Patent Publication Number: US-8526876-B1

Title: Targeted satellite radio advertising using mobile network determined location

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/876,047 and assigned to the same assignee herein, and claims the benefit of the prior non-provisional application under 35 U.S.C. 120. 
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is defined by the claims below. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for, among other things, a satellite radio network having advertisements targeted to a specific listening audience. The present invention has several practical applications in the technical arts. 
     In a first aspect, a set of computer-usable instructions present a method of providing a location of a satellite radio receiver to a satellite radio system. The satellite radio receiver is in proximity to a wireless mobile device of a wireless communications network and sends a request to the wireless mobile device for the current location. The current location is retrieved from the wireless communications network and relayed to the satellite radio receiver. The wireless mobile device transmits the current location and identification data unique to the satellite radio receiver to a satellite radio network. 
     In a second aspect, a set of computer-useable instructions are provided for performing a method of determining a radio advertisement intended for a user of a satellite radio receiver. A current location for a wireless mobile device, which is also located in proximity to a satellite radio receiver, is determined, and along with the identifying data of the satellite radio receiver, is transmitted to a processing unit associated with a satellite radio network. A database portion of the processing unit is searched for at least one radio advertisement having content directed towards the current location of the satellite radio receiver. Once the radio advertisement is identified, it is transmitted to the satellite radio receiver and projected to a user of the satellite radio receiver. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, a satellite radio advertisement system is provided comprising a satellite transmission network, a satellite radio receiver in communication with the satellite radio network, and a processing unit in communication with the satellite radio network and a wireless communications network. A wireless mobile device, such as a wireless telephone, is in communication with both the wireless communications network and the satellite radio receiver. A current location of the satellite radio receiver is determined due to its proximity to the wireless mobile device and a satellite radio advertisement having subject matter directed towards the current location is sent to the satellite radio receiver. 
     Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in part in a description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a system for delivering a radio advertisement targeted to a current location of a satellite radio receiver, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow diagram representative of a method for providing a location of a satellite radio receiver to a satellite radio network according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram representative of a method of determining a radio advertisement intended for a user of a satellite radio receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a database of satellite radio advertisements available for transmission to a satellite radio receiver based on a general location according to an embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  depicts a database of satellite radio advertisements available for transmission to a specific satellite radio receiver based on its current location according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for providing advertisements to a user of a satellite radio receiver based upon the location of the satellite radio receiver and a wireless mobile device that is in communication with at least a wireless communications network. The satellite radio receiver utilizes a wireless mobile device and wireless communications network to identify its current location. This current location is utilized by a satellite radio network to identify one or more advertisements that are directed towards the user of the satellite radio receiver. 
     As one skilled in the art will appreciate, embodiments of the present invention may be embodied as, among other things: a method, system, or computer-program product. Accordingly, the embodiments may take the form of a hardware embodiment, a software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware. In one embodiment, the present invention takes the form of a computer-program product that includes computer-useable instructions embodied on one or more computer-readable media. 
