Information sharing for third party applications in cellular telecommunication infrastructures
A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for providing content to a communications device. In an embodiment of the invention, a communications network receives a first content portion from a content provider and sends the first content portion to the communications device. The communications network also sends a second content portion to the communications device, and this second content portion is customized for the user of the communications device based on selected information about the user that the communications network has. In one embodiment, the communications network uses the selected information about the user to customize the second content portion for the user, and sends the customized second content portion to the communications device. In an embodiment, the communications network sends the selected information to the content provider, and the content provider uses the selected information to customize the second content portion.
1. A method of providing content to a communications device, wherein a user uses the communications device to receive data via a communications network, and the communications network has selected information about the user, the method comprising:
the communications network receiving a first content portion from a content provider and sending the first content portion to the communications device; and
the communications network sending a second content portion to the communications device, and wherein said second content portion is customized for the user of the communications device based on the selected information about the user that the communications network has; and wherein:
the communications network sending a second content portion to the communications device includes:
the communications network using the selected information about the user to customize the second content portion for the user, and sending the customized second content portion to the communications device; and
the communications network receiving the second content portion from the content provider before the second content portion is customized for the user; and
the content provider is not given the selected information for a given period of time.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the communications network obtaining at least some of the selected information from the user.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein:
the communications network has a database of information about the user;
the communications network obtaining at least some of the selected information from the user includes the communication network obtaining current information about the user; and
the method further comprises the communications network combining said current information with information in said database to generate a profile for the user, and using said profile to customize the second content portion for the user.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
the communications network sending the selected information to the content provider, wherein the content provider uses the selected information to customize said second content portion.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the communications network sending the second content portion to the communications device includes:
the communications network receiving the customized second content portion from the content provider and sending the customized second content portion to the communications device.
6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
the content provider using the selected information about the user to customize the content, and sending the customized content to the communications device via the communications network.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein:
the communications network maintains a database of information about the user; and
the content provider using the selected information includes the content provider obtaining the selected information from said database.
8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the content provider using the selected information includes:
the content provider sending an inquiry to the communications network; and
the content provider receiving said selected information from the communications network in response to said inquiry.