Content selection and delivery of complementary information

• US 9,998,585 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SITO Mobile R&D IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: SITO Mobile R&D IP, LLC
• Inventors: Macaluso, Anthony G.
• Primary Examiner(s): KELLEY, STEVEN SHAUN
• Application Number:
  US11/413,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20060223576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,428 Days
• Field of Search: 455445, 455466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

A telephone call may be established with a mobile communications device in response to a user dialing an abbreviated dialing code. Content provided external to the mobile communications device associated with the abbreviated dialing code may be identified. Thereafter, a message may be sent to the mobile communications device including a pointer to information complementary to the identified content, wherein the pointer when activated at the mobile communications device, determines one more operational parameters associated with the mobile communications device and causes data associated with the identified content to be transmitted to the mobile communications device in a format compatible with the determined one or more operational parameters. Related methods, apparatuses, computer-program products, and systems are also described.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data to a mobile communications device comprising:

in response to a telephone call initiated from the mobile communications device using an abbreviated dialing code, identifying, by at least one server, content located external to the mobile communications device associated with the abbreviated dialing code from a plurality of content each associated with a unique abbreviated dialing code;

sending a message to the mobile communications device, the message including a pointer to information complementary to the identified content;

identifying one or more operational parameters associated with the mobile communications device by the at least one server by polling the mobile communications device in response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communications device and after the telephone call has been initiated, the one or more operational parameters being identified only after the telephone call has been initiated and the one or more operational parameters including at least one of a wireless network carrier identification, a mobile communications device type, a software execution platform, and a software application resident on the mobile communications device; and

transmitting data associated with the identified content to the mobile communications device in a format compatible with the identified one or more operational parameters,

wherein the data associated with the identified content is a ringtone generated from at least a portion of an audio broadcast transmitted to the mobile communications device, the portion of the audio broadcast being determined based on a timing of a request for the ringtone from the mobile communications device during the audio broadcast.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the identified one or more operational parameters consist of the software execution platform for the mobile communications device.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the abbreviated dialing code comprises at least one number and at least one symbol.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising receiving the telephone call at the at least one server via a wireless voice network.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the abbreviated dialing code is associated with at least one product or service, the content comprises data associated with the at least one associated product or service, and identifying the content comprises identifying the data associated with the abbreviated dialing code.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the content comprises a ringtone.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a user using a telephone number associated with the mobile communications device.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a # character as a first character.

10. A method as in claim 1, further comprising identifying the content using the abbreviated dialing code.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein the identified content comprises another software application for the mobile communications device, the method comprising sending the message to the mobile communications device, the message including the pointer to information complementary to the other software application.

12. An apparatus for transmitting data to a mobile communications device, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor to;

in response to a telephone call initiated from a mobile communications device using an abbreviated dialing code, identify content located external to the mobile communications device associated with the abbreviated dialing code from a plurality of content each associated with a unique abbreviated dialing code;

send a message to the mobile communications device, the message including a pointer to information complementary to the identified content;

identify one or more operational parameters associated with the mobile communications device by polling the mobile communications device in response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communications device and after the telephone call has been initiated, the one or more operational parameters being identified only after the telephone call has been initiated and the one or more operational parameters including at least one of a wireless network carrier identification, a mobile communications device type, a software execution platform, and a software application resident on the mobile communications device; and

transmit data associated with the identified content to the mobile communications device in a format compatible with the identified one or more operational parameters,

wherein the data associated with the identified content is a ringtone generated from at least a portion of an audio broadcast transmitted to the mobile communications device, the portion of the audio broadcast being determined based on a timing of a request for the ringtone from the mobile communications device during the audio broadcast.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the one or more operational parameters consist of the software execution platform.

14. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character.

15. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a # character as a first character.

16. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the at least one processor receives the telephone call via a wireless voice network.

17. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the abbreviated dialing code is associated with at least one product or service, the content is associated with the at least one associated product or service, and identifying the content comprises identifying the content associated with the at least one associated product or service.

