U.S. patent application number 10/815635 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-28 for locations based promotions.
This patent application is currently assigned to Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd. Invention is credited to Denoon, Alexander James Tod, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne, Lapstun, Paul, Silverbrook, Kia.
Application Number | 20040215516 10/815635 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33098678 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040215516 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Denoon, Alexander James Tod ;
et al. |
October 28, 2004 |
Locations based promotions
Abstract
A method and system for providing a user with information about
a product or service, via machine-readable coded data disposed on
or in a surface of an article. In a computer system, interaction
data representing interaction of a sensing device with the coded
data is received, as is location data indicative of a geographical
location. The information is determined from the location data and
the interaction data and provided to the user.
Inventors: |
Denoon, Alexander James Tod;
(Balmain, AU) ; Silverbrook, Kia; (Balmain,
AU) ; Lapstun, Paul; (Balmain, AU) ; Lapstun,
Jacqueline Anne; (Balmain, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SILVERBROOK RESEARCH PTY LTD
393 DARLING STREET
BALMAIN
2041
AU
|
Assignee: |
Silverbrook Research Pty
Ltd
|
Family ID: |
33098678 |
Appl. No.: |
10/815635 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.1 ;
348/E3.021; 705/14.57; 705/14.64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0212 20130101;
H04N 3/1568 20130101; H04N 5/33 20130101; G06Q 30/0259 20130101;
H04N 5/3765 20130101; H04N 5/37457 20130101; G06F 3/0321 20130101;
G06Q 30/0207 20130101; G06K 7/10693 20130101; G06K 7/10623
20130101; G06Q 10/00 20130101; H04N 5/3651 20130101; G06Q 30/0601
20130101; G06K 7/10772 20130101; H04N 5/3559 20130101; G06F 3/014
20130101; G06K 7/10722 20130101; G06Q 30/0217 20130101; G06Q 30/02
20130101; G06K 7/10554 20130101; G06Q 30/0236 20130101; H04N 5/378
20130101; G06Q 10/087 20130101; H04N 5/3742 20130101; G06Q 20/20
20130101; G06Q 30/0267 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/014 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 17, 2003 |
AU |
2003901617 |
Apr 15, 2003 |
AU |
2003901795 |
Claims
1. A method of providing a user with information about a product or
service, via machine-readable coded data disposed on or in a
surface of an article, the method comprising the steps, performed
in a computer system, of: receiving interaction data representing
interaction of a sensing device with the coded data, the
interaction data having been generated at least partially on the
basis of at least some of the coded data being sensed by the
sensing device as the interaction took place; receiving location
data indicative of a geographical location; determining, from the
location data and the interaction data, the information; and
providing the information to the user.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information is
indicative of a location of a commercial entity.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step
includes determining that the article has been purchased.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information is
indicative of an inducement to buy the product or service.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the inducement is a price
discount.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the price discount is
only valid at an outlet of a commercial entity at the location.
7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the price discount is
valid at any of a number of outlets of the commercial entity.
8. A method according to claim 2, further including the step of
receiving, in the computer system, identity data indicative of an
identity of at least one of the sensing device and the user.
9. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of
receiving, in the computer system, alias identity data indicative
of an alias identity of at least one of the sensing device and the
user.
10. A method according to claim 1, the location data having been
provided by the sensing device.
11. A method according to claim 10, the location data having been
generated by the sensing device.
12. A method according to claim 1, the location data having been
provided by a mobile communications device.
13. A method according to claim 12, the location data having been
generated by the mobile communications device.
14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the location data is
based on GPS location information generated by a GPS receiver in
the sensing device.
15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the location data is
based on GPS location information generated by a GPS receiver in
the mobile communications device.
16. A method according to claim 10, the location data having been
generated by a telecommunications network associated with the
sensing device.
17. A method according to claim 12, the location data having been
generated by a telecommunications network associated with the
mobile communications device.
18. A method according to claim 10, wherein the sensing device
includes a wireless receiver for receiving radio-frequency data
from a transmitter, the radio-frequency data including location
information upon which the location data is based.
