U.S. patent application number 13/120872 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-01 for controlling transmission of a content item to a user terminal by independently transmitting additional content to the user terminal.
Invention is credited to David Cleary, Karl Quinn.
Application Number | 20110213835 13/120872 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40671274 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110213835 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Quinn; Karl ; et
al. |
September 1, 2011 |
CONTROLLING TRANSMISSION OF A CONTENT ITEM TO A USER TERMINAL BY
INDEPENDENTLY TRANSMITTING ADDITIONAL CONTENT TO THE USER
TERMINAL
Abstract
An infrastructure (136, 138, 140, 142) for a delivery of content
items such as SMS messages (134) or MMS messages in a mobile
communications network (100) is proposed, wherein these primary
content items are augmented by secondary content items, e.g.
advertisements (150). A method embodiment related to the proposed
network infrastructure is performed in a content provisioning
server (138) and comprises the steps of receiving (S6) a content
indicator (146) indicative of content of the first content item;
determining (S7) a second content item based on the content
indicator; and transmitting (S8) the second content item towards a
user terminal (132), wherein a transmission path (S8, S9) of the
second content item in the mobile communications network is at
least in part separate from a transmission path (S3) of the first
content item.
Inventors: |
Quinn; Karl; (Dublin,
IE) ; Cleary; David; (Athlone, IE) |
Family ID: |
40671274 |
Appl. No.: |
13/120872 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
July 24, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2009/005390 |
371 Date: |
May 20, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/203 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 3/42348 20130101;
H04M 3/2218 20130101; H04W 4/02 20130101; H04L 51/38 20130101; G06Q
30/02 20130101; G06F 16/9535 20190101; H04W 4/029 20180201; H04M
3/4931 20130101; H04L 51/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/203 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 24, 2008 |
EP |
PCT/EP2008/062799 |
Nov 7, 2008 |
EP |
PCT/EP2008/009431 |
Claims
1. A method for controlling a transmission of a first content item
to a user terminal via a mobile communications network, the method
being performed in a content provisioning server (138, 614, 618) of
the mobile communications network (100, 600) and comprising the
following steps: receiving (502) a content indicator (146)
indicative of content of the first content item (134, 610);
determining (504) a second content item (150) based on the content
indicator, wherein the second content item is intended for an
associated presentation with the first content item on the user
terminal (132); and transmitting (506) the second content item
towards the user terminal, wherein a transmission path (S8, S9) of
the second content item in the mobile communications network is at
least in part separate from a transmission path (S3) of the first
content item.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of
transmitting the second content item is performed independent of a
transmission of the first content item in the mobile communications
network.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of
receiving the content indicator comprises receiving an item
identifier (SMS ID) identifying the first content item (134) and
the step of transmitting the second content item (150) comprises
transmitting the item identifier in association with the second
content item.
4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
the second content item (150) is determined based on a geographical
location of the user terminal.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second content item
is determined based on if an intended presentation area of a
content item covers the location of the mobile terminal.
6. A method for controlling a transmission of a first content item
to a user terminal via a mobile communications network, the method
being performed in a content analysis entity (136, 608) of the
mobile communications network (100, 600) and comprising the
following steps: receiving (302) data representing content of the
first content item (134); determining (304), based on the received
data, a content indicator (146) indicative of the content of the
first content item; and providing (306, S6) the content indicator
to a content provisioning server (138, 614, 618) of the mobile
communications network for providing (S9), independent of a
provision (S3) of the first content item to the user terminal
(132), a second content item (150) to the user terminal, wherein
the second content item is intended for an associated presentation
of the first and the second content item on the user terminal.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the received data
comprise at least one of a copy of content of the first content
item and the content item itself.
8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the determination
step comprises parsing a text representing content of the first
content item.
9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the
content indicator comprises one or more keywords representing
content of the first content item.
10. A method for controlling a transmission of a first content item
to a user terminal via a mobile communications network, the method
being performed in the user terminal (132) and comprising the
following steps: receiving (802, S3) the first content item (134)
from the mobile communications network (100); receiving (804, S9) a
second content item (150) from the mobile communications network,
wherein the second content item is intended for an associated
presentation with the first content item on the user terminal and
the reception of the second content item is independent of the
reception of the first content item; and presenting (806) the
second content item in association with the first content item.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of receiving
(804, S9) the second content item (150) comprises receiving an item
identifier (SMS ID) related to the first content item (134) and the
step of presenting both content items is performed based on the
item identifier.
12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the second
content item is presented in-line (902) with the first content
item.
13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the first content item is related to at least one of an SMS
service, MMS service, email service and IMS service.
14. A computer program having computer executable instructions,
which when executed on a content provisioning server cause the
content provisioning server to perform the method according to any
one of claims 1 to 5.
15. A computer readable medium having computer executable
instructions, which when executed on a content analysis entity
cause the content analysis entity to perform the method according
to any one of claims 6 to 9.
16. A computer readable medium having computer executable
instructions, which when executed on a user terminal causes the
user terminal to perform the method according to any one of claims
10 to 12.
17. A computer program product comprising a computer readable
medium and the computer program according to one of claims 14 to
16, the computer program being stored on the computer readable
medium.
