System and method for peer-to peer advertising between mobile communication devices

Disclosed are a method and system for peer-to-peer advertising between mobile communication devices. A subsidy program is set up based on a profile of an advertiser having at least one advertising media. A qualified subscriber is identified for the advertiser based on a profile of a subscriber. One or more advertisers and subsidy programs for the qualified subscriber is selected. In addition, when a communication transmission is received from a source communication device, at least one advertising media is associated with the communication transmission and the communication transmission is transmitted from a source communication device to a destination communication device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Patent Application 2007/0016921 filed on Dec. 23, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/639,267 filed Dec. 27, 2004, and entitled “A Method and System for Peer-to-Peer Advertising Between Mobile Devices.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As peer-to-peer and mobile technologies evolve into highly sophisticated two-way communication systems including mobile phones, instant messaging devices, and personal digital assistants (PDA), the adoption and usage of such technologies continue to increase at a rapid rate. Advertisers are highly motivated to identify new methods of creating brand awareness to users. One of these methods is known as advertising impressions. Leveraging mobile technologies as described above, advertising impressions provide brand and product awareness by directly displaying company advertisements, offering sale promotions, or facilitating the sale of products directly to users' devices.

In addition to advertisers, users may utilize these technologies to select specific advertisers who may reach them. For example, technologies like personal digital video recorders allow users to skip undesirable advertisements. In addition, technologies, such as a subscription of satellite radio, allow users to listen to music without the disruption of commercials.

With the declining ability to offer advertisements through traditional broadcast advertising medium, such as public radio and television, a need exists for a method that offers more frequent and effective direct advertising to peer-to-peer users.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure provide effective transmissions of advertisements preceding and following transmissions of peer-to-peer communications, which occur directly between peer-to-peer communication devices. Examples of peer-to-peer communication devices include cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), personal computers, instant messaging devices, and audio devices.

FIG. 1is a diagram of exemplary components for providing direct advertising between peer-to-peer communication devices. A communication source, such as subscriber1, subscribes to a communication subsidy program13of an intermediary9. In an illustrative embodiment, the communication subsidy program13of the intermediary9is funded in whole or in part by advertisers10. Alternatively, the communication subsidy program13of the intermediary9may be funded by an independent entity, an Internet service provider, or a telecommunications service provider. The intermediary communication subsidy program13may be developed using an object-oriented programming language, such as Java™ or C++, C#, or other programming languages.

When a communication transmission (a cellular phone call, a video conferencing session, an instant message, text message (SMS, MMS or other), a personal computer communication, or a voice communication) is initiated by the subscriber1to a communication destination8, an advertisement preceding and/or following the communication is transmitted to a destination communications device7used by communication destination8. The subscriber1may utilize a source communication device2, such as a cellular phone, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or an instant messaging device, to initiate the communication. Source communication device2may be coupled to a network6and may communicate with destination communication device7via the network6using a communications protocol. Examples of network6may be the Internet, a private network, a cellular phone network, or other service provider networks. Examples of the communication protocol include Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).

Operating systems running on communication devices2and7coordinate and provide control of various components. Each operating system may be a commercially available operating system such as Microsoft® Windows® Mobile (Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash.). An object-oriented software system, such as the Java™ software system may run in conjunction with the operating system and provide calls to the operating system from Java™ programs or applications executing on communication devices2and7. (Java is a product available from Sun Microsystems, Inc, of Santa Clara, Calif.) It is understood that the present disclosure may be used with other operating systems and applications written using other programming languages.

When the communication transmission is received by destination communication device7, the advertisement may be displayed, played, or confirmed. The source of the advertisement may be announced to the recipient as being endorsed by the advertisers10, an independent entity, an Internet service provider, a telecommunication service provider, or other types of communication providers. It is understood thatFIG. 1is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation for different embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2is a flowchart of an embodiment of an advertiser setup process. Advertisers10may create and manage its own advertisement subsidy program or choose to participate in an intermediary's separately managed communication subsidy program13. In the event of the advertisers choosing an intermediary's communication subsidy program13, advertisers10are required to complete a setup process, receive approval of their profile by the intermediary from a technical and procedural context, and upload their desired ads to be used in the intermediary's communication subsidy program13before advertisements may be offered.

