Abstract:
A method for distributing advertisements. The method comprises initiating a telephone call from a telephone and sending a request for an advertisement from the telephone, the request including a unique identifier associated with the advertisement and a telephone number associated with the telephone. The request is received at server for further processing. If the user is a registered user, then the ad is sent to the user&#39;s personal computer. If the user is not registered, then further processing enables the user to be registered. The ad is thereafter sent to the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to the provision of advertisements over a communication network and, more particularly, to an advertisement-on-demand or ad-on-demand service that is accessible over a public telephone or data network.  
         [0002]     Many different forms of advertising are in use today. These include providing advertisements to consumers through the use of billboards, radio and television commercials, email messages and pop-up ads. Billboards and radio/television commercials represent the more traditional forms of advertising. It has always been difficult to gauge the effectiveness of these traditional forms of advertising for a variety of reasons. For example, consumers have always been able to avoid a television or radio commercial by changing the television or radio station.  
         [0003]     Even when the consumer does not change the station, it is still difficult to gauge the effectiveness of the more traditional forms of advertising. For example, the user may not respond to the ad either because of a lack of interest or if interested, because the information contained was not recorded by the user and therefore lost. Furthermore, in general, these systems generally do not provide a way to track whether users are responding to a particular ad. In addition, with the availability of digital video recorders and satellite radio consumers may avoid exposure to television and radio commercials altogether.  
         [0004]     Originally, the less traditional or electronic forms of advertisement, e.g., email messages, pop-up ads, were thought to hold great promise for delivering targeted advertisements and tracking responses to such advertisement. These forms of advertising have also proven to be less effective than originally thought. For example, the availability of SPAM filters and the like allows a consumer to filter email from unwanted sources. In particular, a SPAM filter prevents certain email messages from reaching a user&#39;s email account based on the email address of the message. These filters therefore prevent much of the advertising that is created from ever reaching its intended source. Filters for pop-ups have proven to be equally effective.  
         [0005]     Even in view of the foregoing obstacles, advertisers and their customers continue to spend large sums of money on advertising. On the other hand, consumer response to advertisement continues to generally be the same. That is, a consumer only wants to receive advertisements of interest. Furthermore, where an advertisement of interest is available to the consumer via non-electronic means and the consumer wants to respond to the ad in some way, e.g., visit a store or web site referred by the ad, the referral information is usually not retained by the consumer.  
         [0006]     Of utility then are methods and systems that allow advertisers and their customers to gauge the effectiveness of advertisements; and consumers to selectively receive and retain information relating to only those advertisements of interest.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     An aspect of the present invention is a method for distributing advertisements. The method preferably comprises initiating a telephone call from a telephone and sending a request for an advertisement from the telephone, the request including a unique identifier associated with the advertisement and a telephone number associated with the telephone. The request is then received at a network server. The server then preferably processes the request by determining whether the telephone number is associated with a registered user. The advertisement may then be transmitted from the network server to an account associated with the registered user if the server determines that the telephone number is associated with a registered user.  
         [0008]     Further in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, the method further desirably comprises routing the telephone call to a registration server if the server determines that the telephone number is not associated with a registered user. The method may also further comprise registering, at the registration server, the user&#39;s telephone number as a registered user. Furthermore, registering preferably comprises sending a confirmation message to a personal computer associated with the user over the Internet.  
         [0009]     Further in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, sending preferably further comprises sending the request to the server over a telecommunications network employing advanced intelligent network technology. In addition, the advanced intelligent network technology preferably comprises a service control point having a generic data interface that is connected to the server.  
         [0010]     Further still in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, transmitting desirably comprises sending an email that includes the advertisement over the Internet to an email account associated with the registered user.  
         [0011]     Preferably, the telephone call is initiated over a cellular telephone network, but may also be initiated over a wireline or landline telephone network. Most preferably, the landline telephone network comprises a public switched telephone network.  
         [0012]     In another aspect, the present invention is a method for providing an ad-on-demand service. The method preferably comprises receiving an ad-on-demand request from a telephone at telephone switching system; routing the ad-on-demand request from the telephone switching system to an integrated service control point; transforming, at the integrated service control point, the ad-on-demand request into one or more data packets; and sending the one or more data packets to a server. Further in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, the method also comprises processing, at the server, the one or data packets to determine whether an ad associated with the ad-on-demand request should be routed to a client computer associated with the telephone.  
         [0013]     Further in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, the ad-on-demand request comprises a telephone number associated with the telephone and ad-on-demand identifier associated with a product or a service.  
         [0014]     Further in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, sending preferably comprises sending the one or more packets using the TCP/IP protocol. Further still, routing comprises routing one or more messages associated with the ad-on demand request over a signaling network.  
         [0015]     It also desirable that the signaling network comprises a switching system seven (SS7) signaling transfer point. In addition, processing may further comprise sending an email message to a computer connected to the server and associated with the telephone over a data communication network distinct from a telephone network comprising the telephone switching system and the integrated service control point if the telephone number is associated with a registered user.  