18. A content provisioning server (138, 614, 618) of a mobile
communications network (100, 600) adapted for controlling a
transmission (S3) of a first content item (134) to a user terminal
(132), the content provisioning server comprising: a component
(402) adapted to receive a content indicator (146) indicative of
content of the first content item; a component (404) adapted to
determine a second content item (150, 902, 904) based on the
content indicator, wherein the second content item is intended for
an associated presentation with the first content item on the user
terminal; and a component (406) adapted to transmit the second
content item (150) towards the user terminal, wherein a
transmission path (S8, S9) of the second content item in the mobile
communications network is at least in part separate from a
transmission path (S3) of the first content item.
19. The content provisioning server of claim 18, wherein the
component (406) adapted to transmit the second content item (150)
is further adapted to perform the transmission of the second
content item independent of a transmission of the first content
item in the mobile communications network.
20. A content analysis entity (136, 608) of a mobile communications
network (100, 600) adapted for controlling a transmission (S3) of a
first content item (134) to a user terminal (132), the content
analysis entity comprising: a component (202) adapted to receive
data representing content of the first content item; a component
(204) adapted to determine, based on the received data, a content
indicator (146) indicative of the content of the first content
item; and a component (206) adapted to provide the content
indicator to a content provisioning server (138) of the mobile
communications network for providing, independent of a provision of
the first content item (134) to the user terminal, a second content
item (150) to the user terminal, wherein the second content item is
intended for an associated presentation of the first and the second
content item on the user terminal.
21. The content analysis entity of claim 20, wherein the receiving
component (202) is adapted to receive at least one of a copy of a
content of the first content item and the content item itself.
22. A node of a mobile communications network, comprising a content
provisioning server according to claim 18 or 19 and a content
analysis entity according to claim 20 or 21.
23. A mobile communications network (100, 600) comprising a first
node (138, 614, 618) implementing a content provisioning server
according to claim 18 or 19 and a second node (136, 608)
implementing a content analysis entity according to claim 20 or 21,
wherein the first node and the second node are remote to each
other.
24. A user terminal (132, 612) adapted for connecting with a mobile
communications network (100, 600) adapted for controlling a
transmission (S3) of a first content item (134) to the user
terminal, the user terminal comprising: a component (702) adapted
to receive the first content item from the mobile communications
network; a component (704) adapted to receive a second content item
(150, 902, 904) from the mobile communications network, wherein the
second content item is intended for an associated presentation with
the first content item on the user terminal and the reception of
the second content item is independent of the reception of the
first content item; and a component (706) adapted to present the
second content item in association with the first content item.
25. The user terminal of claim 24, wherein the component (702)
adapted to receive the first content item is further adapted to
receive an item identifier (SMS ID) related to the first content
item (134), and wherein the presentation component (706) adapted to
present the second content item in association with the first
content item is performed based on the item identifier.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to techniques for a delivery of
content items, e.g. SMS (Short Message Service) messages and MMS
(Multimedia Message Service) messages, in a mobile communications
network, wherein the content items are associated with further
content items, e.g. advertisements.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Services such as a SMS or MMS are operable in mobile
communications networks for delivering pieces of content to user
terminals, i.e. typically to mobile phones but also to stationary
terminals such as appropriately configured personal computers. The
piece of content is a text message in case of SMS, possibly
enriched with multimedia data such as an image or audio file in
case of MMS. Such pieces of content will generally be referred to
as `content items` hereinafter, wherein this term is to be
understood as being independent of a particular delivery service.
For example, an email service also delivers content items such as
text messages or multimedia messages to user terminals.
[0003] Referring exemplarily to an SMS service, such service is
typically implemented in a mobile communications network by
dedicated functional entities such as an SMS gateway, for example
an IP-SM-GW (Internet Protocol Short Message Gateway), an
SMS-GMSC/SMS-IWMSC (SMS-Gateway/Interworking MSC), and further
entities. As such infrastructure is known to the person of skill in
this field, it will only be referred to as the `SMS gateway`
hereinafter for short. Generally, the SMS gateway operates to
receive an SMS or MMS message from a source user terminal and to
forward the message to a destination user terminal.
[0004] Services such as SMS/MMS services but also email services
may be configured as added-value services, for example by
additionally providing advertisements, news or announcements to the
users. This allows more flexible business models; for example,
SMS/MMS services may become cheaper for the users when the costs
are covered at least partly by advertisement revenues. For simple
added-value service models, no essential modifications at the
network infrastructure are required. For example, SMS/MMS
advertising may comprise sending additional advertisement messages
to the users. Normally, such message includes an offer for a
product or a subscription service. Instructions may be included for
the subscriber to ring a number, send a text to a short code
number, or visit a webpage via a given Internet link.
[0005] More sophisticated techniques may comprise that primary
content, such as an SMS message or similar content item, is
augmented by secondary content such as an advertisement, i.e. both
the primary and the secondary content is presented in parallel to
the user. For example, an advertisement may be appended to a
message. Such techniques require a technical infrastructure for
appropriately processing, e.g., SMS messages.
[0006] US 2008/0243619 A1 describes a technique for combining SMS
messages with advertising messages in a wireless communication
system. An SMS center includes an SMS message processing module
that determines whether an SMS message should be modified to
include advertisements. If yes, a selection process comprises that
keywords of the original message are determined and an appropriate
advertisement is selected based on the keywords. The original
message is then modified to include the selected text advertisement
before forwarding it to the destination.
[0007] According to this technique the provision of an added-value
SMS service is handled in the SMS gateway. Thus, for the
introduction of a new service the relevant data has to be provided
to the SMS gateway and several processing facilities therein have
to be modified accordingly. This makes the introduction of new
services complex and cumbersome. It is to be noted in this respect
that SMS/MMS messages are normally handled by signalling nodes (as
opposed to nodes involved in user data transport). Thus, the
introduction of more and more sophisticated services leads to the
SMS gateway becoming more and more complex, difficult to
administer, and error-prone, and the forwarding of SMS/MMS messages
may be delayed.