19. A method according to claim 12, wherein the mobile
communications device includes a wireless receiver for receiving
radio-frequency data from a transmitter, the radio-frequency data
including location information upon which the location data is
based.
20. A method according to claim 12, wherein the sensing device and
the mobile communication device are integrated in a single
device.
21. A method according to claim 13, wherein the sensing device and
the mobile communication device are integrated in a single
device.
22. A method according to claim 15, wherein the sensing device and
the mobile communication device are integrated in a single
device.
23. A method according to claim 17, wherein the sensing device and
the mobile communication device are integrated in a single
device.
24. A method according to claim 19, wherein the sensing device and
the mobile communication device are integrated in a single
device.
25. A method according to claim 1, the location data having been
generated by a telecommunications network associated with the
sensing device.
26. A method according to claim 25, the location data having been
derived using an Uplink Time Difference of Arrival technique.
27. A method according to claim 1, wherein the location data is
received from a server, the server maintaining location data for a
plurality of the articles based on last known locations of the
respective articles.
28. A method according to claim 1, wherein the providing step
includes sending the information to an electronic address
associated with at least one of the user and the sensing
device.
29. A method according to claim 1, wherein the geographical
location is an area.
30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the area is defined by
a postal or zip code.
31. A method according to claim 29, wherein the area is a city,
suburb or town.
32. A method according to claim 1, wherein the geographical
location is an area at least partially defined by a transmission
footprint of one or more cells of telecommunications network that
forms at least part of a communication path via which at least one
of the location data and the interaction data are received in the
computer system.
33. A method according to claim 16, wherein the geographical
location is an area at least partially defined by a transmission
footprint of one or more cells of the telecommunications
network.
34. A method according to claim 17, wherein the geographical
location is an area at least partially defined by a transmission
footprint of one or more cells of the telecommunications
network.
35. A method according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is
indicative of an identity of the article.
36. A method according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is
indicative of an EPC of the article.
37. A method according to claim 1, wherein the providing step
includes causing a printer to print the information.
38. A method according to claim 5, wherein the providing step
includes causing a printer to print the information in the form of
a voucher for obtaining the discount.
39. A method according to claim 4, wherein the determining step
includes determining that the article has not been used to obtain
the inducement.
40. A computer system for providing a user with information about a
product or service, via machine-readable coded data disposed on or
in a surface of an article, the computer system being programmed
and configured to: receive interaction data representing
interaction of a sensing device with the coded data, the
interaction data having been generated at least partially on the
basis of at least some of the coded data being sensed by the
sensing device as the interaction took place; receive location data
indicative of a geographical location; determine, from the location
data and the interaction data, the information; and provide the
information to the user.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of providing
information to a user from a computer system.
[0002] The invention has primarily been developed to provide users
with promotional information, such as discount vouchers, based on
their geographical location. However, the invention is not limited
to this specific field.
CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
[0003] Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the
present invention are disclosed in the following co-pending
applications filed by the applicant or assignee of the present
invention simultaneously with the present application:
1 HYC001US, HYC002US, HYC003US, HYC004US, HYC005US, HYC006US,
HYC007US, HYC008US, HYC009US, HYC010US, HYC011US, HYT001US,
HYT002US, HYT003US, HYT004US, HYT005US, HYT006US, HYT007US,
HYT008US, HYG001US, HYG002US, HYG003US, HYG004US, HYG005US,
HYG006US, HYG007US, HYG008US, HYG009US, HYG010US, HYG011US,
HYG012US, HYG013US, HYG014US, HYG015US, HYG016US, IRA001US,
IRA002US, IRA003US, HYJ001US, HYJ002US,
[0004] The disclosures of these co-pending applications are
incorporated herein by cross-reference. Each application is
temporarily identified by its docket number. This will be replaced
by the corresponding USSN when available.
CROSS REFERENCES
[0005] Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the
present invention are disclosed in the following co-pending
applications filed by the applicant or assignee of the present
invention. The disclosures of all of these co-pending applications
and granted patents are incorporated herein by cross-reference.