18. An apparatus as in claim 12, further comprising identifying the content using the abbreviated dialing code.

19. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the identified content comprises another software application for the mobile communications device.

20. A method comprising:

in response to a voice telephone call initiated from a mobile communications device using an abbreviated dialing code, providing an interactive voice response interface by at least one server to receive a unique designation associated with a user and receive an identification of a desired resource that is associated with the abbreviated dialing code, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character;

sending a message to the mobile communications device, the message including a pointer to the desired resource;

polling the mobile communications device from the at least one server in response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communications device and after the voice telephone call has been initiated to determine one or more operational parameters associated with the mobile communications device, the one or more operational parameters being determined only after the voice telephone call has been initiated and the one or more operational parameters including at least one of a wireless network carrier identification, a mobile communications device type, a software execution platform, and a software application resident on the mobile communications device; and

transmitting data associated with the desired resource to the mobile communications device in a format compatible with the determined one or more operational parameters,

wherein the data associated with the desired resource is a ringtone generated from at least a portion of an audio broadcast transmitted to the mobile communications device, the portion of the audio broadcast being determined based on a timing of a request for the ringtone from the mobile communications device during the audio broadcast.

21. A method as in claim 20, wherein the interactive voice response interface queries the user for the unique designation associated with the user.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more operational parameters consist of the software execution platform.

23. A method as in claim 20, wherein the abbreviated dialing code comprises a # character as a first character.

24. A method as in claim 20, further comprising receiving the telephone call at the at least one server via a wireless voice network.

25. A method as in claim 20, wherein the abbreviated dialing code is associated with at least one product or service, the desired resource is associated with the at least one associated product or service, and transmitting the data comprises transmitting the data associated with the at least one associated product or service.

26. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor to;

in response to a voice telephone call initiated from a mobile communications device using an abbreviated dialing code, receive a unique designation associated with a user and an identification of a desired resource that is associated with the abbreviated dialing code, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character;

send a message to the mobile communications device, the message including a pointer to the desired resource;

poll the mobile communications device in response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communications device and after the voice telephone call has been initiated to determine one or more operational parameters associated with the mobile communications device, the one or more operational parameters being determined only after the voice telephone call has been initiated and the one or more operational parameters including at least one of a wireless network carrier identification, a mobile communications device type, a software execution platform, and a software application resident on the mobile communications device; and

transmit data associated with the desired resource to the mobile communications device in a format compatible with the determined one or more operational parameters,

wherein the data associated with the desired resource is a ringtone generated from at least a portion of an audio broadcast transmitted to the mobile communications device, the portion of the audio broadcast being determined based on a timing of a request for the ringtone from the mobile communications device during the audio broadcast.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the one or more operational parameters consist of the software execution platform.

28. An apparatus as in claim 26, wherein the abbreviated dialing code comprises a # character as a first character.

29. An apparatus as in claim 26, wherein the at least one processor receives the telephone call via a wireless voice network.

30. An apparatus as in claim 26, wherein the abbreviated dialing code is associated with at least one product or service, the desired resource is associated with the at least one associated product or service, and transmitting the data comprises transmitting the data associated with the at least one associated product or service.

31. A method comprising:

in response to a telephone call initiated using an abbreviated dialing code over a wireless voice network from a mobile communications device, identifying, by a first server, content associated with the abbreviated dialing code from a plurality of content each associated with a unique abbreviated dialing code, the content comprising a software application for the mobile communications device associated with at least one product or service;

sending, by the first server to the mobile communications device, a message via a wireless data network, the message comprising a pointer to data associated with the content;

receiving, at a second server from the mobile communications device, a communication seeking the data identified by the pointer;

determining, by the second server, one or more operational parameters associated with the mobile communications device by polling the mobile communications device in response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communications device and after the telephone call has been initiated, the one or more operational parameters being determined only after the telephone call has been initiated and the one or more operational parameters including at least one of a wireless network carrier identification, a mobile communications device type, another software execution platform, and a software application resident on the mobile communications device; and

providing, by the second server to the mobile communications device, data associated with the identified content in a format compatible with the one or more determined operational parameters,

wherein the data associated with the identified content is a ringtone generated from at least a portion of an audio broadcast transmitted to the mobile communications device, the portion of the audio broadcast being determined based on a timing of a request for the ringtone from the mobile communications device during the audio broadcast.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or more operational parameters consist of the software execution platform.