         [0016]     Further still in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, the data communication network comprises the Internet and the telephone network comprises the public switched telephone network. In addition, processing may further comprise sending an audible message to the telephone over the telephone network if the telephone number cannot be associated with a registered user.  
         [0017]     In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, receiving the ad-on-demand request preferably comprises receiving a telephone number associated with the ad-on-demand service. It may also be desirable that the method further comprises, prior to routing the ad-on-demand request, requesting ad-on-demand identifier associated with a product or a service. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  illustratively depicts a system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2A  illustratively depicts a flow diagram of a process in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2B  illustratively depicts a system that shows a process flow in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustratively depicts a user registration page in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4A  illustratively depicts a flow diagram of a process in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4B  illustratively depicts a system showing a flow diagram of a process in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  illustratively depicts a system  100  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The system  100  includes a telephone network  110  that is connected to data server  120  and a call center  130 . The data server  120  and call center  130  are further connected to each other through a data communication network  136 . The system  100  further includes a computer  142  that is connected to the data server  120  and call center  130  through the communication network  136 . The system further includes a telephone  148 , which is connected to the telephone network  110 .  
         [0025]     In particular, the telephone  148  is connected the telephone network via a switching subsystem  150 . The telephone  148  may comprise a wireline or wireless telephone. The switching subsystem  150  may comprise a digital switching system such as, for example, the Siemens EWSD switching system. In general, the subsystem  150  comprises hardware and software that can be used to switch or route voice or data between the ports on the switch. The subsystem  150  is also connected to a signaling transfer point  152 . The signaling transfer point  152  preferably comprises a system implemented in accordance with the Common Channel Signaling System No. 7 or SS7 standard. The standard defines the procedures and protocol by which network elements in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) exchange information over a digital signaling network to effect wireless (cellular) and wireline call setup, routing and control. The SS7 network and protocol are used for example for: basic call setup, management, and tear down; wireless services such as personal communications services (PCS), wireless roaming, and mobile subscriber authentication; toll-free (800/888) and toll (900) wireline services. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the SS7 network is preferably used to establish a toll-free service such as an 800 or 888 number service.  
         [0026]     In accordance with the SS7 standard or network, the switch  150  may be considered to be a service switching point or end node equipped with SS7 software that sends signaling messages to other SSPs or to STPs  152  to setup, manage, and release the voice circuits required to complete a call. The STP  152  is a signal packet switch (or router) that receives and routes incoming signaling messages onward to their destinations.  
         [0027]     As shown, the STP  152  is preferably connected to an integrated service control point  158 . Generally, the integrated service control point  158  may comprise a centralized database that determines how the messages it receives from the STP  152  should be routed. In general, the integrated service control point  158  includes one or more call processing records that establish calling routes in a network. Additional operation details relating to the integrated service control point  158  are included in U.S. Pat. No. 5,751,961, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. As shown, the ISCP  158  is connected to the server  120  via a generic data interface (GDI), which allows the ISCP  158  to connect to the server via transport convergence protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP). In general, the GDI allows TCAP data to run over TCP/IP and therefore provides an interface for connecting to the server  120 .  
         [0028]     The server  120  comprises a computer system that processes database queries. In particular, the server preferably includes one or more databases that store a plurality of advertisements relating to products or services. The database may be a relational database that cross-references advertisements based on a product or service type, a company or manufacturer, technology, user or consumer demographics, etc. Each advertisement is preferably uniquely identified in the database using an identification code or the like. It should be noted that although one server  120  is shown in  FIG. 1 , the server may comprise a group of computer systems or servers that in addition to providing a database query function, may also include additional hardware and software to transmit data to the other equipment to which it is connected. For example, the server  120  may include an email server for preparing and sending email messages to client computer  142 .  
         [0029]     The server  120  is preferably connected to client computer  142  over the communication network  136 . The communication network  136  preferably comprises the Internet. In general, the Internet is a global collection of networks that provide ubiquitous access to various types of information and allows users to communicate over expansive geographic areas, i.e., the geography of the earth. In that regard, the Internet provides a convenient means for users to access, gather and share information. Such information is typically stored on a collection of geographically scattered servers, which provide services to other machines, such as personal computers or clients and other servers, which comprise the Internet. Typically, the Internet is accessed from a web client application running on a personal computer, such as client computer  142 . Client computer  142  may comprise a desktop computer as shown or a laptop. It may also comprise a personal digital assistant or any other device that can receive information from the Internet.  
         [0030]     As shown, client computer  142  is also capable of communicating with the call center  130 . The call center  130  includes a computer  130 , and telephone  1305 . As shown, the telephone  1305  is coupled to the switch  150 . In addition, the switch  150  is also preferably connected to another digital switching system  160 . In the preferred embodiment, the switching system  160  is coupled to a line subscribed to an advanced intelligent network termination attempt trigger  164 .  
