U.S. patent application number 14/825018 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-17 for systems and methods for selectively providing messages in telecommunications systems.
The applicant listed for this patent is CALLERTONE INNOVATIONS, LLC. Invention is credited to Jonathan Strietzel.
Application Number | 20160078486 14/825018 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24341544 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160078486 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Strietzel; Jonathan |
March 17, 2016 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY PROVIDING MESSAGES IN
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
Abstract
A telecommunications advertising means is disclosed. The
telecommunication advertising means includes an advertisement
database coupled to a processing means. The advertisement database
stores subscriber specific or third party advertisements that are
selectively associated with communications in a telecommunications
network. The selective association is carried out by the processing
means. In one embodiment, a router is coupled to the advertisement
database. The router routes communications from source to
destination within the telecommunications network. The router also
routes advertisements that have been associated with the
communications to the sources and destinations of the
communications. A telecommunications system is also disclosed. The
telecommunications system comprises a network subsystem, which
includes a telecommunications advertising means. The
telecommunications advertising means comprises an advertisement
database and a processing means.
Inventors: |
Strietzel; Jonathan; (Long
Beach, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CALLERTONE INNOVATIONS, LLC |
Woodway |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
24341544 |
Appl. No.: |
14/825018 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14032380 |
Sep 20, 2013 |
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14825018 |
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12977000 |
Dec 22, 2010 |
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14032380 |
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12364940 |
Feb 3, 2009 |
7860225 |
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12977000 |
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09585460 |
Jun 1, 2000 |
7489768 |
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12364940 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0277 20130101;
G06Q 30/0269 20130101; H04W 4/12 20130101; H04M 3/4878 20130101;
G06Q 30/0267 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20060101
G06Q030/02; H04W 4/12 20060101 H04W004/12 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A method of facilitating a telephonic communication, comprising:
receiving a network communication for telephonically calling a
called party, the communication initiated by a calling party;
identifying information associated with the calling party from the
received network communication; identifying a first preference
previously specified by the called party regarding presentation of
messages in the course of facilitating telephonic communications
with other parties; in response to the received network
communication, selecting a first message of a plurality of messages
in a message database, the message selected based on both the
identified information of the calling party and the identified
first preference of the called party; and presenting the selected
message to the calling party; and facilitating the telephonic
communication between the calling party and the called party.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: identifying a first
attribute of the called party; and wherein the first message is
further selected in accordance with the identified first
attribute.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of messages
includes advertisements from third parties wherein the third party
has specified a condition under which an individual advertisement
is to be played, and wherein the first message is further selected
in accordance with the specified condition.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting the first message
comprises presenting a textual message to the calling party.
6. The method of claim 2, further comprising presenting the
selected first message to the called party.
7. The method of claim 2, further comprising: selecting a second
message in the message database in accordance with a second
identified preference and a second identified attribute; and
presenting the second message to the calling party.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein the first message in the message
database is further selected in accordance with at least one of a
second identified attribute of the calling party and a second
preference of the called party.
9. The method of claim 2, wherein the received network
communication initiated by a calling party is received from a
computer operated by the calling party.
10. The method of claim 2, wherein the received network
communication initiated by a calling party is received from a
cellular device operated by the calling party.
11. The method of claim 2, wherein the facilitated telephonic
communication is facilitated by using one or more of: a wired
telephone network, a cellular network, and the Internet.
12. A method of presenting messages while facilitating telephonic
communications, comprising: receiving a network communication from
a calling party, the communication for initiating a telephonic call
to a called party; identifying a preference previously specified by
the called party regarding presentation of advertisements in the
course of telephonic communications to the called party from other
parties; identifying an attribute of the calling party from the
received network communication; accessing a database of stored
advertisements from third parties to select a stored advertisement
for presentation to at least one of the calling party and the
called party in accordance with the previously specified called
party preference and the identified attribute of the calling party;
and presenting the selected advertisement to at least the calling
party; and facilitating the completion of the telephonic
communication between the calling party and the called party.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the received network
communication is received from one or more of: a wired telephone
network, a cellular network, and the Internet.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the attribute is identified
through reference to at least one of the telephone number of the
calling party and the telephone number of the called party.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected advertisement
comprises an audible advertisement presented to the calling
party.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected advertisement
comprises a textual advertisement presented to at least the calling
party.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected advertisement
comprises a graphic advertisement presented to at least the calling
party.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected advertisement is
played to the calling party in place of a ring back tone.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the selected advertisement is
played until the call is answered by the called party.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein the advertisement is selected
in reference to at least one of: the type of device associated with
the telephone number of the calling party and the type of device
associated with the telephone number of the called party.
21. The method of claim 12, wherein the initiated telephonic call
further includes video communication.