33. A method as in claim 31, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character.

34. A method as in claim 31, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a # character as a first character.

35. A method as in claim 31, further comprising receiving the telephone call at the at least one first server via a wireless voice network.

36. A method as in claim 31, wherein the abbreviated dialing code is associated with the at least one product or service, the content is associated with the at least one associated product or service, and identifying the content comprises identifying the content associated with the at least one associated product or service.

37. A method as in claim 31, further comprising identifying the content using the abbreviated dialing code.

38. A system comprising:

a first server to;

in response to a telephone call initiated using an abbreviated dialing code on a wireless voice network from a mobile communications device, identify content associated with the abbreviated dialing code from a plurality of content each associated with a unique abbreviated dialing code, the content comprising a software application for the mobile communications device associated with at least one product or service; and

send a message containing a pointer to data associated with the content via a wireless data network;

a second server to;

determine, by polling the mobile communications device in response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communications device and after the telephone call has been initiated, one or more operational parameters associated with the mobile communications device, the one or more operational parameters being determined only after the telephone call has been initiated and the one or more operational parameters including at least one of a wireless network carrier identification, a mobile communications device type, a software execution platform, and another software application resident on the mobile communications device; and

provide data associated with the identified content to the mobile communications device in a format compatible with the one or more determined operational parameters,

wherein the data associated with the identified content is a ringtone generated from at least a portion of an audio broadcast transmitted to the mobile communications device, the portion of the audio broadcast being determined based on a timing of a request for the ringtone from the mobile communications device during the audio broadcast.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the one or more operational parameters consist of the software execution platform.

40. A system as in claim 38, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character.

41. A system as in claim 38, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a # character as a first character.

42. A system as in claim 38, wherein the first server receives the telephone call via a wireless voice network.

43. A system as in claim 38, wherein the abbreviated dialing code is associated with the at least one product or service;

and the content is associated with the at least one associated product or service.

44. A system as in claim 38, further comprising identifying the content using the abbreviated dialing code.

45. A method for transmitting data to a mobile communications device comprising:

in response to a communication initiated from the mobile communications device using an abbreviated dialing code, identifying, by at least one server, content located external to the mobile communications device associated with the abbreviated dialing code from a plurality of content each associated with a unique abbreviated dialing code;

sending a message to the mobile communications device, the message including a pointer to information complementary to the identified content;

identifying one or more operational parameters associated with the mobile communications device by the at least one server by polling the mobile communications device in response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communications device and after the communication has been initiated, the one or more operational parameters being identified only after the communication has been initiated and the one or more operational parameters including at least one of a wireless network carrier identification, a mobile communications device type, a software execution platform, and a software application resident on the mobile communications device; and

transmitting data associated with the identified content to the mobile communications device in a format compatible with the identified one or more operational parameters,

wherein the data associated with the identified content is a ringtone generated from at least a portion of an audio broadcast transmitted to the mobile communications device, the portion of the audio broadcast being determined based on a timing of a request for the ringtone from the mobile communications device during the audio broadcast.

46. A method as in claim 45, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character.

47. A method as in claim 45, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a # character as a first character.

48. A method as in claim 45, further comprising receiving the communication at the at least one server via a wireless voice network.

49. A method as in claim 45, wherein the abbreviated dialing code is associated with at least one product or service, the content is associated with the at least one associated product or service, and identifying the content comprises identifying the content associated with the at least one associated product or service.

