WO2001020506A1 - Procede et systeme de mise en oeuvre et de facturation de services wap et internet - Google Patents

Procede et systeme de mise en oeuvre et de facturation de services wap et internet Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2001020506A1
WO2001020506A1 PCT/FI2000/000775 FI0000775W WO0120506A1 WO 2001020506 A1 WO2001020506 A1 WO 2001020506A1 FI 0000775 W FI0000775 W FI 0000775W WO 0120506 A1 WO0120506 A1 WO 0120506A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
service
user
terminal device
services
data
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI2000/000775
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Behruz Vazvan
Original Assignee
Oy Radiolinja Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Oy Radiolinja Ab filed Critical Oy Radiolinja Ab
Priority to AU72906/00A priority Critical patent/AU7290600A/en
Publication of WO2001020506A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001020506A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/01—Protocols
    • H04L67/04—Protocols specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/51—Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
    • H04L69/30—Definitions, standards or architectural aspects of layered protocol stacks
    • H04L69/32—Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
    • H04L69/322—Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions
    • H04L69/329—Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method, according to Claims 1 and 30 for Internet and mobile telephone services.
  • the invention also relates to an arrangement according to Claim 41, a terminal device according to Claim 49, and a server/gateway according to Claim 56.
  • the present invention relates to a method for controlling, routing, and billing for telecommunications and calls, and for data transmission, in mobile telephone systems such as WAP and the Internet.
  • the invention also relates to an arrangement, terminal device, and apparatus for implementing the method.
  • customers e.g., subscriber A, subscriber B, subscriber C (for example, a middleman etc.) can be charged in such a way that a subscriber, who calls another subscriber or receives calls/data from the other subscriber or from a third party, can be allowed to pay for the call.
  • users can easily pay for purchases with the aid. of their mobile phones and/or Internet terminal devices.
  • the codes referred to can also be used for pricing and billing for purchases, electronic business, goods, and content, in the accounting station of the system, which is either integrated in the network as a gateway/proxy, as a switching centre, or as a separate component connected to the system.
  • users can, by selecting/activating a certain service in a list displayed on their terminal devices, search and send the information they want, for example, bills, charges, and other information, such as their e-mail, bus timetables, weather forecasts, etc.
  • menus e.g.
  • the said information can be any data at all. In such cases, except for speech-based calls, which the user must listen to, the user always sees the information on the display of the terminal device, selects the desired service, and receives the desired information, and reads it or sends it without having to listen to any information.
  • a method is also previously known, in which voice advertisements are sent, which have a different content for a first subscriber and correspondingly a second subscriber, if the telephones of the first and second subscribers are in different locations. This permits different advertising information to be sent to the first and second subscribers, in which case the advertiser (a third party) pays for the call.
  • the advertisements are voice advertisements, so that the first and second subscribers are force to listen at regular intervals during the call to advertisements provided by the third party. On account of the compulsory listening, neither the first nor the second subscribers pay for the call, which is paid for by the third party.
  • Such a method is referred to in, for example, patent application 971884, though the billing of a third party is also known from the applications referred- to above (e.g., FI100137).
  • the voice advertisements are sent in short bursts, the total data transmission time being less than 20 % of the total time of the call.
  • the code of the telephone number of the third party e.g., a fast-food chain
  • the said advertising technique is not exploited in data calls, the service being based instead on advertisements based on speech, so that the subscribers must listen to the whole advertisement, if they want their call to continue.
  • Advertising methods in the Internet are also previously known.
  • products are advertised in connection with Internet portal sites or other websites, either as a list or dynamically in so-called flash form.
  • users are not forced to read the said advertisements, but can easily avoid them and proceed to their desired destination to search for information.
  • This kind of advertising is not efficient, because the advertiser cannot be sure if a user has really read the said advertisements or not.
  • the effectiveness of the advertising can be estimated through market- research methods or from the number of user visits to a specific website.
  • the servers containing websites send files to the computers of Web users, by means of which the servers can follow the movements of users in the Web. These files are generally called cookies. Cookies enter a Web user's computer unnoticed and follow the movement of the user from one page to the next. Cookies are not programs, but only texts, which no-one can use, for example, to investigate the contents of a Web user's PC. In the Internet, Web trading and advertising are, in practice, largely based on the cookie technique. Cookies are very common and users who move around the Web a great deal can receive several new cookies every day in their computer. Web servers use cookies to identify users who have previously visited the server concerned. Cookies are intended to accelerate the joint operation of users' browsers and Web servers.
  • the browser only sends a cookie and the data it contains to the " Web server that originally sent the cookie to the browser.
  • a user's computer may receive many cookies from the website of a newspaper.
  • One cookie may allow the newspaper to identify the user, without the user having to key in a user-name and password every time they come to the paper.
  • Another cookie allows the paper to determine that certain HTML data is shown to a specific user, for example, only five or ten times.
  • a third cookie allows companies measuring the number of website visitors to determine how many different users have accessed each page.
  • cookies are browser-specific. A single user who uses different computers to visit different websites will have different cookies in each computer. A company handling advertisement booking and operating several websites will acquire for itself a comprehensive record of which sites the user visits and when.
  • cookies do not create entirely new opportunities to monitor people's Web behaviour, the cookie technique does make it easier to monitor Web users. In addition, the cookie technique has not been exploited to manage, limit, or terminate data transmission and calls. The data transmitted by these small files are saved in the computers of companies that sell WEB connections.
  • cookies are located in the Netscape directory in a file called cookies.txt. Some cookies are one-time and are deleted when the user closes the browser. However, some cookies live on in the user's computer until their period of validity ends. For example, a cookie's file can contain the cookie ' s name, its period of validity in seconds, and the server to which the cookie is to be returned.
  • a cookie can cover several pages or websites, which can even be located in different Web servers.
  • a cookie can originally come to a computer from an advertisement located on a single page and be activated when the user goes to an other page, which has the same advertisement.
  • the Web server receives the cookie, it can tell from the cookie when the user last visited the pages in the relevant server.
  • the server can send a new cookie to the user's terminal device for the next visit, or else the same cookie can be moved back and forth between the terminal device and the server. Users can detect a cookie operating, for example, when they regularly visit the website of a search engine.
  • the same advertisement can appear for ten visits to the website of the search engine, but then the advertisement changes and can be seen for a further eight visits.
  • the cookie allows an advertiser to estimate how many times the user has possibly seen the advertisement in question, but the advertiser cannot be certain whether the user has really and intentionally seen it, and whether it has affected the user's mind and memory, because the user is not forced to look at the said advertisement.
  • users can easily bypass advertisements, because these are not set up in such a way that they are a precondition for users viewing a desired page or for using a service (such as a call). Cookies can operate even more ingeniously, if data on the number of visits is combined with data on what information the user has been searching for.
  • the next search attempt may very well bring an advertisement for precisely that make onto the screen.
  • the service itself does not require the cookie support to be operating, anyone who is suspicious of cookies can perfectly well switch their browsers' cookie support off.
  • widespread opposition to the use of the cookie technique has arisen in the USA, due to fears related to user privacy and security.
  • cookies can be used to control, limit, or terminate calls or transactions, but the invention is not, however, limited to the use of cookies, because users can, if they wish, disturb the operation of cookies. For example, users can install a cookie-surveillance program in their computers. In addition, some protocols, such a short text messages, do not utilize cookies.