22. A telecommunications message system, comprising: a message
database containing a plurality stored messages; and a network
subsystem configured to receive a network communication initiating
a telephonic communication between a calling party and a called
party, and to connect a device associated with the calling party
with a device associated with the called party, the network
subsystem comprising, one or more processors coupled to the network
subsystem and the message database, one or more memory devices
coupled to the one or more processors, and containing instructions
that when executed by the one or more processors, cause the
processors to perform operations, comprising, providing a first
party with a menu of preferences regarding presentation of messages
connected with incoming telephonic communications, receiving an
input from the first party updating at least one of the preferences
regarding presentation of messages connected with incoming
telephonic communications; and storing the updated preferences,
receiving a network communication from a calling party initiating a
telephonic call to a called party; identifying a first attribute of
the calling party from the network communication, the first
attribute of the calling party including at least one of, an
identifier of calling party initiating a telephonic communication
to a called party, and the device associated with the calling party
in initiating the telephonic communication, selecting a first
message stored in the message database in response to the
identified first attribute of the calling party and with a
preference identified by the first party regarding messages to be
presented in connection with incoming telephonic communications,
wherein the first party is the called party, presenting the first
message at the device associated with the calling party, and
connecting the device associated with the calling party with a
device associated with the called party to allow telephonic
communication between the calling and called parties.
23. The telecommunication message system of claim 22, wherein the
operations further comprise presenting a second message to the
called party.
24. The telecommunication message system of claim 23, wherein the
first and second messages are the same.
25. The telecommunication message system of claim 22, further
comprising: in response to the received network communication
initiating a telephonic communication, accessing one or more
previously stored preferences of the calling party; and selecting
the first message further in response to the one or more accessed
preferences of the calling party.
26. The telecommunication message system of claim 25, wherein the
first message is selected further in response to the type of the
device associated with the calling party.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit as a continuation
under 35 U.S.C. 120, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/364,940
entitled, "Method and Apparatus for Selectively Providing Messages
in Telecommunications Systems," filed Feb. 3, 2009, which is in
turn a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/585,460,
now U.S. Pat. No. 7,489,768, entitled, "Method and Apparatus for
Telecommunications Advertising," filed Jun. 1, 2000, the entirety
of which are incorporated by reference herein as is set forth in
their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to
telecommunications and, more particularly, to a method and
apparatus for telecommunications advertising.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Currently, the area of telecommunications is rapidly
expanding. As a result, new products and services are constantly
coming into the market, which promise more information, of more
relevance to an individual user, and presented in a more timely
fashion. It is an exciting time for consumers interested in such
products and services; however, such products and services can be
very costly. For example, Personal Digital Assistants (FDA's) and
cellular phones can cost hundreds of dollars depending on the
features and functions included. Moreover, sending a megabyte of
data content over a wireless network can cost hundreds of times
what it costs to send the same data over a fixed network.
Obviously, consumers would prefer that the costs come down, before
they start using many of these new telecommunications products and
services. Unfortunately, the providers of these products and
services need more users before they can bring the costs down
significantly. Advertising is one way to subsidize the costs of new
products and services, thus making them more affordable for the
consumer.
[0004] It has been suggested that in a telecommunications network,
advertising messages could be applied to a calling party's line in
between rings of the ringback signal. For example, such a system is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,382 issued to Sleevi (the Sleevi
patent). The Sleevi patent further suggests that a message could be
associated with the calling party based on the calling party's
phone number, the called party's phone number, or the long distance
carrier of either party. In addition, messages could be changed
based on the time of day, or the day of the week or month. One
drawback to these suggestions, however, is that only the calling
party is targeted and the association of messages is based on a
limited number of criteria. Moreover, only using the period in
between the ringback signals limits the type and number of messages
that can be played to the caller. Another drawback is that the
suggestions above only contemplate a fixed analog
telecommunications network. New telecommunications systems,
however, provide expanded opportunity to provide advertisers with
highly targeted advertising and to subsidize the costs to the
consumer of the products and services associated with these new
systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A telecommunications advertising means is disclosed. The
telecommunication advertising means includes an advertisement
database coupled to a processing means. The advertisement database
stores subscriber specific or third party advertisements that are
selectively associated with communications in a telecommunications
network. The selective association is carried out by the processing
means. In one embodiment, a router is coupled to the advertisement
database. The router routes communications from source to
destination within the telecommunications network. The router also
routes advertisements that have been associated with the
communications to the sources and destinations of the
communications.
[0006] A telecommunications system is also disclosed. The
telecommunications system comprises a network subsystem, which
includes a telecommunications advertising means. The
telecommunications advertising means comprises an advertisement
database and a processing means.
[0007] A method of telecommunications advertising is also disclosed
as well as various other embodiments of the telecommunications
advertising means. These other embodiments and further features and
advantages of the invention are described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In the figures of the accompanying drawings, like reference
numbers correspond to like elements, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1. illustrates a telecommunications advertising means
in accordance with the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2. is a process flow diagram illustrating the operation
of a fixed-line telecommunications network.
[0011] FIG. 3. illustrates a telecommunications system that
includes a telecommunications advertising means in accordance with
an embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 4. illustrates a cellular telecommunications system
that includes a telecommunications advertising means in accordance
with another embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 5. illustrates a plurality of cellular
telecommunications system interfaced to a fixed network switch,
wherein each cellular telecommunications system includes a
telecommunications advertising means in accordance with the
embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0014] FIG. 6. illustrates a paging network system that includes a
telecommunications advertising means in accordance with another
embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 7. is a process flow diagram that illustrates a process
for communicating a paging message.
