Targeted messaging to end user terminal connected to a service node in a communications network

• US 7,339,940 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Boberg, Christer, Eriksson, Mats, Persson, Börje, Eklöf, Thommy, Gustafsson, Åke
• Primary Examiner(s): Phunkulh; Bob A.
• Application Number:
  US10/276,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20030163588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,482 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/217, 709/204, 370/312, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 719/314
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

Targeted messaging, for example advertisements, may be provided to a user terminal connectable to a service node in a communications network, said network comprising a library node connected to the service node and comprising messages, such as advertisements, in different formats for different access types, by the following steps: requesting the delivery of at least one message from the library node to the service node for distribution to the user terminal, while specifying in the request the access type used by the user terminal, and providing from the library node to the service node the appropriate version of the at least one message in dependence of the access type used by the user terminal. One or more parameters, such as demographic data, may be specified for how to select a message from the library node.

Claims

1. A method of providing at least one message to a user terminal coupled to a service node in a communications network, said communications network comprising a library node connected to the service node, the library node comprising at least a first and a second version each of a first message and a second message, said first and second versions for display on user terminals using first and second access types respectively, said method comprising the following steps:

the user terminal requesting information from the service node, the service node forwarding the request to the library node, said request including the user identity;

the library node matching the user identity to a stored user profile, said profile including a required format for displaying a message on the user terminal;

the library node sending a first message to the service node containing the requested information to the service node in the required format;

sending a second message to the service node containing additional information based on parameters included in the user profile; and

the service node forwarding the first and the second messages to the user terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising specifying in said request at least one parameter to be used when selecting the information to be provided from the library node to the service node, and selecting a message from the library node in accordance with said at least one parameter.

3. The method according to claim 2, the requesting step being initiated by the step of requesting a service from the service node to the user terminal.

4. The method according to claim 3, said at least one parameter including information about the service requested.

5. The method according to claim 2, said at least one parameter including information regarding the momentary geographical position of the user terminal.

6. The method according to claim 2 said at least one parameter including information about the capabilities of the user terminal.

7. The method according to claim 2, said at least one parameter including information about the identity of the user of the user terminal.

8. The method according to claim 1, the user terminal being a mobile terminal and the network being a mobile communications network.

9. A service node in a communications network for providing information and messages to a user terminal, said network comprising a library node connected to the service node, the library node comprising at least a first and a second version each of a first message and a second message, said first and second versions for display on user terminals using first and second access types respectively, said service comprising:

means for forwarding a request for information from the user terminal to the library node, said request including the user identity and the library node utilizing the user identity for matching to a user profile associated with the user identity, said profile including a required format for displaying a message on the user terminal;

means for receiving a message from the library node, the message containing the requested information to the service node in the required format;

means for receiving a second message from the library node containing additional information based on parameters included in the user profile; and

means for forwarding the first and the second messages to the user terminal.

10. The service node of claim 9, further comprising:

means for connecting to a first interface comprising a number of parameters, including;

service provider identity, user identity, identification of a service requested by the user terminal, size limit of the second message, geographical position of the user terminal, terminal type and user preferences regarding advertisement.

11. The service node of claim 9, further comprising:

means for connecting to a second interface, the second interface comprising a number of parameters, including;

advertisement identity, the user identity, date and time of request for information, type of request, data required by user, and other dynamic parameters defined in the second interface.

12. The service node of claim 9, the second message being an advertisement provided to the service node according to parameters in the user profile and the advertisement is retrieved from a database of stored advertisements.