         [0031]     Turning now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , there is shown a flow diagram  200  and a reference diagram  210  that together illustrate a process flow in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. In accordance with  FIG. 2A , the flow diagram  200  begins with a request from an unregistered user for an ad-on-demand,  216 . The request  216  is preferably initiated using via telephone call from telephone  219 . The request  216  may be initiated using an 800 or 888 number, e.g., 888-AD-ON-DMD. The request  216  is received at a service switching point  223 . As previously discussed, the service switching point  223  comprises a EWSD switch in the preferred embodiment. The service switching point  223  then launches an advanced intelligent network specific data string (SDS) trigger  226  to an integrated service control point  227 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the SDS trigger  226  is preferably routed through a STP  229  as discussed above.  
         [0032]     The ISCP  227  then routes the call  232  to a switch  233  having line subscribed to an advanced intelligent networking termination attempt trigger  235 . The switch  233  then initiates advanced intelligent networking termination attempt trigger query  236  to the ISCP  227 . The ISCP  227  then requests that the user enter a unique identifier associated with the advertisement of interest  240 . The unique identifier may comprise any combination of alphanumeric characters that can be entered via a phone, such as phone  219 . For example, unique identifiers such as 4000 or AN4000 would suffice.  
         [0033]     The user&#39;s response to the query  240  is shown as response  244 . The ISCP then provides the unique identifier associated with the ad and information sufficient to identify the caller,  246 , to the server  247 . The information to identify the caller may, for example, include the calling number. In the process flow  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the caller or calling number is not identified by the server  247 . The server therefore responds to the ISCP  227  at step  250  with an indication that the user is unregistered. The ISCP  227  then directs the call to the call center  253  for registration,  256 . In addition, prior to forwarding the call to the call center  253 , the ISCP  227  may also play a recording for the user,  258 , requesting that they register with the call center  253 . Once registration is completed, the call center  253  then sends a verification to the user&#39;s computer  259  as at step or line  264 . As is best seen in  FIG. 2B , the call center  253  and user computer  260  desirably communicate over a data communication network  269 , such as the Internet.  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows an example of web page that a user may see when requested to register as, for example, at step  256 . As shown, the user will be requested to input an email address and a phone number. In addition to these inputs, the user may also subscribe to a newsletter. The web page also includes additional buttons such as Home, How It Works, Register and Advertisers. The Home button links to a home web page. The How It Works button preferably links to a web page that describes the ad-on-demand service. The Register button provides a link to the page shown in  FIG. 3 . The Advertisers button preferably links to a web page that allows advertiser to register, upload and update their advertising and download data relating to the use of their advertising, e.g., the number hits, etc.  
         [0035]     Turning now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , there is shown a process flow  400  and a system  410  on which the process flow  410  may be implemented. In accordance with  FIG. 4A , the process is initiated with a request from a registered user for an ad-on-demand,  416 . The request  416  is preferably initiated using via telephone call from telephone  419 . The request  416  may be initiated using an 800 or 888 number, e.g., 888-AD-ON-DMD. The request  416  is received at a service switching point  423 . As previously discussed, in the preferred embodiment the service switching point  423  may comprise an EWSD switch that is coupled to a DMS switch. In general, the service switching point may comprise a plurality of electronic switches that are used to establish call routes in the network. The service switching point  423  then launches an advanced intelligent network specific data string (SDS) trigger  426  to an integrated service control point  427 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , the SDS trigger  426  is preferably routed through an STP  429  as discussed above.  
         [0036]     The ISCP  427  then routes the call  432  to a switch  433  having a line subscribed to an advanced intelligent networking termination attempt trigger  435 . The switch  433  then initiates an advanced intelligent networking termination attempt trigger query  436  to the ISCP  427 . The ISCP  427  then requests that the user enter a unique identifier associated with the advertisement of interest  440 . The unique identifier may comprise any combination of alphanumeric characters that can be entered via a phone, such as phone  419 .  
         [0037]     The user responds to the query  440  at step response  444 . The ISCP then provides the unique identifier associated with the ad and information sufficient to identify the caller,  446 , an ad-on-demand server  447 . The information to identify the caller preferably comprises the calling number. The server  447  then determines whether the calling number corresponds to a registered user. In this case, the user is registered. Therefore, the server sends a confirmation,  450 , to the integrated service control point  427  indicating that the user is registered. The requested ad may then be downloaded to the server  447  to the user computer  457  as shown at step  460 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the integrated service control point  427  may also play an announcement to the calling party,  464  via phone  419  indicating completion of the request. The announcement may comprise an audible message such as “Thank you for using this service.” The message may be played before or after the server  447  sends the ad to the user computer  457 .  
         [0038]     In view of the foregoing, the present invention advantageously allows a consumer to request and receive the ads that they desire. For example, billboards, newspaper advertisements, or other forms of advertisements may be assigned unique ad numbers. These numbers are preferably be visibly affixed to the ads themselves. Upon seeing an ad of interest, a consumer may dial a number associated with an ad-on-demand service, input the unique ad number and have the ad or information relating to the ad deliver to their email account. In accordance with the different aspects of the present invention, consumers would receive only those ads that they are interested in. This would allow advertisers, merchants and manufacturers to be able to obtain feedback on the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns. This would also enable these entities to better direct their advertising dollars to those forms of advertisements, e.g., billboards versus magazines, that are most effective.  
         [0039]     Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.