JP2008518505A - Target advertisement location-based service (LBS) system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for providing a location-based service to form a social network, wherein a function is activated from a wireless terminal, and a location-based service associated with the function is activated from the wireless terminal. Registering, creating a user profile for the function, and displaying advertisements based on the user profile and based on a geographical location of the wireless terminal. A global positioning system (GPS) is used to geographically locate the active user of the feature and the sponsor of the advertisement. The advertisement is displayed based on the advertisement sponsor displayed on the activity map and the geographical location of the wireless terminal.

Description

  The present invention relates generally to communication, and more particularly to a system and method for positioning, providing location information, and providing advertisements on a wireless terminal.

  In many cases, it is desirable to know the location of the wireless user. In fact, it is often necessary. For example, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an advanced 911 (E-9-) that requires the location of a wireless terminal to be provided to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) each time a 911 call is made from the wireless terminal. 1-1) Adopted reports and requests for wireless services. In addition to this FCC mandate, network operators / service providers can support a variety of applications that utilize location-based services. Such services provide the location of the wireless terminal. An “application” refers to a specific use made up of location information. Often the application is implemented in computer software executed by a processor in a wireless terminal or a processor in a wireless infrastructure network in communication with the wireless terminal. Applications that use this information may include, for example, location-sensitive billing, asset tracking, asset monitoring and retrieval, fleet and resource management, personal location services, and the like. Some specific examples of personal location service applications are (1) providing local maps to wireless terminals based on location, (2) facilities (eg, hotels or restaurants) based on location of wireless terminals And (3) providing route guidance from the location of the wireless terminal to the proposed facility.

  An example of a system and method for location-based services is filed on Jan. 30, 2004, assigned to the assignee of the present specification, and is specifically incorporated herein by reference. LBS), US Patent Application No. 10 / 769,420, entitled “System, Method and Apparatus For Authorization Of Mobile Station LBS Applications”.

Advertising by LBS will be useful in advertising targeting the characteristics and location of wireless terminal users. Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method that performs positioning, provides location information through a location-based service (LBS) architecture, and displays targeted advertisements based on the characteristics and location of wireless terminal users.
US patent application 10 / 769,420

  In one aspect, a method for providing a location-based service and forming a social network includes activating a function from a wireless terminal, registering with a location-based service associated with the function from a wireless terminal, Creating a user profile and displaying an advertisement based on the profile and based on the geographical location of the wireless terminal.

  In one aspect, the geographical location of the wireless terminal is based on a global positioning system (GPS). In one aspect, the displayed advertisement is based on the advertising sponsor displayed on the activity map associated with this function.

  In one aspect, the wireless terminal has means for invoking a function on the wireless terminal, means for registering from the wireless terminal to a location-based service associated with the function, means for creating a user profile for the function, Means for displaying an advertisement based on the profile and based on the geographical location of the wireless terminal.

  In one aspect, a computer readable medium incorporating a program comprising instructions executable by a computer is provided from a wireless terminal to a computer readable program code means for activating a function from a wireless terminal and a location-based service associated with the function. Computer readable program code means for registering, computer readable program code means for creating a user profile for this function, and computer readable program code means for displaying advertisements based on the profile and based on the geographical location of the wireless terminal With.

  It will be understood that other embodiments of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various embodiments of the invention are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various other respects, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is possible. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. Various aspects and embodiments of the invention are described in further detail below.