     Computer-readable media include both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media, and contemplates media readable by a database, a switch, and various other network devices. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media comprise media implemented in any method or technology for storing information. Examples of stored information include computer-useable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data representations. Media examples include, but are not limited to information-delivery media, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile discs (DVD), holographic media or other optical disc storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, and other magnetic storage devices. These technologies can store data momentarily, temporarily, or permanently. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a satellite radio advertisement system  100  is depicted and comprises a satellite radio network portion  102  having a processing unit  104  and a satellite transmission network  106 . The processing unit  104 , which contains at least a database of satellite radio advertisements intended for one or more specific geographic locations, is in communication with the satellite transmission network  106 . Furthermore, the satellite transmission network  106  typically comprises one or more satellite dishes  108  receiving a data communication from the processing unit  104  and one or more satellites  110 . Although the communication between the processing unit  104  and satellite dish  108  is shown as a wired connection, it is to be understood that data could be communicated wirelessly as well. The satellite radio network portion  102 , and specifically the satellite transmission network  106 , is in communication with a satellite radio receiver  112 . The satellite radio receiver  112  is most commonly used in conjunction with audio equipment, such as a stereo, that is found in an automobile, truck, van, or other passenger transportation system. For the purposes of the present invention, the satellite radio receiver  112  is located within close proximity to a wireless mobile device  116 . The exact proximity of the satellite radio receiver  112  to the wireless mobile device  116  can vary depending on a variety of factors such as satellite radio receiver capability and signal strength of the wireless mobile device. The communication between the wireless mobile device  116  and satellite radio receiver  112  can be wireless or at least a partially wired pathway, as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
     An initial location of the satellite radio receiver  112  is entered by a user. However, given that the typical operating environment of the satellite radio receiver is in a mobile system, such as a vehicle, the current location  114  of the satellite radio receiver  112  and the wireless mobile device  116  will typically vary over a period of time and therefore must be updated periodically. This will be discussed in more detail below. 
     The wireless mobile device  116  is in contact with a wireless communications network  118 . More specifically, the wireless mobile device  116  sends and receives radio signals through a tower  120  having a transceiver system  122 , a number of which are typically connected to a controller  124 . The controller  124  manages the communication between a number of transceivers  122  and a limited number of wireless mobile devices  116  compatible with the wireless communications network  118 . The controller  124  connects to a mobile switching center  126  acting as a telephone exchange to handle the wireless mobile device activity through the associated one or more controllers  124  while connecting as needed to a public switched telephone network (PSTN). 
     The wireless communications network  118  is in communication with the wireless mobile device  116  and the satellite radio network  102 . More specifically, the wireless communications network  118  can send radio signals to and receive radio signals from the wireless mobile device  116 , as well as send data to the satellite radio network  102 , more specifically the processing unit  104 . 
     Through the wireless mobile device  116  and wireless communications network  118 , a current location  114  is established for the satellite radio receiver  112 . This is preferably accomplished through a global positioning system (GPS) feature associated with the wireless communications network  118  and wireless mobile device  116 . The accuracy of the current location is a function of the GPS capability. The current location could be general, such as a city, or more specific, such as an intersection within the city. The current location  114  is identified such that a satellite radio advertisement stored in a database component associated with the processing unit  104  and having subject matter directed towards at least the current location  114  can be sent to the satellite radio receiver  112 . This radio advertisement is sent to the satellite radio receiver  112  across satellite the satellite transmission network  106 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a method  200  is disclosed for providing a location of a satellite radio receiver  112 , which is in proximity to a wireless mobile device  116 , to a satellite radio network  102 . In a step  202 , an inquiry is received at the wireless mobile device  116  from the satellite radio receiver  112  to determine a current location of the wireless mobile device  116 . The wireless mobile device  116  sends a request for the current location to the wireless communications network  118  in a step  204 . In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the satellite radio receiver  112  and the wireless mobile device  116  can be a single device such that steps  202  and  204  are a single step. 
     The inquiry is transmitted to the wireless communications network  118  at a pre-determined interval so as to maintain a real-time location of the satellite radio receiver  112 . The interval can vary and may be set by the satellite radio receiver user, the provider of the satellite radio network  102 , or the provider of the wireless communications network  118 . For example, if the interval is set for 60 seconds, and a vehicle carrying the satellite radio receiver  112  is moving at a typical highway speed, then the location would be updated approximately every mile. The satellite radio receiver  112  and wireless mobile device  116  can be connected across a partially wired pathway or a local wireless network such as Bluetooth®, Zigbee®, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, or other comparable network. 
     In a step  206 , the current location of the wireless mobile device  116  is retrieved from the wireless communications network  118  and this current location is provided to the wireless mobile device  116  in a step  208 . In a step  210 , the current location is transmitted from the wireless mobile device  116  to the satellite radio receiver  112 , such that the current location of the satellite radio receiver  112  is known. 