In step20, advertisers10connect to or browse the intermediary's website11. The intermediary's website11may reside in a server12managed by the intermediary9. In step22, advertisers10complete an advertiser profile on the intermediary's website11identifying the advertisers' criteria. In step24, advertisers10setup a subscriber profile on the intermediary's website11identifying necessary demographic criteria of a desirable subscriber1.

In step26, advertisers10set up a subsidy program. The subsidy program13enables advertisers10to select or endorse desirable subscribers in order to subsidize the communication fees, offer its own product discounts or other company's product discounts, generate and accumulate “rewards points” for the subscribers, and mitigate or defer other expenses of the subscriber1. The advertisers10may provide other types of subsidies or incentives to the subscribers1without departing the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The selection of subscribers may be based on a matching of the subscribers' criteria against the advertisers' criteria.

In addition, the subsidy program13enables advertisers10to identify what level of discounts, credits, points, or offerings the subscriber1receives as a subsidy in accordance with certain performance criteria. An example of performance criteria includes the number of communication transmissions the subscriber had made and the length of the transmissions. Furthermore, the identification process may be accomplished through a bidding process, an automated auction, or may be standardized based upon other categorical groupings. An example of the bidding process includes a number of advertisers bidding for a group of premium subscribers, who communicate with other subscribers most frequently. An example of categorical groupings includes allowing the subscriber to be endorsed by a different advertiser for each communication event based on a target subsidy or a target destination.

In step28, advertisers10upload their advertisements, which may be in a form of text, audio, video, static graphic, or other advertising media, to the intermediary's website11to be later associated with one or more subscriber's communications. Advertisers10also have the ability to identify when and how to apply each advertisement media type based upon a set of rules or logic defined by either the advertisers10themselves or the intermediary9.

In step30, the intermediary9confirms with advertisers10that the subsidy advertisements are ready for use and that the subsidy program setup is complete. Advertisers10may then elect, through a secure login process, to endorse themselves in order to test their advertisements and adjust the advertisements as necessary. Otherwise, in step32, advertisers10may activate one or more advertisements for selection by the subscriber1. Thus, the process is complete.

FIG. 3is a flowchart of an embodiment of a subscriber setup process. To become a subscriber of the intermediary's communication subsidy program13, in step34, a source communication device2owner or subscriber1must first connect to the intermediary website11. In step36, the subscriber1set up a subscriber profile and qualifies for the subsidy program.

Alternatively, the subscriber1may be automatically enrolled in the subsidy program13as a result of a relationship with a service provider, such as a cell phone company contract, an existing service provided by an Internet service provider or by other communication service providers, or endorsers such as a product retailer who distributes branded communications devices that are limited to endorsing only their brand through approved subscribers. The subscriber profile includes information regarding the subscriber1, for example, a name, an address, a device type, a serial number of the device, a phone number of the device, an IP Address of the device, basic demographic information of the subscriber1, and a carrier calling program. Other characteristics of the service provider's program, such as available minutes and the subscriber's usage history may also be collected.

Once the subscriber's profile is set up, in step38, the intermediary9analyzes the profile data and identifies advertisers10whose criteria for subsidy match the subscriber's criteria. For example, advertiser A offers static graphic media and video media and advertiser B offers only audio media. Based on the media type offered, the intermediary9qualifies those subscribers whose communication devices have the capability to accept static graphics, video, and/or audio. The intermediary9may also require the subscriber1to qualify for subsidy over a trial period of time in order to quantify and qualify the calling habits of subscriber1. For example, the intermediary9may examine the usage history of subscribers and qualify only those subscribers who are communicating with others most frequently.

In step40, a determination is then made by the intermediary9as to whether the subscriber qualifies for an advertiser's program. In step42, if the subscriber1does not qualify, the subscriber1is notified that the subsidy setup process may not continue, and the process terminates. Alternatively, the subscriber1may be redirected to another subsidy program or given information on how to qualify in the future.