2 10/409,876 10/409,848 10/409,845 09/575,197 09/575,195 09/575,159
09/575,132 09/575,123 09/575,148 09/575,130 09/575,165 09/575,153
09/693,415 09/575,118 09/609,139 09/608,970 09/575,116 09/575,144
09/575,139 09/575,186 09/575,185 09/609,039 09/663,579 09/663,599
09/607,852 09/575,191 09/693,219 09/575,145 09/607,656 09/693,280
09/609/132 09/693,515 09/663,701 09/575,192 09/663,640 09/609,303
09/610,095 09/609,596 09/693,705 09/693,647 09/721,895 09/721,894
09/607,843 09/693,690 09/607,605 09/608,178 09/609,553 09/609,233
09/609,149 09/608,022 09/575,181 09/722,174 09/721,896 10/291,522
10/291,517 10/291,523 10/291,471 10/291,470 10/291,819 10/291,481
10/291,509 10/291,825 10/291,519 10/291,575 10/291,557 10/291,661
10/291,558 10/291,587 10/291,818 10/291,576 10/291,589 10/291,526
6,644,545 6,609,653 6,651,879 10/291,555 10/291,510 19/291,592
10/291,542 10/291,820 10/291,516 10/291,363 10/291,487 10/291,520
10/291,521 10/291,556 10/291,821 10/291,525 10/291,586 10/291,822
10/291,524 10/291,553 10/291,511 10/291,585 10/291,374 10/685,523
10/685,583 10/685,455 10/685,584 NPA133US 09/575,193 09/575,156
09/609,232 09/607,844 09/607,657 09/693,593 NPB008US 09/928,055
09/927,684 09/928,108 09/927,685 09/927,809 09/575,183 09/575,160
09/575,150 09/575,169 6,644,642 6,502,614 6,622,999 09/575,149
10/322,450 6,549,935 NPN004US 09/575,187 09/575,155 6,591,884
6,439,706 09/575,196 09/575,198 09/722,148 09/722,146 09/721,861
6,290,349 6,428,155 09/575,146 09/608,920 09/721,892 09/722,171
09/721,858 09/722,142 10/171,987 10/202,021 10/291,724 10/291,512
10/291,554 10/659,027 10/659,026 09/693,301 09/575,174 09/575,163
09/693,216 09/693,341 09/693,473 09/722,087 09/722,141 09/722,175
09/722,147 09/575,168 09/722,172 09/693,514 09/721,893 09/722,088
10/291,578 10/291,823 10/291,560 10/291,366 10/291,503 10/291,469
10/274,817 09/575,154 09/575,129 09/575,124 09/575,188 09/721,862
10/120,441 10/291,577 10/291,718 10/291,719 10/291,543 10/291,494
10/292,608 10/291,715 10/291,559 10/291,660 10/409,864 10/309,358
10/410,484 10/683,151 10/683,040 09/575,189 09/575,162 09/575,172
09/575,170 09/575,171 09/575,161 10/291,716 10/291,547 10/291,538
10/291,717 10/291,827 10/291,548 10/291,714 10/291,544 10/291,541
10/291,584 10/291,579 10/291,824 10/291,713 10/291,545 10/291,546
09/693,388 09/693,704 09/693,510 09/693,336 09/693,335 10/181,496
10/274,119 10/309,185 10/309,066 NPW014US NPS047US NPS048US
NPS049US NPS050US NPS051US NPS052US NPS053US NPS054US NPS045US
NPS046US NPT037US NPA138US NPA136US
[0006] Some application has been listed by docket numbers, these
will be replace when application number are known.
BACKGROUND
[0007] As the amount of advertising and other information that
reaches consumers has increased, it has become more difficult to
ensure that such information is taken in by those consumers. One
way of improving uptake of information is to target it at users
that are likely, due to their demography or purchase history, to be
interested in the particular product or service being
advertised.
[0008] One way in which users can be targeted is by providing
information at a location that users of the right demographic are
likely to be. An example would be a computer conference, where
advertising for computer software is more likely to be absorbed due
to the large number of computer professionals that will tend to be
in attendance. However, there is no way of ensuring that the users
that see the advertising in a particular place will be interested
in it.
