Patent Publication Number: US-2020302465-A1

Title: Systems and methods for tracking the creation and promulgation of codes within a referral network

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims the benefit of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/822,737, filed on Mar. 22, 2019, 62/854,092, filed on May 29, 2019, 62/854,111, filed on May 29, 2019, 62/854,112, filed on May 29, 2019, 62/854,129, filed on May 29, 2019, 62/854,133, filed on May 29, 2019, and 62/854,135, filed on May 29, 2019. The disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The embodiments described herein are related to a marketing platform, and more particularly to a platform that ensures real-time ROI metrics related to marketing and sales. 
     2. Related Art 
     Every business knows that referrals are an important part of marketing and business generation. If your customers like your product and trust in your quality, then they will often refer your business or products to their friends and family. Certain studies have shown that 56% of consumers&#39; purchasing decisions are influenced by their friends and peers. For millennials, this percentage rises to 70%. 
     In more traditional marketing, business will try to get a celebrity to endorse their products and services via ad campaigns that incorporate ads on television, radio, in print, etc. But the advent of the social network has not made it imperative that brands get celebrities to endorse their products by wearing or using them, or mentioning them in their social media posts. 
     To some extent, these social media platforms have democratized the ability for anyone to become an influencer. Otherwise ordinary people can create an social media account or blog. If enough other users follow them, then they may shape purchasing decisions just like the more traditional celebrity endorser. In fact, 30% of consumers have indicated they are more likely to buy a product that is recommended by a non-celebrity blogger. Moreover, when pairing an influencer with a brand, it has been shown that the purchase intent can increase by 5.2×. 
     Often brands will approach individuals who have reached “influencer” status, in order to get the influencer to display or use their products in their posts. But while social media has democratized the referral ecosystem to some degree, most social network users will not reach influencer status and will never be compensated by brand owners for recommending or referring products or services. Moreover, it is very difficult for the brand owner to actually track Return On Investment (ROI). 
     SUMMARY 
     Systems and methods for a marketing platform that democratizes the referral ecosystem and allows brand owners to get real-time ROI metrics are described herein. 
     A referral platform, comprising one or more storage devices; one or more servers configured to host the referral platform, the servers configured to: allow businesses to access the platform, register, and create promotions associated with a benefit related to a particular business and an amount the business will share for a referral related to the promotion; allow users to access the platform, select a promotion, create a personalized code, and share the personalized code with at least one contact, wherein the at least one contact can use the personalized code to obtain the benefit. 
     These and other features, aspects, and embodiments are described below in the section entitled “Detailed Description.” 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features, aspects, and embodiments are described in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example marketing platform  100  configured in accordance with one embodiment; and 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate the various players that can be involved and interact with platform of  FIG. 1  in accordance with one example embodiment; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate how various players within the platform of  FIG. 1  benefit in relation to various promotions; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating how an ambassador operates with respect to the platform illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a screen shot illustrating the listing of promotions within the platform illustrated in  FIG. 1  by category; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating how micro-influencers can incorporate the QR codes into their social media posts in the platform illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a screen shot that illustrates how codes can be included in, e.g., Youtube or other video posts in the platform illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a screen shot that illustrates an example of how the codes can be used in a gaming environment in the platform illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a screen shot that illustrates how the codes can be used in, e.g, an Instagram post in the platform illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram of how the codes can be used offline in the platform illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are diagrams illustrating how ecommerce sites can access API&#39;s in order to also provide promotions and codes in the platform illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a screen shot of dashboard businesses on the platform illustrated in  FIG. 1  can use to see their promotions, their wallet, i.e., promotion balances, and to see who their top influencers are; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates how the codes can also be used for a type of rewards program in the platform illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a block diagram illustrating an example wired or wireless system that can be used in connection with various embodiments described herein; and 
         FIGS. 15A-I  are screenshots illustrating further listing, selection and sharing of promotions within the platform illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Certain embodiments are described herein in reference to various system components, devices, actors, etc. It will be understood that embodiments are presented by way of example and are not necessarily intended to illustrate all possible embodiments or implementations. It will also be understood that aspects and features of one embodiment can be combined with one or more aspects or features of one or more other embodiments. It will also be understood that not all necessary system components, devices, actors, etc., are presented with respect to each embodiment, but rather that necessary to sufficiently convey the various features, aspects, functions, etc., of the various embodiments are disclosed. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example marketing platform  100  configured in accordance with one embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the platform  100 , which can comprise various applications, user interfaces, routines, algorithms, etc., can be hosted by one or more servers  104  coupled with one or more storage devices  106 . A plurality of users can access the platform  100  via various, illustrated here as devices  110   a - c,  including smartphones, tablets, personal computers, laptops, etc., via network  102 . Thus, a user can download an application onto their device  110  or use a browser to access platform  100 . 