SUMMARY
[0008] There is a demand for a technique, and thus components
enabling the technique, for a delivery of content items such as
SMS/MMS messages in mobile communications networks which enables
more flexibility for the introduction of corresponding
services.
[0009] This demand is satisfied by a method for controlling a
transmission of a first content item to a user terminal via a
mobile communications network. The method is performed in a content
provisioning server of the mobile communications network. The
method comprises the steps of receiving a content indicator
indicative of content of the first content item; determining a
second content item based on the content indicator, wherein the
second content item is intended for an associated presentation with
the first content item on the user terminal; and transmitting the
second content item towards the user terminal, wherein a
transmission path of the second content item in the mobile
communications network is at least in part separate from a
transmission path of the first content item.
[0010] For all methods and devices outlined here, the first content
item may be related to at least one of an SMS service, MMS service,
email service and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) service of the
mobile communications network. For example, the first content item
may be an SMS or MMS message.
[0011] The second content item may comprise content such as text
data, image data or any kind of multimedia data. The second content
item may additionally or alternatively indicate a link or a phone
number. In some realizations, the second content item may also
comprise an additional SMS, MMS, or email.
[0012] The user terminal may be a mobile terminal adapted for
communication via the mobile communications network. For example,
the mobile communications network may be a Universal Mobile
Telecommunication System (UMTS) or Long Term Evolution (LTE)
network, which may or may not be used together with an IMS core
network and IMS services, and the user terminal may be a User
Equipment (UE) adapted for communication therewith. In some
implementations the user terminal is a stationary terminal such as
a stationary phone adapted for reception/transmission of SMS/MMS.
Such stationary phone may, for example, be a personal computer
equipped with appropriate software and/or hardware, e.g. an
embedded or external (in the form of a stick, data card or dongle)
UMTS or LTE radio communications circuit. The stationary terminal
may in this context also be a Connected Home Gateway connected to a
TV screen.
[0013] The content provisioning server may be co-located with an
SMS/MMS gateway. In some variants, both server and gateway may be
implemented on a common hardware platform. In other
implementations, the content provisioning server may be located
remotely from the SMS/MMS gateway or center. For example, the
content provisioning server may be co-located with a Gateway GPRS
Support Node (GGSN) or a Mobility Management Entity (MME), or may
be located in a Radio Access Network.
[0014] The step of transmitting the second content item may be
performed independently of a transmission of the first content item
in the mobile communications network. For example, the transmission
of an SMS or MMS may be controlled by an SMS/MMS gateway, while the
transmission of the second content item may be separately
controlled by the content provisioning server.
[0015] The step of receiving the content indicator may comprise
receiving an item identifier identifying the first content item. In
this implementation the step of transmitting the second content
item may comprise transmitting the item identifier in association
with the second content item. The item identifier may be used in
the user terminal to associate the independently received first and
second content items with each other.
[0016] In some variants, the second content item may be determined
based on a geographical location of the user terminal. For example,
content items processed by the content provisioning server may have
an intended presentation area. Then the second content item may be
determined based on if an intended presentation area of a content
item covers the location of the mobile terminal.
[0017] The above demand is also satisfied by a further method for
controlling a transmission of a first content item to a user
terminal via a mobile communications network. This method is
performed in a content analysis entity of the mobile communications
network. The method comprises the steps of receiving data
representing content of the first content item; determining, based
on the received data, a content indicator indicative of the content
of the first content item; and providing the content indicator to a
content provisioning server of the mobile communications network
for providing, independent of a provision of the first content item
to the user terminal, a second content item to the user terminal,
wherein the second content item is intended for an associated
presentation of the first and the second content item on the user
terminal.
[0018] The content analysis entity may be co-located with an
SMS/MMS gateway or both may be implemented on a common hardware
platform. In other implementations, the content analysis entity may
be located remotely from the SMS/MMS gateway and may, for example,
be implemented with the content provisioning server described
above.
[0019] The data received by the content analysis entity may
comprise at least one of a copy of content of the first content
item and the content itself. For example, the data may represent an
SMS text or a copy thereof. The determination step may comprise
parsing a text representing content of the first content item. The
content indicator may comprise one or more keywords representing
content of the first content item.
[0020] The above demand is further satisfied by a third method for
controlling a transmission of a first content item to a user
terminal via a mobile communications network. This method is
performed in a user terminal and comprises the steps of receiving
the first content item from the mobile communications network;
receiving a second content item from the mobile communications
network, wherein the second content item is intended for an
associated presentation with the first content item on the user
terminal and the reception of the second content item is
independent of the reception of the first content item; and
presenting the second content item in association with the first
content item.
[0021] The step of receiving the second content item may comprise
receiving an item identifier related to the first content item.
According to this variant, the step of presenting both content
items may be performed based on the item identifier. In some
implementations, the second content item is presented in-line with
the first content item. For example, the second content item may be
a link which is added to or replaces a content of the first content
item such as a word of an SMS text.
