Advertisement systems and methods for notification systems

• US 8,068,037 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Communication Technologies LLC (f/k/a Eclipse IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Communication Technologies LLC (f/k/a Eclipse IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Horstemeyer, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US13/005,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20110125394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 340/994, 340/502, 340/504, 340/506, 340/539.11, 340/988, 340/995.11, 701/200, 701/201, 701/207, 701/208
• US Class Current: 340/944
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 : Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 : Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 : Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 : to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 : Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for supporting authentication of entities communicating through a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 : Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

Advertisement systems and methods are provided for use in connection with notification services or systems. One such method, among others that are disclosed, can be practiced by performing at least the following steps: (a) monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing; (b) contacting a party based upon the travel data; (c) providing an advertisement to the party during the contact; and (d) charging a fee for or otherwise monetarily benefiting from providing the advertisement.

Claims

1. A method for advertising in connection with a computer based notification system, comprising:

(a) offering an advertisement service and a notification service;

(b) in connection with the notification service;

(1) monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing;

(2) determining that a notification should be made, based upon the travel data and upon a relationship of the mobile thing to a location of pickup or delivery; and

(3) providing a notification communication when the mobile thing is near the location of pickup or delivery;

(c) in connection with the advertisement service;

(1) charging a fee for or monitarily benefiting from providing an advertisement during a notification; and

(2) providing an advertisement as part of or accompanying the notification communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fee is added on to a fee for a travel or shipment service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of charging a fee for each advertisement.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a discount on the advertisement service based upon a purchase of a predetermined number of advertisements.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of charging a fee for providing the notification service.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

charging a notification fee for the notification service;

discounting the notification fee when a party to be notified has expressed an interest in receiving the advertisement service during the notification.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is a voice message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is an electronic image produced on a display device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a notification is an electronic image and wherein the advertisement electronic image and the notification electronic image share a screen on the display device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is a text message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement relates to the offering for sale of an item near where the mobile thing resides or will travel.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

accessing a plurality of stored advertisements; and

selecting the advertisement based upon the travel data.