  • WAP and mobile Internet technologies which exploit electronic commerce by utilizing mobile telephone and Internet technologies, have been disclosed for the first time in patents FI100137, FI102020, FI962553, WO97/45814, and W096/13814.
  • data WEB content, etc.
  • a single data entity can be formed from one or more data units (cards).
  • information relating to the user's account such as the balance, statement of account, other messages such e-mail messages, invoices, questionnaire forms, and other such information relating to the Internet and mobile telephone network is arranged in small parts, data units, and also adapted for short-message communications, which can be sent to a user's mobile telephone and displayed to the user.
  • the user's account can have links to various services.
  • WAP is based on the said inventions and their further applications, which have made possible a greater change than the birth of the Internet.
  • a mobile phone can be used to access the requisite information in the Internet or, for example, services of the teleoperator, and visualize them, i.e.
  • a menu (list, index) of the alternative services is monitored and displayed. Users can select a certain service from the said list to search for the information they wish, such as weather forecasts, bus timetables, payment services, etc. By activating a certain service from the said menu, users can read e-mail, retrieve and listen to voice mail, etc.
  • the present invention is based on data services such as the Internet and the data services, such as WAP, of mobile telephone systems.
  • data calls refer to both traditionally known techniques in the telecom and datacom sector, such as circuit-switched data ' calls and TCP/IP and datagram technologies, such as SMS (Short Message Service), in other words WDP (Wireless Datagram Protocol) etc. as well as to others, such as GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and similar data-transmission techniques.
  • the present invention is particularly based on sending/receiving sets of data (such as HTML-/XHTML-/WML data or other content) in the Internet and WAP and on providing advertising and similar services and content that takes place in them, and which is not essential for performing the actual service or main service, and which the user has not requested.
  • data such as HTML-/XHTML-/WML data or other content
  • a non-essential service is termed a 'side service', the service desired by the user being correspondingly termed the 'main service'.
  • the invention further relates to charging for data transmission, or calls, or a service subject to a charge, in such a way that a third party is billed for the service used by a customer, on the basis of providing a side service and on a specific condition, which is set for the user.
  • the invention also relates to the case-specific limitation of the time required for the use of the said main or side services, depending on sets of data (e.g., pages/content) sent to the user
  • the user's terminal device can thus display a menu to the user, which is in the terminal device/SIM card, from which the user can start the service, or, if the user activates the desired service, the call/data transmission is recommenced, the service being able to continue from where it was interrupted.
  • the said time limit (Time Start/Time Out) can be controlled both in the terminal device and in the network server. This means that it is assumed in the invention, that server 2 is another user (for example, subscriber B, C). If this other user receives no data/messages from user 1 (e.g., subscriber A), it is assumed that there is no reason to continue the call/transactions.
  • the service provider/third party who has to pay for the call or part of it on the user's behalf, need not pay on the user's behalf for unnecessary call times, e.g., if the call has accidentally remained connected and the user does not continue to use the service (i.e. in circuit-switched cases).
  • the said problem is not as acute in packet-switched systems such as a GRPS, because the latter uses timers to optimize the use of the network's virtual resources (channels).
  • the said time limit is static and its operation is system-dependent.
  • network capacity/signalling is wasted in a GPRS-type packet-switched system, if the terminal device remains for some time in a standby state, in which the user does not react, i.e. does not send/receive data and in which when a time limit is reached, the use of network resources (virtual channels) is removed from the terminal device.
  • the operation of the timer is not based on a time-window linked to the data received by the user (e.g. HTML pages), data transmission cannot be optimized dynamically and content- specifically, i.e. page/card pack-specifically.
  • the pages/cards/content can contain sets of data of varying size (e.g., 2 kB, 20 kB, 200 kB, etc.) and besides, depending on the service (whether it is an advertising service, banking service, etc.) the service provider may wish to predefine the times required for the use of the pages/cards. Because, according to this invention, the time required for the use of services is predefined, it will be known that, for example, a response is required from the terminal device in 20 seconds, allowing a much more efficient use of the service and the network resources than in, for example, known GPRS solutions.
  • the invention makes possible a new degree of optimization of network capacity and time of use of the service, based on a time-window linked to the data to be received by the terminal device and to the user's reactions to the data within the predefined time-window.
  • This new- mechanism can be used to optimize the use of resources, in both in data calls (such as in a GPRS) and in circuit-switched services.
  • this invention permits the said time limit to be application-specific, and not simply terminal-device/system-specific.
  • This achieves a more flexible method, in which the said characteristic is used to force the user to do precisely what the service provider demands and wishes to be implemented for specific services. For example, if a certain page/card etc. (e.g., the main service page) is sent to the user, time-limit data (e.g., a 20- second condition) and a timer can accompany the said page, so that the time reserved for the use of the page (reading, etc.) diminishes continuously and, when the zero level is reached, the service (call and data transmission) is prevented or limited.
  • the time can also be displayed to the user. This allows varying and application-specific timetables to be set. For example, 20 seconds can be reserved for one page/card and 30 seconds for another, etc. In any event, the said time-limit data can also utilize the clock of the terminal device.
  • the present invention relates to a method for permitting a data transmission connection and services for a customer (e.g., the calling subscriber), in such a way that the customer need not pay for a desired service or else must only pay a small part of the cost, on condition that, in addition to the main-service information, side service information, i.e. such information (e.g., HTML WML data) that the customer has not requested, is sent to the customer's terminal device, the said information being shown to the customer with the aid of the display of the terminal device, and the customer being made to read it, to respond, e.g. to questions etc., and to follow the progress of the services within a predefined time-window.
  • side service information i.e. such information (e.g., HTML WML data) that the customer has not requested
  • the customer's terminal device may continue to use the service.
  • the said certain condition can be a certain parameter such as: 1- a certain amount of time; 2- reading a set of data; 3- completing a certain questionnaire/certain questionnaires; 4- some other parameter; 5- carrying out an agreement, e.g., to agree to accept a new service, etc.; 6- various alternative combinations of the aforesaid parameters. Because the data transmission in question is based on sending/receiving data and displaying it to the customer, the customer need not listen to advertisements, etc., but instead must read received information, complete a questionnaire etc., in which case, a kind of service completely different to previously known advertising and other similar services is achieved.
  • the visualization of information, such as advertisements, in the subscriber's terminal device, is much more effective than listening to it.
  • the customer e.g., the calling subscriber, or a user of the fixed Internet
  • the customer must read the information received, which may contain texts, illustrations, etc.
  • the information is brought to the user through the user's optical channel (eyes) to their brain, from which a response is also obtained, thus creating a more effective advertising effect than before.
  • the customer wishes to receive a specific service, for example, bus timetables, the customer must according to this invention, first, or during the service, or at the end of it, receive the advertisements, announcements, bulletins, questionnaires, etc., of a third party, i.e. the side-service provider, and. at some stage of the desired service, i.e. the main service, for example, at the start of it, in the middle of it, or at the end of it, must read, complete questionnaires, etc.
  • a third party i.e. the side-service
  • the user's profile when sending side-service information to the user. For example, advertisements, announcements, etc. can be sent to the user, taking into account the user's profile, e.g., hobbies, profession, sex, age, business, character (e.g., based on the user's horoscope sign), place of residence, and other similar matters relating to the user's life and lifestyle. All of the said information is recorded in the user's profile in the appropriate server 2 or in the user's terminal device 1, so that, when the user sends a query (e.g., by activating the URL), server 2 takes the user profile into account when the said server sends data to the user's terminal device 1.