[0022] Moreover, the above-mentioned demand is satisfied by a
computer program having computer executable instructions, which
when executed on a content provisioning server causes the content
provisioning server to perform one or more of the corresponding
methods described herein. The above demand is further satisfied by
a computer program having computer executable instructions, which
when executed on a content analysis entity causes the content
analysis entity to perform one or more of the corresponding methods
described herein. The above demand is still further satisfied by a
computer having computer executable instructions, which when
executed on a user terminal causes the user terminal to perform one
or more of the corresponding methods described herein.
[0023] Additionally, a computer program product comprising a
computer readable medium and any of the computer programs is
provided, wherein the computer program is stored on the computer
readable medium. The computer readable medium can take the form of
a Read-Only Memory (ROM), CD-ROM, DVD, flash memory, Electronically
Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM) hard disk or any other known
non-volatile memory.
[0024] Moreover, the above-discussed demand is satisfied by a
content provisioning server of a mobile communications network
adapted for controlling a transmission of a first content item to a
user terminal. The content provisioning server comprises a
component adapted to receive a content indicator indicative of
content of the first content item; a component adapted to determine
a second content item based on the content indicator, wherein the
second content item is intended for an associated presentation with
the first content item on the user terminal; and a component
adapted to transmit the second content item towards the user
terminal, wherein a transmission path of the second content item in
the mobile communications network is at least in part separate from
a transmission path of the first content item.
[0025] Additionally, the above demand is satisfied by a content
analysis entity of a mobile communications network adapted for
controlling a transmission of a first content item to a user
terminal. The content analysis entity comprises a component adapted
to receive data representing content of the first content item; a
component adapted to determine, based on the received data, a
content indicator indicative of the content of the first content
item; and a component adapted to provide the content indicator to a
content provisioning server of the mobile communications network
for providing, independent of a provision of the first content item
to the user terminal, a second content item to the user terminal,
wherein the second content item is intended for an associated
presentation of the first and the second content item on the user
terminal.
[0026] The above demand is also satisfied by a node of a mobile
communications network, which comprises a content provisioning
server as outlined above and a content analysis entity as outlined
above.
[0027] Also, the above demand is satisfied by a mobile
communications network comprising a first node implementing a
content provisioning server as outlined above and a second node
implementing a content analysis entity as outlined above, wherein
the first node and the second node are remote to each other.
[0028] Eventually, the above demand is satisfied by a user terminal
associated with a mobile communications network adapted for
controlling a transmission of a first content item to the user
terminal. The user terminal comprises a component adapted to
receive the first content item from the mobile communications
network; a component adapted to receive a second content item from
the mobile communications network, wherein the second content item
is intended for an associated presentation with the first content
item on the user terminal and the reception of the second content
item is independent of the reception of the first content item; and
a component adapted to present the second content item in
association with the first content item.
[0029] The content provisioning server, content analysis entity and
user terminal may be adapted, or configured, to perform the various
method steps described herein. To this end, appropriately
configured components may be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] In the following, the invention will further be described
with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures,
in which:
[0031] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a mobile
communications network adapted for a provisioning of content items
such as SMS messages;
[0032] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate two embodiments of the SMS
analysis entity of the mobile communications network of FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram schematically illustrating an
operation of the SMS analysis entity of FIG. 2;
[0034] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate two embodiments of the content
provisioning server of the mobile communications network of FIG.
1;
[0035] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram schematically illustrating an
operation of the content provisioning server of FIG. 4;
[0036] FIG. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of a mobile
communications network;
[0037] FIGS. 7A and 76 illustrate two embodiments of the user
terminal of FIG. 1;
[0038] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram schematically illustrating an
operation of the user terminal of FIG. 8; and
[0039] FIG. 9 illustrates a presentation of an SMS with augmenting
content on a screen of the user terminal of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] In the following description, for purposes of explanation
and not limitation, specific details are set forth with regard to
advertisement provisioning systems in mobile communications
networks in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
current invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art
that the current invention may be practiced in other embodiments
that depart from these specific aspects. For example, the skilled
artisan will appreciate that the current invention may be
implemented for any service including content augmentation, for
example by adding news, announcements or offerings.
[0041] Further, while in the examples below an SMS service is
described, the techniques proposed herein may be implemented with
many other services including MMS services, email services and in
general any kind of service related to content provisioning to user
terminals.
[0042] Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that
functions explained hereinbelow may be implemented using individual
hardware circuitry, using software functioning in conjunction with
a programmed microprocessor or a general purpose computer, using an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and/or using one or
more digital signal processors (DSPs). It will also be appreciated
that when the current invention is described as a method, it may
also be embodied in a computer processor and a memory coupled to
the processor, wherein the memory is encoded with one or more
programs that perform the methods disclosed herein when executed by
the processor.
[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a mobile communications
network 100 including an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network 102 and
a network infrastructure 104 for the processing of SMS messages.
The mobile communications network 100 further comprises a PS domain
represented by Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 106 and Radio
Network Controller (RNC) 108, and a Radio Access Network (RAN) 110
represented by evolved eNodeBs 112 and 114. The EPC 100 comprises
an MME 116, a Serving Gateway (S-GW) 118 and a GGSN 120. The
network infrastructure 104 comprises an IP-SM-GW 122, an SMS-GMSC
124, a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 126, as well as further
components which are illustrated in FIG. 1 and known to the skilled
person.
[0044] In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the network
infrastructure 104 and the EPC 102 are assumed to be separate from
each other and a communication therebetween may be performed via an
Internet area 128. Generally the network infrastructure 104 and the
EPC 102 may form part of a single mobile communications network or
may belong to different networks, which may, e.g., be operated by
different mobile network operators.
