WO2009082232A1

WO2009082232A1 - System, method and software for displaying an information banner on a mobile communication means

Info

Publication number: WO2009082232A1
Application number: PCT/NL2008/050848
Authority: WO
Inventors: Huib Johannes Kloosterhuis; Herman Geerling
Original assignee: I-Wood B.V.
Priority date: 2007-12-24
Filing date: 2008-12-23
Publication date: 2009-07-02
Also published as: NL2001128C2

Abstract

System and method for displaying an information banner on a screen of a mobile communication means, comprising at least one mobile communication means with a screen and means for storing at least one information banner, wherein the mobile communication means is adapted to display the information banner on the screen when the communication means is in a standby mode or is showing a main screen; further comprising a first database for storing information banners, wherein the system is adapted to replace the at least one banner at set times by at least one other information banner of the information banners from the first database.

Description

SYSTEM , METHOD AND SOFTWARE FOR DISPLAYING AN INFORMATION BANNER ON A MOBILE

COMMUNICATION MEANS

The present invention relates to a system and method for displaying an information banner on a screen of a mobile communication means, software for performing the method on a mobile communication means, and mobile communication means adapted to display an information banner on its screen.

It is per se known to show an advertising banner on a screen of a mobile communication means such as a telephone when the mobile communication means is in a standby mode. Such advertising banners are often loaded into the device on the basis of limited information concerning the interests of the user, wherein this information is limited for instance to the known profession of the user, whereby the user of the mobile communication means is confronted with advertising banners for products or services related to his or her profession. In this way the stimulating effect of the advertising banners soon ebbs away, and the advertising banners lose their impact. This makes the display of an advertising banner on a screen of a mobile communication device a phenomenon of little interest to either the user or the advertiser.

A further drawback is that it is not known how the interests of the user of a specific communication means will develop after it has been acquired. It may therefore occur that an advertising banner loaded into the communication means promotes goods or services which have fallen wholly or partially outside the field of interest of the user, whereby the use of the advertising banner is likewise not very efficient.

It may also be that a user does not want any advertising, but only information which he/she has specifically requested.

It is now an object of the present invention to provide a system for displaying an information banner on a screen of a mobile communication means, the stimulating effect of which does not decline, or at least does so less quickly, or the stimulating effect of which is revived. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for displaying an information banner on a screen of a mobile communication means, wherein that which is promoted by the information banner (a good or service) falls at least partially within the field interest of the user.

The present invention provides for this purpose a system for displaying an information banner on a screen of a mobile communication means, comprising at least one mobile communication means comprising a screen and means for storing at least one information banner, wherein the mobile communication means is adapted to display the information banner on the screen and wherein the system is adapted to replace the at least one banner at set times by at least one other information banner of the information banners from a first database, wherein the information banners in the first database are marked with a tag indicating an intended target group for the information banner, and wherein the system comprises a second database for registration by the users of mobile communication means of their profiles, wherein the system is adapted to select, during replacement of an information banner, at least one information banner wherein the profile of the user matches the target group of the banner.

An information banner can comprise advertising messages, and thus be an advertising banner, but an information banner can also comprise latest news headlines, traffic updates, weather reports, a site of the day or other information desired by the user of the communication means.

It may also be the case here that information banners show only the most important items of the information, for instance only the first four headlines one below the other or a number of headlines shown as a tickertape on the screen. An information banner can also consist of a plurality of screens automatically shown in succession. By "clicking" on an information banner all information is shown in a web browser.

Because the information banners change at set times - which can be determined by the user of the mobile communication means or by a retailer or manufacturer thereof, subject to for instance the costs of a contract concluded upon purchase of the communication means - the user remains stimulated to view the information banner or, if possible, perform an operation on it (for instance selecting or clicking the information banner so as to be guided in this way to further information), and the attention of the user is repeatedly drawn and focused on the promoted item, so that getting across advertising messages also remains very efficient in the longer term.

The information banners in the first database are advantageously marked with a tag indicating an intended target group for the information banner.

