transmit the targeted information to the device using the generic network address assigned to the device as an address for the device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is responsive to further computer-executable instructions contained in the program that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

determine whether the activation request message is approved for receiving a unique network address;

upon determining that the activation request message is approved, generate an activation response message comprising a unique network address; and

upon determining that the activation request message is not approved, return the unique network address to a unique network address pool for subsequent use by another device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is responsive to further computer-executable instructions contained in the program that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit the activation response message comprising the unique network address to the device upon determining that the activation request message is approved.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein transmitting the activation response message comprising the unique network address to the device upon determining that the activation request message is approved comprises broadcasting the activation response message through the base station that originally transmitted the activation request message.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the activation response message further comprises a welcome message from a service provider.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the target information comprises an offer for sale of a service.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the base station information comprises a node number and a base station number inserted in fields of the activation request message.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a computer, a message from a device, the message comprising a generic network address assigned to the device and geographic information corresponding to a location of the device;

determining, by the computer based on the generic network address assigned to the device, a defined geographic area associated with the device;

determining, by the computer based on the geographic information corresponding to the location of the device, whether the device is in the defined geographical area; and

upon determining that the device is not in the defined geographical area, providing, by the computer, an alert.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the alert is provided to an entity tracking the location of the device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the alert indicates that the location of the device needs to be investigated.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein messages from the device comprising the generic network address assigned to the device and geographic information corresponding to locations of the device over a period of time are received at predetermined tracking intervals.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the message further comprises a manufacturer serial number associated with the device, the manufacturer serial number used along with the generic network address assigned to the device to determine the defined geographic area associated with the device.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the device is not assigned a unique network address.