In step44, if the subscriber1qualifies, the intermediary9presents all acceptable advertisers10and subsidy programs available, including the criteria for continued subsidy and levels of subsidy, to the subscriber1. In step46, the subscriber1or the intermediary9may select one or more advertisers10and/or subsidy programs containing multiple advertisers or advertisements for endorsement. The subsidy program13may include other random or targeted advertisement that the subscriber fails to select.

In step47, a determination is made by the intermediary9as to whether the subscriber1has the capability to accept the advertisements for endorsement. In step49, if the subscriber has the capability to accept the advertisements, the advertisements are downloaded to the subscriber1. In step48, if the subscriber1does not have the capability to accept the advertisements, an intermediary's endorsement manger software14is downloaded to the subscriber's source communication device2followed by the advertiser's ads. The endorsement manager software14manages advertisements, formats communication transmissions with the advertisements, and records advertising impression history of the advertisement transmissions periodically. In step50, once the endorsement manger software14and advertiser's advertisements are downloaded, the endorsement manger software14communicates securely with the intermediary's host system and activates itself for use.

FIG. 4is a flowchart of an embodiment of a communication process. The communication process begins, in step52, when a communication transmission is initiated by a subscriber1. A communication transmission may include a cellular phone call, an instant message, a page, or a video conferencing session, and may be initiated using any source communication device2. In step54, the endorsement manger software14formats the transmission by inserting the appropriate advertiser's advertisement preceding and/or following the transmission. During the communication session, the endorsement manager software14records the impression status based on whether the advertisement was displayed, played, or confirmed on the destination communication device7.

In step58, once the transmission is formatted, the endorsement manager software14sends the communication transmission to the communication destination8. In step64, when the communication transmission reaches the destination communication device7, the advertisement is displayed, played, or confirmed in the destination communication device7. In step66, at the end of the communication session, the recipient may click on the advertisement to link, via the Internet, to the advertiser's or another designated website for additional information or further action. The link may direct the recipient to other offers, such as coupons, special offers that are unique to subscriber, or other related parties of the service. In addition to directing the recipient to other offers, advertisers10may transmit their own messages to the recipient any time during or after the communication process.

Optionally, in step60, when the communication transmission is initially received by the destination communication device7, a determination is made by a recipient of the destination communication device7as to whether to accept or deny the transmission. In step62, if a transmission is denied, the transmission is selectively ignored, and is stored in a voice mail or similar system for later retrieval. In step64, if the transmission is accepted or is retrieved from voice mail or other storage system, the advertisement is displayed, played, or confirmed in the destination communication device7. The advertisement may be played, displayed or confirmed followed by, at the same time, or throughout the communication session. In step66, at the end of the communication session, the recipient may click on the advertisement to link, via the Internet, to the advertiser's or another designated website for additional information. The process then terminates.

FIG. 5is a flowchart of an embodiment of a subscription maintenance process. Subscription maintenance includes collecting regular advertising impression data from the endorsement management software of the subscribers, periodic processing of the impression data against subsidy plans to facilitate distribution of subsidy amounts, changes to the subscriber's profiles, or program eligibility.

The process begins, in step67, when a communication transmission is initiated by the subscriber1. In step68, the endorsement manager software14collects historical data from the subscriber, including successes and failures of advertising impression events. Examples of advertising impression events include the number of advertising impressions, the number of advertising media types that have reached and been accepted by the destination communication, the number of advertising impressions for a certain party, and the like. In step70, the endorsement manager software14transmits this historical data to the intermediary's data warehouse for further processing. In step72, the endorsement manager software automatically validates and updates current versions of advertiser's advertisements, and the endorsement manager software14updates itself, if necessary. The intermediary9may also periodically update the advertisements as the endorsement manager software14is busy communicating with the intermediary's data warehouse to “check in”.

