Transaction management system in a multicast or broadcast wireless communication network

• US 8,509,748 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lava Two, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Lava Two, LLC.
• Inventors: McKenna, Daniel Bernard, Graziano, James Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): SAMS, MATTHEW C
• Application Number:
  US12/675,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20100241527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,174 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231, 725105-134, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

The reverse path transaction management system enables the subscriber to receive a multicast on their wireless subscriber device via the forward path of a multicast channel or via a unidirectional broadcast channel concurrently with a plurality of other subscribers on the same multicast channel or broadcast channel. The subscribers can simultaneously initiate a transaction to purchase goods and/or services via the reverse path associated with the shared multicast channel or via a separate cellular communication connection associated with the broadcast channel. Typically, goods and/or services are offered to the subscriber as part of the multicast extant on the shared forward channel.

Claims

1. A reverse path transaction management system for providing transaction services to end users who are equipped with wireless end user devices via a wireless communication network that implements a plurality of cell sites, comprising:

a multicast manager for identifying subscribers, whose wireless end user device is active in a cell site of the wireless communication network, using a unique address for each wireless end user device;

a processor for identifying groups of the identified subscribers, whose wireless end user device is active in the cell site of the wireless communication network, that have commonality of interest in one of a plurality of available multi-media program sources;

a unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path, operable in the cell site and connected to and shared by the wireless end user devices of subscribers in an identified group, for concurrently transmitting multi-media content from the one of a plurality of available multi-media program sources to the wireless end user devices of subscribers in the identified group via a multicast on the unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path;

a plurality of wireless private bidirectional communication paths, each separate from the unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path and unique to each of the wireless end user devices of subscribers in the identified group, for exchanging data between the wireless end user devices and the multicast manager;

a transaction manager, responsive to one of the wireless end user devices of subscribers in the identified group transmitting a transaction initiation signal on their associated wireless private bidirectional communication path to the multicast manager concurrently with receipt of the multi-media content multicast on the unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path, for identifying the one wireless end user device using the unique address as well as tag information retrieved from the multicast that identifies one of goods and services for purchase presently displayed in the multi-media content multicast; and

a transaction processor for exchanging data with the one wireless end user device via the wireless private bidirectional communication path using the unique address for the wireless end user device to implement a transaction while the wireless end user device is concurrently receiving the multicast content via the unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path.

2. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1 wherein the multicast manager comprises:

a mobile switching center for assigning each of the plurality of wireless end user devices a unique address for use on the wireless private bidirectional communication path.

3. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1 wherein said transaction manager comprises:

an end user identification operable concurrently with delivery of the multi-media content to the plurality of wireless end user devices for uniquely identifying the one end user device transmitting a transaction initiation signal.

4. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 3 wherein said transaction manager further comprises:

an end user profile manager, responsive to said end user identification, for retrieving a service profile of the one end user device.

5. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 3 wherein the service profile of the one end user device includes at least one of:

end user wireless service account information, end user credit card information, and end user service authorization data.

6. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1 wherein said transaction processor comprises:

a transaction tag identification for excerpting advertisement identification data from the multi-media content transmitted via the unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path for identifying a one of a product or service that is the subject of the transaction.

7. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1 wherein said transaction processor comprises:

an information exchange for exchanging messages exclusively with the one wireless end user for completion of the transaction, including data relating to at least one of;

verification of the transaction, authorization to complete the transaction, a further definition of the goods or services desired, payment instructions, and delivery instructions.

8. A reverse path transaction management method for providing transaction services to end users, who are equipped with wireless end user devices, via a wireless communication network that implements a plurality of cell sites and which comprises a unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path, operable in a cell site and connected to and shared by a plurality of wireless end user devices that are active in the cell site of the wireless communication network, and a plurality of wireless private bidirectional communication paths, each separate from the unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path and unique to each of the plurality of wireless end user devices that are active in the cell site of the wireless communication network, for exchanging data between the wireless end user devices and a multicast manager, said reverse path transaction management method comprising:

registering each of the plurality of wireless end user devices that are active in a cell site of the wireless communication network;

identifying groups of the registered subscribers, whose wireless end user device is active in the cell site of the wireless communication network, that have commonality of interest in one of a plurality of available multi-media program sources;

concurrently transmitting multi-media content from the one of a plurality of available multi-media program sources to the wireless end user devices of subscribers in the identified group served by the unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path via a multicast;

identifying, in response to one of the plurality of wireless end user devices of subscribers in the identified group transmitting a transaction initiation signal on their associated wireless private bidirectional communication path to the multicast manager concurrently with receipt of the multi-media content multicast on the unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path, the one wireless end user device using the unique address as well as tag information retrieved from the multicast that identifies one of goods and services for purchase presently displayed in the multi-media content multicast; and

exchanging data with the one wireless end user device via the wireless private bidirectional communication path using the unique address for the wireless end user device to implement a transaction while the wireless end user device is concurrently receiving the multicast content via the unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path.

9. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 8 wherein said step of identifying comprises:

assigning each of the plurality of wireless end user devices a unique address for use on the wireless private bidirectional communication path.

10. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 8 wherein said step of exchanging comprises:

uniquely identifying, concurrently with delivery of multi-media content to the plurality of wireless end user devices, the one end user device transmitting a transaction initiation signal.

11. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 10 wherein said step of exchanging further comprises:

retrieving, in response to said subscriber identification, a service profile of the one end user device.

12. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 10 wherein the service profile of the one end user device includes at least one of:

end user wireless service account information, end user credit card information, and end user service authorization data.

13. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 8 wherein said step of exchanging comprises:

excerpting advertisement identification data from the multi-media content transmitted via the unidirectional wireless forward broadcast path for identifying a one of a product or service that is the subject of the transaction.

14. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 8 wherein said step of exchanging comprises:

exchanging messages exclusively with the one wireless end user for completion of the transaction, including data relating to at least one of;

verification of the transaction, authorization to complete the transaction, a further definition of the goods or services desired, payment instructions, and delivery instructions.