Dynamically and predictively updating mobile devices as mobile users pass through projected locations

• US 8,694,376 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2008
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2008
• 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: Bishop, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Macasiano, Marilyn G
• Application Number:
  US12/235,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20100076829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,024 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/527, 705/37, 705/14, 705/14.58, 705/14.45, 705/14.63, 705/14.64, 707/100, 707/736, 709/217, 455/414.2
• US Class Current: 705/14.58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

This description provides tools and techniques for dynamically and predictively updating mobile devices as mobile users pass through projected locations. These tools may provide methods that include defining thresholds applicable to at least portions of travel itineraries on which mobile users are traveling. The methods may also identify advertisements to send to mobile devices associated with the mobile users, upon meeting the threshold. The methods may also send the selected advertisements, as associated with corresponding advertisers, to the mobile devices.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

ascertaining a travel itinerary for a mobile user associated with a mobile device;

determining an expected area through which the mobile user is to pass when traveling according to the itinerary;

determining whether the mobile device is traveling locally;

searching for advertisers proximate the expected area;

associating a particular advertiser found in the search with the expected area; and

initiating sending, to the mobile device, advertising data associated with the particular advertiser;

wherein the operation of searching for advertisers comprises;

searching, if the mobile device is determined to be traveling locally, for advertisers using a circular search pattern; and

searching, if the mobile device is determined to not be traveling locally, for advertisers using a conical search pattern.

2. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise enabling, in response to a keyword representation stored within the mobile device being activated while the mobile device is within the expected area, a plurality of advertisers, including the particular advertiser, to bid for rights to respond to the mobile user.

3. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise projecting a time at which the mobile user is expected to arrive at the expected area, and wherein the operation of searching for advertisers includes comparing operating hours associated with a plurality of advertisers including the particular advertiser with the time at which the mobile user is projected to arrive at the expected area.

4. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein:

the operation of ascertaining the travel itinerary comprises receiving, from the mobile device, a list of planned destinations;

the list specifies explicitly destinations within the travel itinerary;

the operation of ascertaining the travel itinerary further comprises computing a solution for the list; and

the operations further comprise sending, to the mobile device, a representation of the solution.

5. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operation of ascertaining the travel itinerary comprises inferring, based on a plurality of previous locations associated with the mobile device, a destination associated with the travel itinerary.

6. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operation of ascertaining the travel itinerary comprises inferring, based on a road on which the mobile user is currently traveling, a destination associated with the travel itinerary.

7. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

ascertaining a travel itinerary for a mobile user associated with a mobile device;

determining an expected area through which the mobile user is to pass when traveling according to the itinerary;

determining whether the mobile device is traveling locally;

searching for advertisers proximate the expected area;

associating a particular advertiser found in the search with the expected area; and

initiating sending, to the mobile device, advertising data associated with the particular advertiser;

wherein the operation of searching for advertisers comprises;

searching, if the mobile device is determined to be traveling locally, for advertisers using a circular search pattern; and

searching, if the mobile device is determined to not be traveling locally, for advertisers using a conical search pattern.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise enabling, in response to a keyword representation stored within the mobile device being activated while the mobile device is within the expected area, a plurality of advertisers, including the particular advertiser, to bid for rights to respond to the mobile user.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise projecting a time at which the mobile user is expected to arrive at the expected area, and wherein the operation of searching for advertisers includes comparing operating hours associated with a plurality of advertisers including the particular advertiser with the time at which the mobile user is projected to arrive at the expected area.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the operation of ascertaining the travel itinerary comprises receiving, from the mobile device, a list of planned destinations;

the list specifies explicitly destinations within the travel itinerary;

the operation of ascertaining the travel itinerary further comprises computing a solution for the list; and

the operations further comprise sending, to the mobile device, a representation of the solution.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the operation of ascertaining the travel itinerary comprises inferring, based on a plurality of previous locations associated with the mobile device, a destination associated with the travel itinerary.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the operation of ascertaining the travel itinerary comprises inferring, based on a road on which the mobile user is currently traveling, a destination associated with the travel itinerary.

13. A method, comprising:

ascertaining, by a system using a processor, a travel itinerary for a mobile user associated with a mobile device;

determining, by the system, an expected area through which the mobile user is to pass when traveling according to the itinerary;

determining whether the mobile device is traveling locally;

searching, by the system, for advertisers proximate the expected area;

associating, by the system, a particular advertiser found in the search with the expected area; and

initiating, by the system, sending, to the mobile device, advertising data associated with the particular advertiser;

wherein searching for advertisers comprises;

searching, if the mobile device is determined to be traveling locally, for advertisers using a circular search pattern; and

searching, if the mobile device is determined to not be traveling locally, for advertisers using a conical search pattern.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises enabling, in response to a keyword representation stored within the mobile device being activated while the mobile device is within the expected area, a plurality of advertisers, including the particular advertiser, to bid for rights to respond to the mobile user.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises projecting a time at which the mobile user is expected to arrive at the expected area, and searching for advertisers includes comparing operating hours associated with a plurality of advertisers including the particular advertiser with the time at which the mobile user is projected to arrive at the expected area.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

ascertaining the travel itinerary comprises receiving, from the mobile device, a list of planned destinations;

the list specifies explicitly destinations within the travel itinerary;

ascertaining the travel itinerary further comprises computing a solution for the list; and

the method further comprises sending, to the mobile device, a representation of the solution.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein ascertaining the travel itinerary comprises inferring, based on a plurality of previous locations associated with the mobile device, a destination associated with the travel itinerary.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein ascertaining the travel itinerary comprises inferring, based on a road on which the mobile user is currently traveling, a destination associated with the travel itinerary.