In step74, upon receipt of the historical data, the intermediary website11processes the received historical data and compares the data against the subsidy programs for which they have qualified in step40in order to generate the subsidy amount for distribution. The subsidy amount may be in a form of discounts or other incentives. In step76, if the intermediary9detects that the subsidy amount of a program is likely to change, the intermediary9sends a message to the subscriber1informing the subscriber1of a possible change or a need to update the subscriber profile. In step78, the intermediary9generates reports to advertisers, service providers, and subscribers for review via the intermediary's website11. Based on these reports, advertisers and subscribers may readjust their profile.

The system and method described above enables advertisers10to reach targeted audiences via mobile communications devices. The recipient of a communication transmission accepts the communication session initiated by a source communication device2, because the session is identified as being initiated by a trusted or known entity. Upon acceptance, the advertising media is played or displayed to the recipient. The subscribers are given incentives to participate in this program, such as subsidies to their communication fees and/or other compelling incentives.

Other scenarios include communication sessions in which the subscriber1is a recipient of the communication session initiated by a non-subscriber. In this case, the endorsement manager software14in the destination communication device7may insert the advertising media into the communication session prior to enabling the communication between the subscriber1and the non-subscriber. The advertising media is played or displayed to the subscriber1, who is credited to receive incentives based on this communication session.

FIG. 6is a diagram showing communication between the subscriber, intermediary, and the endorsement companies (advertisers). The set of subscribers600,610and620possess source devices602,612and622. Subscribers600,610and620communicate in a similar manner and will be described using subscriber600as an example.

Subscriber600creates application604. Application604consists of a request for endorsement and subsidy608, as well as subscriber specific data606. Subscriber specific data606is demographic data that relates to the subscriber's education, employment, purchasing habits, interests, hobbies, affiliations or other data used to determine a target market for a product.

An endorsement company selected by the subscriber may provide an endorsement or endorsement tag (i.e. “advertiser recommends subscriber”). Alternatively, the subscriber may offer to endorse the company (i.e. “subscriber recommends advertiser”). The endorsement may include an embedded company logo, color or link to an advertisement of a particular product. The product or advertisement that the link points to is controlled by the advertiser and may be redirected by the intermediary. In the preferred embodiment, the intermediary serves as the hosting site for product or advertising data. In other embodiments, the intermediary and the hosting site may be located at different machines.

Subscriber600communicates with intermediary640through source device602, network650and the intermediary's server642. Subscriber600communicates with any of the set of endorsement companies660through source device602, network650and set of endorsement companies' servers662.

Intermediary640communicates with network650through intermediary's server642. Additionally, list of endorsement companies644, set of subscriber applications647and software application for subscriber's devices648reside on intermediary's server642.

List of endorsement companies644includes endorsement and subsidy opportunities645corresponding to specific endorsement companies. The list of endorsement companies645includes the nature of a company's products and an estimate of the amount of subsidy that may be provided or the cost to the subscriber for the company's endorsement. Endorsement and subsidy opportunities645include a set of desired demographic data646. Desired demographics646relate to a target market that a company is trying to reach with its ad campaign and products.

Set of subscriber applications647are applications604,614,624that have been submitted to the intermediary via network650or otherwise entered into the intermediary's server642.

Endorsement manager software648is downloaded to source device602,612,622via network650. As described earlier, endorsement manager software648allows subscribers600,610,612to accept and pass endorsements and advertisements.

Set of endorsement companies660communicates with network650through set of endorsement companies' servers662. Set of endorsement companies' servers662contains set of advertisements664. Set of endorsement and subsidy opportunities666are related to individual advertisements from the set of advertisements664. The endorsement and subsidy opportunities666contain a set of desired audience demographic data668which relate to a target market selected by a company.

FIG. 7adescribes the bi-directional endorsement process between the subscriber and the advertiser via the intermediary during the enrollment process. Subscriber600, intermediary640and set of endorsement companies (advertisers)660represent “nodes” or “tiers” in a computer network. Each node or tier may represent a communication device and the appropriate computer server and computer network connections to allow communication and passing data between subscriber600, intermediary640and company660. The nodes may also represent groups of machines in a network confirmation. The nodes do not reflect (nor require) a specific carrier or service provider for the source device.