[0016] FIG. 8. is a process flow diagram that illustrates a method
of telecommunications advertising in accordance with the
invention.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method for updating
user preferences associated with a telecommunications advertising
means in accordance with one embodiment
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a
telecommunications advertising means 100 in accordance with the
present invention. Telecommunications advertising means 100 is
preferably an integral part of a telecommunications service
provider's network and comprises an advertisement database 102,
processing means 104, and router 106. Advertisement database 102
stores advertisements that can be played to system users at
appropriate times based on appropriate criteria. In one
implementation, the advertisements may comprise messages that are
specific to a certain subscriber, or messages that are
advertisements from third party advertisers. Processing means 104
selectively associates at least one advertisement in advertisement
database 102 with incoming communications 108. For example, in one
implementation processing means 104 associates an advertisement
with a source 110 of incoming communication 108. In another
implementation, processing means 104 associates an advertisement
with a destination 112 associated with incoming communication 108,
and, in a further implementation, processing means 104 associates
an advertisement with both source 110 and destination 112 of
incoming communication 108. In each of the above implementations,
processing means 104 may actually associate multiple advertisements
with source 110 and/or destination 112 of incoming communication
108, as opposed to a single advertisement.
[0019] Router 106 receives incoming communication 108 and connects
it to the appropriate destination 112. Router 106 may, for example,
be part of a fixed-line telecommunications network, such as a PSTN
or ISDN, which generally connect ordinary telephone sets together
via switching centers. In this case, telecommunications advertising
means 100, and therefore router 106, may be included in such a
switching center. In the typical fixed telecommunications network
example, the switching center is normally a telephone company
facility called a central office, but the switching center may be a
toll office, a private branch exchange (PBX), or the like.
[0020] A typical process by which router 106 would function within
a switching center is illustrated by the steps in FIG. 2. First, in
step 202, the calling party removes his telephone from the
telephone hook, which closes the switch hook contacts and informs
the local switching center of a request for service. As those
skilled in the art will appreciate, however, the request for
service may also be generated in a variety of other ways that are
well known in the art. For example, for cordless phones, the
request for service signal may be generated by pressing a TALK or
CALL button. Similarly, some phones include a NEW CALL button for
initiating service. Accordingly, the present invention is not
limited to any particular manner of generating a request for
service signal. The request for service is an incoming
communication 108 shown in FIG. 1.
[0021] In step 204, the switching center will apply a dial tone to
the calling party's line and wait for the calling party to dial a
number. In step 206, the number is dialed and the switching center
interprets the digits making up the number. Some portion of the
number, typically the first three digits, will indicate whether the
call is an inter-office call or a same office call, i.e., whether
the call needs to be routed through a second central office or not.
Therefore, in step 208 the switching center determines if the call
is an inter-office call, in which case an idle connection or trunk
to the other central office is selected (step 210). In step 212,
once the trunk is seized, or if no trunk was necessary because it
is a same office call, the switching center determines the status
of the called party's line. As best seen in FIG. 1, the called
party is the destination 112 of incoming communication 108. If the
telephone at the called party's location is busy, then a busy
signal is applied to the calling party's line in step 214. If the
telephone at the called party's location is idle, then, in step
216, a ring signal is applied to the called party's line in order
to activate the ringer in the called party's telephone.
Simultaneously, in step 218, a ringback signal is applied to the
calling party's line. When the telephone is answered by the called
party (step 220), the off hook status causes a termination of the
ringback signal and the parties are connected. At the end of the
conversation, the telephones are returned to their on hook status
(step 222), and the lines and trunk are released.
[0022] Thus, in the fixed telecommunications network example,
router 106 forms an integral part of the circuits and systems of
the switching center. Processing means 104 may also be integrated
into the circuits and systems making up the switching center. In
fact, in some implementations processing means 104 may be merged
with router 106. Advertisement database 102 may be a standalone
database or may be integrated into the resources present within a
particular switching center. Moreover, the components that makeup
telecommunications advertising means 100 can actually be
distributed throughout the network.
[0023] The following implementations are described in order to
further illustrate the above possibilities. In one implementation,
telecommunications advertising means 100 may be included in a
switching center such as a central office. Depending on the
particulars of the implementation, each component of means 100 may
standalone within the central office or may be integrated into the
circuits and systems that make up the central office.
Alternatively, in another implementation the components comprising
telecommunications means 100 may be distributed throughout central
offices within the network. In other words, a router 106 may be
present in each of a plurality of central offices making up the
fixed telecommunications network. Advertisement database 102 and
processing means 104 may, however, be contained within one
particular central office, or distributed along with router
106.
[0024] Although source 110 has been described above as a telephone
set, source 110 of incoming communication 108 is not limited to a
telephone set. In other implementations, for example, source 110 is
a desktop computer, a laptop, a fax machine, or an interface to an
entirely different communications system. With regard to the
latter, traditional fixed networks are interfaced to a variety of
modem telecommunication networks from which incoming communication
108 may be generated. Thus, for example, source 110 may also be a
wireless network, a local loop, a paging network, or a Local Area
Network (LAN). As will be discussed in relation to further
embodiments, each of these networks contains at least one interface
to a fixed network. Therefore, each of these network types may act
as source 110 of incoming communication 108 in various
implementations of means 100.
