WO2015048771A1

WO2015048771A1 - Advertising system for mobile devices with metering

Info

Publication number: WO2015048771A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/058385
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shimon CHARACH
Original assignee: Charach Shimon
Priority date: 2013-09-30
Filing date: 2014-09-30
Publication date: 2015-04-02

Abstract

This application pertains to a system and method of providing advertising on hand-held and similar devices, including cell phones and the like. A user elects to receive targeted advertisement in return for rewards, such as cheaper or free service.

Description

ADVERTISING SYSTEM FOR MOBILE DEVICES WITH METERING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of Invention

This application pertains to a system and method of providing advertising on hand-held and similar devices, including cell phones and the like. A user elects to receive targeted advertisement in return for rewards, such as either cheaper or free service.

B. Description of the Prior Art

Various hand-held devices have become ubiquitous in various activities, ranging from business to entertainment, shopping, travel, etc. to the point where many people could not conceive living without them. Such devices are used by individuals as primary means of communicating with each other as well as with various service providers and other entities. More specifically, these devices are used for not only standard voice communications (e.g., mobile telephone calls), but also to obtain and exchange content via emails and texts, as well as web sites, chat rooms and social media such as

Facebook and other similar services.

Of course, while individuals pay for accessing these services to their respective service providers, they have become used to and expect to gain access to the content for free. Therefore, many content providers have resorted to presenting some advertisements together with content as a means of obtaining revenue for their services. The advertisements are provided by third parties. However, in most situations, individuals have learned to ignore advertisements, and accordingly, advertisers are looking for techniques for encouraging individuals using hand-held devices to pay more attention to their advertisements. The present invention provides such a technique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system constructed in accordance with this invention includes a base station providing cellular telephone service and data to a device associated with a customer and an account manager server associated with the base station and monitoring all services provided with the device. The account manager includes a feed selector that is operated by a controller to selectively provide to the device either standard Internet service or an advertisement to be presented to the customer. The advertisement can be a generic advertisement, can be an advertisement selected by the customer or can be selected based on a profile for the customer.

The account manager server generates a bill for the customer or a prepaid scheme may be used. Either way, the amount charged to the customer for services provided by the system is dependent on the number of advertisements presented to the customer. Every time the customer watches an advertisement, a credit balance is accumulated and this credit balance may be used in determining the amount charged to the customer for services.

Optionally, the customer may elect to purchase some other goods or services associated with a presented advertisement. Such a purchase is also used to adjust the credit balance of the consumer. More specifically, points are awarded to the user for watching an advertisement, and then for buying from an advertiser. The user can use credit cards, debit cards or other similar conventional payment means, or the points awarded to the user are used as currency for buying goods or services.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 illustrates schematically a system incorporating the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram for implementing the invention as MVNO;

Fig. 3 shows details of how a customer device is connected to the MVNO server;

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart for establishing an account for a customer;

Fig. 5 shows a flow chart for the operation of the invention;

Figs. 6A-6I show screen shots of the device during the operation of the system;

Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 shows a flow chart for identifying and downloading an ad for a customer; Fig. 9 shows a flow chart for playing an ad on the customer device;

Fig. 10 shows a data structure for an ad with tags for coupons and other metadata;

Fig 10A shows a screen displaying a coupon on the customer device; Fig. 1 1 shows a flow chart for presenting an ad with a coupon to a customer;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, the term 'hand-held device' refers to various devices that can provide electronic communications and content to the respective user via either a cell phone system, Internet, or both. Such devices include such devices as smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the system is now described in conjunction with a smart phone, however, it should be understood that the description is equally applicable for any of the other hand-held or other types of devices that a user may use to access the Internet and/or perform a telephone conversation.

The term "advertisement" refers to any audio or audio visual message delivered to a user device by a third party for the purpose of providing information to the user that is typically unrelated to the user device per se.

Referring first to Fig .1 , in system 10 a customer C is using a portable device, such as a smart phone, 12 for both voice communications and data communications. Device 12 is connected by a voice channel 14 and a data channel 16 with a base station 18. The voice channel 14 provides standard telephone communications for the smart phone 12 while data channel provides an Internet communication to the smart phone, as well as control signals, monitoring signals, commands, for effectuating communication between the device 12 and the service provider or other related entity)(as well as other information) as described in more details below.