[0009] Cross-promotion of products and services can also be
desirable. However, it is difficult (if not impossible) to allow
mass-produced goods to be interactively cross-promotional. For
example, if a soft-drink manufacturer wishes to run a
cross-promotion with a film, the best that can be achieved is
perhaps a voucher for a discount to see the film. However, to see
more information about the film, and particularly to find out where
and when the film can be seen, it is necessary for the user to ring
a local cinema or look in a newspaper or online for session
times.
[0010] It would be desirable to provide a useful alternative to
existing methods of providing users with information based at least
partly on their real or inferred geographical location.
[0011] In various co-pending applications there is described a
computer interface system that has been designated "netpage". In
brief summary, the preferred form of the netpage system employs a
computer interface in the form of a mapped surface, that is, a
physical surface which contains references to a map of the surface
maintained in a computer system. The map references can be queried
by an appropriate sensing device. Depending upon the specific
implementation, the map references may be encoded visibly or
invisibly, and defined in such a way that a local query on the
mapped surface yields an unambiguous map reference both within the
map and among different maps. The computer system can contain
information about features on the mapped surface, and such
information can be retrieved based on map references supplied by a
sensing device used with the mapped surface. The information thus
retrieved can take the form of actions that are initiated by the
computer system on behalf of the operator in response to the
operator's interaction with the surface features.
[0012] In its preferred form, the netpage system relies on the
production of, and human interaction with, netpages. These are
pages of text, graphics and images printed on ordinary paper, but
which work like interactive web pages. Information is encoded on
each page using ink which is substantially invisible to the unaided
human eye. The ink, however, and thereby the coded data, can be
sensed by an optically imaging pen and transmitted to the netpage
system.
[0013] Active buttons and hyperlinks on each page can be clicked
with the pen to request information from the network or to signal
preferences to a network server. In one embodiment, text written by
hand on a netpage is automatically recognized and converted to
computer text in the netpage system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In a first aspect the present invention provides a method of
providing a user with information about a product or service, via
machine-readable coded data disposed on or in a surface of an
article, the method comprising the steps, performed in a computer
system, of:
[0015] receiving interaction data representing interaction of a
sensing device with the coded data, the interaction data having
been generated at least partially on the basis of at least some of
the coded data being sensed by the sensing device as the
interaction took place;
[0016] receiving location data indicative of a geographical
location;
[0017] determining, from the location data and the interaction
data, the information; and
[0018] providing the information to the user.
[0019] In a further aspect the present invention provides a
computer system for providing a user with information about a
product or service, via machine-readable coded data disposed on or
in a surface of an article, the computer system being programmed
and configured to:
[0020] receive interaction data representing interaction of a
sensing device with the coded data, the interaction data having
been generated at least partially on the basis of at least some of
the coded data being sensed by the sensing device as the
interaction took place;
[0021] receive location data indicative of a geographical
location;
[0022] determine, from the location data and the interaction data,
the information; and
[0023] provide the information to the user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 Location-Based Promotion interactions
[0025] FIG. 2 Promotion interactions with Netpage Mobile Phone
[0026] FIG. 3 Location-Based Promotion interaction detail
[0027] FIG. 4 Promotion Voucher Redemption at Cinema
interactions
[0028] FIG. 5 Promotion Voucher Redemption interaction detail
[0029] FIG. 6 Promotion class diagram
[0030] FIG. 7 Movie class diagram
[0031] FIG. 8 Promotion User class diagram
[0032] FIG. 9 User Location class diagram
[0033] FIG. 10 Default Web Terminal class diagram
[0034] FIG. 11 Promotion Voucher class diagram
[0035] FIG. 12 Promotion Form class diagram
[0036] FIG. 13 Promotion Request user interface flow
[0037] FIG. 14 Promotion Form
[0038] FIG. 15 Movie Information
[0039] FIG. 16 Promotion Details
[0040] FIG. 17 Promotion Voucher
[0041] FIG. 18 Label as Promotion Voucher Form
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Overview
[0042] Hyperlabel is an optical tagging technology designed for
uniquely identifying individual product items in the global supply
chain. Hyperlabelling consists of covering a large portion of the
surface of a product item with optically-readable invisible tags. A
tag uniquely identifies the surface on which it appears, as well as
its own position on the surface. The collection of tags on a
surface thus defines a high-precision coordinate grid identifiably
tied to the particular surface, to provide the downstream consumer
benefits of Netpage interactivity.