[0045] As exemplary implementations of user terminals, User
Equipments (UEs) 130 and 132 are illustrated. The UEs 130 and 132
are adapted for communication with the mobile communications
network 100. In the following it is assumed that an SMS message 134
is sent from UE 130 towards UE 132, wherein the SMS service
provided by the mobile communications network 100 comprises
augmenting the SMS message 134 with one or more advertisements. For
this purpose, the mobile communications network 100 includes a
content analysis entity 136 in the form of an SMS analysis entity,
a content provisioning server 138, and a content download server
140. The UE 132 comprises an SMS user client 142 adapted for
communication with the content download server 140. The operation
and interworking of these entities will firstly be outlined with
reference to the scenario illustrated in FIG. 1, and will then be
described in more detail with reference to the subsequent
figures.
[0046] In a step S0 schematically indicated in FIG. 1, the SMS
message 134 is sent from the UE 130 to the IP-SM-GW 122 and further
to the SMS-GMSC 124. In step S1, the SMS-GMSC 124 forwards the SMS
message 134 to the SMS analysis entity 136. In step S2, the SMS
analysis entity 136 returns the SMS message 134 back to the network
infrastructure 104, which operates in step S3 to provide the SMS
message 134 to the SMS user client 142 on UE 132. In other
embodiments, the SMS analysis entity may receive a copy of the
content of SMS message 134, such that step S2 can be omitted. The
purpose of routing the SMS message 134 over the SMS analysis entity
as illustrated in FIG. 1 will be discussed below.
[0047] In step S4, the SMS analysis entity operates to parse the
received SMS text and to correlate the words and phrases of the SMS
text with keywords and phrases in a keyword database 144. As a
result of this operation, the SMS analysis entity provides in step
S6 one or more keywords matching with words in the parsed SMS text
to the provisioning server 138 in a message 146.
[0048] In step S7, the content provisioning server 138 operates to
identify one or more appropriate advertisements based on the
keyword(s) received from the SMS analysis entity. In this respect,
the content provisioning server 138 accesses a content repository
148 provided for storing advertisements and data associated
therewith. For example, keywords may be stored in association with
ads in the repository 148, wherein these keywords may be used as a
basis for identifying appropriate advertisements by matching these
keywords with the keyword(s) received in the message 146.
[0049] In step S8, the content provisioning server 138 provides the
identified one or more ads 150 to the content download server 140
which operates in step S9 to provide the ads 150 to the UE SMS
client 142. In step S10, the SMS user client 142 presents the SMS
message 134 received in step S3 and the advertisements 150 received
in step S9 in association with each other to a user of UE 132. It
is noted in this respect, that the transmission of the SMS message
134 in step S3 on the one hand, and the transmission of the message
146 in step S6 and of the accordingly selected ads 150 in steps S8
and S9 on the other hand are entirely separate transmissions, i.e.
these transmissions are conducted independently of each other as
opposed to a single transmission of an SMS message with an already
appended advertisement to a recipient.
[0050] Now, the operation of the various entities and nodes of FIG.
1 is illustrated in more detail with reference to the subsequent
figures.
[0051] FIG. 2A illustrates functional components of an embodiment
of the content analysis entity 136 in the form of the SMS analysis
entity of FIG. 1. The SMS analysis entity in FIG. 2A comprises a
reception component 202, a keyword determination component 204, and
a transmission component 206. An operation of the SMS analysis
entity of FIG. 2A is now described with reference to the flow
diagram of FIG. 3. Generally, the SMS analysis entity operates to
analyze content, specifically SMS message texts, in view of an
augmentation of such primary content with secondary content, i.e.
advertisements in the example discussed here.
[0052] In step 302, the reception component 202 receives data
representing content of a first content item. Specifically with
reference to step S1 of the example scenario of FIG. 1, the
reception component 202 receives as data the SMS message 134. In
other embodiments, the data may comprise a copy of at least a part
of a content item such as an SMS message text.
[0053] In step 304 (corresponding to step S4), the determination
component 204 operates to determine, based on the received data, a
content indicator which is indicative of the content of the first
content item. The step 304 may comprise to identify one or more
keywords indicative of aspects of the data received by the
reception component 202. Specifically with regard to the SMS
message 134, the operation of the determination component 204
comprises to identify one or more keywords characterizing the text
of the SMS message 134. In this respect, the determination
component 204 accesses (step S5 in FIG. 1) the keyword database 144
in order to identify keywords stored therein matching with words or
phrases of the SMS text. Additionally or alternatively to one or
more keywords identified in this way, the content indicator may
comprise keywords related to the mobile communications network 100
(e.g., one or more operators thereof) 100 of FIG. 1, the current
time (daytime/nighttime, weekend, holidays, seasons, etc.), the
users of the user terminals 130, 132 (gender, age, language
preference . . . ), etc.
[0054] In step 306 (step S5), the transmission component 206
provides the determined content indicator to the content
provisioning server 138. The content indicator may comprise, along
with the one or more identified keywords, an SMS identifier (SMS ID
for short below) which is intended to allow the SMS user client 142
associating the SMS message 134 with the advertisements 150 for
presentation. The SMS ID may comprise, for example, one or more of
an originating number (of UE 130), a terminating number (of UE
132), a time stamp, and an arbitrary identification number which
allows at least the SMS user client 142 to uniquely identify the
SMS message 134.