The base 18 is connected by a communication line 20 (usually a land-line) to a POTS or other standard public telephone service 22. All standard telephone (e.g., voice) communications for the smart phone 12 are provided through line 20 and the service 22.

An account manager server 30 monitors all the services provided by the base 18 to its devices a described in more details below. The server 30 is also in

communication with a server/database 32 used for storing various authorization, authentication and accounting data. The account manager is in communication with an Internet portal 24. The

Internet portal 24 is connected to the Internet 28 and provides data communications for smart phone 12 (and, of course, other hand-held devices in the area covered by the base 18) as described more fully below. The account manager server 30 is configured to monitor data usage and voice communications provided for the hand-held device and charge its user in a conventional manner. In conventional systems, the costs for the communication and data services for the device 12 were monitored and charged to customer C on a monthly basis and/or on demand, based on usage. For example, a typical customer C may be charged a set monthly fee for X number of telephone calls and Y MBs of data and additional fees are charged for extra calls or data.

Alternatively, at least some, if not all these costs are offset by presenting at least some of the customers with advertisements. The advertisements are provided on demand by an advertisement gateway portal 34. Alternatively, the advertisements may be obtained at a previous time and stored in the database 32 or other data storage means. The advertisements are provided to the portal 34 by third party advertisers 36 either directly or via the Internet. Each time and advertisement is presented to customer C, database 32 is notified so that a proper accounting may be made to portal 34 or advertisers 36.

In one embodiment, the customer C is also provided with the choice of buying goods or services associated with an advertisement that was just presented to him(e.g., during the advertisement, the customer is presented with a choice of buying the goods or services either during or immediately after the presentation). When the customer selects this choice, the account manager server 30 connects to a shopping server 50 which then manages transactions between the customer C and the respective goods or services. Of course, the customer may be provided with some credit each time he buys something associated with a current advertisement.

In one embodiment of the invention, a rate is established which determines how much ( and in some instances, what type of) credit is provided to a customer depending, for example, on the actual advertisements presented, the length of each

advertisements, whether the customer has made a purchase of goods and services based on the advertisements, etc. Preferably, a point system is established and the system awards customers points for watching ads or other activities. The points are either converted into credits or can be used by the customer as currency, as described in more detail below.

The invention may be implemented several different ways. Figs. 2 and 3 show block diagrams for one implementation using MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). In this embodiment, a server 1 18 services one or more cell phones 12. Database 120 holds technical and financial information about the cell phones and other information necessary for the operation of the server 1 18. A web portal 122 is used to provide to cell phone users and others information regarding their account and other information. In one embodiment, a new user signs up to the services of server 1 18 through the web portal 122.

The system includes several adapters, such as adapter 123 providing an interface with a standard mobile carrier 128. Carrier 128 may be, for example an MNO (Mobile Network Operator). Adapter 124 provides interfacing with an account server 1 16 (that may be, for example an API), that keeps track of all the accounts serviced by the carrier 128 for the server 1 18 and all the activities associated with each account. (In an alternate embodiment, the server 126 handles the communications with the carrier as well, in which case the communications adapter 123 is not needed and all communications and account tracking information takes place through adapter 124.

More specifically, API 126 is part of a local telephone company that sets its own protocols, assigns telephone numbers for cell phones in its area, etc. using a system that may not be compatible with the cellphone base 1 18. The adapter 124 provides the protocol translations to allow the base 1 18 to operate with the API 126. Similarly, the advertisement server 132 may respond to requests for ads using one protocol, while another ad server 134 may respond to different types of requests. The ad adapter 130 can be configured to provide interfacing between the server 1 18 and either ad server 132, or 134. In this manner, the system shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is very flexible, allowing the base 1 18 to be integrated with various APIs or ad servers merely by reconfiguring the adapters 123, 124, 130 but without making any major changes in the server itself.

Importantly, once the system has been set up, voice and data communications, including advertisements are provided by the carrier 128 however the process is transparent to the device 12 and as the device12 is concerned, its service is provided by the MVNO through server 1 18.