[0025] The switching center itself is not limited to a typical PSTN
or ISDN type of network switching center. For example,
telecommunications advertising means 100 may be integrated into a
wireless system or the Internet. In these implementations, the
method of identifying destination 112 and of connecting source 110
thereto are different, but the basic approach is the same. In
implementations involving the Internet, telecommunications
advertising means 100 may be included within a router or plurality
of routers used to route traffic across the Internet. In this case,
the Internet address or domain name is used to identify source 110
and destination 112, instead of the digits of the telephone number
dialed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, therefore,
that incoming communication 108 is not limited to voice
communications, but may also include data communications. In fact,
depending on the implementation, incoming communication 108 may be
a video communication, a paging communication, an email
communication, or any combination of the above. Other than what
type of advertisements may be sent, the type of communication does
not impact the functionality of telecommunication advertising means
100.
[0026] In addition to connecting source 110 with destination 112,
router 106 also routes advertisements associated with source 110 to
source 110 and any advertisements associated with destination 112
to destination 112. Because the user is captive, the user must hear
or observe the message. In this way, it can be assured that the
advertising message reaches its intended target.
[0027] Looking at FIG. 2, there are several points, depending on
the desired implementation, that a message may be associated with
and sent by router 106 to source 110, destination 112, or both. For
example, looking at step 204, an advertisement can be associated
with incoming communication 108 and sent to source 110 just prior
to the dial tone being applied.
[0028] Alternatively, the message can actually replace the dial
tone. This is possible because a dial tone alerts the user to the
fact that the user is connected to the network and may dial a
number. Thus, this implementation would use the advertisement to
alert the user of the network connection. Once the advertisement
finishes playing, the user dials the desired number.
[0029] In an alternative implementation, a short advertisement
replaces the ringback signal in step 218. Typically, the ringback
signal consists of short rings every few seconds. In this
implementation, therefore, a short advertisement is played in place
of the rings. In another implementation, once the called party's
telephone goes off hook in step 220, a short advertisement is
played to the calling party. The playing of the short advertisement
indicates to the calling party that the called party has answered
and that the calling party may begin the conversation after the
advertisement has played.
[0030] An advertisement may also be associated with the called
party (destination 112). In this implementation, the advertisement
is routed to the called party when the called party's telephone
goes off hook. The calling party preferably continues to receive
the ringback signal, or substitute advertisements, until the
advertisement is finished on the called party's side, at which
point the conversation may begin. Alternatively, when the called
party's line goes off hook a short advertisement may be played for
both parties, so that the conversation may begin after the
advertisements are complete. Ideally, the advertisements would last
the same amount of time, to avoid any feeling of disconnect by one
of the parties.
[0031] In additional variations, the implementations described
above may be further combined. For example, an advertisement in
place of the dial tone may be combined with short advertisements in
place of the ringback signal, which may be further combined with an
advertisement played to one or both parties when the called party's
telephone goes of hook. In a slightly different implementation,
instead of the ringback signal or substitute advertisements, a
continuous advertisement may be played to the calling party after
the calling party dials the number. When the called party's
telephone goes off hook, the advertisement will stop, and
conversation can then begin. This continuous advertisement may be
combined with an advertisement played before or in place of the
dial tone. In addition, it may be combined with an advertisement
played for the called party, when the called party picks up. Those
skilled in the art will appreciate, therefore, that the
implementations discussed can be combined in a variety of ways in
order to deliver to each party a variety of different messages of
different lengths, and at different times during the call
initiation process. In this respect, the calling party may receive
the same advertisement or advertisements as the called party, or
the advertisements may be different. It can be assured, however,
that each party will hear or observe the advertisement or
advertisements, just as it is assured that each party would hear
the dial tone or ringback signal. This is because the parties must
pay attention at the specific times such advertisements would be
playing in order to complete the call.
[0032] In order to ensure that the advertisements are well targeted
to the particular called or calling party, processing means 104
preferably associates advertisements stored in advertisement
database 102 based on information about the parties. As mentioned
previously, advertisements stored in advertisement database 102 may
be subscriber specific advertisements or third party
advertisements. In particularly preferred implementations, a
specific advertisement is associated based on the specific
subscriber. For example, a certain subscriber may want a specific
message played for any outgoing call, incoming call, or both. This
type of implementation will be particularly advantageous for
business subscribers. By way of illustration, a business subscriber
may want to have a specific short message, such as the business
name or jingle of the business, routed back to the source of each
incoming call. Alternatively, a business may want a specific
message or messages played each time an outgoing call or
interoffice call is originated on one of the business' lines. This
concept may be extended in order to allow third party advertisers
to target specific users or groups of users for specific
advertising messages. For example, a particular advertiser may pay
the telecommunications provider to play an advertising message to
each party placing a call in the telecommunication provider's
network.
[0033] Money collected from advertisers or from business
subscribers to play their advertising messages is preferably used
to offset the cost of the service to each regular subscriber to the
telecommunications network. Alternatively, the system 100 may be
set up so that money collected from advertisers and businesses is
used to offset the cost of subscribers that have agreed to receive
advertising messages as part of the call process.
