Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Special service
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-10
2003-11-11
Maung, Nay (Department: 2684)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Special service
C455S456100, C455S456400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06647257
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a system and method for providing targeted messages to a subscriber of a wireless mobile communications service. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for inserting, before and during wireless mobile communications, commercial information or advertisements that are targeted to the subscriber of the wireless mobile communications service. In a preferred embodiment, the messages are chosen from a database of pre-selected commercial information or advertisements and are targeted to the subscriber of the wireless mobile communications service on the basis of Wireless Mobile Location Data included with the call signal. In an alternative embodiment, the commercial information or advertisements are further targeted to the subscriber on the basis of predetermined Subscriber Profile Data pertaining to the subscriber. In another alternative embodiment, the commercial information or advertisements are further targeted to the subscriber on the basis of Historical Response Data relating to the responses made to the targeted messages previously provided to the subscriber. In yet another alternative embodiment, the commercial information or advertisements are further targeted to the subscriber on the basis of Historical Response Data relating to the historical movement patterns of the subscriber.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cellular/Personal Communications Service (C/PCS) and Global Mobile Personal Communications Service (GMPCS) provide audio, video and/or electronic data communications, including wireless mobile telephony service, wireless mobile data transmission service and wireless mobile global computer network (e.g., Internet®) service. Presently, the most common form of C/PCS is hand-held mobile radiotelephone service and the most common form of GMPCS is hand-held mobile satellite telephone service. To obtain these services, customers, referred to herein as “subscribers,” register with a particular service provider, referred to herein as an “operator.” Upon registration, the operator's network is configured to acquire and route communications initiated or received by the subscriber's personal wireless mobile phone or wireless mobile computer. The subscriber's wireless mobile phone or wireless mobile computer is sometimes referred to in the art as a “mobile station,” and are collectively referred to herein as a “wireless mobile terminal.” The subscriber can then initiate and receive communications from any mobile location within the operator's wireless network service area.
Typically, wireless mobile terminals are assigned a unique International Mobile Station Identifier (IMSI) or other similar identifying code or number, referred to herein as a “Subscriber Identification Code.” The Subscriber Identification Code is pre-programmed into the wireless mobile terminal to identify the subscriber and the subscriber account. Although there is no guarantee that a wireless mobile terminal will always be used by the subscriber of the account assigned the Subscriber Identification Code, typically the user will be the subscriber. Alternatively, the Subscriber Identification Code may be contained on a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), also referred to in the art as a “Smart Card,” which is inserted into the wireless mobile terminal prior to use. The SIM or Smart Card indicates that the user of the wireless mobile terminal is the subscriber of the account assigned the Subscriber Identification Code contained on the SIM or Smart Card, or that the user has been authorized by the subscriber to use the wireless mobile terminal.
Currently, C/PCS networks are significantly more expensive than traditional wire, referred to herein as “landline,” communication services. As demand for C/PCS continues to grow, service charges will almost certainly decrease due to an increase in the number of subscribers and an increase in the service capacity of the network. Nevertheless, the service charges associated with communications initiated or received by C/PCS subscribers will likely remain unaffordable for many individuals. As competition further reduces the cost of such services, price wars and an increasing level of bad debt (caused by widespread use of the C/PCS network by lower income subscribers) will progressively erode the operator's profit margin. In view of the additional global service capacity that will be introduced over the next several years, it will be necessary in order for operators to remain profitable that market penetration and service utilization increase significantly. As a result of increased market penetration, a need will exist for a means of reducing subscriber service charges while maintaining operator profit margins.
The emergence of new GMPCS networks creates similar problems for the operators of such services. Due to the initial high cost of introducing and maintaining a GMPCS (including establishing a satellite system that provides global coverage), it will be necessary that GMPCS operators acquire a large number of subscribers over a relatively short period of time. Nevertheless, it is predicted that service charges for GMPCS subscribers will be even higher than service charges for C/PCS subscribers in order for operators to amortize the large up-front capital investments associated with such satellite systems. Consequently, GMPCS operators will intentionally target “high-end” subscribers to minimize the occurrence of bad debt and to maintain acceptable profit margins. The number of subscribers that can afford such high-end services, however, is expected to be limited. Thus, strategies to increase affordability while maintaining operator profit margins will likely be required. Further, the emerging wireless mobile data services and wireless mobile global computer network services are expected to operate in a manner similar to wireless mobile telephony services, thereby creating lower overall mobile service price expectations among subscribers. As such, GMPCS operators will likely be required in the future to provide wireless mobile access to global computer networks. The service charges associated with these additional services will require GMPCS operators to offer even further cost saving incentives to subscribers.
It is thus apparent that a need exists for operators of wireless mobile communications services, and in particular for C/PCS and GMPCS operators, to acquire a large enough number of subscribers to generate sufficient operating revenue and sufficient profit margins to remain profitable. Operators can most easily accomplish this by reducing subscriber service charges while maintaining profit margins. It has been suggested that an effective means for operators to achieve this goal is to offer a pricing program in which sponsors subsidize the wireless mobile communications of subscribers to the service with commercial information or advertisements. The Applicant of the present invention has determined that operators can take advantage of the unique attributes of wireless mobile communications by providing messages that are targeted to the subscriber on the basis of the real-time, physical location of the wireless mobile terminal at the time of the wireless mobile communication, referred to herein as the “wireless mobile location” of the terminal. The Applicant of the present invention has also determined that by utilizing the unique Subscriber Identification Code assigned to each wireless mobile terminal, operators can provide messages that are further targeted to the subscriber on the basis of predetermined data pertaining to the subscriber, referred to herein as “Subscriber Profile Data.” The Applicant of the present invention has also determined that operators can provide messages that are further targeted to the subscriber on the basis of the responses made to the targeted messages previously provided to the subscriber, referred to herein as “Historical Response Data.” In addition, the Applicant of the present invention has determined that by utilizing the Historica
Heidelberger Louis M.
Leap Wireless International Inc.
Maung Nay
McWilliams Thomas J.
Reed Smith LLP
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