     In a step  212 , identification data specific to the satellite radio receiver  112  is received at the wireless mobile device  116 . The identification data comprises at least an electronic serial number that is unique to the satellite radio receiver  112 . It is this electronic serial number that the satellite radio network  102  uses to communicate radio programming directly to the satellite radio receiver  112 . In a step  214 , the identification data and current location is transmitted through the wireless communications network  118  to the processing unit  104  of the satellite radio network  102 . The process ends in a step  216 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a method is disclosed for determining a radio advertisement that is intended for a user of a satellite radio receiver. The method  300  comprises a step  302  in which an inquiry for a current location is sent to a wireless mobile device  116 . The inquiry is transmitted to the wireless communications network  118  at a pre-determined interval so as to maintain a real-time location of the satellite radio receiver  112 . In a step  304 , a response is received from the wireless mobile device  116  with the response including the current location of the wireless mobile device  116 . 
     In a step  306 , identifying data unique to the satellite radio receiver  112  and the current location of the wireless mobile device  116  is transmitted to the processing unit  104  associated with a satellite radio network  102 . The identifying data comprises at least an electronic serial number unique to the satellite radio receiver  112 . This transmission to the processing unit  104  occurs across the wireless communications network  118 . In a step  308 , a database portion of the processing unit  104  is searched for one or more radio advertisements having content directed towards the current location, where the current location is a geographic area such as a state, county, city, or zip code. In a step  310 , a determination is made as to whether or not a radio advertisement meeting the location requirements has been found. If no radio advertisements are found in the database, then in a step  312 , the current radio transmission is maintained to the satellite radio receiver  112 . 
     If, in the step  310 , a radio advertisement is found, then in a step  314 , the radio advertisement is transmitted to the satellite radio receiver  112 . In a step  316 , the radio advertisement is received at the satellite radio receiver  112  and in a step  318 , the radio advertisement is projected to the user through audio equipment associated with the satellite radio receiver  112 . 
     In a step  320 , a determination is made as to whether or not the pre-determined interval has elapsed, thereby requiring an update to the current location. If the pre-determined interval has elapsed, then the current location is to be updated and the process returns to step  302 . If the pre-determined interval has not elapsed, the process ends in a step  322 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , embodiments of the database portion of the processing unit  104  are depicted for the satellite radio network  102 .  FIG. 4  depicts a database  400  of available advertisements  402  for a general location  404 , such as the midwest region of the United States. This page of the database depicts a variety of businesses located in Kansas and Missouri that have advertisements  402  available for distribution across the satellite radio network  102 . At this level of the database  400 , the current location  114  of the satellite radio receiver  112  is not known. The information included in the database  400  includes a numerical identifier for each advertisement, the name of the advertiser, duration of the advertisement, and location for which the subject matter of the advertisement is targeted. For example, the advertiser corresponding to advertisement number 25661 is KC BBQ. The advertisement runs for 30 seconds and is directed towards listeners of the satellite radio network  102  that are presently in Kansas City, Mo. metropolitan area. Depending on the preferences set by the user or the satellite radio provider, this same advertisement could also be directed towards a user of a satellite radio receiver, whose position, by way of updating the current location, is determined to be heading towards the Kansas City, Mo. area. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an embodiment of the database  500  is depicted in which information  502  pertaining to the satellite radio receiver  112  is listed. This information  502  includes an electronic serial number associated with the satellite radio receiver  112 , its current location, and the wireless communications network provider. Also, depicted in  FIG. 5  is a list  504  of satellite radio advertisements that are directed towards the current location of the satellite radio receiver  112 . The list  504  in  FIG. 5  is a filtered list of advertisements from the general midwest database depicted in  FIG. 4 . For example, the list  504  includes only advertisements that correspond to the current location (Kansas City, Mo.) of the satellite radio receiver  112 . The other midwest advertisements are not selected since their targeted locations do not meet the current location of the satellite radio receiver  112 . 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.