In this way the content of the information banner can also be adapted to the interests of the user. An animal lover can for instance be presented with an advertisement for dog or cat food, while a holiday offer can be made to someone keen on travel. Advertising for winter tyres can thus be shown to a motorist and the services of a patent agency can be offered to an inventor.

Because the system further comprises at least a second database in which profiles of users of mobile communication means are stored, wherein the system is adapted to select, during replacement of an information banner, at least one information banner wherein the profile of the user matches the target group of the banner, information banners presented by advertisers can be classified such that they automatically find their way to mobile communication means of potentially interested users.

The information banner is particularly displayed on at least a part of a main screen which is shown when the communication means is not displaying an operating menu screen; in particular the screen shown after ending of an application or after a long period without user activity. Such a screen is referred to as "desktop" or "default screen" (today screen" / "home screen").

Because this screen is shown frequently to the user of the communication means, for instance because the communication means is adapted to display this screen automatically after a period of time, the user will hereby often see the information banner.

Because operating elements such as buttons or links and information is shown on the various main screens, it is possible for the user to define or to displace the position at which the banners are displayed, for instance by displacing a displayed banner to a desired position by means of a pointer. This desired position is "remembered" so that even after a restart of the communication means the information banner is shown at the desired position. An application (computer program) for displaying the information banners is therefore a widget for placing on the main screen.

An applications menu can be placed above or below the information banner. This is a narrow horizontal strip having thereon a number of icons with which the user can start an application or go to a web site directly. These menu items can be configured by the user.

The information banner can however be shown when the communication means is in standby mode. Such a mode occurs in determined devices after a period of non-use, whereby the user is shown the information banner immediately upon later use of the device, since the screen shown in such a mode forms a central point in the operating structure from which diverse applications can be started, wherein this screen shows important user information.

Because the user him/herself can register at least some of his/her interests in the second database, and is thus given the opportunity to update the profile associated with him or her within the system, the provision of information banners can always be geared to the current interests of the user.

The mobile communication means is advantageously adapted to send at set times a request for an update of the information banners stored on the mobile communication means to an information banner server to which the first database is connected.

These set times can have a fixed time interval relative to each other comprising for instance an hour or a day, wherein a fixed time of the day can also be selected. In an advantageous embodiment the mobile communication means is adapted to replace the at least one banner with at least one other information banner daily at the first moment the communication means makes a connection to the internet or, when at a given moment - for instance between 20 hours and 24 hours - no further contact has been made with the internet, after it has made contact with the internet specifically for the purpose of replacing an information banner. By adapting the mobile communication means to send a request, and optionally making it possible here that the user him/herself can determine the intervals between these times, for instance in that he/she can send a manual request for an update of the information banners, the user is prevented from being exposed to an excess of changing information or advertising. This would after all have an adverse effect on, or even wholly nullify, getting across information or advertising messages.

Further advantage can be gained when the information banner server is adapted to provide the mobile communication means with a list of information banners with a target group within which the profile of the user of the mobile communication means falls.

By providing only a list, and not sending information banners directly, the mobile data traffic is kept to a minimum. No unnecessary bandwidth is hereby required by the system, and costs and network load are kept to a minimum.

The mobile communication means is preferably adapted here to remove, on the basis of the list, information banners already present on the mobile communication means when these banners do not appear on the list, and to upload from the first database information banners on the list which are not present on the mobile communication means.

In this way information banners which are superseded or have already been shown often enough are automatically cleared, whereby the mobile communication means can suffice with a minimum amount of reserved memory space. Also achieved here is that only the necessary information banners are uploaded, this again minimizing the amount of data traffic.

In a further embodiment an information banner is provided with an attribute which indicates that the content must be refreshed immediately with the latest data. As soon as this information banner is visible, the latest data, in the form of a new version of the information banner, are retrieved for this purpose from the internet. Once this new version has been uploaded, it replaces the previous one and is shown. As additional option, location data are also sent together with a request for a new information banner, so that a location-linked information banner can also be shown.