[0043] Hyperlabel tags are applied during product manufacturer
and/or packaging. This document provides an overview of the use of
Hyperlabel as a facility for location-based services to consumers.
A manufacturer may run a promotion by printing the promotion
information on their product packaging. A user may click on a
printed button on the promotion form to be sent details of the
promotion. The response is location-specific in order to give the
user promotion information that is relevant to the user's current
location.
[0044] The remainder of this document illustrates the concepts of
Hyperlabel location-based services in detail. To illustrate
location-based services, the example of a movie promotion on a soft
drink can is used. Note, however, that the same concepts apply to
other location-based services. A user can click on a button on a
movie promotion form to be sent details of cinemas and session
times located close to the user. The user may have the option of
printing a promotion voucher for the movie.
[0045] Although specific reference is made to a Netpage pen, any
Netpage sensing device can be used. Reference is also made to a
Hyperlabel server. A Hyperlabel server is a specific instance of a
Netpage page server. Reference is made to a Netpage registration
server. The registration server and the page/document server can be
the same server.
[0046] Location-Based Services
[0047] Product Hyperlabel, with the Netpage system, provides a
mechanism for providing users with services based on the user's
location. The user's location can be provided to the application by
the user's sensing device, if it is GPS-equipped. Alternatively the
user's location can be provided by the user's mobile phone network
provider.
[0048] There are a number of location technologies available. One
is Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS). This requires a
GPS-equipped handset, which receives positioning signals from GPS
satellites. The phone network knows the approximate location of the
handset from the nearest cell site. Based on this, the network can
tell the handset which GPS satellites to use in its position
calculations. This can speed up satellite acquisition by the
handset, particularly in areas of poor reception such as indoors.
Another technology, which does not require the device to be
GPS-equipped, is Uplink Time Difference of Arrival (U-TDOA). This
determines the location of a wireless handset, using a form of
triangulation, by comparing the time it takes a wireless handset's
signal to reach several Location Measurement Units (LMUs) installed
at the network's cell sites. The handset location is then
calculated based on the differences in arrival times of the three
(or more) signals.
[0049] An example of a location-based service that can be provided
is a movie promotion on a soft drink can. The user may have a soft
drink can (or other product packaging) on which is printed a
promotion for a newly released movie. The user can click on the
promotion and, based on the user's location, a list of nearby
cinema locations and session times is sent to the user.
[0050] The user can get feedback in a variety of ways. The user's
transaction may direct a Web page be displayed on the user's PC,
PDA or other Web browsing device. The output device is the device
via which the pen input comes, or alternatively it is an output
device registered to the user or to the pen. An email, SMS, page
message, voicemail message or phone call may be sent to the user
from the promotion application via the Hyperlabel server (which can
maintain the user's anonymity).
[0051] Location-Based Promotion
[0052] An interactive form can be printed on a Hyperlabel product
label when the label is first created. The form can contain printed
text, various types of input fields such as check boxes, text input
fields, drawing input fields or signature fields, and control
buttons. The form may contain printed control buttons to submit the
user's request. The layout and interactivity of a product label is
defined in the usual Netpage way.
[0053] Location-based services and promotions can be provided when
the user's Netpage-enabled mobile phone or relay device sends the
user's location information to the application. A promotion may be
managed by the product manufacturer, by the product/service
provider being promoted, or by a third-party promotion management
service.
[0054] The location of the user is compared with the location of
the service being promoted to determine the appropriate
location-specific details to return to the user. Alternatively the
user's location may be translated to a regular street/city address
by the application. The street address can then be used to
determine the most geographically-suitable service details to send
to the user.