  The disclosed method and apparatus will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when the same character is associated with drawings in which the same element is shown.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 that includes a wireless terminal 101, a wireless communication network 103 that includes a base station 104, and a location-based system 105 that includes a mobile positioning center (MPC) 106 and a positioning device (PDE) 107 according to an embodiment. It is a simplified block diagram. Wireless terminal 101 may be any wireless device capable of executing a location based service (LBS) application. For purposes herein, an LBS application includes any program, applet, routine, or other such computer-implemented algorithm. This algorithm provides information or services to the user using either the location of the wireless terminal where the application is running or the location of another wireless terminal. Examples of such LBS applications are: 1) the location of a wireless terminal being operated by another person, and an LBS client (ie the person requesting the LBS service) appropriately equipped wireless terminal To allow this other person to be located, 2) locate a nearby product or service outlet, such as an ATM or restaurant, and provide the user with directions to that outlet, 3 ) Includes programs that can track properly equipped wireless terminals, etc. Examples of wireless devices that can execute LBS applications include cellular phones, wireless modems, personal information management software (PIM), personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless terminal 101 communicates with a wireless network 103 via a wireless link 102. The wireless network 103 includes at least a base station 104 that can transmit and receive information to and from the wireless terminal 101 via the wireless link 102. For the purposes of this disclosure, base station 104 includes various other components of wireless network 103. They are not shown for simplicity, but are, for example, a base station controller (BSC), a mobile switching center (MSC), etc.

  Base station 104 is connected to MPC 106 by a communication medium such as, but not limited to, a cable, a microwave link, a satellite communication link, and the like. Similarly, MPC 106 is also connected to PDE 107 by a communication medium.

  FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of components of the wireless terminal 101 according to the embodiment. The wireless terminal 101 shown in FIG. 2 includes a transceiver 201, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver hardware 202, a processor 203, an application memory 205, a general-purpose memory 207, and antennas 211 and 212. The transceiver 201 transmits and receives radio signals from the antenna 211. The GPS receiver hardware 202 transmits and receives radio signals including position information from the antenna 212.

  The processor 203 is shown as one block. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the functions disclosed as being performed by processor 203 are performed by a collection of discrete processors that operate either cooperatively or independently. Thus, a collection of such processors is either coupled together to perform the disclosed functions or operates completely independently of each other. Further, in accordance with alternative embodiments, application memory 205 and general purpose memory 207 may be combined into a single memory device that stores the information described herein as stored in these two memories 205, 207. unknown. In yet another alternative embodiment, wireless terminal 101 may include several independent additional memory devices that share responsibility for storing information within wireless terminal 101.

  The processor 203 includes several functions that operate cooperatively as a protocol stack. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a protocol stack used in the embodiment. For the purposes of this disclosure, a protocol stack is any set of software routines or program instructions that work together. These are typically built in one routine and use the functions of another lower level routine or program. The first function in the protocol stack of FIG. The operating system 301 is a basic function on which other functions are based. That is, the operating system 301 includes functions that are accessed and used by other functions executed in the processor 203. According to the embodiment, the operating system 301 is a Binary Run-time Environment for Wireless (BREW) operating system. In an alternative embodiment, operating system 301 is a wireless application protocol (WAP) system. In another alternative embodiment, the operating system is a short message service (SMS) operating system. In yet another alternative embodiment, the operating system is a Java operating system or the like. Java is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems' operating system. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the specific operating system used is not directly related to the method and apparatus of the present disclosure that performs positioning and provides location information via a location-based service (LBS) architecture. Will.

  According to the embodiment, the LBS application 303 runs on the operating system 301. As an example, the LBS application 303 accesses and utilizes user interface functions to receive information from wireless terminal users via conventional data input devices such as keyboards and touch screens. The LBS application also accesses and utilizes operating system functions to return information to the wireless terminal user via the LCD display screen.

  One function of the LBS application is to give the wireless terminal user the ability to locate the wireless terminal, and any points of interest or service outlets (eg, stores, ATMs, restaurants, museums, etc.) near the wireless terminal And providing navigation instructions and a map to the user based on the knowledge of the position of the wireless terminal and the specific service outlet and the position of the point of interest.

  The LBS application 303 positions the wireless terminal 101 by accessing the positioning engine 305. The positioning engine 305 can be any function that can determine the position of the wireless terminal 101. In an embodiment, positioning engine 305 is a component of a global positioning system (GPS) system. In this example, the positioning engine 305 includes a GPS receiver function that enables the wireless terminal (along with the GPS receiver hardware 202) to receive information from GPS satellites for the purpose of positioning the wireless terminal 101. .