     It will be understood that network  102 , servers  104 , and storage devices  106 , along with the applications, user interfaces, routines, algorithms, etc., can together form a cloud based platform  100  for the systems and methods described herein. 
     Various businesses  108   a - c  can also access the platform  100  in order to create promotions, track ROI metrics and more as described below. It will be understood that the business personnel can access the platform  100  via devices similar to devices  110   a - c  as described above. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate the various players that can be involved and interact with platform  100 . The players include the companies  108  that create promotions  210 , micro-influencers  202 , Ambassadors  204 , and consumers  206 , and contacts  208 . 
     Micro-influencers  202  use the platform  100  to share products and services from companies  108  through his or her social network. For each product or service the micro-influencer shares, he or she can earn money as described below. Moreover, the micro-influencer&#39;s contacts  210  can also receive benefits and discounts. 
     An ambassador  204  uses the platform  100  to enroll new companies  108 . For each new company  108 , the ambassador can earn money on future referrals related to the company  108 . 
     The consumer  206  is the person to whom the micro-influencer refers a product or service. The consumer  206  can also get a benefit when purchasing the referred product or service. 
     In certain embodiments, the platform  100  can use QR Codes, or some other type of code, to trace the micro-influencer&#39;s  202  and consumer&#39;s  206  actions. Ae illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the company  108  creates a promotion  210  (or several) in the platform  100 . The micro-influencer  202  can then create a QR Code  302  associated with company promotion  210  in the platform  100 . The micro-influencer  202  shares the QR Code(s)  302 , through his social networks, email, SMS, etc. It can be one or more QR Codes or customized photos with QR Codes that the micro-influencer  202  posts to their social network or shares with their contacts  210  as described in more detail below. The consumer receives QR Code  302 , through social networks or other channels, or gets the photo with the QR Code  302  and visits the business  108  in order to get a benefit or perk associated with the promotion. 
     An employee can scan the QR Code  302 , or an automatic scanner can be configured. With this action the following events are triggered: The consumer  206  gets the benefits or perks from the promotion  210 ; the influencer  202  gets money for each scan associated with their code  302 ; and the company  108  gets a new sale. 
     But just as importantly, the business knows in real-time, exactly where the referral came from and compensates a micro-influencer  202  only for actual referrals or business. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the above processes of how various players within platform  108  benefit in relation to various promotions  210 . First as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the business  108  creates a promotion  210 . The micro-influencer  202  can access a list of various promotions and create a code  302  associated with a particular promotion  210 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the micro-influencer  202  shares the code  302  with his contacts  208  through social media or other means. If one of those contacts  208 , i.e., a consumer  206  that wants whatever the benefit of the promotion  302 . The consumer  206  can then go to the business  108  to redeem the code  302 . The code can be scanned, via a scanning application  304  at the business  108 . 
     At this point, platform  100  can cause money to be transferred from the business account  306  within platform  100 , or an external account, to an account  306  associated with the micro-influencer  202 . The amount of compensation can be fixed for all referrals, set by the business  108  in association the promotion or ahead of time, and in some embodiments can be multiplied based on the status of the micro-influencer. In other words, more well-known influencers may have some ability to demand higher levels of compensation within the platform  100 . 
     In certain embodiments, the platform  100  also receives payment with respect to the transaction. 