[0055] No synchronization is required between the sending of the
SMS message 134 towards UE 132 in step S3 of FIG. 1 and the
forwarding of the keyword(s) and the SMS identifier in step 306, as
the ads 150 are transmitted independently of the SMS 134 towards
the UE 132. Thus, the transmission component 206 may send the
message 146 to the content provisioning server 138 as soon as
keyword(s) and SMS identifier are available. As illustrated in FIG.
1, the transmission paths of the SMS message 134 and the keyword
message 146 may be at least partly separate from each other.
[0056] FIG. 2B illustrates functional components of a further
embodiment of a content analysis entity 136 in the form of the SMS
analysis entity of FIG. 1. The content analysis entity 136 in FIG.
2B comprises a processor 210, an input/output unit (such as a
keyboard/monitor combination) 212, a computer program product 214
in the form of a memory, e.g., a hard disk, ROM, flash memory, or
EEPROM, and a computer program 216 stored therein. The computer
program 216 comprises suitably programmed program modules
corresponding to the functional components 202, 204 and 206
discussed above with reference to FIG. 2A. The computer program 216
causes the processor 210 to perform the steps illustrated in the
flow diagram of FIG. 3.
[0057] FIG. 4A schematically illustrates functional components of
an embodiment of the content provisioning server 138 of FIG. 1. The
content provisioning server 138 in FIG. 4A comprises a reception
component 402, an advertisement determination component 404 and a
transmission component 406. An operation of the content
provisioning server 138 will now be described with reference to the
flow diagram of FIG. 5. Generally, the content provisioning server
138 acts as an `ad injection point`, i.e. (specifically for the
example scenario discussed here) operates to identify one or more
appropriate advertisements augmenting the SMS message 134 and to
transmit the identified advertisements towards UE 132 via a
transmission path independent of the transmission path of the SMS
message 134.
[0058] In step 502 (step S6 of FIG. 1), the reception component 402
receives message 146 from the SMS analysis entity including the
content indicator indicative of content of the SMS message 134 and
the SMS ID. In step 504, the advertisement determination component
404 determines one or more advertisements based on the content
indicator. Specifically, the advertisement determination component
404 accesses content repository 148, which generally stores
secondary content for augmentation of primary content such as SMS
texts. Specifically with regard to the example discussed here, the
content repository 148 stores available advertisements in
association with further data allowing a determination of whether
an advertisement may appropriately being served to a user. For
example, keywords may be associated with advertisements. The
advertisement determination component 404 then identifies one or
more appropriate advertisements by identifying those advertisements
associated with at least one of the keywords received in message
146.
[0059] The content repository 148 and the keyword database 144 may
be similarly configured. For example, a list of keywords available
for being associated with advertisements stored in the content
repository 148 may be identical to the list of keywords stored in
the keyword database 144. As a concrete example, a keyword
contained in both databases may be "flight". The identification of
this word as a keyword in the SMS analysis entity 136 enables the
content provisioning server 138 to identify in the content
repository 148 advertisements associated with the word "flight",
e.g. advertisements of airline companies.
[0060] The data associated with ads in the content repository 148
may further comprise, for example, an intended presentation area
for an advertisement. For example, some advertisements may have no
specific presentation area and may thus be presented to users in
any geographical area. Other advertisements may have a specific
intended presentation area such as a particular city or cities, or
a region, province, etc. The content provisioning server 138 may
retrieve a current geographical location of UE 132, e.g. from the
MME 116. The ad determination component 404 may then determine
those advertisements whose intended presentation area covers the
location of UE 132. In this way, in addition or alternatively to
globally relevant advertisements (`macro-localized` ads), also
advertisements relevant in a local area (`micro-localized` ads) can
be served to UE 132.
[0061] Advertisements may be classified as macro-localized or
micro-localized (and also a more complex classification scheme may
be used) depending on the concrete conditions for the content
augmentation. Accordingly, a macro-localized presentation area may
be a country or such-like region, while a micro-localized
presentation area may be a province, city, town, or postal code.
Advertisements with an unlimited presentation area may also be
classified as macro-localized.
[0062] In some embodiments the content provisioning server 138 may
access multiple content repositories. For example, macro-localized
advertisements may be stored in a central repository in a mobile
communications network, while micro-localized advertisements may be
stored in content repositories which are associated with regional
access networks, such as this is shown in FIG. 1 for the content
repository 148 which can be seen as being associated with the RAN
110, the MME 116, and/or the GGSN 120, respectively.
[0063] In step 506, the transmission component 406 operates to
transmit the determined one or more advertisements towards UE 132,
which comprises in the example discussed here to provide the
advertisements to the content download server 140. At the same
time, the content provisioning server 138 may mark the
advertisements in the content repository as `served`.
[0064] FIG. 4B illustrates functional components of a further
embodiment of the content provisioning server 138 of FIG. 1. The
content provisioning server 138 in FIG. 4B comprises a processor
410, an input/output unit (such as a keyboard/monitor combination)
412, a computer program product 414 in the form of a memory, e.g.,
a hard disk, ROM, flash memory, or EEPROM, and a computer program
416 stored therein. The computer program 416 comprises suitably
programmed program modules corresponding to the functional
components 402, 404 and 406 discussed above with reference to FIG.
4A. The computer program 416 causes the processor 410 to perform
the steps illustrated in the flow diagram of FIG. 5.
