Method delivering location-base targeted advertisements to mobile subscribers

• US 7,027,801 B1
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Hall, Michael D., Kanar, Narendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Karovalia, Samir
• Application Number:
  US10/034,002
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.16, 379/88.19, 379 8812- 8825, 455/412.1, 4554141-415, 455/422.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 340/426.9, 340/426.2, 701/200, 701/201, 701207-209
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/15 Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

An inventive method and apparatus includes a network of servers for providing information on a push basis to a user or consumer that desires to receive event driven information according to specified conditions. The types of push information include event driven information services as well as very targeted advertisements. An information server receives location information that identifies the specific location or Picocell within which the consumer mobile terminal has traveled. Then, a consumer profile is transmitted to vendors proximate to the mobile terminal location as a part of determining whether to transmit information or advertisements to the consumer. If the consumer profile specifies solicited advertisements only, advertisements may only be sent if they include products or services as identified in the consumer profile information.

Claims

1. An information server, comprising:

a processor;

a memory including computer instructions that define logic to prompt the information server to receive a mobile terminal ID and its location whenever the mobile terminal registers its presence in a new cell and to evaluate an information customer profile that corresponds to the mobile terminal ID to determine if a specific push data message is to be transmitted to the mobile terminal through a wireless data packet network;

an internal bus coupled to the processor and the memory to enable the processor to receive the computer instructions stored within the memory, and

wherein the information server is operable to determine if the specific push data message is to be transmitted based upon at least one identified Picocell, wherein push data is arranged according to Picocell service areas, or upon specified products and services identified in a user profile associated with the mobile terminal ID;

wherein a vendor sends the profile to a vendor server for it to determine whether the push data message to the mobile terminal.

2. The information server of claim 1 wherein the wireless data packet network comprises one of a GPRS or UMTS network.

3. The information server of claim 1 wherein the wireless data packet network comprises a wireless local area network.

4. The information server of claim 1 wherein the specific push data message comprises a solicited advertisement.

5. The information server of claim 4 wherein the solicited advertisement is for a product or service identified in the profile for an information customer.

6. The information server of claim 1 wherein the specific push data message comprises an unsolicited message.

7. The information server of claim 6 wherein the unsolicited message is transmitted as a result of the mobile terminal having traveled into the cell proximate to a vendor for whom the advertisement is transmitted.

8. The information server of claim 1 wherein the computer instructions define logic to transmit the customer profile information to a vendor server that is proximate to the cell within which the mobile terminal is registered.

9. The information server of claim 8 wherein the vendor carries products or sells services similar to at least one product or service identified in the information customer'"'"'s profile.

10. The information server of claim 8 wherein the customer profile information is transmitted to the vendor server to prompt it to generate an advertisement to the mobile terminal.

11. A method for delivering an advertisement to a mobile terminal comprising:

receiving location information that identifies a mobile terminal and a location;

determining, based upon the mobile terminal location, whether a vendor sends customer profile information to a vendor server for it to determine whether a push data message is sent to the mobile terminal; and

transmitting customer profile information to an external server, and, if a push data message is to be sent to the mobile terminal, receiving the push data from external server and transmitting the push data message to the mobile terminal; and

wherein an information server is operable to determine if the specific push data message is to be transmitted based upon at least one an identified Picocell, wherein push data is arranged according to Picocell service areas, or upon specified products and services identified in a user profile associated with the mobile terminal ID.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the push data message is a solicited advertisement.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the solicited advertisement is for a product or service that is similar to one identified in the customer profile information.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the solicited advertisement is for a product or service that is identified in the customer profile information.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the push data message is for an unsolicited advertisement.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the push data message if for specified information triggered by an event.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the event is that a specified travel condition has occurred.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the travel condition is a flight schedule changes that is viewed in relation to the user location and traffic patterns.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of determining the mobile terminal location includes determining the identity of a Picocell within which the mobile terminal is registered.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of transmitting push data in one of a broadcast mode or a priority mode wherein the priority mode includes sending the push data to the highest priority device whose presence is registered according to consumer profile information.