Providing supplemental content to wireless communication devices based on device status

• US 9,111,297 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2014
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Cope, Warren B., Pankajakshan, Bejoy
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gu, Andy
• Application Number:
  US14/178,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20140164134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A wireless communication system monitors device status of a wireless communication device to generate device status data. The system associates a device identifier with the device status data and an anonymous key. The system receives a content request from the wireless communication device and transfers the anonymous key and the device status data to an advertising system. The transferred device status data does not identify the wireless communication device. The system receives the anonymous key and advertising data transferred from the advertising system and associates the advertising data with the wireless communication device based on the anonymous key. The system transfers the content and the advertising data to the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless communication system to transfer content to a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

monitoring an amount of time the wireless communication device is located in a wireless coverage area;

associating a device identifier for the wireless communication device with an anonymous key;

determining a time of entry into the wireless coverage area and a WiFi link information for the wireless communication device;

receiving a request for the content transferred from the wireless communication device;

transferring the time of entry into the wireless coverage area with the anonymous key, the wireless coverage area, the amount of time in the wireless coverage, and the WiFi link information for delivery to the advertising system, wherein the anonymous key is configured to conceal the identity of the wireless communication device;

receiving the anonymous key and advertising data transferred from the advertising system, wherein the advertising data is selected based on the wireless coverage area and the amount of time in the wireless coverage area;

and transferring the content and the advertising data for delivery to the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining Long Term Evolution (LTE) link information for the wireless communication device; and

transferring the LTE link information with the anonymous key, the wireless coverage area, and the amount of time in the wireless coverage area for delivery to the advertising system.

3. A wireless communication system to transfer content to a wireless communication device, the wireless communication system comprising:

an access system configured to monitor an amount of time the wireless communication device is located in a wireless coverage area;

a control system configured to associate a device identifier for the wireless communication device with an anonymous key;

the access system configured to determine a time of entry into the wireless coverage area and a WiFi link information for the wireless communication device;

the access system configured to transfer the time of entry into the wireless coverage area with the anonymous key, the wireless coverage area, the amount of time in the wireless coverage, and the WiFi link information for delivery to the advertising system, wherein the anonymous key is configured to conceal the identity of the wireless communication device;

the access system configured to receive the anonymous key and advertising data transferred from the advertising system, wherein the advertising data is selected based on the wireless coverage area and the amount of time in the wireless coverage area;

the control system configured to associate the advertising data with the wireless communication device based on the anonymous key;

and the access system configured to transfer the content and the advertising data for delivery to the wireless communication device.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 3 further comprising:

determining Long Term Evolution (LTE) link information for the wireless communication device; and

transferring the LTE link information with the anonymous key, the wireless coverage area, and the amount of time in the wireless coverage area for delivery to the advertising system.