[0055] When the user clicks the promotion enquiry button, in this
case <Where & When>, the promotion enquiry is sent to the
Hyperlabel Server, and then on to the promotion application. The
Netpage System allocates a random number, known as a promotion
alias ID, in order to maintain the user's anonymity. The promotion
enquiry is sent to the promotion application. The user's identity
is protected by the Netpage system. Whenever a user submits a
promotion enquiry, a unique promotion alias ID is used by the
Netpage system. The promotion alias ID may be allocated in a number
of ways.
[0056] A user's promotion alias ID may be unique to a Netpage user
and promotion ID combination. In other words a Netpage user would
have a unique promotion alias ID for each promotion they entered.
If a manufacturer were running more than one promotion then the
user would have more than one promotion alias ID. The manufacturer
would not be aware of the connection between the promotion alias
IDs.
[0057] An alternative is that the promotion alias ID may be unique
to a Netpage user and manufacturer combination. If a manufacturer
runs several promotions then a single promotion alias ID will be
used for all the user's interactions with this manufacturer. The
manufacturer can determine if a single Netpage user has accessed
multiple promotions. The promotion alias ID may persist even after
a promotion ends.
[0058] The object model in this document uses the promotion alias
ID as unique to a Netpage user/promotion ID combination, but other
methods for allocating a promotion alias ID are possible.
[0059] The Netpage system facilitates other functionality for
promotions which may be implemented by the promotion application.
For example, a movie voucher may have an age restriction associated
with it, so that the voucher may only be printed by a user over
eighteen years of age. The manufacturer or promoter may wish to
request personal details from the user prior to printing the
voucher. This type of functionality is similar to that described in
Hyperlabel Competition Entry.
[0060] User Feedback
[0061] The user can get feedback in a variety of ways. The user's
transaction may direct a Web page be displayed on the user's PC,
PDA or other Web browsing device. The output device is the device
via which the pen input comes, or alternatively it is an output
device registered to the user or to the pen.
[0062] One location-based promotion enquiry scenario is illustrated
in FIG. 1. When a user invokes a function on a promotion form, the
input is sent to the Netpage System, from the user's Netpage pen,
in the usual way (A). The input is transmitted from the pen to the
user's Netpage base station. The Netpage base station may be the
user's mobile phone or PDA, or it may be some other Netpage device,
such as a PC. If the user's base station is GPS equipped and knows
its location, this is appended to the message relayed to the
Hyperlabel server. If not, then the location may be requested from
the mobile phone network (B,C). The input is relayed to the
Hyperlabel server (D) and then on to the promotion application (E)
in the usual way. The Hyperlabel server knows the promotion
application to send the message to from the application ID
associated with the form button's hyperlink element. This is a
standard Netpage mechanism. On receipt of the input, the
application identifies the desired response and sends the
appropriate response message to the Hyperlabel server (F). The
Hyperlabel server, as part of the Netpage system, can know the
identity and devices of the user. The Hyperlabel server will relay
the promotion application's response to the user's phone (G) or Web
browsing device (H) as appropriate.
[0063] Another location-based promotion enquiry scenario, where the
Netpage sensing device is the user's mobile phone, is illustrated
in FIG. 2. When a user invokes a function on a promotion form, the
phone will optionally request its location from the phone network
(A,B). Alternatively the phone may be GPS-equipped and so will know
its location. The promotion form data and location is sent to the
Hyperlabel server (C) and then on to promotion application (D) in
the usual way. On receipt of the input, the application identifies
the desired response and sends the appropriate action/response
message to the Hyperlabel server (E). The Hyperlabel server will
relay the promotion application's response to the user's phone
(F).
[0064] The interaction detail for a location-based promotion is
shown in FIG. 3. The Netpage user clicks a button on the promotion
form to submit the enquiry. The Netpage pen sends the pen ID, the
product's item ID, the user's location information, and the
application ID to the Hyperlabel server. The Hyperlabel server
sends the pen ID to the Netpage Registration server. The Netpage
Registration server uses the pen ID to determine the Netpage user
ID, and then allocates a promotion alias ID. The Hyperlabel server
sends the promotion alias ID, application ID (i.e. the promotion
ID) and the location information to the promotion application. The
promotion application determines the appropriate enquiry response
based on the user's location, and returns the promotion alias ID
and the promotion enquiry response message to the Hyperlabel
server. The Hyperlabel server sends the promotion alias ID to the
Registration server which returns the default terminal ID for the
user's default Web browsing device. The Hyperlabel server then
sends the promotion enquiry response message to the terminal ID.