  • a query e.g., by activating the URL
  • the user's profile can be sent along with a questionnaire from the user's terminal device 1 to the appropriate server 2, in which the data retrieved by and/or sent to the user is processed taking the user's profile into account.
  • a totally different advertisement can be sent to housewives than to construction-industry workers.
  • the parameters of the user profile can also be time-dependent. Thus, for example, different advertisements, information, etc., are sent from the page service during working hours than, for example, during evenings or weekends.
  • users can define their own profiles, for example, through the Internet, when the profile information data is recorded in databases of network 3, or directly or using, e.g., OTA technology, in the user's own terminal device, or users can record their profiles in their terminal devices (e.g., in the SIM card), with the aid of the terminal device 1.
  • the information sent to the user can be classified, analysed, compared mutually, etc.
  • a possible advertisement sent to the user could be: Finnish carrots, 3-kg bag, only FIM 7, in Sesto stores next Friday; Dutch carrots FIM 12, in Alepa stores next Friday.
  • the user can know when each special offer is in force and be able to go to buy carrots from a Sesto store on Friday, for instance.
  • the side service can then be regarded as a main service, which is known in the inventions referred to above.
  • all the transaction events can be monitored in the network/server 2, 3 and classified and recorded to permit the performance of various services.
  • users can alter their profile and record it in server 2 or their terminal device 1, in such a way that users' profiles can comprise what the users most want, however, allowing for a minimum limit, for example, so that the service provider can offer at least a minimum amount of side-service services, to make the service profitable to the service provider.
  • profession can be taken into account to decide whether the user might want carrots or a colour printer.
  • the characteristics of the invention include the services offered to the user being classified as main services desired by the user and side services, which the service provider wishes to supply to the user.
  • the user is permitted to use the main services either without payment or on part payment, as long as at some stage in connection with the main service, such as at the start of the main service, during it, or at the end of it, data (page/card/content) relating to the side service is displayed to the user, when the user is expected to make a concrete response to the service or activate the progression of the changing of the pages automatically and within a predefined time-window.
  • the user is charged a normal price for the main service user (such as a call, an exchange of transactions, a service carrying a charge, etc.).
  • the use of the ancillary and main services is monitored and limited according to predefined time limits.
  • the characteristics of the invention also include the limitation of the main service to a predefined time-window, in which case the time available is defined in individual cases, depending on the data (page/content) received by the user. More specifically, the method according to the invention is characterized by what is stated in the characterizing sections of Claims 1 and 30.
  • the terminal device according to the invention is, in turn, characterized by what is stated in the characterizing section of Claim 49, and the server according to the invention is characterized by what is stated in the characterizing section of Claim 56.
  • the investments and operating costs arising from Internet services can be more precisely targeted on those who receive the services or other actual benefits from their marketing.
  • users can be offered the possibility of using services without an actual cash compensation relating to the service.
  • the new form of financing makes it possible to provide completely new services, with the consumers themselves being able to choose how to pay for them.
  • companies can advertise themselves, notify users of situations vacant, and send all marketing-related announcements, questionnaires, electronic postcards, etc. to customers, who are willing to receive such services at the beginning of, or during the service they wish, so that they can enjoy free or cheap calls etc.
  • users in certain servers 2 in a mobile telephone network, it is possible to record and update user profiles, such as the situations vacant advertisements in a particular sector required by the user. Users themselves can change the aforesaid data through the Internet, or, for example, call the operator's customer service and provide data, advertisements, etc.
  • the system and method according to the invention permits a procedure, in which, when the user (customer) activates their desired service (e.g., a banking service for paying bills), the said server 2 examines the messages, such as URLs, sent from the user's terminal device, but the message (e.g., the next page/menu) that the user wishes is not sent to them, or else it is sent, but mixed with the side service's pages/information in such a way that, when the user receives and reacts to the information, they can access the main service, or -else at some stage of the main service they receive the side service.
  • desired service e.g., a banking service for paying bills
  • the user's profile is examined in server 2, and advertisements, announcements, etc. are sent to the user according to their profile.
  • the said information can be said in connection with the next page/menu to the user, who is given time to read the advertisement/announcement and, during the same session makes, for example, a preliminary agreement or agrees to an interview, for example, by calling or sending a message to a telephone number or URL address, etc. that accompanies the message/advertisement.
  • a proper response is received, it is taken into account in the server 2, 3, in which case it is used as a basis for providing the user later with a free/cheap main service, in connection with which side-service information can once again be presented to the user.
  • Different classes can also be defined in the said server. For example, if an employer urgently needs a specific expert, and if a query/reply to the said advertisement leads to a positive result, then, in the server or other system components, the employer is charged a certain sum as a fee for finding the employee.
  • FIGURE 1 shows the principal components of one system according to the invention, in the form of a block diagram.
  • Reference number 1 refers to the user's terminal device, such as a mobile telephone, or Internet terminal device.
  • Reference number 3 refers to a network, such as a mobile telephone network, the Internet, and devices connected to it, such as a relay-station network, switching centres, and gateways/proxies, etc.
  • Reference number 2 refers to the equipment, such as a WAP server/gateway, WEB-server, etc. of a service provider/content provider of both a main service and an side service, such as an advertiser or announcement placer.
  • the components 2 and 3 shown in the figure may be completely or partly integrated with each other and in a network or as separately operating components connected to a network (e.g., as servers, gateways, an intelligent network, etc.). Components 2 can communicate mutually as required to implement the service.
  • a network e.g., as servers, gateways, an intelligent network, etc.
  • FIGURE 2 shows, in the form of a flow chart, the implementation of one method according to the invention in the user's terminal device and in the equipment of a service provider/content provider.
  • FIGURE 3 shows generally the implementation of the method according to the invention on the level of the Internet and a WAP system.
  • Reference number 4 refers to the content database of the actual service, i.e. the main service, which contains services/data, which the customer desires or requests to be sent, using the call 'Encoded request' 5.
  • Reference number 6 refers to a database belonging to the side service, such as a database containing advertisements, announcements, various questionnaires, and other similar services differing from the main service. It contains information that the user has not requested when terminal device 1 sent the said 'Encoded Request' request.
  • server 2 receives the user's request concerning the main service, then at some stage in connection with the main service (e.g., immediately at the start or in the middle or at the end of the service, depending on the implementation of the service) it sends information relating to the side service, e.g., an advertisement, announcement, or other similar 'Side Content' 7 to the user.
  • the 'Side Content' is shown in terminal device 1, using the display of the terminal device.
  • User 1 responds, 'Side Content Response' 8.
  • server 2 sends the page/content 'Main Content Response' 9 related to the main service requested by the user. This process can continue for as long as the service continues or the service provider demands.
  • server 2 can send the 'Main Content' data/pages immediately at the beginning of the service, in such a way that they take up a location behind (in a queue and hidden) the 'Side Content' data/pages in the user's terminal device 1. Only once the user has followed the progress of the side service within a predefined time-window and/or has responded to, e.g., a question presented, and terminal device 1 compares the user's reply with a reply hidden in the message or similar and once the reply is correct, is the main-service information monitored and displayed 10 to the user on the user's terminal device.
  • FIGURES 4a, 4b, 4c show, in the form of a flow chart, examples of embodiments, particularly in a sequence of pages/cards/data monitored and displayed in a mobile telephone, relating to both main service 1 1 and side service 12.
