Apparatus, methods and systems for discounted referral and recommendation of electronic content

• US 20090089177A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helio LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Helio LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Dayton, Sky, Sakai, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Apparatus, methods and systems for sharing and distributing electronic content using a mobile device are presented. In more specific terms, a viral marketing-based, discounted referral and recommendation model by which users may forward electronic content to other users in disclosed. In one aspect, a method of distributing electronic media content over a network includes displaying a discounted offer on a first device that has been transmitted from another device for which the electronic media content has been purchased. A notification is then received, and upon receiving an acceptance from the first device, the electronic media content is transmitted to the device.

Claims

1. A method of distributing electronic media content comprising:

displaying on a first device a discounted offer for electronic media content, the offer transmitted from a second device, the electronic media content having been previously purchased for the second device;

receiving a notification from the first device; and

transmitting the electronic media content to the first device if the notification includes an acceptance.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting an informational object to the first device, the informational object including the discounted offer.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the informational object is a text message sent through a short messaging service.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying on the first device an option to transmit the discounted offer to a third device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the discounted offer includes a request to purchase the electronic media content for the first device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying an offer to purchase the electronic media content for a third device.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising transmitting an informational object to the third device, the informational object including a notification of the purchase of the electronic media content for the third device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a mobile telephone.

9. A method of sending and receiving electronic media content to a device comprising:

presenting a first user with a first option on a display on a first device, the first option including an offer to purchase electronic media content;

presenting the first user with a second option on the display, the second option including an offer to purchase the electronic content media for a second user;

presenting the first user with a third option on the display, the third option including a request to the second user to purchase the electronic media content for the first user; and

upon selection of the first option by the first user transmitting the electronic media content to the first device;

upon selection of the second option, transmitting a notification to the second user;

upon selection of the third option, transmitting an informational object to the second user, the informational object including the request.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the notification to the second user includes an electronic link to a server, the server storing the electronic media content.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the informational object to the second user includes an acceptance response and a refusal response, transmitting a notification to the first user upon selection of the acceptance response by the second user, the notification including an electronic link to a server storing the electronic media.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the first, second and third offers include a discount, the discount based upon the previous purchase of the electronic media content by another user.

13. A method of generating revenue from discounted distribution of electronic content comprising:

advertising electronic content to a first user on a first mobile device;

if the advertised content is purchased by the first user, soliciting a referral to a second user from the first user using the first mobile device; and

in response to the referral;

advertising a discounted purchase price for the electronic content to the second user on a second mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting the referral to the second mobile device through a short messaging service.

15. A mobile device, the mobile device comprising

an input device, the input device configured to send a signal;

a processor, the processor configured to receive the signal;

a display, the display configured to display a plurality of informational objects and a plurality of graphic user interface screens to a user in response to actuation of the input device, wherein at least one of the plurality of informational objects includes a discounted offer to receive electronic media content, the discounted offer based on the transmission of the at least one of the plurality of informational objects from a user.

16. The mobile device of claim 15 wherein the informational object is a text message transmitted through a shot messaging service.

17. The mobile device of claim 15 wherein one of the plurality of informational object includes an option to purchase the electronic media content for a second user.

18. The mobile device of claim 15 wherein one of the plurality of informational object includes an option to solicit the purchase the electronic media content by a second user for the first user.

19. A system of viral content distribution of electronic media content comprising:

a first mobile device adapted to communicate with a first server over a wireless network;

an informational object transmitted to the first mobile device over the wireless network, the informational object including a plurality of options;

a first option including a discounted offer to purchase the electronic media content, a second option including an offer to purchase the electronic content for a second mobile device, a third option including transmitting a request to another user to purchase the electronic media content for the first mobile device; and

a server adapted to communicate over the wireless network, the server receiving a selection of one of the plurality of options from the first mobile device and operating on the electronic media content in according to the selection of one of the plurality of options.