[0034] The implementations, as described so far, have not involved
highly targeted advertising. Means 100 may be used, however, to
facilitate highly targeted advertising. For example, a certain
advertiser may want to limit the playing of his advertisement to
subscribers in certain geographic areas. Further, the advertiser
may have advertising messages in multiple languages and would
therefore want to playa different message depending on the primary
language of the targeted subscriber. These types of implementations
may be achieved by programming processing means 104 to selectively
associate advertisements stored in advertisement database 102 to
the calling and/or called parties based on predetermined criteria.
One example of selective association has already been discussed,
i.e., playing a message specific to a certain business to callers
calling the business. Other example criteria, in addition to
language and geography, that can be employed to increase the
selectivity of the advertising message played are the source 110 of
incoming communication 108, the type of incoming communication 108,
the time of day of communication 108, and the destination 112 of
incoming communication 108. With respect to source 110 and
destination 112, a wide variety of factors can be used, including,
for example, area code, account type, average monthly phone bill,
frequent phone numbers called, address, etc.
[0035] Information associated with source 110 of incoming
communication 108, such as the corresponding number, is preferably
used to determine if source 110 is initiating a same office call,
an inter-office call, or a call originating in a different type of
network such as a cellular network, a LAN, a local loop, or a
paging network. Third party advertisements can then be associated
with incoming communication 108 based on the source, and in a
manner that increases the selectivity of the advertising so as to
produce a better return on the advertising dollars spent.
Similarly, the type of communication can playa useful role in
increasing the selectivity of the advertisement. As mentioned
previously, the type of communication is not limited to telephone
calls, but may include data communication, video communication,
paging communication, email, voice/audio communication, or any
combination. Thus, by taking into account the source and type of
the communication, a more selective approach may be employed to
associate specific advertisements from specific advertisers with
specific communications.
[0036] Similar information about the destination of incoming
communication 108 may also be advantageously integrated into the
message association process. In a further implementation,
information related to preferences for products and services, as
well as personal data, is gathered for each subscriber and used to
make the association even more highly targeted. It should be noted
that these criteria used in the association process apply to both
advertisements sent to source 110 of incoming communication 108 and
advertisements sent to destination 112 of incoming communication
108.
[0037] Of course, the basic principles are the same for
implementations that involve other than the traditional fixed
telecommunications network implementations. For example, networks
relying in whole or in part on wireless communication lines would
still operate in the same manner. In the case of the Internet, the
selectivity can be even more beneficial in that the Internet brings
together a host of communication methods and devices. Thus, there
is an even broader range of selection criterion that can be used in
the association of advertisements with communications.
Additionally, the advertisement can be in a variety of formats. For
example, the advertisement may be an audio advertisement, it may be
a jingle, a textual message, a video message, a graphic message, or
a combination of these messages, depending on the desired
implementation. Thus, in an implementation involving the Internet,
where multimedia capable computers are usually used to access the
network, each of these message types would be applicable. But even
in the traditional telecommunications network, video conferencing
is possible, wherein text, video, or graphical advertisements are
employed. New digital technologies for fixed networks, such as
ISDN, also make implementations involving a variety of
advertisement types possible. The advantage of certain types of
advertisement messages in relation to certain types of networks
will be discussed more fully in relation to further embodiments
discussed below.
[0038] An alternative embodiment of the invention is now described
in connection with FIG. 3. As mentioned above, in some
implementations source 110 of incoming communication 108 is
actually a different type of network, such as a cellular network,
paging network, local loop, or LAN. In the alternative embodiment
of the invention shown in FIG. 3, telecommunications advertising
means 100 is contained within one of these different source
networks.
[0039] The general situation is illustrated in FIG. 3. According to
FIG. 3, one of these source networks 300 generally consists of a
switching center 312, which is interfaced to a plurality of user
terminals 302. Switching center 312 is typically contained within a
network subsystem 304, which also includes a plurality of
administration means 316. Switching center 312 handles the
switching of communications between terminals 302 and between
terminals 302 and fixed network users. Switching center 312 is
interfaced to fixed network users through fixed network interface
314. The fixed network may, for example, be a fixed
telecommunications network such as a PSTN or ISDN. Administrative
means 316 contain the administrative information for all terminals
302. The administrative information is used by switching center 312
to control communication within network 300.
[0040] Network subsystem 304 further comprises an advertisement
database 102 and a processing means 104. Like the previous
embodiment, advertisement database 102 stores advertisements that
are played to users of terminals 302 at appropriate times based on
appropriate criteria. Processing means 104 associates at least one
advertisement from advertisement database 102 with each
communication within network 300. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 3, the functions of router 106, in the previous embodiment,
are performed by switching center 312. Therefore, switching center
312, advertisement database 102, and processing means 104 form a
telecommunications advertising means 100 similar to that depicted
in FIG. 1.
[0041] In network 300, incoming communications are analyzed to
determine the source, destination, type of communication, time of
day, etc., then processing means 104 selectively associates at
least one advertisement with the source and/or destination of the
communication based on the information determined. The
advertisement or advertisements are advertisements unique to a
specific subscriber, or a third party advertisement. For example,
when a terminal to terminal communication is initiated, processing
means 104 may associate an advertisement with the source and route
it back to the source terminal 302. Additionally, an advertisement
from advertisement database 102 may be associated with the
destination terminal 302 and routed to that terminal. The
advertisement may be the same for both source and destination or it
may be different depending on the implementation. If the
communication is initiated with a fixed network user, then this may
cause the advertisements associated with either the source, or
destination, or both to be different than in the terminal to
terminal situation.