  Further, in an embodiment, the positioning engine 305 requests assistance information and receives assistance information from the PDE 107. For example, in an embodiment, the wireless terminal requests information regarding which satellites are “visible”. If a satellite is visible, the wireless terminal 101 must be able to receive information from that satellite and demodulate it.

  Further, the wireless terminal 101 receives information on the position of the visible satellite, information on a correction coefficient used when calculating the position of the wireless terminal 101 using information obtained from the visible satellite, and a signal from the visible satellite. In some cases, information regarding the amount of Doppler shift that the wireless terminal 101 may encounter and other necessary information may be requested. The wireless terminal 101 detects and “captures” the satellite more quickly with this information. Satellite acquisition refers to reception at a local timing within the wireless terminal 101 so that the wireless terminal 101 receives a signal transmitted from the satellite and the wireless terminal 101 interprets information modulated on the signal transmitted by the satellite. Refers to the process of aligning the information.

  FIG. 3 also illustrates a Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) wrapper 307 according to an embodiment. The TCP / IP wrapper 307 is a protocol layer that supports sending and receiving messages according to a well-known TCP / IP communication protocol. Therefore, information that is to be transmitted by the wireless terminal 101 according to the TCP / IP protocol is passed to the TCP / IP wrapper 307. The TCP / IP wrapper 307 then receives this information according to the TCP / IP protocol specification so that other devices to which this information is to be sent can receive and interpret the information sent by the wireless terminal 101. Is properly formatted.

  Once the TCP / IP wrapper 307 formats this information, the formatted information is passed to the TCP / IP layer 309. The TCP / IP layer 309 sends this information according to the TCP / IP protocol (that is, a request / response procedure for messages that constitute a handshake that occurs between the sending device and the receiving device according to the TCP / IP protocol).

  Qsocial is an LBS application that combines a wireless multimedia service and a high-speed data service. In an embodiment, Qsocial is an online dating application. Using Qsocial as an online dating application, users can arrange social commitments using Qsocial's multimedia capabilities and location-based services.

  A Qsocial user can also arrange an instant date with another Qsocial user. Such an arrangement will form a social network. A social network is a plurality of users connected by social purposes.

  According to embodiments, instant dates can be arranged spontaneously based on the Qsocial user's profile and location. For example, Betty and Jane may be spending the night in a nightclub district. They will find it fun to date. According to an embodiment, they use Qsocial's instant date feature and register that they want to actively date.

  Qsocial servers access their profiles previously stored and given. Alternatively, the Qsocial server queries the Qsocial user for their profile.

  A Qsocial server (not shown) can be part of the wireless network 103 of FIG. 1 or can be part of another network. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the Qsocial servers may be a single server or a bank of servers that need not be geographically close to each other. Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the server need not be a labeled server. The server is a shared device on the network having a processor and a memory.

  Once registered, the Qsocial server has access to Betty and Jane's profile and location. The Qsocial server then sends Betty and Jane's profiles, people who match their profile and location. Betty and Jane choose from a list of matched profiles and positions. Qsocial's instant dating function notifies them that they have been selected. This choice may either accept or reject the implicit proposal from among the choices. If the choice, i.e. the chosen person, accepts the implicit proposal, the meeting place can be arranged.

  FIG. 4 shows a handset displaying three possible choices for a Qsocial user according to an embodiment. If there are more possible choices, the Qsocial user can scroll up or down for more possible choices.

  In an embodiment, the selection matches a registered instant dating user profile. Alternatively, the selection may match the desired profile or match a subset of the profile.

  A profile includes a number of features related to Qsocial users. According to embodiments, the profile includes age, height, weight, gender, race / ethnicity, religion, education, hobbies, and user-defined features of Qsocial users.

