IP Library Granted Patent US 8,532,635
Granted Patent B2
US 8,532,635 · App. 13/543,103 · Granted Sep 10, 2013

System and method for providing short message targeted advertisements over a wireless communications network

Inventors: Charles M. Link, II (Roswell, GA); Donald M. Cardina (Lawrenceville, GA); Vernon Meadows (Lilburn, GA)
Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,532,635
App. No.
13/543,103
Granted
Sep 10, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for providing targeted advertisement information to consumers over a wireless communications network. In one embodiment, local advertisers register to advertise on wireless communications devices that are in close proximity to the advertiser. As a consumer enters a cell site that is near the location of the advertiser, the wireless network delivers a message to the wireless device specified by the local advertiser. An acknowledgement signal is then received by the network, and the local advertiser's account is charged for transmission of the advertisement. In a further embodiment, each of the messages stored in the database is also associated with one or more demographic codes, and users of wireless communications device select from one more demographic codes to describe their advertisement preferences. Messages to be transmitted to particular wireless communications devices are selected based upon both the location information and the demographic codes associated with the messages.

Claims (41)

1. A method for transmitting a message to a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

detecting, by a system comprising a processor, a presence of the wireless communications device within a location;

selecting, by the system, a message to be transmitted to devices within the location, the message comprising information relevant to the location;

transmitting, by the system, the message to the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is detected within the location;

receiving, by the system, an acknowledgement from the wireless communications device of receipt of the message; and

storing, by the system, a confirmation of delivery of the message in response to receiving the acknowledgement.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location comprises an identification corresponding to a cellular region.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating a history log to charge an advertiser associated with the message based on receipt of the acknowledgement.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the wireless communications device is associated with a request to block all messages similar to the message from being transmitted to the wireless communications device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the message to be transmitted to devices within the location further comprises determining that a parameter associated with the message correspond to a parameter associated with transmission of the message to the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is detected within the location.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the parameter associated with the message comprises a number of times the message can be transmitted within an interval of time.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising prior to transmitting the message, determining whether the wireless communications device has previously received the message.

8. A method for transmitting a message to a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

detecting, by a system, a presence of the wireless communications device within a location;

selecting, by the system, a message to be transmitted to devices within the location, the message comprising information relevant to the location;

determining, by the system, whether transmission of the message to the wireless communications device is within a number of times the message can be transmitted within an interval of time; and

in response to determining that transmission of the message to the wireless communications device is within the number of times the message can be transmitted within the interval of time, transmitting, by the system, the message to the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is within the location.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining whether a demographic code associated with the message matches a demographic code associated with the wireless communications device; and

in response to determining that the demographic code associated with the message matches the demographic code associated with the wireless communications device and that transmission of the message to the wireless communications device is within the number of times the message can be transmitted within the interval of time, transmitting the message to the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is within the location.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising updating a history log to charge an advertiser associated with the message.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining whether the wireless communications device is associated with a request to block all messages similar to the message from being to the wireless communications device.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising prior to transmitting the message, determining whether the wireless communications device has previously received the message.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining whether an acknowledgement is received from the wireless communications device indicating receipt of the message;

in response to determining that the acknowledgement is received, storing a confirmation of delivery of the message; and

in response to determining that the acknowledgement is not received, storing a failed delivery indicator.

14. A system for transmitting a message to a wireless communications device, the system comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

detecting a presence of the wireless communications device within a location,

selecting a message to be transmitted to devices within the location, the message comprising information relevant to the location,

transmitting the message to the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is detected within the location,

receiving an acknowledgement from the wireless communications device of receipt of the message, and

storing a confirmation of delivery of the message in response to receiving the acknowledgement.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the location comprises an identification corresponding to a cellular region.

16. The system of claim 14 , further comprising updating a history log to charge an advertiser associated with the message based on receipt of the acknowledgement.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise determining whether the wireless communications device is associated with a request to block all messages similar to the message from being transmitted to the wireless communications device.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein selecting the message to be transmitted to devices within the location further comprises determining that a parameter associated with the message corresponds to a parameter associated with transmission of the message to the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is detected within the location.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the parameter associated with the message comprises a number of times the message can be transmitted within an interval of time.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise prior to transmitting the message, determining whether the wireless communications device has previously received the message.

Assignments (12)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 030208 FRAME 0982. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE EXECUTION DATE SHOULD BE: 07/27/2007. Recorded Sep 30, 2016
From: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 040191/0765 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2016
From: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.,
To: KNAPP INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 040165/0161 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 030208 FRAME: 0969. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Aug 11, 2016
From: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 039738/0237 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE FROM ASSIGNMENT TO CHANGE OF NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 030208 FRAME 0982. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jul 29, 2016
From: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 039504/0928 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE FROM ASSIGNMENT TO CHANGE OF NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 030208 FRAME 0985. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jul 29, 2016
From: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 039504/0962 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 030207 FRAME: 0863. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jul 29, 2016
From: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 039505/0393 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE FROM ASSIGNMENT TO CHANGE OF NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 030208 FRAME 0969. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jul 29, 2016
From: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 039504/0903 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2013
From: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030208/0985 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2013
From: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 030207/0863 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2013
From: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030208/0969 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2013
From: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030208/0982 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2012
From: LINK, CHARLES M., II; CARDINA, DONALD M.; MEADOWS, VERNON
To: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028500/0893 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 13167146 · Jun 23, 2011
Continuation 12406234 · Mar 18, 2009
Continuation 11303649 · Dec 15, 2005
Continuation 09822504 · Apr 2, 2001
Related Publication 20120289263A1 · Nov 15, 2012