Automatic synchronization will not take place when the device is at a location abroad, because mobile data traffic in foreign countries is expensive. The automatic synchronization can be disabled by having a "foreign country detection" take place, this differing from the per se known "roaming detection". Roaming detection indicates that the device is making use of a different provider. In the Netherlands however, Telfort subscribers for instance make use of the KPN network (= roaming) and Orange subscribers make use of T-Mobile (also roaming). In foreign country detection however, a check is made as to whether a used radio mast has the same country code as a sim- card present in the communication means.

The communication means can further have location data available, for instance from a radio mast or GPS. These data are used by the server to show optionally local information banners, so that in addition to the profile data location data are also used in the selection of information banners. This is possible for the Live banners as well as for the selection of the static banners. Someone who visits Amsterdam frequently will thus receive for instance a special offer from a top restaurant or from Artis Zoo.

In order to ensure that a large number of different mobile communication means can interpret the data format of the list, and in addition to leave options open for defining required future data formats, the list is preferably formatted in XML format.

In a subsequent embodiment the system comprises a third database for storing user data.

Such user data comprise identification possibilities for the information banner server for the purpose of compiling an appropriate list of information banners for a determined user. The data thus comprise at least one identification possibility for the mobile communication means of the user, as well as personal interests of the user, or general characteristics (such as age or a profession), on the basis of which (at least putative) interests can be derived. The information banner server is herein adapted to verity whether a communication means which sends a request for update is registered in the third database, and to add a communication means to the third database when it is not registered in the third database.

In this way the third database remains continuously updated and non-registered users cannot make use of the system.

For the purpose of unambiguous identification of mobile communication means, and therefore users, an IMEI and MSID number of each added communication means is included in the third database.

The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the following figures, in which:

- Figure I shows a schematic representation of a system according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows a diagram of a method for replacing an information banner on a mobile communication means; and

- Figure 3 shows a more detailed diagram of the generating of a list with information banners.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a system 100 according to the present invention. Located within the system is a mobile communication means 101 which is connected to the internet 105. This can be a wireless connection 102, a WIFI connection 103, a USB connection to a computer 104 which is connected to the internet 105 or any other connection to the internet 105.

The mobile communication means 101 sends at set times a request to information banner server 107 for an update of the information banners stored on mobile communication means 101. The information banner server 107 obtains profile data of the user of mobile communication means 101 by making use of the query database 110 which is used to search user database 108.

The information banner server 107 compiles a list of available information banners for the user associated with mobile communication means 101 at the moment of the request. The compilation is based on a profile of the user in at least one of the profile databases 106, 106' and 106", and results in a list of information banners being sent back from information banner database 109. Profile databases 106, 106' and 106" can for instance be set up by different affiliated parties or each be set up for associated profiles, for instance be focused on a professional group or activity. The first profile database 106 possibly holds substantially profiles of doctors, while second profile database 106' hold substantially profiles of business people and a third profile database 106" holds substantially profiles of pharmacists. After receiving the list, the mobile communication means 101 removes the information banners already stored in its memory which do not appear on the list, and uploads from the information banner database 109 the information banners which are at least on the list but not stored in its memory. In addition to the stated examples in which professional groups and related characteristics are used for the purpose of selecting information banners for a determined user, it is likewise possible to employ many other criteria, such as announcements of television programmes or films, events, fairs or sporting events supposedly of interest to the user on the basis of the profile.

Figure 2 shows a method for replacing an information banner on a mobile communication means. At the start 201 mobile communication means 101 of Figure 1 sends a request 202 for available information banners. After receiving request 202, information banner server 107 sends a user request 204 for synchronization data. Information banner server 107 here makes the choice 204 as to whether mobile communication means 101 belongs to an existing user or to a new user. In the case of a new user, information banner server 107 registers 205 this user in user database 108 of Figure 1. In the case of an existing user, and likewise after registration of a new user, information banner server 207 compiles 206 a list with available and applicable information banners in accordance with the method to be elucidated with reference to Figure 3, and information banner server 107 sends 207 a list formatted in XML with available information banners to mobile communication means 101. Mobile communication means 101 compares 208 the information banners included on the list with the information banners already stored in its memory. On the basis of the comparison it determines 209 whether updates are available. If this is the case it uploads 210 the updates and finally 212 sends 211 the update results to information banner server 107. It likewise sends 21 1 the (empty) update results to information banner server 107 if no updates were found to be available.