Alternatively, the terminal is the device via which the input
came.
[0065] The Netpage system allows for dynamic user registration. The
scenarios mentioned above rely on the Netpage registration server
identifying the user's Netpage user ID and the associated Web
display terminal ID from the user's pen ID. If the user or pen is
not already registered with the Netpage system then the user may be
dynamically registered with the Netpage system when they first use
the promotion entry form. The temporary Netpage user ID may be
maintained forever or only for the duration of the promotion.
[0066] Promotion Voucher Redemption
[0067] The user may have the option of printing a promotion
voucher. The user clicks on the <Print Voucher> button and
the voucher is sent to the user's default printer. This may be a
Netpage printer or may be the phone's built-in printer (which may
or may not be a Netpage printer). If the user prints a voucher for
a promotion they can take this to the desired cinema to redeem
it.
[0068] The promoter may apply various rules to vouchers. For
example, a user may only be able to print one voucher per product
(which can be verified by the product item ID), or a voucher may
only be valid for a specific cinema or a specific session. The
promotion application, in conjunction with the Netpage system, can
facilitate this. A voucher may contain a digital signature, which
enables the cinema to validate the voucher in an off-line
environment, as long as the cinema has access to the corresponding
public signature key.
[0069] If the voucher is printed on a non-Netpage printer the
voucher can still be validated by the cinema by manually keying in
the voucher serial number.
[0070] A promotion voucher redemption scenario is illustrated in
FIG. 4. The user presents the voucher to the cinema box office. The
operator scans the voucher, and the voucher data is sent to the box
office terminal (A). The terminal ID and voucher data is sent to
the cinema server (B) and then on to the Hyperlabel server (C). The
Hyperlabel server sends the cinema ID, terminal ID, and voucher
data to the promotion application for validation (D). The promotion
application validates the voucher and sends the response back to
the Hyperlabel server (E) which sends it on to the cinema server
(F). The cinema server then sends the response to the box office
terminal (G). The Promotion Voucher Redemption interaction detail
is shown in FIG. 5.
[0071] Location-Based Promotion Object Model
[0072] The location-based promotion object model revolves around
promotions, promotion users and locations.
[0073] A manufacturer may have many promotions. Each promotion may
be associated with a product class. Alternatively, a promotion may
be associated with a product item. A promotion has a unique
promotion ID, a name, description, a start date and end date. The
Promotion class diagram is shown in FIG. 6.
[0074] In the case of the example being used throughout this
document, a promotion has an associated movie. A movie comprises
the movie ID, movie name, rating, a brief description and details.
A movie may be showing at a number of cinemas, and a cinema may be
showing a number of movies. Associated with a movie and cinema
combination are a number sessions. A cinema has a cinema ID, cinema
name, and address, and associated with a cinema is a location. A
session has a start time and details. The Movie class diagram is
shown in FIG. 7.
[0075] A Netpage user can interact with many promotions. A Netpage
user is allocated a promotion alias ID. The Netpage user may be
allocated a unique promotion alias ID for each promotion. Another
alternative is that the Netpage user may be allocated a unique
promotion alias ID for each manufacturer, and this alias ID will be
used for all promotions associated with this manufacturer.
Regardless of how the promotion alias ID is allocated, the
promotion user object comprises the promotion alias ID. The
Promotion User class diagram is shown in FIG. 8. The Netpage user
ID may be a temporary Netpage user ID, allocated by the
Registration server. A temporary Netpage user ID has an associated
return messaging channel, which may be a phone number, pager
number, PDA network address, email address, or subscriber
identifier Associated with a promotion user is a location. A
location comprises latitude, longitude, and the time the location
reading was taken. The User Location class diagram is shown in FIG.
9.
[0076] A Netpage user has a default Web terminal, with an
associated terminal ID. This is the default Web display device for
the user. The Default Web Terminal class diagram is shown in FIG.