50. A method as in claim 45, further comprising identifying the content using the abbreviated dialing code.

51. A method as in claim 45, wherein the identified content comprises another software application for the mobile communications device, the method comprising sending the message to the mobile communications device, the message including the pointer to information complementary to the other software application.

52. An apparatus for transmitting data to a mobile communications device, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor to;

in response to a communication initiated from a mobile communications device using an abbreviated dialing code, identify content located external to the mobile communications device associated with the abbreviated dialing code from a plurality of content each associated with a unique abbreviated dialing code;

send a message to the mobile communications device, the message including a pointer to information complementary to the identified content;

identify one or more operational parameters associated with the mobile communications device by polling the mobile communications device in response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communications device and after the communication has been initiated, the one or more operational parameters being identified only after the communication has been initiated and the one or more operational parameters including at least one of a wireless network carrier identification, a mobile communications device type, a software execution platform, and a software application resident on the mobile communications device; and

transmit the data associated with the identified content to the mobile communications device in a format compatible with the identified one or more operational parameters,

wherein the data associated with the identified content is a ringtone generated from at least a portion of an audio broadcast transmitted to the mobile communications device, the portion of the audio broadcast being determined based on a timing of a request for the ringtone from the mobile communications device during the audio broadcast.

53. An apparatus as in claim 52, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character.

54. An apparatus as in claim 52, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a # character as a first character.

55. An apparatus as in claim 52, wherein the at least one processor receives the communication via a wireless voice network.

56. An apparatus as in claim 52, wherein the abbreviated dialing code is associated with at least one product or service, the content is associated with the at least one associated product or service, and identifying the content comprises identifying the content associated with the at least one associated product or service.

57. An apparatus as in claim 52, further comprising identifying the content using the abbreviated dialing code.

58. An apparatus as in claim 52, wherein the identified content comprises another software application for the mobile communications device.

59. A method comprising:

in response to a voice communication initiated from a mobile communications device using an abbreviated dialing code, providing an interactive voice response interface by the at least one server to receive a unique designation associated with a user and an identification of a desired resource that is associated with the abbreviated dialing code, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character;

sending a message to the mobile communications device, the message including a pointer to the desired resource;

polling the mobile communications device from the at least one server in response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communications device and after the voice communication has been initiated to determine one or more operational parameters associated with the mobile communications device, the one or more operational parameters being determined only after the voice communication has been initiated and the one or more operational parameters including at least one of a wireless network carrier identification, a mobile communications device type, a software execution platform, and a software application resident on the mobile communications device; and

transmitting the data associated with the desired resource to the mobile communications device in a format compatible with the determined one or more operational parameters,

wherein the data associated with the desired resource is a ringtone generated from at least a portion of an audio broadcast transmitted to the mobile communications device, the portion of the audio broadcast being determined based on a timing of a request for the ringtone from the mobile communications device during the audio broadcast.

60. A method as in claim 59, wherein the abbreviated dialing code comprises a # character as a first character.

61. A method as in claim 59, further comprising receiving the voice communication at the at least one server via a wireless voice network.

62. A method as in claim 59, wherein the abbreviated dialing code is associated with at least one product or service, the desired resource is associated with the at least one associated product or service, and transmitting the data comprises transmitting the data associated with the at least one associated product or service.

63. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor to;

in response to a voice communication initiated from a mobile communications device using an abbreviated dialing code receive a unique designation associated with a user and an identification of a desired resource that is associated with the abbreviated dialing code, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character;

send a message to the mobile communications device, the message including a pointer to the desired resource;

poll the mobile communications device in response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communications device and after the voice communication has been initiated to determine one or more operational parameters associated with the device, the one or more operational parameters being determined only after the voice communication has been initiated and the one or more operational parameters including at least one of a wireless network carrier identification, a mobile communications device type, a software execution platform, and a software application resident on the mobile communications device; and

transmit the data associated with the desired resource to the mobile communications device in a format compatible with the determined one or more operational parameters,

wherein the data associated with the desired resource is a ringtone generated from at least a portion of an audio broadcast transmitted to the mobile communications device, the portion of the audio broadcast being determined based on a timing of a request for the ringtone from the mobile communications device during the audio broadcast.

