A system and method for simultaneously delivering rewards and targeted advertising to mobile devices

0001A System and Method for Simultaneously Delivering Rewards and Targeted

0002Advertising to Mobile Devices

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0004The present invention relates to a system and method of simultaneously delivering rewards and targeted advertising to users of a telecommunication company's services. The primary components of the system include: 1) a Rewards Application Server and Rewards Database Server that assigns the corresponding rewards for a users' mobile device usage and updates the same user of their status, and 2) a Telco Mobile Subscriber Profile Database that collects and consolidates user information and increases the relevance of rewards and advertisements that are paired with messages sent by the Rewards Application server.

BACKGROUND ART

0006At present mobile device users are encouraged to spend more on their Telco services with promotions conveyed through such media as TV, Radio, Point-of- sale, and Outdoor advertising. These traditional means of promotions are generally less targeted and less efficient than promotions conveyed directly to users' mobile phones.

0007To partially address the issue of efficiency in advertising, Telcos have also been broadcasting promotions directly to users' phones. However, these messages tend to be ignored as they are considered unsolicited and are only marginally more targeted than traditional advertising.

0008The same issues are present with non-Telco advertisers. On one hand, advertising through mobile phones allows better targeting, but on the other hand, advertisements sent directly to mobile users' phones tend to be considered as "spam"

0009Furthermore, both Telco and non-Telco advertisements sent to mobile devices do not take full advantage of the personalized and mobile nature of the device. Advertisements are generally not targeted based on the users' profile and previous transaction history, nor the users' current location, nor the time of day the subscriber will read the advertising message.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0011It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a method of simultaneously delivering rewards and targeted advertisement to mobile devices through a Rewards Application Server and a Telco Mobile Subscriber Profile Database. The Rewards Server will award users points based on their usage of Telco services, such voice call and other core billable services like SMS, MMS, WAP browsing, Third generation of mobile phone standards and technology (3G) usage, 3 G Video Calls, High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), Fourth generation of mobile phone standards and technology (4G) usage and other value added services (VAS). The rewards server will notify them of the points they have earned, and pair these notifications with targeted Telco/3^rd Party advertisements through the following steps: i

0012A user's Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number (MSISDN), which includes a country code and a National Destination Code that identifies the subscriber's operator, is entered into the Reward Application Server linked to the Telco's

0013Intelligent Network (IN) or similar billing system wherein, user transactions are being tracked for points obtained. Said Server will then assign as awards to the user the equivalent predetermined prizes and shall notify and update the user of their accumulated points or rewards earned periodically. The user transaction information are also sent to a Reward Database Server linked to the Rewards Application Server wherein the user is verified and checked for rewards eligibility.

0014The Reward Application Server is linked to a Telco Mobile Subscriber Profile Database wherein user transactions are processed. The Server then profiles the user accordingly by demographics, preferences, time, location, context and subscriber's previous or historical reaction to other messages using predetermined catch words.

0015The Mobile Subscriber Profile Database will then be used as a basis for further enhancing the subscriber usage by sending the subscriber with appropriate and reward based advertisement, which maximizes the advertising relevance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0017The present invention will be fully understood upon reading the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

0018Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the rewards system network architecture; and

0019Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of SMS rewards system workflow;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

0021The present invention refers to a system and method for delivering rewards and targeted advertising to mobile devices. The reward system network structure , as shown in Figure 1 , shows a number of mobile device users 1 transacting with the Telco, either making a call or sending SMS to one another. These transactions passes through the Telco' s mobile device switching center (MSC) 2 if it's a voice call and/or into the Short Message Service Center (SMSC) 3 if its an SMS. The MSC or SMSC that is linked to the Telco Intelligent Network (IN) 4 checks for available prepaid balance , in case of prepaid subscribers, and verifies to continue the sending of SMS or continue the voice call. All users 1 are then automatically enrolled into the Telco's free reward program, which has a feature that allows users to opt-out anytime from said free reward program if they are not interested.

0022The Telco's Intelligent Network (IN) 4 is further connected and linked to a Rewards Application Server 5 that processes and tracks all transactions and activities made through the mobile devices of the respective users/subscriber 1 for points obtained. The Rewards Application Server 5 then, awards the user the equivalent predetermined prizes . It will also periodically notify and update the users 1 of their accumulated points or rewards earned,. The Rewards Application Server 5 is further linked to a Mobile Subscriber

0023Profile Database 6 that processes and profiles the user 1 through transactions made (such as call, downloads, uploads, messages sent/received and other activities) accordingly by predertmiηed data classifications such as demographics, preferences, time, location, context and subscriber's previous reaction to other messages using predetermined catch words.

0024A Rewards Database Server 7 linked to the Rewards Application Server 5 checks the transaction made by the user/users 1 for rewards eligibility.

0025It is to be noted that the user profiles in the Mobile Subscriber Profile Database 6 is matched into the Database in the Rewards Application Server 5 for purpose of delivering advertisement to appropriate targets at appropriate time.

0026The second embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 2, shows tlϊe same reward system network architecture as shown in Figure 1 wherein the Telco's IN 4 produced a SMS Detailed Report (SDR) 11 containing data such as transaction ID, Transaction Date and Time, A-Number (sender's MSISDN) and B-number (receiver's MSISDN) that is sent to the Rewards Application Server. 12 Then, these data are sent for processing to the Rewards Database Server 13 for rewards eligibility. Thereafter, the Rewards Application Server 5 comunicates to the Telco IN 15 the rewards that the user 1 earned. Simultaneously, the Rewards Application Server 5 sends an SMS notification for the delivery of rewards 16. This notification is paired with advertisements suitable for the user 1. The suitable advertisement is determined based on the user profile, the generation of which is discussed as the next embodiment of this invention.

0027A third embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 2, shows the same reward system network architecture as shown in Figure 1 wherein the Telco's IN 4 produced a SMS Detailed Report (SDR) 11 containing data such as transaction ID, Transaction Date and Time, A-Number (sender's MSISDN) and

0028B-number (receiver's MSISDN) that is sent to the Rewards Application Server. 12

0029Then, these data are sent for processing to the Mobile Subscriber Profile Database

003014 for subscriber personal information. It is noreworthy that the Mobile Subscriber Profile Database 6 collects and consolidates information from multiple sources in addition to the SMS Detailed Report (SDR) 11, such as user's telco transcations, the registration information they provide for both Telco and 3rd

0031Party services and Data taken from third parties such as Market research agencies.

0032With the foregoing, it is evident that the present invention clearly provides for a novel and systematic delivery of rewards to the users for their increased usage of Telco's services and provides for an effective delivery of advertisement bundled or laced with rewards to targeted users.

0033This reward system is also effective against advertisement being tagged and considered spam. Said rewards are not necessarily limited to accumulating points to get certain goods but include other reward schemes, such as free load, coupons or calls, or raffle entries for prizes, etc.

0034Furthermore, the advertising relevance is maximized since advertisements are sent to the appropriate target users based on their tracked profile or the advertiser's target group based on their particular preference.

0035The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristic thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive the scope of invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.