Patent ID: 9037133
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method comprising steps of: based on a proximity service profile related to a proximity service selected from among a plurality of proximity services, transmitting a message offering service content indicated in the proximity service profile of the selected proximity service via a radio frequency transceiver of a cell of a mobile communication network, for reception by mobile devices when within a coverage area of the cell related to a geographical region identified in the proximity service profile, wherein the proximity service is provided by a proximity service provider; upon receiving a response to the broadcast message from one of the mobile devices indicating a request by a user of the one mobile device to receive further communication regarding the proximity service, obtaining, by an application server, the proximity service profile for the proximity service provider and a user profile for the user of the one mobile device from a profile database; determining whether the proximity service profile and the user profile each contain information indicating that the one mobile device and a proximity service server of the proximity service provider supports communicating directly via an alternate wireless network; in response to a determination that the one mobile device and the proximity service server of the proximity service provider supports communicating directly via an alternate wireless network, determining, by the application server, that the proximity service profile and the user profile are compatible so as to allow direct communication of the service content between the one mobile device of the user and a proximity service server of the proximity service provider; and transmitting the service content indicated in the proximity service profile of the proximity service to the one mobile device, wherein the service content is transmitted by either the mobile communication network or the alternate wireless network as determined according to the proximity service profile and the user profile related to the one mobile device.