     Ambassadors  204  are compensated for finding business  108  and signing them up with platform  100 .  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating how an ambassador operates with respect to platform  100 . First, as illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the ambassador  204  convinces a company  108  to be part of platform  100 . The ambassador  204  then generates a registration form  402  for the company  108  that the company can then complete and submit. Now the portion of the referral compensation going to platform  100  in relation to that company  108  can be shared with ambassador  204 . 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates the process in further detail. As can be seen, the ambassador  204  will typically visit company  108  and convince them to join the platform  100 . The ambassador  204  can then assist the company to get the companies information loaded onto platform  100  so the company can start generating promotions. The promotions will appear to micro-influencers  202 , who can know refer the promotions to contacts  208 . As the referrals start generating transactions, the business shares a fee between the platform  100  and the ambassador  204 : As well as the micro-influencer  202  as noted above. 
     In certain embodiments, platform  100  can manage “wallets” or accounts for each party on the platform, i.e., businesses  108 , micro-influencers  202 , ambassadors  204 , as well as consumers  206 . Users can charge up the account balance using a credit card or other account. In certain embodiments, the players can even transfer money or credit between accounts, e.g., a micro-influencer  202  can send money to one of the contacts  208  to use within platform  100 . In certain embodiments, the platform  100  can be configured to debit and credit actual, e.g., bank accounts associated with the various platform accounts. 
     As illustrated in the screen shot of  FIG. 5 , businesses  108  with promotions on the platform can have the promotions listed by category  502   a - c.  In certain embodiments, the businesses  108  can be charged a premium price to be listed first and/or on the first page for a particular category. The can for example be done via an auction approach. The platform can also use data to determine dynamic pricing of premium positioning. For example, if the platform knows, from data received from the user&#39;s applications that there are a large number of users and/or micro-influencers in a certain area or near a certain business  108 , then platform  100  can charge certain businesses  108  more for premium placing. 
     In addition, platform  100  can push notices and ads for certain promotions to the user&#39;s devices  110  based on their locations. Location along with other information can also be used by platform  100  to allow business  108  to manage inventory and other aspects of the business. For example, if the platform  100  determines that there is high traffic in a certain area near certain business  108  at certain times and, e.g., pushing promotions for those business results in a certain uptick in business, then this information can start be used to manage inventory, promotions, etc. 
     In addition, in certain embodiments, the platform  100  can manage wallets  306  for each user and business. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating how micro-influencers can incorporate the QR codes  302  into their social media posts. In this case, the code  302  can be associated with an item they are wearing, or a location, e.g., business they are frequenting, or an event, etc. In certain embodiments, more than one code  306  can be included in a post. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates how codes  302  can be included in, e.g., Youtube or other video posts. Again the code  302  can be associated with a product being shown in the video or post. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example of how the codes  302  can be used in a gaming environment. Here the code can be associated with a special offer. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates how the codes can be used in, e.g, an Instagram post. Again the code  302  can be associated with a product being shown in the video or post. In general, the user can take a picture of something, and add their code that may be associated with something included in the picture, or video. In certain embodiments, the user accesses the camera through the application interface and takes a picture or video. Then the user can insert the code  302  and drag it around to position near or on the item to which the code is associated. The user can then post the image to Instagram or some other social network. 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram of how the codes  302  can be used offline as well. As can be seen, the code  302  can be included in print advertising. The user can then scan the codes  302  using scanner  304  within their app., which can be associated with a promotion. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate how ecommerce sites  1102  can access API&#39;s in order to also provide promotions and codes  302 . In  FIG. 11A , a micro-influencer  202  can make a purchase and elect to send a notification with a code  302  to the user&#39;s social media contacts. The contacts/consumers  206  will then get a notification with a code  302  that they can then use to get a benefit when they visit the site  1102 . 
     In  FIG. 11B , the site  1102  can generate an email  1103  that is sent to the micro-influencer  202  that includes a button  1104 . Micro-influencer  202  can via the button  1104  forward a recommendation with a code  302  to their contacts. 
       FIG. 12  is a screen shot of dashboard businesses  108  can use to see their promotions, their wallet, i.e., promotion balances, and to see who their top influencers are. Business can in certain embodiments use this information to target promotions for or to certain influencers are to provide them special benefits. 