64. An apparatus as in claim 63, wherein the abbreviated dialing code comprises a # character as a first character.

65. An apparatus as in claim 63, wherein the at least one processor receives the voice communication at the at least one server via a wireless voice network.

66. An apparatus as in claim 63, wherein the abbreviated dialing code is associated with at least one product or service, the desired resource is associated with the at least one associated product or service, and transmitting the data comprises transmitting the data associated with the at least one associated product or service.

67. A method comprising:

in response to a communication initiated using an abbreviated dialing code on a wireless voice network from a mobile communications device, identifying, by a first server, content associated with the abbreviated dialing code from a plurality of content each associated with a unique abbreviated dialing code, the content comprising a software application for the mobile communications device associated with at least one product or service;

sending, by the first server to the mobile communications device, a message via a wireless data network, the message comprising a pointer to data associated with the content;

receiving, at a second server from the mobile communications device, a second communication seeking the data identified by the pointer;

determining, by the second server by polling the mobile communications device in response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communications device and after the communication has been initiated, one or more operational parameters associated with the mobile communications device, the one or more operational parameters being determined only after the communication has been initiated and the one or more operational parameters including at least one of a wireless network carrier identification, a mobile communications device type, a software execution platform, and a software application resident on the mobile communications device; and

providing, by the second server to the mobile communications device, data associated with the identified content in a format compatible with the one or more determined operational parameters,

wherein the data associated with the identified content is a ringtone generated from at least a portion of an audio broadcast transmitted to the mobile communications device, the portion of the audio broadcast being determined based on a timing of a request for the ringtone from the mobile communications device during the audio broadcast.

68. A method as in claim 67, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character.

69. A method as in claim 67, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a # character as a first character.

70. A method as in claim 67, further comprising receiving the communication at the first server via a wireless voice network.

71. A method as in claim 67, wherein the abbreviated dialing code is associated with the at least one product or service, the content is associated with the at least one associated product or service, and identifying the content comprises identifying the content associated with the at least one associated product or service.

72. A system comprising:

a first server to;

in response to a communication initiated using an abbreviated dialing code on a wireless voice network from a mobile communications device, identify content associated with the abbreviated dialing code from a plurality of content each associated with a unique abbreviated dialing code and send a message containing a pointer to data associated with the content via a wireless data network, the content comprising a software application for the mobile communications device associated with at least one product or service;

a second server to;

determine, by polling the mobile communications device in response to the pointer being activated at the mobile communications device and after the communication has been initiated, one or more operational parameters associated with the mobile communications device, the one or more operational parameters being determined only after the communication has been initiated and the one or more operational parameters including at least one of a wireless network carrier identification, a mobile communications device type, a software execution platform, and a software application resident on the mobile communications device; and

provide data identified by the pointer in a format compatible with the one or more determined operational parameters to the mobile communications device,

wherein the data identified by the pointer is a ringtone generated from at least a portion of an audio broadcast transmitted to the mobile communications device, the portion of the audio broadcast being determined based on a timing of a request for the ringtone from the mobile communications device during the audio broadcast.

73. A system as in claim 72, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character.

74. A system as in claim 72, wherein the abbreviated dialing code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a # character as a first character.

75. A system as in claim 72, wherein the first server receives the communication via a wireless voice network.

76. A system as in claim 72, wherein the abbreviated dialing code is associated with the at least one product or service, the content is associated with the at least one associated product or service, and identifying the content comprises identifying the content associated with the at least one associated product or service.

77. A system as in claim 72, further comprising identifying the content using the abbreviated dialing code.