  A Qsocial user can define a matching desired profile. The user may not be interested in some features and can specify “don't care” for these particular features. For example, a Qsocial user may not care about the race, ethnicity, or religion of others. On the other hand, Qsocial users may have very specific requirements regarding desired matches. For example, a Qsocial user may wish to date a surfer or skateboarder and define such characteristics in the profile.

  In an embodiment, Qsocial includes an activity map function. The activity map provides a map of active Qsocial users within a geographic area. An activity map may provide location history statistics for active users.

  What is considered active depends on the activity map application. For example, an activity map used for instant dating may show all active men 502 and women 504 in the area, as shown in FIG. In the embodiment, the active user is a user indicating that the user is active.

  In an embodiment, the instant date function utilizes an activity map function. The displayed candidates match the profile and are active on the selected activity map. Thus, Qsocial users that match the profile but are not displayed on the selected activity map are not shown as candidates according to the embodiment. In an embodiment, a Qsocial user associates an activity map with an instant dating function. The Q social user may dynamically change the activity map by changing the parameters of the activity map. Such parameters may include longitude and latitude ranges. The Qsocial user can also indicate the center of the activity map and scroll the activity map up, down, left and right.

  According to an embodiment, the geographical size of the activity map can be dynamically changed by user input for predetermined parameters. For example, a predetermined parameter may include a candidate display number. Therefore, when the Qsocial user inputs “10” as an input for the candidate display number, the currently selected activity map is enlarged or reduced so that ten candidates are displayed. The activity map corresponds to the input parameters.

  In an embodiment, a matcher engine considers the profile as input and uses well-known artificial intelligence techniques to clarify matches for Qsocial users corresponding to the input profile. The matcher engine is a software module that runs on the Qsocial server. The matcher engine is not limited to simple pattern matching, but is a function in which features of an input profile are parameterized and weighted according to, for example, sociological research. According to another embodiment, the matcher engine is also dynamically modified by the user considering as input any data that the user may consider relevant.

  According to the embodiment, Qsocial includes a club dating function. In an embodiment, the club dating function requires only provisional registration. This registration is only valid for a certain period. In an embodiment, this period is programmable. Profiles can be used for matching and filtering, as can be used for instant dating functions.

  According to embodiments, the club dating application does not require location-based services. For example, Betty and Jane go to a nightclub. After entering the nightclub, they use the club dating function and register with the nightclub dating group. They send the current image using a camera phone so that they can recognize each other in the club. Betty browses this dating group on her phone to find the man who wants to dance and see if he is registered. Betty finds a man in a nightclub dating group and sends him a dance invitation.

  According to the embodiment, Qsocial includes a conference partner function. The meeting partner function also has provisional registration, but is event and location based. Registration is limited to users active within a specific geographic location for a specific event. Betty attends a developer meeting in San Diego from Idaho. Betty registers with the conference partner group using her conference partner function. This indicates an interest in the LBS application. Other registrants in the conference partner group see on their wireless terminal display that Betty has registered with the conference partner group. And two of the registrants in the conference group send an invitation to Betty to invite her to lunch. Betty looks at his wireless terminal's display and learns that he has two invitations. She then chooses one of these invitations. This selection is displayed on the wireless terminal display of the selected invitee.

  According to the embodiment, Qsocial includes an interest group function. The interest group function requires an LBS application. The interest group function is not necessarily romantic. In an embodiment, the interest group function can be voluntary and can be set online. For example, on Saturday morning, Alex wants to play pick-up basketball. Alex registers as active in the interest group function that he creates for basketball. Qsocial's other five active users know the newly created interest group based on the same geographical area as Alex and interested in basketball, as in the profile. The five users respond and use the interest group features to meet in a nearby park and arrange to play 3 to 3 basketball. In creating a basketball interest group function, Alex can impose a time limit on the basketball interest group function.

  In an embodiment, the interest group function can be a fixed interest group. There is no time limit for fixed interest groups. For example, a basketball interest group function may already exist. Thus, the interest group function can be static or dynamic.