  • the pages/cards/texts 12 visible in the customer's terminal device and shown in the figures contain entirely or partly information relating to the page service of the service provider or some other person, such as advertisements and similar, on the basis of which the customer is forced to view, read, complete, or respond to presented information/questions, on the basis of which the customer is offered free or partly-charged calls/data transmission costs/services subject to a charge, etc.
  • FIGURE 5 shows, in the form of a flow chart, one implementation of the method according to the invention between the user's terminal device and the service provider/content provider.
  • FIGURE 6 shows, in the form of a flow chart, one implementation of the method according to the invention in the user's terminal device and the equipment of the service provider/content provider.
  • FIGURE 7 shows, as a table, an example of main services and side-service URLs recorded in the network of the example (e.g., in an intelligent network or in WAP servers) or in Web servers, in such a way that, when a URL request relating to the main service arrives, the URL connected to the side service is activated and the related data (e.g., HTTP data) is sent to the user.
  • Each main-service URL is linked to at least one side-service URL.
  • the side-service URLs can be prioritized and arranged in such an order that, when each main-service URL request arrives, a suitable side-service URL or one desired by the service provider is sought and its related data is sent to the user.
  • the user profile can also be taken into account.
  • FIGURE 8 shows, in the form of a flow chart, an example of the arrangement of the side service's and main service's pages/cards either in the appropriate server or in the user's terminal device, in such a way that the display of the main service's pages/cards depends on the reading, browsing, etc. of the side service's pages/cards.
  • FIGURE 9 shows, in the form of a flow chart, an example of the implementation of a service according to the invention, according to a predetermined timetable.
  • FIGURE 10 shows side and main-service pages/cards, which are mixed in a specific sequence and which are available within a predefined time-window.
  • FIGURE 1 1 shows, in the form of a flow chart, the sending of data from server 2 of the side service, without this being requested by the user.
  • a response is awaited, after which the side-service provider is charged in the network/server 2.
  • FIGURE 12 shows, in the form of a flow chart, the sending of a request for data relating to the main service from server 2, with the aid of terminal device 1. Both side and main- service data/pages/cards are sent from server 2 to the terminal device.
  • terminal device In terminal device
  • the information is displayed to the user within a predefined time-window once the user clicks a link required by the service, such as a link to the next page/card, within the said time-window.
  • a link required by the service such as a link to the next page/card
  • the provision of a service through a telecommunications network to a user takes place in such a way that, when the user selects/activates in their terminal device 1 a specific code (e.g.,
  • a side service 6 (such as an advertisement service) is activated in the appropriate server.
  • the service desired by the user may be, for example, a banking service for paying bills, a weather forecast service, an e-mail service, or any service whatever similar to those mentioned.
  • their terminal device 1 receives certain information, e.g., an advertisement 12 from service provider or person 2, who is prepared to pay on user 1 's behalf the service costs or at least part of them, such as call and data transmission costs relating to the said main service.
  • the call may be a circuit- switched data call, a packet-switched service, a service based on the use of short- message services, or some other data call.
  • the said data e.g., an advertisement
  • user 1 On reception of the said data (e.g., an advertisement), user 1 must, on the basis of a certain parameter, read and/or complete a questionnaire or perform a task or reply to a question 16 relating to the side service, after which they can receive the information 11 (e.g., bills, bus timetables, etc.) relating to the main service, entirely or in part. If the user receives the service they desire in part (i.e.
  • the service may be sent another particular set of data 12 (e.g., an advertisement), in which case the procedure described above continues and continues to depend ⁇ n the service and the amount of, e.g., pages/cards/texts sent by the service provider/data sender.
  • the user is made to read information, e.g., advertisements, complete questionnaires/forms, and send information required by the service provider or some other third party, during the main service, in such a way that a third party, e.g., an advertiser pays the for customer's call/data transmission costs or some other service with a charge.
  • the user receives free or partly-paid data transmission services (calls) while the service provider can advertise itself/products by means of direct advertising.
  • the bank e.g. Merita, OKO, Citibank, etc.
  • the bank can market its own services, obtain information about users, etc.
  • Service-sector and other companies can benefit from the service permitted by this invention for direct marketing, to market their services to millions of
  • the sender (e.g., an advertiser) of the side-service content can be a second service provider, in that the user receives information on, for instance, a service/product and during the same session the user can, if desired, make an agreement, join a particular activity as a member, participate in a lottery and competitions, etc. and nevertheless use a service (such as a call) that is free or only partly charged.
  • a service such as a call
  • all services subject to charges can be provided to users free or partly paid for, if, for instance, information such as data based on marketing, advertisements, announcements, and similar is sent to the user's terminal device in connection with the actual, i.e. main service (e.g., at the beginning/during/at the end of the service), when the customer benefits from free data transmission or payment services or only partly pays for them.
  • main service e.g., at the beginning/during/at the end of the service
  • the sending of information to the user's terminal device can also depend on the location of the user. For example, if the user is in a specific area in a city, close to malls, service stations, etc., when the user tries to obtain a desired service by selecting/activating the code/data of a specific service in their terminal device, information (e.g., advertisements) are then sent to their terminal device on the basis of the user's location.
  • information e.g., advertisements
  • the sending of the side-service information e.g., advertisements
  • the user's terminal device directs the network 3 or a separate computer unit 2 and/or 3 to charge the account of the sender of the information (such as an advertisement) such as a third party.
  • the third party can be a local switching centre or central equipment such as a WAP gateway/server, which is connected to the network.
  • the said side-service provider can also be the telecommunications service provider or operator itself, in which case the operator/service provider itself can pay for the main service, such as a call, on behalf of the customer.
  • the service can then be implemented as, for example, a free service.
  • the side-service information is provided. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the side-service information
  • a card refers to a data unit, which can be shown to the user and/or which can determine how the user can interact with their terminal device.
  • One card can be part of an entire card pack containing many cards.
  • One service can contain one or several card packs. Each card pack can have one or more connection codes (URL). The user can browse and surf between the card packs and see/select the card they want, which contains the requisite content.
  • URL connection codes
  • each card too can be allocated a single connection code.
  • Card packs and cards can be effectively formed using HDML (Handheld Device Markup Language), by means of which the data is arranged into cards and card packs. The information can then be effectively monitored, processed, and displayed in a mobile phone (as disclosed in patents FI100137, FI102020, FI962553, WO97/45814, and WO96/13814).
  • a content card/page relating to a side service contains questions or similar, to which the user must reply
  • the said content card/page can advantageously also include a reply (which is hidden from the user).
  • the reply is either sent to the appropriate server 2 (in which it is processed) or it is compared in the user's terminal device 1 with the reply accompanying the card/side. If the reply is correct 14, the user can continue to use the service so that the n ⁇ xt card/page (e.g., a menu), from which they can proceed, is shown to the user. If the reply is wrong 15, the user is offered (e.g., by displaying a message) a possibility to continue the use of the main service as a service with a charge or else the service is limited 18. In that case, the user's smart-card containing charges or their account can be charged for the service with a charge, call, etc. For example, a short message of each reply can be sent by means of terminal device 1 to the appropriate server 2, in which the messages are taken into account, for example, for billing a third party. Such messages can partly or entirely function as billing records sent by the terminal device.
  • OTA Over The Air Activation
  • CB Cell Broadcast
  • the side-service producer's information (such as advertisements) are sent to the user's terminal device 1, exploiting the CB of the mobile telephone network or local relay station.
  • the said advertisement can be, for example, a McDonald's special offer.
