AU2006101053B4 - ZapMe - Google Patents

Description

05/03 2007 MON 14, 22 FAX 61 2 9231 1099

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AUST-R-ALIA

Patents Act 1990 ZAPME PTY LTD COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: ZapMe The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us.- COMS IDNo. SBMI-06482158 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:25 Date 2007-03-05 05/03 2007 MON 14! 22 FAX 61 2 9231 1099 0 2 Title ZapMe Technical Field o This invention concerns pull advertising delivered via electronic means such as computers and mobile devices. In particular the invention makes use of email and

SMS.

Background Art Push advertising to electronic devices has become a considerable nuisance i n recent o times, to the extent that anti-spanuning legislation has been widely enacted round the o world to combat it. PullI advertising is more attractive for a number of reasons, including that it is more likely to effective since it is initiated by the consumer. It also avoids the anti-spamming legislation.

Disclosure of the Invention The invention is an IP/mobile pull advertising system, comprising a server and mobile communications devic e configured together such that a short message service (SMS) communication from the mobile device to a predetermined destination at the server and containing a trigger word displayed together with, and related to, an advertisement will result in the automatic transmission of fuirther details about the advertised product or service to the user.

The invention is simple and combines the two most widely used IP/Mobile based technologies available in the world today, that is email and SMS.

The invention also reduces the need for the advertiser to arowd their advertisements with information, The consumer may view the details privately and without having to interact with a salesperson until they are ready.

The sewver may store profiles of the users including their email address and mobile phone numbers. The server may store data concerning the response to particular advertisements.

The automatic transmission may be either an emai] transmission to the user's email address or an SMS transmission to the user's mobile phone, or both.

The automatic transmission may contain a bar code.

Brief Des cription of the Drawings An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an example of a billboard containing ZapMe contact details 00O05/010 COMS ID No: SBMI-06482158 Received by P1 Australia: Time 14:25 Date 2007-03-05 05/03 2007 MON 14! 22 FAX 61 2 9231 1099 ~0011 100061010 0 3 Fig. 2 is an enlargement of the ZapMe contact details Ct Fig. 3 is an example of an email returned after contacting ZapMe.

Fig. 4 is an example of an SMS returned after contacting ZapMe.

Fig. 5is a diagram illustrating the components of the ZapMe service.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the components of a campaign utilising ZapMe.

Best Modes of the Invention o User Registration A user may register their profile at www.ZapMe.com.au by providing their email O address or a more detailed profile, if they desire. For instance users may store their gender, age, range and location. Once their profile is stored in the database they are O ready to use the service. Users can also register via their mobile handset simply by O sending an SMS containing their email address to a short code number.

Use of ZapMe When users 5 are going about their day-to-day activities they may see or hear media in one form or another, such as a magazine 6, newspaper, billboard 10, radio or TV etc.

For instance the billboard 10 shown in Fig. 1. Referring also to Fig. 5 where the process steps are illustrated.

When something catches their attention it may include an SMS address and code. The billboard 10 of Fig. I includes such an address and code 20, and these are reproduced in Fig. 2. There may also be an indication that the SMS will be free to the sender.

The user 5 may then forward an SMS message to the ZapMe server 30 at 19l ZAP containing the word "HOLIDAY" and in response they will receive the advertiser's campaign information by email, containing a more detailed explanation of the product or service; see Fig. 3. The communication could also contain a discount coupon or special offer. An SMS will also be returned confirming that the content has been sent.

This SMS may also contain further information; see Fig. 4.

The ZapMe server 30 delivers the email by matching the originating mobile phone number with the email address stored in its database. The transmission is an automated preconfigured email. The user 5 may review the details of the "HOLIDAY" at their leisure when they get home 40. The user may be directed to access an Internet website containing more particulars and details of special offers.

If a member of the public respond to an advertisement by forwarding such a message they will receive an SMS by return inviting them to register; either using their mobile or by Internet.

Measuring Advertising Effectiveness The response to the billboard advertisement can be measured by the number of SMS messages it generates.

COMS ID No: SBMI-06482158 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:25 Date 2007-03-05 05/03 2007 MON 14:23 FAX 61 2 9231 1099 0007/010 84 Delivery of Tickets or Coupons S The system can also be used to deliver tickets or discount coupons directly to the user's mobile phone using SMS. This SMS may contain a unique barcode that is valid for In entry to an event, or for a product discount. Once a Ticket and corresponding barcode O 5 are delivered to the mobile it is valid for the full number of tickets purchased in that single account transaction. The mobile Ticket barcode is scanned at the venue's point of entry. The barcode is only valid for a single scan, but can be forwarded from phone In to phone before use.

Spot Retail Call to Action SReferring now to Fig. 6, the invention can also be used for a spot retail call to action.

k\ For example McDonalds or some other trading company 60 could offer half price Sburgers for a twelve hour period. This offer would typically be made using an o advertising agency 62 and a media company 64 to release the offer via selected media 66. Customers 68 who receive the release are able to use the ZapMe service as described above to received a mobile coupon after sending an SMS containing the word "BigMac" to 199ZapMe.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular example, it should be appreciated that it could be exemplified in many other forms and in combination with other features not mentioned above.

COMS ID No: SBMI-06482158 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:25 Date 2007-03-05

Claims (4)

1. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the profile of a user further includes one or more of the following: the user's email address; and data concerning the user's response to particular advertisements.
2. 3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the automatic transmission is either an email transmission to the user's email address or an SMS transmission to the user's mobile phone.
3. 4. The system according to claim 4, wherein the automatic transmission contains a bar code.
4. 5. An IP/mobile pull advertising system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.