10.
[0077] A promotion user may have promotion vouchers, and each
voucher is associated with a particular promotion. A promotion
voucher has a voucher ID, a valid start and valid end date, a
status (e.g. valid, used) and optionally a digital signature. The
Promotion Voucher class diagram is shown in FIG. 11.
[0078] A promotion form is a special type of Netpage form. The form
identifies the promotion ID that the form relates to, as shown in
FIG. 12.
[0079] Location-Based Promotion User Interface
[0080] The user typically obtains the Hyperlabel Promotion Form
from product packaging, or perhaps a form available at the place of
purchase.
[0081] The Promotion Request user interface flow is shown in FIG.
13.
[0082] A Promotion Form is shown in FIG. 14. The promotion form
shows details of the promotion. In the example illustrated, the
promotion form shows the movie name, rating and a brief
description.
[0083] The user presses the <Movie Details> button to query
more detailed information about the movie. The Movie Information,
shown in FIG. 15, is displayed on the user's default Web display
terminal. The movie details include the movie name, rating and
movie information.
[0084] The user presses the <Where & When> button to
query location-based information about the movie locations and
session times. The Promotion Details, shown in FIG. 16, are
displayed on the user's default Web display terminal. The promotion
details include the movie name, and the cinema name, cinema
address, and session times for each cinema close to the user's
current location.
[0085] The user presses the <Print Voucher> button to print a
promotion voucher on their Netpage printer. The promotion voucher
shows the movie name, the voucher start and end dates, and,
optionally, a digital signature. The digital signature allows the
receiving supplier (in this case the cinema) to validate the
authenticity of the voucher even if the cinema operator is
off-line. The Promotion Voucher is shown in FIG. 17.
[0086] Alternatively, the promotion form on the product packaging
may serve as the voucher, as shown in FIG. 18.
[0087] Point of Sale Location
[0088] In yet other embodiments, the user's location can be
inferred by determining the location of the product, or the
location that the product is last known to have been. For example,
as it arrives at a shop, or as it is put onto a shelf, the label of
a Hyperlabel-enabled product is scanned, and an association between
the shop and that particular product is stored in a database. Once
the user purchases the product and interacts with it using a
Hyperlabel-enabled device, the location of the user can be inferred
by looking up the association.
[0089] Of course, if the user has traveled a significant distance
before scanning the Hyperlabel-enabled product, it is possible that
the inferred location will be a significant distance from the
actual location of the user. However, in some cases this disparity
may be acceptable given that the only alternative is no location
information at all.
[0090] This option may also be advantageous for tourist
destinations, specialist shops, and other locations that people
might be encouraged to travel some distance to, since any
location-based information (or special offers) returned to the user
as a result of interaction with the Hyperlabel-enabled product will
remind the user of the location from which the product was
purchased and encourage them to visit again.
[0091] Location-related Offers
[0092] As well as sending information indicative of a specific
location, it is also possible to send information that is based on
the type of location the user is in.
[0093] For example, if the user is determined to be at a beach, the
system can be designed to send a voucher for a discount ice-cream.
In this case, the brand of ice-cream can be identified without
identifying any specific commercial entity that will supply it.
Other factors can also be used, such as the time of year or the
actual weather. If it is the middle of winter, for example, the
system can be configured to send a voucher or promotional
information for a coffee of a particular brand, whereas in the
middle of summer, an ice-cream voucher or information may be
used.
[0094] Similarly, if the user is determined to have been in the
vicinity of an area with many car sales yards, it is possible to
infer that the user is looking for a car and to send promotional
information or a voucher to the user.
[0095] Even more specifically, if the location of the user can be
determined with sufficient accuracy, then the information can be
sent in such a way that it does not need to explicitly identify a
location. For example, if the user is inside a particular store,
the system can be configured to determine this and send a voucher
useable in that store, but without identifying a specific
location.
Conclusion
[0096] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant
fields that a number of other embodiments, differing from those
specifically described, will fall within the scope of the present
invention. Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited
to the specific embodiments described in the specification,
including documents incorporated by cross-reference as
appropriate.
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