[0042] When communication is established between a terminal 302 and
a fixed network user, special considerations may arise. This is
because the fixed network may also comprise a telecommunications
advertising means 100. Therefore, processing means 104 must be
capable of resolving which advertising means 100 will associate an
advertisement or advertisements with the communication. Looking at
specific implementations in the discussion below will further
develop the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3.
[0043] First, FIG. 4 illustrates a cellular network 400. In this
implementation, the terminals 302 comprise wireless mobile stations
(MS) 406. Cellular network 400 further comprises base station
subsystem 402 and network subsystem 404. MS's 406 communicate with
base station subsystem 402 across a Um interface, which is also
known as the air interface or radio link. Base station subsystem
402 includes a plurality of base station controllers (BSC) 410 and
a plurality of base station transceiver stations (BTS) 408. Each
BTS 408 houses a radio transceiver that defines a cell and handles
the radio link with a plurality of MS's 406 within the cell. Each
BSC 410 manages the radio resources, such as channel setup and
channel handoff, of one or more BTS's 408. Each BTS 408
communicates with a BSC 410 over a standard (Abis) interface.
[0044] Network subsystem 404 comprises mobile switching center
(MSC) 412 as well as a plurality of administrative registers 416
and advertisement database 418. Network subsystem 404, of which MSC
412 is the main part, performs the switching of calls between the
mobile users and between mobile and fixed network users. MSC 412
acts like a normal switching node of a fixed network, but
additionally provides the functionality needed to handle a mobile
subscriber, such as registration, authentication, location,
updating, handoffs, and call routing. MSC 412 also provides the
connection to a fixed network through network interface 414. In the
implementation shown, MSC 412 also performs the functions of
selectively associating advertisements in advertisement database
418 with communications within network 400. In alternative
implementations, a separate processing means may be used to perform
this function. Administrative registers 416 contain all the
administrative information of each subscriber registered in network
400, along with the current location of each MS 406. It should be
noted that some or all of registers 416 may also be implemented as
part of MSC 412. Alternatively, each register 416 and MSC 412 may
be implemented as independent units. Administrative registers 416,
together with MSC 412, provide call routing and roaming
capabilities.
[0045] When a MS 406 places a call to another MS 406, the call is
routed through MSC 412. Unlike the fixed network embodiment, the
caller initiating the call does not usually receive a dial tone
indicating connection to the network. A caller will dial the number
desired and then place MS 406 to their ear. MSC 412 will determine,
based on the number dialed, that the destination of the call is
another MS 406. If the called party is using their MS 406, or if
the called party's MS 406 is turned off, then a busy tone or a
message indicating the unavailability of the called party is routed
back to the calling party. If, on the other hand, the called
party's MS 406 is on and is idle, then a ring signal is applied to
the called party's MS 406 and a ringback signal is applied to the
calling party's MS 406. When the called party answers, the ring and
ringback signals are terminated and the conversation can begin.
[0046] Because there is typically no dial tone, an advertisement
from advertisement database 418 cannot be played prior to or in
place of the dial tone. But an advertisement or advertisements from
advertisement database 418 can be, depending on the implementation,
substituted for the rings in the ringback signal, played in between
the rings of the ringback signal, or substituted for the ringback
signal entirely, i.e., one long advertisement or series of short
advertisements is played for the caller until the called party
picks up as opposed to the traditional ringback signal. In a
preferred implementation, once the called party picks up, an
advertisement is played for one or both parties after which, the
conversation can begin. In addition, implementations may combine,
in different ways, the playing of messages at these various points
during the call.
[0047] MSC 412, or a standalone processing means in those
implementations that include one, selectively associates
advertisements in advertisement database 418 based on, for example,
information related to the caller, or source of the call, and/or
the destination. As in the fixed network example, advertisements
may also be selectively associated based on the time of day,
geographic location, primary language, or the identity of the
specific caller or called party. In one implementation, the message
associated comprises billing information for one or both parties.
For example, the party's balance and minutes remaining for the
month are played for the party. In another implementation, a
specific party or subscriber specifies the message or messages to
be played under certain circumstances. For example, a business may
pay to have the business' jingle played to any caller using a MS
406 to call the business. In yet another implementation, the
network advertises new calling plans or special promotions are
played. In particularly preferred implementations, third party
advertisers may pay to have advertisements related to their
products and services played during the call. Money generated from
this type of advertising may be used to subsidize the cost of
products and services for subscribers to network 400.
[0048] Unlike routing in the fixed network example, where a
terminal is semi-permanently wired to a central office, a mobile
user can roam nationally and even internationally. Therefore, the
directory number associated with a particular MS 406 usually
contains a country code as well as identification of the associated
home network 400. When a fixed network subscriber initiates a call
to a mobile user, the fixed network switching center interfaces
with one or several MSC's 412 in order to connect the call. As a
result, the steps are very similar to the ones illustrated in FIG.