  • the said message is then displayed to the user with the aid of the terminal device and a wait is made for the user's reaction, for example, by responding to a specific question, or by browsing and reading and pressing the OK key, etc.
  • a message from the user's response (the OK-key reaction, etc.) is sent to server 2, in which the event, i.e. the user's feedback/response, is recorded for the service provider, so that the service provider can be sure that the user has received the said advertisement and read it and that it has influence the user's mind.
  • SIM Toolkit for example, can be used to generate the user's response/feedback, or else the resources of the terminal device itself can be used in a manner that is known.
  • the sending of the said advertisement and other similar information and the user's response is not intended to approve the payment of a bill or otherwise for trading, as such solutions are known from the aforesaid patents (FI100137. FI102020, FI962553, and WO97/45814, W096/13814).
  • This invention differs from the aforesaid inventions in that, in this invention, the user is forced to receive and read such side-service information, such as an advertisement, from which feedback is expected from the user as a precondition for using the main service, e.g., to pay bills, to read e-mail, to use banking services, etc. and for a call/data transmission, otherwise the call/data transmission is limited or terminated.
  • side-service information such as an advertisement
  • At least two separate services are intermixed on the basis of a certain condition, in which case the service desired by the user (the main service) is charged on the basis of using a service (the side service) offered by the service provider and, in addition, on condition that the user is required to read, follow, and; if necessary, reply to questions presented by the side-service provider, which are used to ensure that the user's mind is influenced by the information of the side-service provider.
  • the present invention differs from the aforementioned inventions in that in this invention the reading and following of the side and/or main- service information (pages/cards) and otherwise the use of data transmission is limited to a predefined time-window, which is application/page/card and content-specific, and that the user must use the services within the said time-window.
  • the duration of the call connection e.g., in cases in which circuit-switched technology is applied
  • the time limitation can also be used in other than circuit-switched cases.
  • the content (advertisement) sent 12 can include at least one question, the answer to which can be found in the advertisement itself.
  • the user can be given, for instance, thirty seconds to reply 56 to the question (e.g., by completing a questionnaire field).
  • the question e.g., by completing a questionnaire field.
  • the user can move to the next stage (card, page) to continue 57 to use the service.
  • Customers who do not respond to the question, or respond wrongly can be charged for the eall or prevented from using the service 15, 18.
  • the free or cheap service is based on the customer reading the aforesaid advertisement well and replying to the questions/commands presented, when it is possible to be certain that the advertisement will remain in the customer's mind.
  • the response can be used to know of the user's needs, such as whether they looking for a house, husband/wife, when they want to go on holiday to the south, and what the limiting factor, time, cost, etc. is. For this reason, the service provider/content provider is ready to pay on the customer's behalf for the call or payment service.
  • the service provider/content provider wants, it is possible to only send data/pages/cards (e.g., advertisements) relating to the side service in between the main- service messages, without waiting for any feedback, but to nevertheless pay for the call on the customer's behalf.
  • the main service and side service can be implemented to depend on each other in terms of time, so that, when user 1 retrieves 20 a page/card (e.g., menu) relating to the main service from server 2 of the main service, the user's terminal device 1 receives at least one message relating to the side service, e.g., an advertisement, announcement, or similar page/card 21.
  • the said advertisement for instance, is shown on the display of the terminal device within a predefined time- window 22, for example, for thirty seconds' time 56, during after which time the response 23 is sent to server 2, in which the response is investigated in real-time 24 and the page/card of the side service (e.g., the menu desired by the user) is shown immediately to the user 1. Then the user is given, for example, twenty seconds time 26,
  • the main service can then be continued 27 - 30 according to a predefined timetable.
  • This embodiment can be implemented using, for instance, the clock in the terminal device.
  • the operation of the said clock can also be incorporated in the said card pack/card/page, which is sent to the terminal device. This is understood by one versed in the art and therefore no further reference will be made to the details of this solution.
  • user 1 when user 1 tries to restart the service (e.g., by activating a specific URL) 27, their terminal device may receive a second advertisement announcement 30.
  • the user is again given time 37 to read the said advertisement 58 and then after a certain time the next menu is displayed to them, when they have again, e.g., ten seconds' time 59 to react to it (e.g., by selecting their desired service from a menu 1 1).
  • Charging 45 is carried out in real time. If the user selects their desired service from the said menu within the predefined time, the user is then allowed to use the main service, e.g., a banking service, to the end.
  • the time parameter/time condition as a basis to be sure that the user reads an advertisement of the side-service provider, e.g., an advertiser, and, on the other hand, to limit the duration of the call both in time and service-specifically.
  • the advertiser will be prepared to pay the charge for, e.g., the user's call/data transmission etc., because the advertiser knows that, if users do not read the said advertisement, they cannot follow the operation of the main service, for example, gain access to the next stage (page) of the operation of the main service, because in this embodiment the use of both services (main and side services) is time-dependent.
  • the public officials of the relevant country cannot prevent the introduction of such a service.
  • a tele- operator/service provider can, if necessary, make agreements with users concerning such a service.
  • the content (e.g. advertising page, card) sent to the customer can contain a question and a reply 12.
  • the reply may be in the advertisement itself, in which case the customer can find the answer by reading the entire advertisement.
  • the user's terminal device can be used to determine whether the reply is correct, by, for instance, comparing it with a hidden reply 19 in the advertisement.
  • the reply can be sent 23 to the computer unit 2 (server etc.) of the service provider/content provider, in which the reply can be processed 24, recorded, used in the side-service provider's analysis, marketing, and other operations, and can also be used as a charging record, or as a charging parameter.
  • the user can go to the next stage (page/card) 25, 26 of their desired service.
  • the user if, when the user has received the side-service information, they continue, according to the instructions given by the side service, to exploit the information (e.g., advertisement or announcement, which leads to the next transactions) provided by the side service, then the user is given in the terminal device/system so much additional transaction time (comparable to call time) for transactions within a certain time span.
  • Such an algorithm according to the invention is also exploited according to the user's profile, to take the so-called user's experience into account according to the user's reactions, for example, by recording in server 2 how rapidly the user reads the side-service information and selects the next stage (e.g., from a menu) of the side service. This can depend, for instance, on the user's age and other factors. However, a minimum and maximum duration can be set for the use of the service.
  • the user is permitted the use of the main services according to the invention, either after the active use of the side services or before receiving the information relating to the side service.
  • the user can activate a banking service, for example, to pay bills.
  • a banking service for example, to pay bills.
  • page/card content, etc. relating to the side service and is requested, for example, for the correct reaction to a particular question, to complete a questionnaire, to go forward to the next page/card, to read content that is presented and state an opinion based on the content, etc., in which case the response is sent from the user's terminal device to server 2. If the user avoids answering, i.e. the expected response is not received from the user, then the user- is charged for the main service used (call, exchange of transactions, service With a charge used, etc.).
  • user 1 's use of a desired service is prevented or made conditional, in such a way that, if they respond to a question/s from the service provider/content provider, they are allowed to use the service. If the user does not react in any way (for example, does not read a page by browsing it), then the continuation of the service is limited or prevented, so that the user must, for example, go to the first stage of the service, e.g., to a website in the SIM card or terminal device, or to the menu of a website defined in them. If, in this embodiment, user 1 requests a page/card 32 in the network and/or in the appropriate server 2, 3 the user's data and rights are checked 33.