[0065] FIG. 6 illustrates schematically a further embodiment of a
mobile communications network 600 which is slightly different from
the network 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The network 600 comprises a
central network 602 and a regional network 604. The central network
602 is adapted for SMS handling and therefore comprises an SMS-GMSC
606 and an SMS analysis entity (SAE) 608, which may operate
similarly to what has been described for the SMS-GMSC 124 and SMS
analysis entity above. The regional network 604 may comprise a RAN
and/or an EPC similar to RAN 110 and EPC 102, respectively, of FIG.
1.
[0066] The mobile communications network 600 operates to serve
primary content in the form of an SMS 610 to a UE 612 and to
augment this primary content by providing additional secondary
content such as one or more advertisements to the UE 612. The
mobile communications network 600 may operate similarly to what has
been described for the mobile communications network 100 so far,
but the network 600 differs from the network 100 in that there are
multiple content provisioning servers and multiple content
repositories; specifically, the central network 602 comprises a
central content provisioning server (CPS) 614 and a central content
repository (CR) 616, and the regional network 604 comprises a
regional content provisioning server 618 and a regional content
repository 620.
[0067] A network topology such as that illustrated in FIG. 6 may be
chosen to serve macro-localized and micro-localized advertisements
to the UE 612. The central content repository 616 may be provided
for storing macro-localized advertisements, i.e. the intended
presentation area of such ads is either the entire network 600 or
several regional networks such as the regional network 604. The
regional content repository 620, on the other hand, is then
provided for storing micro-localized advertisements with an
intended presentation area of at most the coverage area of regional
network 604 or less.
[0068] The central content provisioning server 614 receives
keywords characterizing the content of SMS message 610 from the SMS
analysis entity 608 and correspondingly identifies one or more
macro-localized advertisements in the central content repository
616. Thereafter, the central provisioning server 614 forwards the
keywords identified by the SMS analysis entity 608 and the
macro-localized ads to the regional content provisioning server 618
which then operates to determine micro-localized ads from the
regional content repository 620. A further task of the regional
content provisioning server 618 may be to skip a macro-localized ad
in case a micro-localized ad is available, for example a global
company may have an ad which is generally served world-wide, but
may prefer a different advertisement in a specific region. As a
further option, the regional content provisioning server 618 may
operate to perform a ranking of all macro- and micro-localized
advertisements. Eventually the one or more advertisements of
highest rank, which could be macro-localized and/or
micro-localized, are forwarded towards UE 612.
[0069] A large mobile communications network may comprise a central
content provisioning server and central content repository such as
illustrated with entities 614 and 616 in FIG. 6, and may further
comprise multiple regional provisioning servers and regional
content repositories such as illustrated by entities 618 and 620.
In other embodiments, there may be a central content repository but
no central content provisioning server. Multiple regional content
provisioning servers would be configured to access regional content
repositories containing micro-localized ads and to additionally
access the central content repository for retrieving
macro-localized ads. In still other embodiments, only a single
content provisioning server is provided in a central network
infrastructure, which access central and regional content
repositories.
[0070] With regard to scenarios with a single content provisioning
server and single content repository, a configuration different to
that of FIG. 1 may comprise that both the content provisioning
server and the content repository are located in a central network
infrastructure. For example, the content provisioning server may be
arranged near to an SMS analysis entity (e.g., co-located) and/or
near to an SMS processing infrastructure such as the infrastructure
104 illustrated in FIG. 1. Then there would be no further
provisioning server or content repository in regional access
networks.
[0071] The various configurations discussed above may be chosen
according to concrete requirements. For example, providing a
content provisioning server and/or content repository in
association with a regional core/radio access network may reduce
response times and network load. The provisioning server and/or
content repository may be co-located or otherwise associated with,
e.g., an MME or a GGSN depending on further tasks. For example, in
case the content repository is used to store advertisements or
other secondary content not only for SMS/MMS, but also for a
presentation in combination with webpages or other data to be
retrieved from the Internet, a location of the provisioning server
and/or content repository near to a GGSN as illustrated in FIG. 1
can be advantageous.
[0072] Another reason for arranging for a regional or local content
provisioning server is in case the content provisioning server is
to handle feedback data, e.g. process data indicating a user
response to presented advertisements. For example, the content
provisioning server may store indications of a number of users
which have actually selected an advertisement with a
micro-localized presentation area in order for a determination of a
click-through rate. In order to reduce network traffic the content
provisioning server may then be arranged near to the radio
access.
[0073] FIG. 7A schematically illustrates functional components of
an embodiment of the UE 132 in FIG. 1. The UE 132 comprises the SMS
user client 142, a primary content reception component 702, a
secondary content reception component 704, a rendering component
706 and a screen 708. An operation of the UE 132 in FIG. 7A will
now be described with reference to the flow diagram of FIG. 8.
Generally, the UE 132 operates to receive and process primary
content such as SMS messages together with secondary content for
augmentation of the primary content, such as advertisements,
wherein the primary content and secondary content are received
independently of each other.
[0074] In step 802 (corresponding to step S3 of FIG. 1), the
primary content reception component 702 operates to receive the SMS
message 134 from the SMS-GMSC 124. In step 804 (step S9), the
secondary content reception component 704 operates to receive from
the content download server 140 the advertisements 150. The SMS
message 134 on the one hand and the advertisements 150 on the other
hand are received independently of each other, i.e. there is no
strict correlation in time or otherwise between the receptions in
steps 802 and 804. For example, the steps may occur in different
order, such that the secondary content may be received before the
primary content. However, referring to the example scenario
discussed here, the secondary content reception component 704 may
be triggered by the primary content reception component 702, i.e.
the reception of the SMS 134 to request a download of available
secondary content for augmentation of the primary content from the
content download server 140.