     Influencers  202  and ambassadors  204  can also access their accounts and see how much is in their wallets, as well as metrics related to which promotions generate the biggest return for them. For example, and influencer can see what type of promotions, what companies, what geographic areas, which of their contacts, etc., are generating the biggest return for them. Ambassadors can, e.g., which businesses, which influencers, what type of offers, which geographical areas, etc., are generating the biggest return. 
     But moreover, platform  100  has this information across all businesses, influencers, and ambassadors and can use that information to make recommendations for the various users of platform  100 . 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram that illustrated how the codes  302  can also be used for a type of rewards program. The user can scan the code and certain reward amounts can, e.g., be deposited in their wallet  306 . 
       FIGS. 15A-I  are screen shots that illustrate various screens that can be included in the application to log into, register, etc., with platform  100 . AS illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when a potential influencer  202  access the application on their device, they can navigate to screens that illustrate offers that they can access. In  FIG. 5  the offers are listed by category. The screen shot of  FIG. 15A  illustrated how the offers can be listed by “nearby”, which obviously has a geographic radius associated with the nearby filter. The screenshot of  FIG. 15B  illustrated how the influencer can also select and display the most popular offers. And the screen shot of  FIG. 15C  illustrated how an influencer  202  can search for offers based on certain criteria and how the search results can then be listed for the influencer  202 . 
     The influencer  202  can then select the offers listed and the offer will come up. The screenshot of  FIG. 15D  illustrates a one-time or limited offer, while the screenshot of  FIG. 15E  illustrates how a business  108  can actually generate multiple different offers. As can be seen, images related to the offers as well as a map to nearby locations can also be included. 
     As illustrated by the screenshot of  FIG. 15F  if the influencer  202  selects one of the offers, then a code, such as a QR Code  302  can be generated. The code  302  will identify the business  108 , possibly the ambassador  204 , the specific offer, and will also be specific to the influencer  202 . This way platform  100  can track the redemption and compensation for the various parties. 
     As can be seen, the influencer  202  can be presented with the option to save the code  302  to their photos, which will allow them to then share the code  302  with their contacts  208  or to take a picture with the QR code. If the influencer selects to save the code  302 , then it will be saved and a confirmation can be presented as in the screen shot of  FIG. 15G . 
     If the user selects to take a photo, then as illustrated in the screenshot of  FIG. 15G , the user can take a photo, or select a photo, and then insert the code  302  and save the picture with the code  302 . The user can then share the picture, and therefore the code  302  with the contacts. 
       FIG. 14  is a block diagram illustrating an example wired or wireless system  550  that can be used in connection with various embodiments described herein. For example the system  550  can be used as or in conjunction with one or more of the platforms, devices or processes described above, and may represent components of device, the corresponding backend server(s), and/or other devices described herein. The system  550  can be a server or any conventional personal computer, or any other processor-enabled device that is capable of wired or wireless data communication. Other computer systems and/or architectures may be also used, as will be clear to those skilled in the art. 
     The system  550  preferably includes one or more processors, such as processor  560 . Additional processors may be provided, such as an auxiliary processor to manage input/output, an auxiliary processor to perform floating point mathematical operations, a special-purpose microprocessor having an architecture suitable for fast execution of signal processing algorithms (e.g., digital signal processor), a slave processor subordinate to the main processing system (e.g., back-end processor), an additional microprocessor or controller for dual or multiple processor systems, or a coprocessor. Such auxiliary processors may be discrete processors or may be integrated with the processor  560 . Examples of processors which may be used with system  550  include, without limitation, the Pentium® processor, Core i7® processor, and Xeon® processor, all of which are available from Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. 
     The processor  560  is preferably connected to a communication bus  555 . The communication bus  555  may include a data channel for facilitating information transfer between storage and other peripheral components of the system  550 . The communication bus  555  further may provide a set of signals used for communication with the processor  560 , including a data bus, address bus, and control bus (not shown). The communication bus  555  may comprise any standard or non-standard bus architecture such as, for example, bus architectures compliant with industry standard architecture (ISA), extended industry standard architecture (EISA), Micro Channel Architecture (MCA), peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus, or standards promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) including IEEE 488 general-purpose interface bus (GPIB), IEEE 696/S-100, and the like. 