  • server 2, 3 sends 34 the information (i.e. a page/card relating to the main service). The user then has to pay for the use of the service. If the user is entitled to use the service according to the invention, the side-service information are sent 35 to user 1. The information is shown 36 to the user with the aid of the display of terminal device 1, and the time 37 is counted according to a predetermined timetable. If the time runs out
  • the service is limited 39, e.g., by breaking the connection or by terminating the exchange of transactions. If, by the during at the end of the timetable referred to, no response has been received from user 1 , the service is limited, e.g., the call is terminated 41, in which case the user is directed to, e.g., the main menu 42.
  • the use of the service e.g., the use of the side service
  • the page/card of the main service is shown 43 to the user with the aid of the display of the said terminal device 1. Then the use of the main service can continue 44.
  • the duration of the main service too is limited according to a predefined timetable and service-specifically. For example, if when the user selects the service from the display of his terminal device 1, a message (e.g., a URL) is sent from the terminal device 1 to the appropriate server 2, from which the necessary data (e.g., URL, content, etc.) is requested 46.
  • the necessary content 47 (page/card/menu, etc.) is sent from the said server 2.
  • the user is given, e.g., 10 seconds time to select their desired service (e.g., activate a certain name/URL).
  • the service is terminated limited 49. If the service has been selected within the framework of a timetable 50, the user then goes to the next stage 51 , when the required information, e.g., a page/card 52, can be sent to the user. The user is then given, e.g., another 10 seconds time 53 to select, if necessary, the link/service they want from the displayed service menu. If the user does not select the service (or " does not send other data necessary for using the service), within the framework 53 of a predefined timetable, then the service is terminated/limited 54.
  • the main service can be continued according 55 to the predefined timetable.
  • the set time limit is service/content/menu-specific, i.e. the time parameters are included in the pages/cards, it is possible, nevertheless, to use the terminal device's own clock.. However, the function of the said clock can be inco ⁇ orated in the said card pack/card/page, which is sent to the terminal device (as stated above).
  • the service provider/content provider or other third party is charged totally or in part for the service used by the customer. Charging can utilize various methods.
  • the payer's account can, for example, be charged in real time.
  • Various parameters e.g., parameters relating to the customer, main service, or side service, as well as time parameters, can be used to realize the charging and service. For instance, when the user activates the service they want from a menu related to the main service, and when the terminal device receives information (e.g., an advertisement) related to the side service, then the service provider of the side service can be charged both for the call time/messages (i.e.
  • the use of the service can be optimized for the user in such a way that the user would have time 56 (e.g. 30 seconds) within a predefined time-window to read/follow a page/card, e.g. an advertisement, and then to select their desired service from the next card/page again within a predefined time-window 57 (e.g., 20 seconds), otherwise the user is taken back to the main menu (e.g., the menu of the SIM/terminal device) and can simultaneously be charged for the call made or for other data transmission.
  • time 56 e.g. 30 seconds
  • a predefined time-window to read/follow a page/card, e.g. an advertisement
  • a predefined time-window 57 e.g. 20 seconds
  • the side-service provider is then charged for the said 30 seconds and, if desired, also for the sent advertisement, independently of the access protocol used, e.g., whether the connection and transaction are circuit-switched, SMS-based (such as WDP: Wireless Datagram
  • Protocol uses some other form of packet-switching, e.g., GPRS etc.
  • users are offered a possibility already at the beginning of the service, to decide if they wish to pay for the service themselves, or if they are prepared to receive, e.g., an advertisement, in which case the advertiser will pay on their behalf.
  • This can be implemented by using the user's terminal device to show the user a message.
  • the said message can be in the terminal device or loaded in the SIM or other card, or else the message can be sent to terminal device 1 from a specific server (e.g. 2), once the user activates a specific service.
  • a specific server e.g. 2
  • the reception of advertisements will allow the user to use the main service (e.g., a banking service) free of charge, so that they can access their bank account and transfer cash to their card or to the requisite account, which can be charged, e.g., for voice services.
  • the main service e.g., a banking service
  • customers' profiles can be taken into account in such a way that, for example, the advertisement/announcement, etc. to be sent to the customer is sent according to the customer's needs.
  • the contents for example, the advertising information provided by the service provider/content provider, can be saved in the computer unit/server 2 or in a data device such as a permanent/updatable memory or CD disk, which is connected to computer/server 2.
  • the data in WEB servers can only be retrieved by utilizing connection codes HTTPs/URLs.
  • HTTPs/URLs connection codes
  • This invention permits a procedure in which, when the user activates/selects a single URL, they can be sent two or several HTTP/WML pages/cards 56 - 59, which are installed in their terminal device in such a way that the page 57, 59 that the user desires remains either entirely hidden or behind a side-service page 56, 58, so that the user cannot open it 57, 59 until they have followed/read/responded to the page/card 56, 58 which is on top/visible.
  • Server 2, 3 referred to in the invention can also function as a list server (FIGURE 7) of the connection codes (URL etc.), in which various URLs, which the user uses and/or the service provider wishes the user to use, are maintained, for example, as a menu etc. (the first reference to this is in patents FI100137, FI102020, FI962553, and WO97/45814, W096/13814). URLs and other similar connection codes can be saved and, if necessary, updated, in the said list server, in such a way that the URLs are mutually dependent, for instance taking the user's profile into account.
  • URLs and other similar connection codes can be saved and, if necessary, updated, in the said list server, in such a way that the URLs are mutually dependent, for instance taking the user's profile into account.
  • connection code e.g., a code relating to a main service
  • server 2 a connection code
  • gateway/server 3 a connection code
  • the received code can be http://Web.Citibank.bills.com or, for instance +35805066728, while the second code can be, for instance, http://Ford.Auctions.com or, for instance http://Web.Travels.Discount.fi (FIGURE 7).
  • an intelligent network can also be inco ⁇ orated in server 2 itself.
  • an intelligent network exploits information technology, i.e. a computer is added to the telephone network and is used for call-routing etc.
  • 3 and/or 2 receive, e.g. the code http://Web.Ford.Auction.com, they immediately register the event and send terminal device 1 the service provider's (e.g. Ford's) data, for instance an advertisement, which is sent to terminal device 1 through the network.
  • the service provider's e.g. Ford's
  • terminal device 1 sends a message (which may be a URL etc.) to server 2, 3.
  • This time intelligent network 3 sends the first code (e.g., http://Web.Citibank.bills.com) to server 2, when the data/page desired by- the user is retrieved and sent to terminal device 1.
  • the hierarchy of the service can be such that, when the user receives the information relating to the side service (e.g., an advertisement, menu, etc.) they can continue to use the side service, or then, by sending a response (which may be a reply to a specific question or may be a message relating to the time limit, i.e. when the user has browsed and read, e.g., the advertisement) they can go to the following stage/page/card of the main service. If the user continues the side service, for instance by activating a link from a page/card of the side service, then a connection code (URL, other number) is sent from terminal device 1 to server 3 (e.g. to an intelligent network).
  • a connection code URL, other number
  • the code now received (e.g., http://Web.Ford.Auctions.com ' ) relates to a side service, so that the said code is sent directly to server 2.
  • the information (content: e.g., the specifications and prices of various Ford models etc.) bound to the said code is retrieved in server 2 and sent to terminal device 1.
  • the service can continue for as long as the user wants and the service requires.
