Asynchronous user-authorized advertising

• US 7,305,442 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Lundy, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US09/976,801
• Time in Patent Office: 2,244 Days
• Field of Search: 706/26, 725/32, 725 34- 36, 725/42, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 705/14, 709/206, 709/216, 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0262 during computer stand-by mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

A system and method for advertising on a subscriber terminal. A server may send an advertising authorization request to the subscriber terminal. The advertising authorization request may comprise options that a user may select for accepting or rejecting an advertisement to be sent to the subscriber terminal. If the subscriber terminal accepts the advertisement, the server or subscriber terminal may wait for one or more triggering events to occur. The triggering events may include the subscriber terminal being idle, substantially stationary, and/or a specific time of day. Upon occurrence of the one or more triggering events, the subscriber terminal may display the advertisement on its display screen.

Claims

1. A method of advertising on a mobile subscriber terminal, the method comprising:

sending an advertising authorization request via a telecommunications network to the mobile subscriber terminal;

receiving a reply to the advertising authorization request from the mobile subscriber terminal, the reply providing authorization for at least one advertisement to be sent to the mobile subscriber terminal; and

in response to the authorization, sending the at least one advertisement to the mobile subscriber terminal when at least one triggering event occurs, wherein the at least one triggering event comprises the mobile subscriber terminal being idle and the mobile subscriber terminal being substantially stationary.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertising authorization request comprises at least one user-selectable option for authorizing the at least one advertisement to be sent to the mobile subscriber terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile subscriber terminal comprises a display screen, the method further comprising displaying the at least one advertisement on the display screen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the at least one advertisement to the mobile subscriber terminal when the at least one triggering event occurs comprises executing stored computer instructions at a processor in the telecommunications network for sending the at least one advertisement to the mobile subscriber terminal when the at least one triggering event occurs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the function of sending the at least one advertisement to the mobile subscriber terminal when the at least one triggering event occurs is initiated by a server coupled to the telecommunications network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the at least one advertisement at the mobile subscriber terminal; and

in response to receiving the at least one advertisement at the mobile subscriber terminal, displaying the at least one advertisement on the mobile subscriber terminal.

7. A method of advertising on a mobile subscriber terminal, the method comprising:

sending an advertising authorization request via a telecommunications network to the mobile subscriber terminal;

receiving a reply to the advertising authorization request from the mobile subscriber terminal, the reply authorizing at least one advertisement to be sent to the mobile subscriber terminal;

sending the at least one advertisement to the mobile subscriber terminal in response to receiving the reply; and

displaying the at least one advertisement on the mobile subscriber terminal in response to the mobile subscriber terminal being idle and substantially stationary.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the advertising authorization request comprises at least one user-selectable option for authorizing the at least one advertisement to be sent to the mobile subscriber terminal.

9. A method of advertising on a mobile subscriber terminal, the method comprising:

retrieving a reply to an advertising authorization request from computer readable memory, the reply authorizing at least one advertisement to be sent to the mobile subscriber terminal;

sending the at least one advertisement to the mobile subscriber terminal in response to retrieving the reply; and

displaying the at least one advertisement on the mobile subscriber terminal in response to the mobile subscriber terminal being idle and substantially stationary.