  According to an embodiment, Qsocial includes product features. Using the club dating function, a business facility, such as a nightclub, for example, can register as an advertiser for the club dating function and provide drinks at a discounted rate to active users of the club dating function. Advertisements that offer this discount can be either active or passive. Advertisements are pushed to active users using club dating features when dating at this business facility. Advertisements can also be used passively for active users. The user must pull the advertisement from the advertisement database. In contrast to pushing ads, pulling ads from the database is only available to active users if the active user searches and finds ads from the ad sponsor's Qsocial database. Means that

  Instant dating functions also include important advertising functions such as club dating functions. The advertisement can be pushed or pulled. An example of a push advertisement for an instant date feature includes a Qsocial server that locates nearby florists and gives active users access to online purchases ready for pickup.

  Furthermore, using this instant dating function, an active user can arrange a pickup / drop-off by a prepaid taxi for a dating partner without knowing the address of the dating partner. Therefore, the dating partner's home address can be kept secret from a third party. In an embodiment, the dating partner's active state is automatically deactivated when a taxi pickup / drop-off payment is made. In an embodiment, the date partner must manually deactivate his / her active state before going home to prevent third parties from knowing the address.

  In addition, in cooperation with the instant dating function, once a date is accepted and agreed, the LBS is used to recognize a local theater and purchase a ticket, for example. In another example, the LBS is used to recognize and book a local restaurant.

  In an embodiment, the Qsocial function includes a menu with selections of instant date, activity map, club dating, meeting partner, interest group, and product function.

  In an embodiment, a multimedia message service (MMS) is used with the Qsocial function.

  FIG. 6 shows a general flowchart 600 of a method for providing a location-based service for creating a social network according to an embodiment. In step 602, the function is activated from the wireless terminal. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any well-known technique in the art can be used to activate this function. In step 604, the user registers with the location-based service associated with the function from the wireless terminal. In step 606, a user profile for this function is created. At step 608, dating candidates are displayed based on the profile and geographic location.

  In an embodiment, a wireless terminal is targeted for advertising based on the wireless terminal user's profile and location. FIG. 7 shows a functional block diagram of a location-based service system for creating a social network with targeted advertisements. FIG. 7 shows a wireless terminal 701 that communicates via a wireless link comprising a wireless network 703 connected to a location-based service 705, a Qsocial server 707, and an advertisement server (AD server) 711, according to an embodiment. The Qsocial server 707 further includes a matcher 708 and a user profile 709.

  The Qsocial server 707 can be part of the wireless network 703 or can be part of another network. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that Qsocial server 707, LBS 705, and advertisement server 711 can be implemented using a single server or a bank of servers that do not necessarily need to be geographically close to each other. Further, the elements of the Qsocial server 707 can be realized using individual servers. Thus, the matcher 708 and user profile 709 can be located on separate servers, but the matcher can also be coupled together to read from and write to the user profile 709.

  It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there are many configurations for the functional blocks of FIG. Thus, for example, the Qsocial server 707 can be directly connected to the wireless network 703, while the LBS 705 can be directly connected to the wireless network 703 and the Qsocial server 707.

  In an embodiment, the user must enter his profile in order to use the LBS application or LBS function. Alternatively, in another embodiment, no profile is required to use the LBS application or LBS function. In an embodiment, the user must grant permission for his profile to be used for targeted advertising. Alternatively, in another embodiment, permission is not required for the user's profile to be used for targeted advertising.

In embodiments related to targeted advertising, the Qsocial application may include the following extension:
An extended service that requires a profile to be registered by each user authorized to use the application.
An extended service that returns subscriber activity status.
An extended service that returns real-time location information of subscribers.
Extended services and measures in the wireless terminal user interface for displaying advertisements during active use of LBS by the user.