2, except multiple switching centers from multiple networks are
involved. The situation gets even more complicated when, as
illustrated in FIG. 5, a mobile user in one cellular network 502
initiates a call to a user in a second cellular network 504. In
this case there are network switches from three different networks
and each may have its own telecommunication advertising means 100.
To deal with the potential conflict, each switch 412 and 500
preferably incorporates protocols for determining whether to
associate an advertisement with a particular user under these
conditions. In the typical implementation, for example, each switch
412 only associates an advertisement with the MS 406 (source or
destination) that is in the same network, and fixed network 500
does not associate any advertisements with the communication.
[0049] It should be noted that MS's 406 used in cellular systems
present unique possibilities for communicating advertisements to
subscribers. For example, one implementation takes advantage of the
fact that the ring the called party hears is completely
programmable. Therefore, in this implementation the ring is
replaced by an advertisement. This can be accomplished by storing
potential advertisements in each MS 406. When MSC 412 associates a
particular advertisement, it sends a command to a called party's MS
406 to play that advertisement in place of the ring. MS 406,
accesses the stored advertisements and plays the appropriate one at
the appropriate time. The ability to program a MS 406 over the air
to constantly update which advertisements are stored in MS 406 may
also be taken advantage of in this implementation.
[0050] Another unique method of communicating messages to mobile
users that may be employed in the present embodiment takes
advantage of the fact that a large number of MS's 406 are equipped
with a display device. Therefore, the present embodiment also
contemplates the use of graphic or text advertisements that are
displayed on the user's display device. For example, a company may
pay to have its trademark flashed on the screen of each MS 406
whenever there is an incoming call, or whenever a user pushes send
to initiate a call, or a combination thereof. The use of graphic or
text advertisements is also incorporated in implementations
involving a second example type of network 300 as illustrated in
FIG. 6.
[0051] FIG. 6 illustrates a paging network 600 comprising paging
devices 604, paging sites 610, and control point 602. The heart of
control point 602 is paging switching center 606, which connects
paging network 600 to the local telephone company through fixed
network interface 612. Fixed network interface 612 is typically
several telephone line connections, which can be direct inward dial
circuits, Tl circuits, or network connections. These different
types of connections are mixed together in order to optimize the
system and maintain overhead costs. Paging switching center 606
outputs paging and control data to paging sites 610 in order to
successfully implement the paging operation. The link between
paging switching center 606 and paging site 610 is either an RF
link of fixed line connection. Paging sites 610 transmit the paging
information to all of the paging devices 604 in the area.
Alternatively, the links between paging sites 610 and paging
switching center 606 may be implemented as a satellite link system.
In addition, control point 602 includes advertisement database 608,
and optionally storage 614 if paging network 600 includes voicemail
capabilities. In certain implementations, a stand alone processing
means is included for selectively associating advertisements stored
in database 608 with communications within network 600. In the
implementation shown in FIG. 6, however, paging switching center
606 performs the function of selectively associating
advertisements.
[0052] The process involved in completing a page is illustrated in
FIG. 7. First, in step 702, a person dials a number corresponding
to a paging device 602. Then in step 704, the switching center of
the local Telephone Company determines that the number dialed
corresponds to a paging device 602. In step 706, the Telephone
Company switching center routes the page to paging switching center
606. Paging switching center 606 encodes and processes the page and
outputs paging information to the paging sites 610 in step 708.
Paging sites 610 then transmit the page to the user in step 710.
Because paging networks 600 traditionally involve one way paging,
and paging terminals traditionally use a vibration or audible beep
to indicate an incoming page and not ring indicators, paging
switching center 606 preferably selectively associates graphic or
text advertisements stored on database 608 with each incoming page
received through interface 612. Thus, for example, as with the
previous embodiment, a company may pay to have its trademark
displayed on paging device 602 each time a page is received.
[0053] Two way paging, pagers with multiple programmable ring
indicators, and pagers equipped with voice audio capabilities,
however, expand the possible methods of implementing a
telecommunications advertising means 100 within a paging network
600 to many of the various implementations described above in
connection with prior embodiments. In pagers with voice audio
capabilities or voicemail, for example, an audible advertisement,
such as a jingle or slogan, may be selectively added by switching
center 606 to the beginning of each voice page received.
[0054] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other
implementations of network 300 will involve other network systems,
such as local loops, wireless local loops, or LAN's. Moreover, the
type of communication involved, in addition to calls and pages,
incorporates video and text communication depending on the system
implementation. Each of the implementations discussed may also
incorporate a means to acquire more information about a product or
service advertised during the communication. For example, a calling
or called party in a telephone network, a cellular network, or a
paging network can stay on after the communication transaction is
over and receive options or a menu allowing the party to select to
receive more information about a particular product or service. In
certain other implementations, the user can actually select to be
connected directly to the company offering the products or
service.
