IP Library Granted Patent US 7,856,373
Granted Patent B2
US 7,856,373 · App. 11/926,016 · Granted Dec 21, 2010

Targeting content to network-enabled devices based upon stored profiles

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,856,373
App. No.
11/926,016
Granted
Dec 21, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed herein for managing content, including advertising content, delivered to various network-connected devices, including screens, mobile devices, computers, televisions, radios, and the like, based on usage profiles associated with device-specific identifiers for mobile devices, short-distance wireless technologies for transmission of content and detection of proximity, and content targeting and management techniques.

Claims (35)

1. A method, comprising:

collecting from a first network-enabled device a device-specific identifier that uniquely identifies a personal mobile device, data representing user on-line activity related to an advertisement presented via the first network-enabled device while the personal mobile device is detected via a wireless communication to be in proximity to the first network-enabled device, and an identifier of the first network-enabled device, the device-specific identifier of the personal mobile device being acquired by the first network-enabled device via the wireless communication;

using a server to identify a stored profile based on the device-specific identifier;

analyzing, with the server, the data representing user on-line activity to select content to suit a stored profile, wherein the stored profile is based on user activity associated with the device-specific identifier of the personal mobile device;

associating the data representing the user on-line activity of the first network-enabled device and the identifier of the first network-enabled device with the stored profile that was identified based upon the device-specific identifier of the personal mobile device, thereby associating the personal mobile device and the first network-enabled device with a user represented by the stored profile; and

in response to receiving an indication of the personal mobile device being in proximity to a second network-enabled device, the indication resulting from the second network-enabled acquiring the device-specific identifier of the personal mobile device via short distance wireless communication between the second network-enabled device and the personal mobile device when the personal mobile device is in short distance wireless communication proximity to the second network-enabled device, making the content accessible to the server for presenting on the second network-enabled device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the personal mobile device is one of a mobile phone and a laptop.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication is selected from a group consisting of Bluetooth, WIFI, WiMax, WUSB, and UWB.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network-enabled device comprises a set-top box.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network-enabled device is an internet-connected gaming console.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network-enabled radio device is a car radio device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network-enabled radio device is a network-enabled television device.

8. A method, comprising:

collecting from a network-enabled device a device-specific identifier of a personal mobile device, data representing user on-line activity via the network-enabled device while the personal mobile device is detected via a wireless communication to be in proximity to the network-enabled device, and an identifier of the network-enabled device, the device-specific identifier of the personal mobile device being acquired by the network-enabled device via the wireless communication;

using a server to identify a stored profile based on the device-specific identifier;

associating the data representing the user on-line activity of the network enabled device and the identifier of the network-enabled device with the stored profile that was identified based on the device-specific identifier, thereby associating the mobile device and the network-enabled device with a user represented by data in the stored profile;

analyzing, with the server, the data representing the user on-line activity of the network-enabled device to select content; and

in response to receiving an indication of the personal mobile device being in proximity to a second network-enabled device, making the content accessible to the server for presenting on the second network-enabled device.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the indication of the personal mobile device being in proximity to the second network-enabled device results from the second network-enabled device acquiring the device-specific identifier via short distance wireless communication between the second network-enabled device and the personal mobile device when the personal mobile device is in short distance wireless communication proximity to the second network-enabled device.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the personal mobile device is a laptop.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the network-enabled device comprises a set-top box.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the network-enabled device is an internet-connected gaming console.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second network-enabled device is a network-enabled radio device.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second network-enabled device is a network-enabled television device.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the wireless communication is selected from a group consisting of Bluetooth, WIFI, WiMax, WUSB, and UWB.

16. A method, comprising:

collecting from a network-enabled device a device-specific identifier of a personal mobile device, data representing user on-line activity of the network-enabled device while the personal mobile device is detected via WiFi wireless communication to be in proximity to the network-enabled device, and an identifier of the network-enabled device, the device-specific identifier of the personal mobile device being acquired by the network-enabled device via the WiFi wireless communication;

using a server to identify a stored profile based on the device-specific identifier;

associating the data representing the user on-line activity of the network enabled device and the identifier of the network-enabled device with the stored profile that was identified by the device-specific identifier, thereby associating the mobile device and the network-enabled device with a user represented by data in the stored profile;

analyzing, with the server, the data representing the user on-line activity of the network-enabled device to select content; and

in response to receiving an indication of the personal mobile device being in proximity to a second network-enabled device, making the content accessible to the server for presenting on the personal mobile device.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the indication of the personal mobile device being in proximity to the second network-enabled device results from the second network-enabled device acquiring the device-specific identifier of the personal mobile device via short distance wireless communication between the second network-enabled device and the personal mobile device when the personal mobile device is in short distance wireless communication proximity to the second network-enabled device.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the network-enabled device comprises a set-top box.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second network-enabled device is a car radio device.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the network-enabled device is a mobile phone.

Assignments (3)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 24, 2015
From: OMNITRAIL HOLDINGS INC.; OMNITRAIL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: OMNITRAIL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 036403/0808 →
MERGER Recorded Aug 21, 2015
From: OMNITRAIL, LLC
To: OMNITRAIL HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 036393/0231 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2014
From: ULLAH, SHAH
To: OMNITRAIL, LLC
Reel/Frame 032171/0754 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 1185582000 · Sep 14, 2007
Provisional Application 6082570800 · Sep 14, 2006
Related Publication 20080133334A1 · Jun 5, 2008