  The advertisement server 711 includes a memory including advertisement content. In an embodiment, the advertising server 711 delivers advertising content based on the user's profile and location. The LBS 705 sends a message indicating the position of the active user to the Qsocial server 707. The Qsocial server 707 sends a message to the advertisement server 711 indicating the profile and location of the active user. The ad server 711 reads the profile and location of the active user. The ad server 711 sends a message containing the advertising content to the Qsocial server 707 based on the active user's profile and / or location. The Qsocial server 707 transmits it to the wireless terminal 701 via the wireless network 703.

  In the embodiment, the advertisement is distributed from the server 711 to the wireless terminal 701 based only on the type of application used by the wireless terminal user and the position of the wireless terminal user. For example, the advertisement server 711 delivers advertisements for pizza without requiring a wireless terminal user profile, but uses a bowling application and is geographically close to the pizza restaurant that sponsors this pizza advertisement. Pizza ads may be distributed based on wireless terminal users in This assumption programmed into the ad server 711 is that people using bowling applications are likely to want more pizza.

  In the embodiment, the advertisement server 711 tracks the profile of the wireless terminal user who uses the advertisement content distributed from the advertisement server 711. For example, the advertisement server 711 can track the profile of wireless users who need more information about the delivered advertising content. The advertisement server 711 tracks not only the wireless user's profile, but also the actions taken by the wireless user after the advertising content has been delivered to the wireless user. For example, the ad server 711 can track whether a user frequently goes to sponsors of this advertising content. This can be determined by positioning a wireless terminal in the region closest to the sponsor.

  Online sponsors of advertising content not only can use historical tracking data, but traditional offline advertising can also utilize such historical tracking data, for example, to notify advertising content.

  Advertising server 711 includes billing software that tracks the advertising content being advertised. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any of a number of billing systems known in the art can be utilized.

  In an embodiment, the wireless terminal user agrees to receive the advertisement as part of the application download agreement. In addition to advertisements targeted by the wireless terminal user's profile and location, advertisements can also be based on time of day. Thus, the restaurant may have an ad server 711 that pushes breakfast advertisements in the morning, lunch in the lunch, and dinner in the evening for wireless terminal users in the restaurant's geographic area.

  In embodiments, wireless terminal users are not disturbed to see such pop-up advertisements. Rather, advertisements are incorporated into the application while traveling and during latency. Advertisements are displayed while the subscriber is already using the application on the wireless terminal.

  In an embodiment, the advertisement has an associated display period. Thus, the advertisement may be displayed for 5 seconds, for example. This display period may depend on many factors, including the subscriber's tolerance for advertisements, the application being integrated, and the sponsor's payment for the advertisements.

  In addition to the displayed advertisement, the advertisement can also be sent to an advertisement mailbox on the subscriber's wireless terminal. Thus, the advertisement is stored in the advertisement mailbox for future viewing by the subscriber. For example, such advertisements include coupons.

  FIG. 8 shows a general flowchart 800 of a method for providing location-based services for displaying advertisements according to an embodiment. In step 802, the function is activated from the wireless terminal. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any well-known technique in the art can be used to activate this function. In step 804, the user registers with the location-based service associated with the dating function from the wireless terminal. In step 806, a user profile for this function is created. In step 808, an advertisement is displayed based on the profile and the geographical location of the wireless terminal.

  In an embodiment, an activity map may be associated with a function. Displaying the advertisement based on the geographical location of the wireless terminal is based on the wireless terminal being displayed on the associated activity map. For example, a square mile activity map may include two advertising sponsors. In this case, a wireless terminal user with an activity map of 1 square mile is targeted from two sponsors. On the other hand, a 2 square mile activity map may include seven advertising sponsors. In this case, a wireless terminal user with a 2 square mile activity map is targeted from seven sponsors.

  Those skilled in the art will further recognize that the various illustrative logic blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein are electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations thereof. Will be realized as: To clearly illustrate the interchangeability between hardware and software, various illustrated components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been generally described in terms of their functionality. Whether these functions are implemented as hardware or software depends on specific applications and design constraints imposed on the entire system. A skilled engineer can implement the functions described above in a manner that is modified for each particular application. However, this application judgment should not be construed as departing from the scope of the present invention.