     System  550  preferably includes a main memory  565  and may also include a secondary memory  570 . The main memory  565  provides storage of instructions and data for programs executing on the processor  560 , such as one or more of the functions and/or modules discussed above. It should be understood that programs stored in the memory and executed by processor  560  may be written and/or compiled according to any suitable language, including without limitation C/C++, Java, JavaScript, Pearl, Visual Basic, .NET, and the like. The main memory  565  is typically semiconductor-based memory such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and/or static random access memory (SRAM). Other semiconductor-based memory types include, for example, synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), Rambus dynamic random access memory (RDRAM), ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), and the like, including read only memory (ROM). 
     The secondary memory  570  may optionally include an internal memory  575  and/or a removable medium  580 , for example a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, a compact disc (CD) drive, a digital versatile disc (DVD) drive, other optical drive, a flash memory drive, etc. The removable medium  580  is read from and/or written to in a well-known manner. Removable storage medium  580  may be, for example, a floppy disk, magnetic tape, CD, DVD, SD card, etc. 
     The removable storage medium  580  is a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer executable code (i.e., software) and/or data. The computer software or data stored on the removable storage medium  580  is read into the system  550  for execution by the processor  560 . 
     In alternative embodiments, secondary memory  570  may include other similar means for allowing computer programs or other data or instructions to be loaded into the system  550 . Such means may include, for example, an external storage medium  595  and an interface  590 . Examples of external storage medium  595  may include an external hard disk drive or an external optical drive, or and external magneto-optical drive. 
     Other examples of secondary memory  570  may include semiconductor-based memory such as programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory (block oriented memory similar to EEPROM). Also included are any other removable storage media  580  and communication interface  590 , which allow software and data to be transferred from an external medium  595  to the system  550 . 
     System  550  may include a communication interface  590 . The communication interface  590  allows software and data to be transferred between system  550  and external devices (e.g. printers), networks, or information sources. For example, computer software or executable code may be transferred to system  550  from a network server via communication interface  590 . Examples of communication interface  590  include a built-in network adapter, network interface card (NIC), Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) network card, card bus network adapter, wireless network adapter, Universal Serial Bus (USB) network adapter, modem, a network interface card (NIC), a wireless data card, a communications port, an infrared interface, an IEEE 1394 fire-wire, or any other device capable of interfacing system  550  with a network or another computing device. 
     Communication interface  590  preferably implements industry promulgated protocol standards, such as Ethernet IEEE 802 standards, Fiber Channel, digital subscriber line (DSL), asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), integrated digital services network (ISDN), personal communications services (PCS), transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), serial line Internet protocol/point to point protocol (SLIP/PPP), and so on, but may also implement customized or non-standard interface protocols as well. 
     Software and data transferred via communication interface  590  are generally in the form of electrical communication signals  605 . These signals  605  are preferably provided to communication interface  590  via a communication channel  600 . In one embodiment, the communication channel  600  may be a wired or wireless network, or any variety of other communication links. Communication channel  600  carries signals  605  and can be implemented using a variety of wired or wireless communication means including wire or cable, fiber optics, conventional phone line, cellular phone link, wireless data communication link, radio frequency (“RF”) link, or infrared link, just to name a few. 
     Computer executable code (i.e., computer programs or software) is stored in the main memory  565  and/or the secondary memory  570 . Computer programs can also be received via communication interface  590  and stored in the main memory  565  and/or the secondary memory  570 . Such computer programs, when executed, enable the system  550  to perform the various functions of the present invention as previously described. 
     In this description, the term “computer readable medium” is used to refer to any non-transitory computer readable storage media used to provide computer executable code (e.g., software and computer programs) to the system  550 . Examples of these media include main memory  565 , secondary memory  570  (including internal memory  575 , removable medium  580 , and external storage medium  595 ), and any peripheral device communicatively coupled with communication interface  590  (including a network information server or other network device). These non-transitory computer readable mediums are means for providing executable code, programming instructions, and software to the system  550 . 
     In an embodiment that is implemented using software, the software may be stored on a computer readable medium and loaded into the system  550  by way of removable medium  580 , I/O interface  585 , or communication interface  590 . In such an embodiment, the software is loaded into the system  550  in the form of electrical communication signals  605 . The software, when executed by the processor  560 , preferably causes the processor  560  to perform the inventive features and functions previously described herein. 
