System and method of providing advertisements to mobile devices

• US 20070061205A1
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Crolley, C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,027,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.640
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of providing advertisements to mobile devices. In an embodiment, an approximate position of a mobile device along a path can be determined based at least partially on data identifying the mobile device within a cellular coverage region. A service can be selected at least partially based on the approximate position, and an advertisement relating to the selected service can be sent to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of providing advertisements to mobile devices, the method comprising:

receiving first data from a mobile device, the first data indicating that the mobile device is within a first cellular coverage region at a first time;

determining an approximate position of the mobile device along a path based at least partially on the first data;

selecting a service from a plurality of services at least partially based on the approximate position; and

sending an advertisement related to the selected service to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the approximate position of the mobile device along the path is determined without determining an approximate geographic location of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the approximate position along the path is determined at least in part by retrieving stored data identifying a portion of the path within the first cellular coverage region.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the stored data is retrieved from a database that relates the cellular coverage region to a segment of a freeway.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data includes an identification of the mobile device, an identification of a cellular tower providing the first cellular coverage region, and the first time.

6. The method of claim 5, further including:

receiving second data from the mobile device, the second data identifying a second cellular tower and a second time;

estimating a travel of the mobile device along the path, wherein the estimated travel includes a direction of travel, a rate of travel, or any combination thereof; and

wherein the service is selected based at least partially on the estimated travel of the mobile device along the path and a position on the path of a business providing the service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the service is selected based at least partially on the approximate position located within a predetermined portion of the path.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising estimating a time of travel of the mobile device to the position of the business;

and wherein the service is selected based at least partially on the estimated time of travel of the mobile device to.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving second data identifying a mobile device within a second cellular coverage region at a second time; and

determining a suspension of travel of the mobile device along the predefined path.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving third data identifying the mobile device within a third cellular coverage region at a third time; and

determining a continuation of travel of the mobile device along the predefined path.

11. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a processor readable medium accessible to the processor, the processor readable medium containing instructions executable by the processor to;

receive first transmitted data identifying a mobile device, a cellular tower, and a time;

query a first database storing to receive first stored data correlating the cellular tower to a segment of a freeway route;

determine an approximate position of the mobile device along the freeway route based at least partially on the first stored data;

query a second database to receive second stored data correlating an available service to at least one predetermined position along the freeway route; and

send an advertisement related to the service to the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to receive a service preference from the user of the mobile device;

and wherein the advertisement of the service conforms with the service preference.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to determine an approximate travel of the mobile phone along the freeway route.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to receive a travel plan from the user, the travel plan identifying a beginning position and an ending position along the freeway route.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first transmitted data and sent via an applet residing on the mobile phone, and wherein the processor instructions further comprise instructions to transmit applet data to the mobile phone via the cellular tower, the applet data controlling an operation of the mobile phone.

16. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor;

a processor readable medium accessible to the processor; and

a computer program embedded in the processor readable medium, the computer program comprising instructions executable by the processor to;

transmit data to an advertisement provider system, the data identifying the mobile device, a first time, and a cellular tower providing cellular communication to the mobile device at the first time; and

communicate with the advertisement provider system to receive a selected advertisement, the selected advertisement selected based on the transmitted data.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the computer program further includes instructions to periodically transmit the data at a time interval.

18. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the computer program is an applet.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the applet includes an interface to receive input data to control an operation of the applet.

20. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the interface is accessible by the advertising service via a transmission from the cellular tower.

21. A processor readable medium embodying executable instructions, the executable instructions including instructions to transmit data to an advertisement provider system, the data identifying a mobile device, a first time, and a cellular tower providing cellular communication to the mobile device at the first time.

22. The processor readable medium of claim 21, wherein the executable instructions further including instructions to:

receive a service preference from a user of the mobile device; and

transmit data indicating the service preference to the advertisement provider system.

23. The processor readable medium of claim 22, wherein the executable instructions further including instructions to:

receive a travel plan from the user, the travel plan identifying a beginning position and an ending position along the freeway route; and

transmit data indicating the travel plan to the advertisement provider system.