[0075] In step 806, the rendering component 706 operates to present
the received SMS 134 as well as the advertisements 150 in
association with each other to a user of the UE 132. Specifically,
the rendering component 706 operates to display both the received
SMS 134 as well as the ads 150 on the screen 708. In the example
discussed here, the association between SMS 134 and ads 150 is
represented by the SMS ID discussed above. The secondary content
reception component 704 may generally be adapted to receive item
identifiers, such as the SMS ID, which allow associating a received
primary content item with a secondary content item. As one example,
the SMS ID may comprise the originating number of UE 130. In this
case the rendering component 706 may compare the originating number
received with the SMS ID with the originating number included in
the SMS message 134, and may in this way determine that SMS 134 and
ads 150 are to be presented in association with each other.
[0076] Generally, the SMS ID may be of any type. For example, the
SMS ID may be an arbitrary number. In this case, it is useful to
forward the SMS message 134 over the SMS analysis entity 136, as
the SMS ID would then have to be forwarded via both transmission
paths, i.e. has to accompany the SMS message 134 as well as the
keyword message 146 and the ads 150. In this case, the SMS ID (more
generally, any kind of item identifier identifying the primary
content item to be augmented) necessarily has to be constructed at
the point at which the transmission paths branch out from each
other.
[0077] FIG. 7B illustrates functional components of a further
embodiment of the UE 132 of FIG. 1. The UE 132 in FIG. 7B comprises
a processor 710, an input/output unit (such as a keyboard/monitor
combination) 712, a computer program product 714 in the form of a
memory, e.g., a hard disk, ROM, flash memory, or EEPROM, and a
computer program 716 stored therein. The computer program 716
comprises suitably programmed program modules corresponding to the
functional components 702, 704 and 706 discussed above with
reference to FIG. 7A. The computer program 716 causes the processor
710 to perform the steps illustrated in the flow diagram of FIG.
8.
[0078] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of an associated presentation
of the SMS message 134 and the ads 150 on the screen 708 of UE 132.
The advertisements 150 comprise an inline advertisement 902 and an
along-side advertisement 904. The inline advertisement 902
comprises a replacement of the words "Liverpool" and "flights" in
the text of SMS message 134 by clickable weblinks/hypertext links.
These links may point to the official website of the town Liverpool
and to the website of an airline, for example. The along-side
advertisement 904 is presented as a text box separate from the text
of the SMS message 134. The ad 904 includes the words "Liverpool"
and "flights" which have been identified by the SMS content entity
136 as keywords in the text of the SMS message 134 and, based
thereupon, the ad 904 has been selected by the content provisioning
server 138 as an appropriate ad.
[0079] The step 804 (S9) of downloading the advertisements 150 may
comprise the download of presentation instructions causing the
rendering component 706 to present SMS 134 and advertisements 150
in a manner as prescribed by the presentation instructions.
Additionally or alternatively, the SMS user client 142 can be
preconfigured, either at the time of manufacture of the UE 132 or
afterwards via administrative action, for presenting inline and/or
along-side advertisements on the screen 708. For example, the SMS
user client 142 may be preconfigured to render ads, in the absence
of downloadable instructions, in a manner as is commonly known from
Web environments.
[0080] Referring back to the flow diagram of FIG. 8, in step 808
the SMS user client 142 transmits an indication of a user behaviour
to the content provisioning server 138. An address of the content
provisioning server 138 may have been provided in step 804 (S9) to
the SMS user client 142, or the SMS user client 142 may provide the
feedback to the content download server 140 which forwards it to
the provisioning server 138. As an example for user feedback, in
case the user has clicked on one of the ads 902 or 904, the SMS
user client 142 may send a corresponding indication. Based on this
kind of feedback, the content provisioning server 138 may mark the
advertisement in the content repository 148 as `clicked`. The
number of times an advertisement has been marked as `served` and as
`clicked` can then be used as a basis for calculating a
click-through rate for the advertisement.
[0081] A network structure is proposed herein which enables content
augmentation, i.e. the provision of secondary content in addition
to primary content such as, for example, SMS/MMS messages, emails,
etc., in a particularly flexible and efficient way. It is proposed
to provide a network structure for the transmission of secondary
content which is to a large extent independent of the network
infrastructure for the transmission of the primary content. Thus,
the interference of the transmission paths related to the primary
content and the secondary content, respectively, is minimized.
[0082] In this way, each transmission path can be optimized
independent of the other. In other words, the transmission of the
primary content may not be disturbed in terms of transmission
delay, presentation, etc., and the introduction of new content
augmentation services may not require modifications on the existing
network structure for the SMS/MMS delivery, email delivery, etc.
Instead of putting the entire burden for the introduction of a new
service on the SMS-GMSC, as in the conventional art, the functional
entities involved in the primary content delivery may remain
unmodified and therefore require less complexity and are less prone
to errors.
[0083] The proposed network infrastructure also leads to a
comparatively simple, fast, and cheap introduction of new content
augmentation services. Moreover, as the secondary content is
provided independently to the user terminal, any kind of associated
presentation of primary and secondary content can be implemented,
including a parallel or sequential presentation to the user. Still
further, the proposed network structure also allows for an
efficient implementation of feedback mechanisms.
[0084] While the current invention has been described in relation
to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that this
description is for illustrative purposes only. Accordingly, it is
intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the
claims appended hereto.
* * * * *