  • the embodiment referred to above can be tunnelled and take place directly between terminal device 1 and server 2, so that network 3 (e.g., the mobile telephone operator) can be transparent or all transactions can take place between elements 1 and 3, i.e. there is an integrated server 2 in 3, in which the data (e.g., the links and/or data of the side and main services) are saved and updated.
  • network 3 e.g., the mobile telephone operator
  • the data e.g., the links and/or data of the side and main services
  • the information relating to the side service and main service can be sent together to terminal device 1.
  • URLs relating to both the main and side services are sent to servers 2.
  • Servers 2 can be the servers of entirely separate service providers, from which data (page/cards, etc.) are retrieved and the pages/cards received in the server/gateway 3 of the network are then arranged in a manner proposed by the service, for instance, so that a page relating to the main service is placed behind a page relating to the side service and then sent to terminal device 1.
  • the user In terminal device 1, the user must first look at/read the page/card relating to the side service.
  • server 2 or 3 it is possible to add a link, i.e. URL, of the next page of the main service to a page/card of the side service, so that, when the user receives the page/card of the side service, and, for instance, reads it (on the basis of a certain parameter given by the system: time limit, response, form completion, etc.) and then activates the URL relating to the main service (or the said URL is activated automatically in connection with the said parameter), they then gain access to the page/card relating to the main service.
  • a link i.e. URL
  • the servers used in the Internet can be any kind of computer at all, e.g., PC, NT, Unix-based etc, which can act as proxies/gateways/servers etc. in the implementation of services.
  • the operating systems used in the terminal devices 1 can also be any operating system at all that is regarded as a suitable operating system for the service.
  • the aforesaid terminal device 1 can be 3Com's Palm Pilot or a PC or a laptop computer, the operating system of which is, for example, Microsoft's
  • Windows CE or the said terminal device can be any mobile device at all, such as a mobile phone, a communicator, etc., and can inco ⁇ orate various alternative operating systems, such as Symbian's Epoc, or Linux, and, in addition, terminal device 1 can include the necessary browser, such as Internet Netscape, and WAP browsers, etc.
  • the user's terminal device 1 can contain devices reacting to the voice of the user 'Voice Activation and Recognition System'-selections and responses to carry out and receive commands between the user and the terminal device.
  • the terminal device can activate a specific element (e.g., a URL) from a menu (e.g., 11) shown to the user, to implement a service.
  • a specific element e.g., a URL
  • a menu e.g., 11
  • sound can be integrated with the pages and sent to the user.
  • the said server 2 can be a
  • Web server a WTA server (Wireless Telephony Application), a PUSH server, or some other corresponding server.
  • An existing technique, to which the method according to the invention can be adapted, can be advantageously applied in the invention to limit or ' terminate a call and data transmission. For example, if the user does not select, within a predefined time-window, the requisite service from a menu 11 sent to them, the call can be terminated in terminal device 1 by giving the necessary command (e.g., 'terminate') to that layer of the terminal device that contains the logic required for the control and routing of calls or other specified data transmissions.
  • the necessary command e.g., 'terminate'
  • the network/server 2, 3 do not receive the requisite response from terminal device 1 within the predefined time- window during which the user must react (e.g., by selecting an element from a menu), then the call and data transmission are terminated in network/server 1, 3.
  • an existing technique, to which the method according to the invention is adapted, can be advantageously applied.
  • the user's terminal device is, for example, a microcomputer or similar, and it is desired to terminate the call from an application, for instance a browser, used in the terminal device, then the call-control logic in the terminal device can be commanded to terminate the call.
  • a message can be sent to server 2 each time a predefined time limit elapses, so that the server will know that the user is using the service actively, on the basis of which the server can terminate/limit the service.
  • the present invention solves the problems referred to in the disclosure and permits a service provider/content provider or some other third party to pay on a customer's behalf for a call, or other service with a charge, in part or entirely, on the basis of the use of a side service.
  • the present invention can be repeatedly used as a service provider's/ content provider' ⁇ marketing device, announcement device, questionnaire device, data- collection device, etc., and to benefit customers. It is also obvious, that the present invention can be used to optimize and limit data transmission and calls in an entirely new way.
  • a main service refers, for example, to that page of an Internet service on which an actual service, for example, a banking service, is located.
  • the scope of a main service also covers a service with a charge, such as data transmission, calls, and/or the occurrence of transactions between the user's terminal device (1) and the network/server (2, 3).
  • a side service refers, for example, to advertising services, customer questionnaires, or other similar services, which the customer does not actually select for use or does not even want to use, but which gives the service provider some kind of benefit, for example, through additional information or advertising.
  • the content of a side service refers to such things as, for example, the text content of an Internet advertising page, or also to information relating to the timing of a page series.
  • the user may be required to correctly answer a question, the answer being found in the information of the side service.
  • the user must react to the content of the side service within a predefined time-window.
  • the user must, for instance, use the mouse to click on a symbol appearing on the terminal device's display or follow the progress of the side service within a predefined time-window, to be able to access the use of the main service.
  • the symbol must be clicked within the predefined time-window, so that the user must watch the side service for its entire duration or gain access to the main service. If this action takes place too late, the use of the main service may be consequently limited in time or prevented.
  • the said symbol e.g., a certain URL
  • the user should react within a predefined time-window to a main-service selection, to be allowed to use the main service.
  • the pages/cards/contents of the side service and/or the main service are shown to the user in an alternating sequence within the predefined time-window, which may vary according to the information (e.g., pages) and service received.
  • the user must continuously follow the displaying and closing of the pages, otherwise the use of the main service will not be possible.
  • data on the content of the side service need not necessarily be sent to server 2.
  • data concerning the timing of the side service can then be sent to server 2.
  • the user must react within the predefined time-window to a selection of the main service, such as menus, or must otherwise follow the progress of the main service, to be able to use the main service.
  • the aforesaid characteristic is thus particularly applied to effectively limit the time for using the main service (such as a call or exchange of transactions). If the user does not react within the said time-window, the service is prevented and the user is charged for the time used, at the normal charge for the exchange of transactions.
  • the main service such as a call or exchange of transactions
  • a response to the content of a side service thus means a concrete operation based on the content of the side service or data relating to its timing.
  • a response can thus be a concrete response based on text data of a side service or alternatively a correctly-timed reaction based on the timing content of a side service.
  • the response is intended to ensure that the user has read/followed the information of the side service and that the information has possibly affected their mind.
  • a response also refers to changing the progress of the pages/cards of the side or main service automatically and within a predefined time- window, and, if necessary, reacting to them, in which case data on each event (e.g., changing the pages) is sent to server 2. It can then be decided in the server whether to terminate the call or allow it to continue.
  • the simple entry of the user's own data, such as registration data, into the information network is not, however, regarded as a response, as the content of such data requires no familiarization with the content of the side service.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Game Theory and Decision Science (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé dans un système de télécommunications, dans lequel au moins un fournisseur de services fournit des services à au moins un client. Dans ce procédé, on fournit au client à la fois: 1) Des 'services de base', en d'autres termes les services que le client souhaite utiliser, tels que les services bancaires, le service de courrier électronique, etc., les services de base comprenant également un service payant, tel que la transmission de données et les appels; 2) Des 'services annexes', tels que les annonces publicitaires, que le client ne sélectionne pas vraiment pour les utiliser ou ne désire même utiliser, mais desquels le fournisseur de services tire un certain profit personnel, par exemple, à travers des informations ou des annonces publicitaires supplémentaires. Selon un mode préféré de l'invention, lorsque le client active un code/nom, tel qu'un URL1, relatif à un service de base spécifique, comme par exemple les services bancaires, sur un menu affiché sur le terminal (1), le terminal reçoit et affiche pour l'utilisateur les données, comme par exemples une annonce publicitaire/un menu etc., d'un service annexe, de façon à ce que l'utilisation du service de base dépendante de la réception du service annexe et du client soit adaptée pour suivre/lire/recevoir les données de service annexes. En retour, on fournit au client un service de base gratuit ou un service à taxe réduite. Dans un autre mode de réalisation, le client doit réagir, dans une fenêtre temporelle spécifique au service/carte/page, à des données présentées par le service de base ou le service annexe, comme par exemple une sélection, des menus, etc., sinon, l'appel ou la transmission de données est limitée ou terminée.