Figure 3 shows in more detail the method step 206 of figure 2, the generating of a list of information banners. Initially 301 profile queries are performed 302 in query database 1 10. The queries result in references to one or more profile databases 106, 106', 106". For each profile database a query is then made 303, wherein user data are retrieved from the various databases 106, 106' and 106". It may occur here that one user has placed data in multiple databases, for instance by registering on several web sites.

Information banners are retrieved 305 from information banner database 109 on the basis of the obtained user data. An overview hereof is created 306 in the form of an information banner list formatted in XML. This is then sent 207 to the mobile communication means of the user.

The XML list can here comprise data about desired display times for determined information banners. When an information banner for instance advertises a film to be broadcast on television, this advertising banner can for instance be provided with a tag which indicates that the information banner must be displayed several hours before showing of the film. The software for displaying the information banners on the mobile communication means can herein be adapted to carry out a time correction, particularly when it is found that the time set on the mobile communication means varies considerably from the actual time.

Many other embodiments are possible in addition to the shown embodiments. The mobile communication means can likewise comprise a PDA, a navigation system or any other device suitable for the purpose, and the diverse databases can form tables in one database system.

Claims

1. System for displaying an information banner on a screen of a mobile communication means, comprising: - at least one mobile communication means, comprising: o a screen; o means for storing at least one information banner; wherein o the mobile communication means is adapted to display the information banner on the screen; and wherein

- the system is adapted to replace the at least one banner at set times by at least one other information banner of the information banners from a first database, characterized in that

- the information banners in the first database are marked with a tag indicating an intended target group for the information banner; and that

- the system comprises a second database for registration by the users of mobile communication means of their profiles, wherein the system is adapted to select, during replacement of an information banner, at least one information banner, wherein

- the profile of the user matches the target group of the banner.

2. System as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the information banner is displayed on at least a part of a main screen which is shown when no applications are active on the communication means or after a period without user activity.

3. System as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the information banner is shown when the communication means is in a standby mode or is showing a main screen.

4. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the mobile communication means is adapted to send at set times a request for an update of the information banners stored on the mobile communication means to an information banner server to which the first database is connected.

5. System as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the information banner server is adapted to provide the mobile communication means with a list of information banners with a target group within which the profile of the user of the mobile communication means falls.

6. System as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the mobile communication means is adapted to remove, on the basis of the list, information banners already present on the mobile communication means when these banners do not appear on the list, and to upload from the first database information banners on the list which are not present on the mobile communication means.

7. System as claimed in either of the claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the list is formatted in XML format.

8. System as claimed in any of the claims 3-7, characterized in that it comprises a third database for storing user data.

9. System as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the information banner server is adapted to verify whether a communication means which sends a request for update is registered in the third database, and to add to the third database a communication means not registered in the third database.

10. System as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that an IMEI and MSID number of each added communication means is included in the third database.

11. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein an information banner is provided with an attribute which indicates that the content of the information banner must be refreshed immediately with the latest data.

12. Method for displaying an information banner on a screen of a mobile communication means, comprising of:

- showing at least one advertising banner on the screen when the communication means is in a standby mode; characterized by:

- providing a first database for storing information banners; and

- replacing the at least one banner at set times by at least one other information banner of the information banners from the first database.

13. Method as claimed in claim 12, characterized by marking an information banner with a tag indicating an intended target group.

14. Method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, characterized by storing profiles of users of mobile communication means and replacing the information banners, on the basis of the profiles, by information banners with a target group within which the profile of the user of the mobile communication means falls.

15. Software for performing the method as claimed in any of the claims 12-14.

16. Communication means provided with the software as claimed in claim 15.