  Various illustrative logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein are general purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gates. It can be implemented or implemented using an array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination of the above designed to implement the functions described above. A microprocessor can be used as the general-purpose processor, but instead a prior art processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine can be used. The processor can also be realized, for example, as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors connected to a DSP core, or a combination of computing devices of any such configuration. is there.

  The method and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be directly embodied by hardware, software modules executed by a processor, or a combination thereof. The software modules may be stored in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMs, or other types of storage media known in the art. A suitable storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information thereto. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and storage medium can reside in the ASIC. The ASIC can also exist in the user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

  The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person in the art to utilize or utilize the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will also be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It can be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is intended to correspond to the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features described herein.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a wireless terminal that communicates over a wireless link using a wireless network according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of components of a wireless terminal according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example of a protocol stack used in the embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a handset displaying three possible choices for a Qsocial user according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 shows an activity map used for instant dating that displays active men and women in a geographic area. FIG. 6 illustrates a general flowchart for a method for providing location-based services and creating a social network according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a functional block diagram of a location-based service system for creating a social network using targeted advertisements. FIG. 8 shows a general flowchart of a method for providing location-based services and displaying advertisements according to an embodiment.

Claims (21)

A method of providing advertisements on a wireless terminal,
Activating the function from the wireless terminal,
Registering with the location-based service related to the function from the wireless terminal;
Creating a user profile for the function;
Displaying an advertisement based on the user profile and based on a geographical location of the wireless terminal.   The method of claim 1, wherein the geographical location of the wireless terminal is based on a global positioning system (GPS). Further comprising associating an activity map with the function;
The method of claim 1, wherein displaying an advertisement based on a geographical location of the wireless terminal is based on the wireless terminal being displayed on the associated activity map.   3. The method of claim 2, wherein creating a user profile for the function includes creating a profile for a user that activates the function.   3. The method of claim 2, wherein creating a user profile for the function includes creating a desired profile.   6. The method of claim 5, wherein creating the desired profile includes identifying desired candidate features.   The method of claim 6, wherein identifying the desired candidate feature comprises identifying the candidate user-defined feature.   8. The method of claim 7, further comprising selecting the candidate.   9. The method of claim 8, further comprising notifying the candidate of the selection.   The method of claim 9, wherein the notifying suggests an action suggestion.   The method of claim 10, further comprising allowing the candidate to accept the action proposal.   The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying an advertisement in response to the acceptance. Means for activating a function on the wireless terminal;
Means for registering with the location-based service associated with the function from the wireless terminal;
Means for creating a user profile of said function;
Means for displaying an advertisement based on the user profile and based on a geographical location of the wireless terminal. A computer readable medium embodying a program comprising instructions executable by a computer,
Computer readable program code means for activating functions from a wireless terminal;
Computer readable program code means for registering with the location-based service associated with the function from the wireless terminal;
Computer readable program code means for creating a user profile of the function;
Computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code means for displaying advertisements based on the user profile and based on a geographical location of the wireless terminal. A wireless terminal used in location-based services,
An antenna,
A global positioning system receiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals including location information from the antenna;
A wireless terminal comprising: a processor configured to operate a location-based service application including a target advertisement based on the location information.   The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a display configured to display an advertisement based on the location information.   The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the advertisement is displayed during a travel period and during a waiting period.   The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the targeted advertisement is based on time of day.   The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the global positioning system receiver receives the position information from a GPS satellite. An ad server,
Means for storing advertising content;
An advertisement server comprising: means for distributing the advertisement content to a wireless terminal based on a user profile and position.   21. The advertisement server of claim 20, wherein the means for delivering the advertisement content depends only on the type of application used by the wireless terminal user.

Images