     In an embodiment, I/O interface  585  provides an interface between one or more components of system  550  and one or more input and/or output devices. Example input devices include, without limitation, keyboards, touch screens or other touch-sensitive devices, biometric sensing devices, computer mice, trackballs, pen-based pointing devices, and the like. Examples of output devices include, without limitation, cathode ray tubes (CRTs), plasma displays, light-emitting diode (LED) displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), printers, vacuum florescent displays (VFDs), surface-conduction electron-emitter displays (SEDs), field emission displays (FEDs), and the like. 
     The system  550  also includes optional wireless communication components that facilitate wireless communication over a voice and over a data network. The wireless communication components comprise an antenna system  610 , a radio system  615  and a baseband system  620 . In the system  550 , radio frequency (RF) signals are transmitted and received over the air by the antenna system  610  under the management of the radio system  615 . 
     In one embodiment, the antenna system  610  may comprise one or more antennae and one or more multiplexors (not shown) that perform a switching function to provide the antenna system  610  with transmit and receive signal paths. In the receive path, received RF signals can be coupled from a multiplexor to a low noise amplifier (not shown) that amplifies the received RF signal and sends the amplified signal to the radio system  615 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the radio system  615  may comprise one or more radios that are configured to communicate over various frequencies. In one embodiment, the radio system  615  may combine a demodulator (not shown) and modulator (not shown) in one integrated circuit (IC). The demodulator and modulator can also be separate components. In the incoming path, the demodulator strips away the RF carrier signal leaving a baseband receive audio signal, which is sent from the radio system  615  to the baseband system  620 . 
     If the received signal contains audio information, then baseband system  620  decodes the signal and converts it to an analog signal. Then the signal is amplified and sent to a speaker. The baseband system  620  also receives analog audio signals from a microphone. These analog audio signals are converted to digital signals and encoded by the baseband system  620 . The baseband system  620  also codes the digital signals for transmission and generates a baseband transmit audio signal that is routed to the modulator portion of the radio system  615 . The modulator mixes the baseband transmit audio signal with an RF carrier signal generating an RF transmit signal that is routed to the antenna system and may pass through a power amplifier (not shown). The power amplifier amplifies the RF transmit signal and routes it to the antenna system  610  where the signal is switched to the antenna port for transmission. 
     The baseband system  620  is also communicatively coupled with the processor  560 . The central processing unit  560  has access to data storage areas  565  and  570 . The central processing unit  560  is preferably configured to execute instructions (i.e., computer programs or software) that can be stored in the memory  565  or the secondary memory  570 . Computer programs can also be received from the baseband processor  610  and stored in the data storage area  565  or in secondary memory  570 , or executed upon receipt. Such computer programs, when executed, enable the system  550  to perform the various functions of the present invention as previously described. For example, data storage areas  565  may include various software modules (not shown). 
     Various embodiments may also be implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, components such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Implementation of a hardware state machine capable of performing the functions described herein will also be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art. Various embodiments may also be implemented using a combination of both hardware and software. 
     Furthermore, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and method steps described in connection with the above described figures and the embodiments disclosed herein can often be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled persons can implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the invention. In addition, the grouping of functions within a module, block, circuit or step is for ease of description. Specific functions or steps can be moved from one module, block or circuit to another without departing from the invention. 
     Moreover, the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, functions, and methods described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor can be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. 
     Additionally, the steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module can reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium including a network storage medium. An exemplary storage medium can be coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium can be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium can also reside in an ASIC. 
     Any of the software components described herein may take a variety of forms. For example, a component may be a stand-alone software package, or it may be a software package incorporated as a “tool” in a larger software product. It may be downloadable from a network, for example, a website, as a stand-alone product or as an add-in package for installation in an existing software application. It may also be available as a client-server software application, as a web-enabled software application, and/or as a mobile application. 
     While certain embodiments have been described above, it will be understood that the embodiments described are by way of example only. Accordingly, the systems and methods described herein should not be limited based on the described embodiments. Rather, the systems and methods described herein should only be limited in light of the claims that follow when taken in conjunction with the above description and accompanying drawings.