[0055] There is also provided a method of telecommunications
advertising comprising the steps illustrated in FIG. 8. First, in
step 802, a plurality of advertisements to be associated with
communications within a telecommunications network are stored. In
preferred implementations of the embodiment, information related to
users within the network is also stored, as illustrated by optional
step 810 in FIG. 8. Depending on the particulars of the
implementation, this user information may comprise some or all of
the following pieces of information: a user's primary language, a
user's preferences, a user's communications provider, a user's
communication means, a user's communication plan, and a user's
geographic location. A user's communication means refers to the
device the user uses when communicating over the telecommunications
network. The device could be, for example, a telephone, cell phone,
PDA, or computer depending on the system. Most of the user
information is known when a user agrees or signs up for a
particular communications service. User preferences, however, may
be obtained, for example, through the use of a user questionnaire
or fact sheet. For example, when a user signs up for a service they
are preferably asked to provide personal information such as age,
salary, marital status, number of children, etc., and buying
preferences such as how much the user spends on certain items, what
type of items the user typically purchases, what type of items the
user would like to receive information on, and so on. All of the
information related to the user is then preferably stored and used
in the next step.
[0056] In step 804, an advertisement or advertisements are
associated with a source of a communication within the
telecommunications network. For example, an advertisement may be
associated based simply on the identity of the source as determined
by the number or address associated with the source. Preferably,
however, the identity is combined with the user information in
order to selectively associate a highly targeted advertisement,
such as an advertisement for a particular product, with the source.
In step 806 the advertisement is played for the user associated
with the source of the communication.
[0057] An advertisement is also preferably associated with the
destination of the communication. This step is illustrated as
optional step 812 in FIG. 8. If the user associated with the
destination is also a subscriber to the telecommunications network,
then user information is also preferably used to associate an
advertisement with the destination. If the user is not a
subscriber, then the identity of the destination user will
typically be the primary factor used in associating the
advertisement or advertisements. In optional step 814, the
advertisement is then played for the user associated with the
destination. In step 808, after the advertisement or advertisements
are played for the source and destination, the communication
transaction is completed between the two parties. For example, the
transaction may be a telephone call or email. After the
advertisements are played the call or email would be put through to
the other party. In the email example, the advertisement or
advertisements could be attached or embedded in the emails
themselves.
[0058] It is contemplated that the users of networks including a
telecommunication advertising means 100 would be billed at a lower
rate for the communication service due to the fact that the
advertisements are included in the communication. Further, as
illustrated by step 816 in FIG. 8, one or both users, depending on
the implementation, may stay online and choose to receive further
information with regard to one or more of the advertisements played
during the communication transaction. For example, one or both
users may wish to receive more information about the product or
service advertised. In a particular preferred implementation of the
method, the user may choose (step 818) to be connected directly to
the company whose product or service was advertised. In this case,
the telecommunications network connects the user to the company
through the telecommunications network via the telecommunications
means employed by the user.
[0059] In an alternative embodiment, the users are given the option
to receive more information prior to the connection between source
and destination. For example, after the advertisements are played
for the user associated with the source, the user is given the
option to receive more information relating to the advertised
products or services. Depending on the implementation, the user may
choose to receive the information immediately or to wait until
after the communication transaction. In other sample embodiments,
similar options are provided to the destination user as well. In
alternative embodiments, one or both users are given the option to
receive more information at various points during the communication
transaction.
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 9, there is also provided a method
for updating user preferences associated with a telecommunications
advertising means comprising the following steps: First, in step
902, a user accesses a record containing the user's preferences. In
one sample embodiment, the record is part of a larger database that
contains a plurality of records containing user information for
users within a telecommunications network. In one sample
implementation, the user accesses the record via the Internet. In
this implementation, the user would, for example, go to a website
where they could choose to access their user preference
information. In a typical implementation, the user would need to
supply a password of some sort in order to gain access to the
information.
[0061] Once the user has gained access, the user has the option to
change the preferences and user information contained in the
record. This step is illustrated as step 904 in FIG. 9. Then, in
step 906, the user changes the information they wish to change. For
example, in implementations that use the Internet, the user
accesses a screen or window, or series of screens or windows, from
which they can change or select new information for the record.
Depending on the implementation, the user preferences will relate
to age, salary, marital status, number of children, etc., and
buying preferences such as how much the user spends on certain
items, what type of items the user typically purchases, what type
of items the user would like to receive information on, and so
on.
[0062] In step 908, the new information is automatically updated
and stored in the record, which is automatically updated and stored
in the database. In an additional sample embodiment, the record is
accessed via telephone. The user again uses a password to access
the information and is then provided with menu options to select
new or updated information.
[0063] After the new information is updated and stored in step 908,
the updated record is used, in step 910, to automatically update
associations of advertisements to be played to the user. For
example, the telecommunications advertising means is part of a
telecommunications network. When the user initiates or receives a
communication within the network, the user information is used to
associate advertisements that are played to the user before,
during, or after the communication. In step 910, the updated user
information automatically updates which advertisements are
associated with, and played to, the user.
[0064] While various embodiments of the invention have been
presented, it should be understood that they have been presented by
way of example only and not limitation. It will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that many other embodiments are possible,
which would not depart from the scope of the invention. For
example, certain telecommunications network systems are described.
Telecommunications technology, however, is constantly evolving,
resulting in new systems and means for communicating. The present
invention anticipates that changes in technology will occur, but
the basic invention will continue to apply to newly developed
systems.
* * * * *