PCT/FI2000/000775 1999-09-15 2000-09-14 Procede et systeme de mise en oeuvre et de facturation de services wap et internet WO2001020506A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU72906/00A AU7290600A (en) 1999-09-15 2000-09-14 Method and system for implementing and billing wap and internet services

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI991958A FI19991958A (fi) 1999-09-15 1999-09-15 Menetelmä ja järjestelmä WAP- ja internetpalvelujen toteuttamiskesi ja laskuttamiseksi
FI19991958 1999-09-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001020506A1 true WO2001020506A1 (fr) 2001-03-22

Family

ID=8555285

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI2000/000775 WO2001020506A1 (fr) 1999-09-15 2000-09-14 Procede et systeme de mise en oeuvre et de facturation de services wap et internet

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU7290600A (fr)
FI (1) FI19991958A (fr)
WO (1) WO2001020506A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001072063A1 (fr) * 2000-03-23 2001-09-27 Csaky Zsigmond Procédé d'assemblage de messages textuels
EP1923799A2 (fr) * 2006-11-16 2008-05-21 Fonecta Ltd. Publicité de dispositif terminal mobile en connexion avec un service et un serveur pour le mettre en place
EP2211500A1 (fr) * 2009-01-26 2010-07-28 Comptel Corporation Contrôle de l'accès avec mécanisme de récompense
EP2224394A1 (fr) * 2009-02-27 2010-09-01 Research In Motion Limited Système et procédé pour communiquer à partir d'un dispositif électronique
EP2224396A1 (fr) * 2009-02-27 2010-09-01 Research In Motion Limited Système et procédé pour fournir un dispositif pour la communication
US11563834B2 (en) 2000-06-29 2023-01-24 Ching-Yi Lin Phone appliance with display screen and methods for using the same

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4677570A (en) * 1983-11-29 1987-06-30 Kabushiki Kaisha (NKB Corportion) Information presenting system
US5819092A (en) * 1994-11-08 1998-10-06 Vermeer Technologies, Inc. Online service development tool with fee setting capabilities
US5933811A (en) * 1996-08-20 1999-08-03 Paul D. Angles System and method for delivering customized advertisements within interactive communication systems
WO1999049606A2 (fr) * 1998-03-24 1999-09-30 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Procede pour utiliser des reseaux d'acces a internet par l'intermediaire de terminaux de communication mobiles et compatibles avec internet

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4677570A (en) * 1983-11-29 1987-06-30 Kabushiki Kaisha (NKB Corportion) Information presenting system
US5819092A (en) * 1994-11-08 1998-10-06 Vermeer Technologies, Inc. Online service development tool with fee setting capabilities
US5933811A (en) * 1996-08-20 1999-08-03 Paul D. Angles System and method for delivering customized advertisements within interactive communication systems
WO1999049606A2 (fr) * 1998-03-24 1999-09-30 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Procede pour utiliser des reseaux d'acces a internet par l'intermediaire de terminaux de communication mobiles et compatibles avec internet

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001072063A1 (fr) * 2000-03-23 2001-09-27 Csaky Zsigmond Procédé d'assemblage de messages textuels
US11563834B2 (en) 2000-06-29 2023-01-24 Ching-Yi Lin Phone appliance with display screen and methods for using the same
US11652914B2 (en) 2000-06-29 2023-05-16 Ching-Yi Lin Phone appliance with display screen and methods of using the same
EP1923799A2 (fr) * 2006-11-16 2008-05-21 Fonecta Ltd. Publicité de dispositif terminal mobile en connexion avec un service et un serveur pour le mettre en place
EP1923799A3 (fr) * 2006-11-16 2009-03-04 Fonecta Ltd. Publicité de dispositif terminal mobile en connexion avec un service et un serveur pour le mettre en place
EP2211500A1 (fr) * 2009-01-26 2010-07-28 Comptel Corporation Contrôle de l'accès avec mécanisme de récompense
EP2224394A1 (fr) * 2009-02-27 2010-09-01 Research In Motion Limited Système et procédé pour communiquer à partir d'un dispositif électronique
EP2224396A1 (fr) * 2009-02-27 2010-09-01 Research In Motion Limited Système et procédé pour fournir un dispositif pour la communication
CN101820442A (zh) * 2009-02-27 2010-09-01 捷讯研究有限公司 用于为设备提供通信的系统和方法
CN101820443A (zh) * 2009-02-27 2010-09-01 捷讯研究有限公司 用于从电子设备通信的系统和方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI19991958A (fi) 2001-03-16
AU7290600A (en) 2001-04-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6754833B1 (en) Method for generating and distributing telecom and internet revenue
Varshney et al. Mobile commerce: framework, applications and networking support
Xu et al. An exploratory study of killer applications and critical success factors in m-commerce
US20160269570A1 (en) System and method for providing wireless services
JP3445798B2 (ja) コンピュータ・ネットワーク内のデータ・アクセスを制御するシステムおよび方法
US7353229B2 (en) Post-session internet advertising system
US7366696B1 (en) Electronic billing with flexible biller controlled electronic bill presentment
US20070287413A1 (en) Method and system for mobile billing and content delivery
US20010047413A1 (en) System method and article of manufacture for internet based affiliate pooling
US20010037283A1 (en) Systems, methods, and computer program products for facilitating the establishment of cross-referral agreements among members of a marketing community
AU2001249486A1 (en) Method and system for delivering content and direct marketing over a network
CN101297316A (zh) 商家推动的点击呼叫方法
WO2001093138A1 (fr) Procede et systeme de distribution de publicites sur un reseau
CN1555535A (zh) 多功能的移动银行系统
WO2005120013A1 (fr) Systeme et procede permettant de distribuer un contenu web a un dispositif mobile
WO2002029665A1 (fr) Systeme d'affichage interactif d'informations sur un ecran publicitaire
KR20010107406A (ko) 유무선 전광판 광고시스템
JP2001169349A (ja) ユーザによるサービスの高度な利用を可能にするための無線とインターネット設備を統合する方法及びシステム
WO2001020506A1 (fr) Procede et systeme de mise en oeuvre et de facturation de services wap et internet
Raisinghani WAP: transitional technology for m-commerce
KR100455928B1 (ko) 인터넷상의 광고중개방법
JP2002329136A (ja) 広告ポイント処理方法、ウェブサーバおよび広告ポイントサーバ
WO2002021398A1 (fr) Sollicitation to web marketing loop process
KR20010069970A (ko) 채팅 및 메신저를 이용한 메시지에 광고를 게재하는광고방법
JP7253526B2 (ja) 情報通信システム、及び情報通信方法

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CR CU CZ CZ DE DE DK DK DM DZ EE EE ES FI FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP