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
  • H04L65/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
  • H04L51/58—Message adaptation for wireless communication
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/12—Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to transmission of data messages in mobile communication networks. More particularly the invention relates to a system according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method according to the preamble of claim 16. The invention also relates to a computer program according to claim 23 and a computer readable medium according to claim 24.
• US patent No. 6,470,181 discloses a technical solution for sponsoring airtime cost for mobile subscribers based on acceptance of commercial messages. Specifically, an advertiser is here allowed to credit a mobile subscriber after that the subscriber has listened to a recorded advertisement. A text message associa- ted to the audio advertisement may also be sent to the subscriber, e.g . representing a transcript of the audio advertisement.
• US patent No. 7,024,21 1 reveals a system and a method for managing text advertisements to mobile subscribers.
• advertiser content to be included in text messages is received via an advertiser interface module.
• a database may be interrogated to determine which mobile subscribers that satisfy a particular message criterion. Thus, advertisements can be targeted.
• the object of the present invention is therefore to alleviate the above problems and provide a solution which satisfies the interests of all involved parties, i.e. the advertisers, the subscribers and the network operators.
• the object is achieved by the system as initially described, wherein the system includes a service filtering node and a message modifying node.
• the service filtering node is adapted to investigate whether or not an incoming source data message is directed to a terminating station subscribing to a message transformation service. If the source data message is found to be directed to such a subscriber, the service filtering node is adapted to forward the source data message to the message modifying node.
• This node is adapted to receive the source data message and produce a modified data message including the source data message and at least one added data segment.
• the modifying node forwards the modified data message to a target node which according to the location node is responsible for delivering data messages to the terminating station at its current location.
• the modified data message passes a number of intermediary nodes between the modifying node and the target node.
• the proposed system is advantageous because thereby modified messages (e.g. containing advertisements) will exclusively be sent to users who are subscribers to the message modifying service.
• these subscribers may obtain an airtime fee reduction for services in the mobile communication system, or any other system depending on the agreement between the advertisers, the operator and the subscriber.
• the added data segments may be inserted into the source message in such a manner that the advertiser's message gains a satisfying exposure.
• the resulting airtime credits can be expected to create a traffic increase in the network, which generates further operator incomes.
• the service filtering node is adapted to cause transmission of a pre- liminary target node identifier to the primary node if the terminating station is found to subscribe to the message transformation service.
• the preliminary target node identifier e.g. a network address
• the preliminary target node iden- tifier may either specify a network identity of the message modifying node, or the service filtering node, in the latter case, the service filtering node is adapted to forward any received source data message to the message modifying node.
• the service filtering node is adapted to cause transmission of a final target node identifier to a primary node having received the source data message, if it is found that the terminating station does not subscribe to the message transformation service. Hence, all messages which shall remain unaffected will pass smoothly through the system with minimal delay.
• the service filtering node is adapted to transmit the final target node identifier to the location node, which in turn, is adapted to forward the final target node identifier to the primary node.
• a straightforward bidirectional interface for requesting and acquiring a relevant target node identifier is established between the primary node and the location node.
• the primary node is further adapted to forward the source data mes- sage to the target node in response to a received final target node identifier.
• the source data message is associated with a recipient identifier designating the terminating station (e.g. a telephone number).
• the primary node is adapted to transmit a location request message to the location node in response to the source data message, where the location request message includes data reflecting the recipient identifier.
• the location node may look up a relevant target node in its associated database.
• the location node is adapted to transmit a filter request message to the service filtering node in response to the location request message.
• the service filtering node in response to the filter request message, is adapted to execute the service subscription investigation (i.e. check whether or not the source data massage is to be combined with any added data segments).
• SMS Short Message Service
• the modified data message may have a very rich information content.
• any forwarded modified data messages will also be multimedia-messages, which is estimated to generate increased operator reve- nues in relation to transmission of text-only messages.
• the system includes a data supply node which is adapted to transmit the at least one added data segment to the message modifying node.
• the data supply node is associated with at least one database storing information concerning individual characteristics of the subscribers to the message transformation service.
• the data supply node is further adapted to target the at least one added data segment based on the individual characteristics of the terminating station. Consequently, adverti- sements can be directed to particular types of customers depending on their demographic profile, occupation, income, current location etc.
• the data supply node may be adapted to perform a keyword search in the source data message, match the search result against a database containing potentially addible data segments, and add data segments deemed relevant to the contents of the source data message.
• the object is achieved by the method described initially, wherein a service filtering node investigates whether or not the source data message is directed to a terminating station subscribing to a message transformation service. If so, the source data message is forwarded to a message modifying node, wherein a modified data message is produced including the source data message and at least one added data segment. Thereafter, the modified data message is forwarded to a target node, which according to the location node is responsible for delivering data messages to the terminating station.
• the object is achieved by a computer program, which is directly loadable into the memory of a computer, and includes software adapted to control the method proposed above when said program is run on a computer.
• the object is achieved by a computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is to control a computer to perform the method proposed above when the program is loaded into the computer.
• Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a communication system according to one embodiment of the invention
• Figure 2 illustrates, by means of a flow diagram, a general method of transmitting data messages according to the invention.
• Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a communication system according to one embodiment of the invention.
• the system is adapted to transmit data messages msg s and msg M o D wirelessly to mobile stations MSB being located wi- thin the range of a mobile communication network 100 included in the system.
• the system includes a number of primary nodes 120 (for clarity reasons, however, Figure 1 only shows one node 120), which each is adapted to receive incoming source data messages msg s directed to terminating stations MSB.
• the source data message msg s is originated by a source station MSA that also is a mobile station. Nevertheless, it is technically conceivable that the source data message msg s instead is generated by a fixed terminal, such as a stationary computer or server con- nected to the Internet.
• the network 100 includes a number of target nodes 160, which each is responsible for delivering data messages msg s and msg M o D wirelessly to terminating stations MSB located within a defined service area.
• the target nodes 160 have bidirectional wireless interfaces at their disposal (e.g . represented by base station radio resources) and may thus also function as primary nodes 120 for data messages originated within their respective service area.
• a location node 130 in the network 100 is associated with a database, which stores upda- ted information concerning a respective target node 160 for each subscriber MSB roaming in the mobile network 100 (i.e. located within the network's 100 range).
• the location node 130 is capable of identifying an appropriate target node 160 for delivering the message msg s to the intended terminating station MSB by consulting its database.
• the system further includes a service filtering node 140 and a message modifying node 150.
• the service filtering node 140 is adapted to, for each source data message msg s directed to a terminating station MSB, investigate whether or not the station MSB subscribes to a message transformation service.
• the node 140 is preferably associated with a database 145 over all service subscribers. If the investigation performed by the service filtering node 140 reveals that the station MSB is a subscriber to the message modifying service, the node 140 is adapted to forward the source data message msg s to the message modifying node 150.
• This node 150 is adapted to receive the source data message msg s , and produce a modified data message msg M oD including the source data message msg s and at least one added data segment msg A o D -
• the source data message msg s may be a text-only message, such as a GSM SMS-message
• the modified data message msg M oD rnay be a multimedia-message wherein the added data segment msg A DD is represented by text, an audio file, an image and/or a video clip.
• a commercial message can be combined with the information of the source data message msg s .
• the source data message msg s is a multimedia-message, such that the message modifying node 150 both receives and delivers multimedia-messages.
• the node 150 is adapted to forward the message msg M o D to a relevant target node 160, i.e. the node, which according to the location node 130 is responsible for delivering data messages to the terminating station MSB.
• the primary node 120 is adapted to transmit a location request message L reqB to the location node 130 in response to the source data message msg s .
• the lo- cation request message L reqB includes data reflecting the recipient identifier. Thereby, based on the recipient identifier the location node 130 may execute the above-mentioned target node look-up.
• the lo- cation node 130 is adapted to transmit a filter request message MSB chk to the service filtering node 140 in response to the location request message L reqB .
• the node 140 is adapted to execute the above-mentioned service subscription investigation in response to the filter request message MSB chk .
• the service filtering node 140 is adapted to cause transmission of a final target node identifier ID JN F to a primary node 120 having received the source data message msg s , if it is found that the terminating station MSB does not subscribe to the message transformation service.
• the service filtering node 140 is preferably adapted to transmit the final target node identifier ID TN-F to the location node 130 which in turn, is adapted to forward the final target node identifier ID TN-F to the primary node 120.
• the primary node 120 is preferably adapted to forward the source data message msg s to the target node 160, either directly or via one or more intermediary nodes depending on the structure and complexity of the network 100.
• the node 140 finds that the terminating station MSB does subscribe to the message transformation service, the node 140 is preferably adapted to cause transmission of a preliminary target node identifier ID TN-P to the primary node 120.
• the preliminary target node identifier ID T N-P specifies a network identity of a node to which the source data message msg s is to be sent in order to constitute a basis for the modified data message msg M o D -
• the preliminary target node identifier ID TN-P may specify either a network address to the service filtering node 140, or to the message modifying node 150. In the former case, the service filtering node 140 acts as an intermediary node, which is adapted to forward any received source data message msg s to the message modifying node 150 for further processing according to what has been described above.
• the node 120 when the primary node 120 receives a preliminary target node identifier ID TN-P , the node 120 is adapted to send the source data message msg s to a target node whose network identity is specified by the preliminary target node iden- tifier ID TN _ P in response to the identifier ID TN-P .
• the source data message msg s may be sent either to the service filtering node 140 or the message modifying node 150.
• the proposed message modification relates to communication of adverti- sements and corresponding information, which in turn, may serve as a traffic fee reduction instrument for the subscribers being linked thereto.
• telecommunication traffic e.g. in the net- work 100
• the contents of the advertisement is preferably matched against one or more parameters of a subscriber profile.
• the system includes a data supply node 170 that is adapted to transmit the at least one added data segment msg ADD to the message modifying node 150.
• the data supply node 170 may be associated with at least one database 175 storing information concerning individual characteristics of the subscribers to the message transformation service.
• the message modifying node 150 receives a source data message msg s di- rected to a terminating station MSB
• the data supply node 170 is adapted to target the at least one added data segment msg A DD based on the individual characteristics of the terminating station MSB. Consequently, the advertisers' interests can be better sa- tisfied, and hopefully also the subscribers perceive the added data segments msg ADD as being comparatively relevant.
• the individual characteristics can relate to essentially constant subscriber features e.g. gender, age, income level, or occupation, as well as to variable features e.g. geographic location or veloci- ty (indicating whether the subscriber currently is stationary, walks or travels in a vehicle).
• the data supply node 170 may be adapted to perform a keyword search in the source data message msg s - Based on the result of this search, the data supply node 170 is adapted to derive data segments (e.g.
• the data segments msg ADD can be fitted to harmonize the contents of the specific source data message msg s , such that for example a text message saying: "What about dinner at 5 o'clock?" can be associated with an advertisement for a restaurant.
• the profile database 175 contains information pertaining to the recipient's MSB location, the advertisement can even relate to a restaurant proximate to this location.
• An initial step 210 investigates whether or not an incoming source data message msg s has been received, and if not the procedure loops back and stays in step 210. Otherwise, a step 220 investigates whether or not the source data message msg s is directed to a terminating station MSB subscribing to a message transformation service. If the investigation in step 220 reveals that terminating station MSB is not a subscriber to this service, a step 260 follows.
• a modified data message msg M oD is produced.
• This message msg M o D includes the source data message msg s and at least one added data segment msg ADD (e.g. representing an advertisement, a traffic announcement and/or a security aiert).
• a step 240 forwards the modified data message msg M o D to a target node, and subsequently a step 250 delivers the message msg M0D from the target node to the terminating station MSB over a wireless interface. Thereafter, the procedure loops back to step 210.
• Step 260 forwards the source data message msg s (unmodified) to the target node, and then a step 270 delivers the message msg s from the target node to the terminating station MSB over a wireless interface. Finally, the procedure loops back to step 210.
• step 220 checks a first subscriber being the recipient of a first message
• step 210 checks whether any second messages are received in respect of other subscribers, and so on.
• AIi of the steps, as well as any sub-sequence of steps, described with reference to Figure 2, above may be controlled by means of a programmed computer apparatus.
• the invention thus also extends to computer programs, particularly computer programs on or in a carrier, adapted for putting the invention into practice.
• the program may be in the form of source code, object code, a code intermediate source and object code such as in partially compiled form, or in any other form suitable for use in the implementation of the procedure according to the invention.
• the program may either be a part of an operating system, or be a separate application.
• the carrier may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program.
• the carrier may comprise a storage medium, such as a Flash memory, a ROM (Read Only Memory), for example a DVD (Digital Video/Versatile Disk), a CD (Compact Disc), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), or a magnetic recording medium, for example a floppy disc or hard disc.
• the carrier may be a transmissible carrier such as an electrical or opti- cal signal which may be conveyed via electrical or optical cable or by radio or by other means.
• the carrier may be constituted by such cable or device or means.
• the carrier may be an inte- grated circuit in which the program is embedded, the integrated circuit being adapted for performing, or for use in the performance of, the relevant procedures.

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Citations (4)

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• 2007
  • 2007-03-01 SE SE0700505A patent/SE0700505L/sv not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2008
  • 2008-02-26 WO PCT/SE2008/050210 patent/WO2008105729A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-02-26 EP EP08712838.5A patent/EP2127275A4/en not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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