At step700, subscriber600contacts intermediary640through network650using source devices602and makes a subscription request including a request for endorsement. At this step, subscriber600selects one or more potential endorsers from list of endorsement companies644. Subscriber600submits application604, including the selected endorsement companies and subscriber demographic data, to intermediary640. At step701, an advertiser contacts intermediary640. Advertiser660submits one or more sets of desired demographic criteria to intermediary640.

At step702, intermediary640correlates the subscriber data with the set of demographic data criteria of the advertiser. A correlation value is assigned by intermediary640.

In the preferred embodiment, the correlation value is calculated as a match value or weighted percentage between the demographic criteria646and the subscriber demographic data.

Other correlation routines can be used to provide additional metrics to the subscriber and the advertiser related to the “match” of the subscriber demographic data with the advertiser criteria. For example, a multipoint questionnaire is provided to the subscriber including various categories during the subscription process. Questions include multiple choice questions. Answers to the multiple choice questions and each of the categories are assigned a weight. The combined weight is provided to the advertiser and to the subscriber as a correlation value.

In another embodiment, credit reports of the subscriber from third parties may be implemented to calculate a correlation value. Additionally, financial information related to the subscriber, such as credit history or financial status may be evaluated to arrive at a correlation value. At step706, potential subscribers who score lower than the required correlation value are recommended for rejection.

Alternatively at step702, advertiser660receives a set of subscriber data from intermediary640. Advertiser660then correlates subscriber specific data606with desired audience demographic data668to derive a correlation value.

At step704, a list of potential subscribers that meet a desired correlation value or that offer a sufficient payment by the subscriber for endorsement are forwarded to the appropriate advertiser660.

Intermediary640notifies subscriber600of a rejection at step707. If the subscriber is rejected, the rejection is recorded by the intermediary and the process stops.

At step708, the advertiser decides whether to endorse a particular subscriber, based on the results of the correlation. The advertiser calculates the amount to subsidize or charge the subscriber for the endorsement. For example, subscriber600that achieves a high correlation value may receive a larger subsidy than the subscriber who achieves a low correlation value.

Provisions can be provided to allow the subscriber to purchase an endorsement from the advertiser. For example, a sliding scale may be applied to calculate a price for the subscriber to pay based on a correlation value. A floor function can also be applied below which no endorsement will be provided by the advertiser of the subscriber.

If a sufficient correlation value is achieved or the subscriber purchases an endorsement, the subscriber is deemed a “qualified” subscriber. At step710, the advertiser notifies intermediary640of the endorsement and subsidy opportunities for which the subscriber has been qualified. Intermediary640then notifies subscriber600, at step712.

At step714, subscriber600must examine the endorsement and subsidy opportunities. At step716, subscriber600chooses at least one plan and advertiser for endorsement and notifies intermediary640. At this point, bi-lateral endorsement is complete.

At step718, intermediary640interrogates source device602regarding its ability to perform the requirements of the endorsement plan. For example, source device602may not be capable of sending an endorsement with an embedded link or may not be capable of handling large graphics files.

At step720, depending on device capabilities, intermediary640sends the compressed endorsement manager software and the endorsement selected by subscriber600to source device602held by subscriber600. In the preferred embodiment, the endorsement manager is software that manages the endorsement and history related to the endorsement. The endorsement manager software is sent, along with a set of links to various advertisements, endorsement tags and graphics files. The endorsement manager software is then decompressed and installed on the source device.

At step722, the advertiser is notified of endorsement and subsidy opportunities selected by subscriber600. The selected opportunities are implemented by the advertiser in step724.

The bi-directional selection process allows the subscriber to select endorsers that appeal to him. The advertiser then determines if the subscriber is qualified based on a correlation between the subscriber's demographics and those desired by the advertiser. The subscriber's contacts presumably share some, if not all, of the subscriber's demographics and interests. Therefore, the contacts provide a select market and value to the advertiser, while requiring only a single demographic comparison. This allows an advertiser to focus its endorsements on favorable target markets without having to qualify each possible customer or examine demographics of a large number of potentially bad prospects.

FIG. 7bdescribes a communication and the recording of historical data. Subscriber600initiates a communication with contact760in step790. At steps792and794, the endorsement manager software inserts and sends an endorsement and embedded link in the communication. The destination device accepts the communication and embedded link and sends a response to the source device in steps796and798. The source device records the historical data in step797.

FIG. 7cdescribes the data flow required for subsidy collection. At step750, the intermediary receives history data from the subscriber600reflecting a communication with contact760, such as a phone can where an imbedded link has been sent in an endorsement message. At step762, contact760follows the link embedded in the endorsement to the advertisement data hosted by intermediary640. Intermediary640monitors historical data including the number of endorsements sent by subscriber600and the number of recipients contacted by subscriber600that use the embedded link to view the advertisement from the set of advertisements664. Individual contacts are identified by a unique identifier embedded in each endorsement sent by subscriber600to contact760. At step766, the unique identifier is decoded by the intermediary site640, allowing identification of the contact760responding to the endorsement. At step751, the intermediary calculates the subsidy and analyzes the subscriber history data and contact interaction history.

The endorsement and the embedded link may be altered in response to various stimuli. For example, a random function may be provided in the software to change the endorsement and/or embedded link resulting in random changes. In another example, the endorsement and/or embedded link may be changed to reflect a different product of the company at different times of day. Additionally, when the embedded link is activated additional information may be sent from the destination device, such that the geographical location of the destination device is known. Intermediary site640may redirect the embedded link to a new advertisement based on geographical, time, data or previous responses by the destination device. Intermediary site640determines the geographical location of the device by determining which cellular tower is carrying the response from the destination device or by information supplied by the destination device, such as GPS coordinates. The endorsement and embedded link can also be configured to respond to specialized applications or “apps” resident on the source device to reflect changing conditions dictated by the app. For example, an application maybe capable of reflecting ringtone changes and/or music preference changes. In these applications listening habits and cell phone configurations for various lighting displays can supply information to trigger predetermined variations in the endorsement or embedded link.

For example, if the embedded link were to a national restaurant chain, intermediary site640may redirect it to an advertisement for the nearest restaurant. Intermediary site640may contain the hours of operation of the restaurants and direct the link to an advertisement for the nearest open restaurant. If no restaurants are open within a predetermined range, intermediary site640may select an alternative advertisement. Intermediary site640may also store data regarding previous interaction from the destination device and redirect the link accordingly. For example, a savings offer may be limited to one per device, such that intermediary site640redirects the destination device to a different link if an offer has been previously accepted. Alternately, a source device may receive additional benefits, such as coupons, for frequently following the link embedded within an endorsement.

Referring briefly toFIG. 9, in an alternate embodiment, historical data regarding interaction of contact760with the embedded link may be stored on the source device as previously described. Alternatively, the endorsement sent to the contact from the source device contains a hash of three separate codes. Endorsement code900identifies the endorsement sent to the contact. Source code910identifies the source device that sent the endorsement. Contact code920identifies the contact that received the message. The endorsement manager software residing on the source device creates a unique identifier930for each endorsement sent and includes the unique identifier930in the link embedded in the endorsement. The unique identifier930is created by combining several separate codes together in any one of many encryption routines (known in the art as “hashing”) to form a code that is unique for each endorsement sent by a subscriber. Source code910and contact code920may be created based on device serial number, phone number or other numbers unique to the device. Other codes, including the date code922and geographic location924of the source device may be combined as well to create unique identifier930. Endorsement code900is included in the endorsement when it is downloaded by the subscriber.

In other embodiments, the identity of the contacts, the duration of the message and communication, the scheduling of advertisements to view and the length of time that the contacts browser is focused on the advertisement are recorded. Additional information collected can include links navigated to, before and after, viewing the advertisement can be recorded. In certain cases, identification of contacts recognized by the recipient can be logged. Purchase and payment information may be collected. Identification of music files, licenses and picture files may be collected. Call log information may be collected. Data reflecting prior approval as a qualified subscriber, and use of the system by the recipient may also be collected. Data reflecting network information such as packet count and packet size may be collected. Data reflecting location information via a GPS transponder may be collected. The analysis may include grouping data with other similar data from other subscribers to develop buying trends, demographic profiles and purchase information. Analysis of customer location and dwell times at various websites and “brick and mortar” stores may be analyzed. A fee may be calculated and assessed by the intermediary at step751.

Continuing withFIG. 7c, at step726, a report, showing the analysis and subsidy due, is sent to the advertiser by intermediary640. At step728, the advertiser may verify the calculations of the intermediary submitted in the report or modify the subsidy recommended. At step729, advertiser660may request additional information and analysis from the intermediary. In-turn, the intermediary supplies additional reports via step726. At step730, the calculated subsidy is implemented. This may be a payment to a subscriber600, or transmission of a bill owed by subscriber600for use of the endorsement to the subscriber. Of course, other means of implementing a subsidy, such as electronic funds transfer or generation of prepaid credit cards or vouchers may also be employed. Payment to the intermediary is made by the advertiser at step731.

Referring again toFIG. 7a, in an alternate embodiment, subscriber600includes a first minimum amount he is willing to accept for the endorsement of a particular advertiser in with the request for endorsement at step700. A second (larger) minimum amount is relayed to the company at step704. If the company agrees to the second minimum amount in step710, subscriber600is immediately enrolled in the selected endorsement and subsidy opportunities645. This embodiment bypasses steps712and716. The minimum first amount subscriber600is willing to accept is (typically) not provided to the advertiser by intermediary640. The difference between the first minimum amount and the second minimum amount is retained by intermediary640as payment for its services.

Returning toFIG. 6, in an additional alternative embodiment, a subscriber representative630may assume a proxy arrangement for subscribers600,610and620. In a proxy arrangement subscriber representative630acts on behalf of a group of subscribers that share similar demographic features. A proxy arrangement can be organized to reduce the cost of using the system by individual subscribers by pooling and offering endorsements through all the subscribers source devices602,612,622that are included in the proxy. In this instance, an endorsement may be changed to also include an endorsement by the subscriber representative.

In another embodiment, an advertiser offers additional subsidies or bids against another advertiser for preferred treatment. This preferred treatment includes more frequent insertion of one advertiser's endorsements over any others, particular days or time of day for endorsements, particular geographic locations, and endorsements sent to particular contacts of the subscriber. For example, an advertiser may endorse subscribers who are fans of a particular sport immediately before, during or after a particular game. Also, an advertiser may endorse a subscriber who calls a contact that has responded to a message in the past. A contact who has responded in the past may be identified by a phone number, an IP address or similar information that is transferred when the contact responds to the endorsement.

FIG. 8describes the de-enrollment process. At step800, intermediary640monitors various aspects of subscriber600and source device602. Among other things, intermediary640may monitor credit history, source device usage, device activation, responses from contacts and expiration of or changes to the current endorsement plan. At step802, intermediary640warns subscriber600of a status change that could result in a change to the endorsement plan. Subscriber600responds to the warning at step804. At step806, the intermediary notifies advertiser660that subscriber600may no longer qualify for the current endorsement plan.

At step808, advertiser660determines if subscriber600is still a qualified subscriber. Alternatively, advertiser660may decide to allow subscriber600time to cure any deficiencies in qualified subscriber status while allowing subscriber600to remain on the endorsement plan.

At step810, advertiser660sends a deactivation notice to intermediary640. At step812, intermediary640then deactivates subscriber600and removes source device602from the endorsement plan.

An embodiment of the present disclosure can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. For example, one of the previously described embodiments may be implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, etc. In addition, various steps of the above processes may be performed in another order, split into additional steps, or combined into a single step. Steps may also be removed and or added to any of the above processes.

Furthermore, the present disclosure can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a tangible computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, a tangible computer-usable or computer-readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device), or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and digital video disc (DVD).

Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, those skilled in the art should understand that they may make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all such changes, substitutions and alterations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.