Fig. 4 shows an exemplary process for signing a customer up to the present system. This process may be performed by the controller server 1 18 or another similar processor and can be performed automatically via the Internet 28 ( and, possibly WIFI router 150) or through a live operator. In step 300 the customer C indicates that he wants to sign up to the service. Preferably, he is provided with an app that is

downloaded and installed on device 1 12. In step 302 personal information about the customer is obtained, including his name, address, email address (unless provided by the system), charge card information, etc. In step 304 information is obtained about the customer C. For example, the customer may also provide information from which a profile is developed for the customer, including his likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc,, so that the customer can be targeted with the proper advertisement. All this information is stored in database 120. Optionally, the profile associated with the customer may be generated or enhanced using information derived progressively as the customer is using the system. For example, the ads selected or goods or services purchased by the customer C may be used to generate or update the profile.

In step 306 the customer is given the choice of getting ads in return for credits or not. If he does not want ads, then a standard account is set up in step 308. If the customer elects to get ads then in step 310 one or more appropriate accounts are set up for the customer C.

After the account(s) are set up and customer C is assigned a telephone, number, the server 1 18 controls the communications and services for the customer C through the adapters 123, 124, 130 and he data necessary for billing purposes.

In addition, the controller 1 18 also monitors C's credit account related to the advertisings presented to and purchases made by C (step 312). If the credit account does not meet certain predetermined criteria (for example, it is below a certain threshold) as determined in step 314 then in step 316 a message is sent by

conventional means to remind the customer that, in accordance with the terms of service, he is required to view some ads until his credit account is acceptable. This routine is performed on a routine basis, e.g., every couple of days, every week, etc. Alternatively, or in addition, the routine can be performed when the credit account goes below the threshold. In one embodiment of the invention, an adaptive process is used to monitor the usage by customer C and to generate alerts. For example, if the customer C is roaming outside the area covered by the normal provider (an MNO), his usage may be much higher and therefore he should be getting an alert earlier than normally.

If the customer's credit balance is below the threshold for an extended period of time, or on a regular basis, the customer C may be shifted to a different plan in which he has to pay more for the system services (e.g. access to voice services and/or Internet).

Referring to Fig. 5, during normal operation of the system, the customer C first initiates an action on his smart phone 12 in step 500 indicating that he would like to either to get data/voice services or view one or more advertisements. The smart phone 1 12 issues an appropriate request on the data channel to the carrier 128 which relays the request to server 1 18.

In step 502, server 1 18 contacts the database 120 and checks whether the customer C is a legitimate customer and whether is authorized to get services.

If the customer C is not recognized as a legitimate user or not entitled to a requested service, then his request is denied (step 504) and the customer is invited two sign up for or renew service. As part of this step, the profile of the customer C is updated in the database 120.

If the customer C is recognized and is entitled to service, the server 1 18 sends a welcome message to the customer C.

As previously mentioned, a customer may choose any one of several plans. In a preferred embodiment, the customer may decide on a low cost service, in which case he is not allowed no calls or data without participating in an advertisement campaign and accumulating sufficient credits for service. Assuming for the purpose of this discussion that the customer has selected a service plan that requires participation, then each time a customer participates, optionally he is granted some credit (or points as illustrated more fully below). The actual amount of this credit (or number of points) is set by the server 1 18 based on negotiations with the advertisers 132 and other factors. In any event, in accordance with this invention, each customer C is credited with a credit balance based on his participation which is checked at regular intervals by server 1 18 as described above, and in the flow chart of Fig. 4.

In step 508 this credit balance is checked. The credit balance is stored

preferably in the database 120.

Next, the customer C is given a choice to either request regular (voice or data) service or check his account and view advertisements. If he requests regular service and he has sufficient credit is connected to the appropriate carrier. If he does not have sufficient credits, his request is denied until he builds up his credit level (step 508).

If this credit balance is above a predetermined threshold, the customer does not need to participate in and advertisement campaign. If he selects not to participate, he is provided with a voice channel or Internet access in step 518, depending on what service the customer wants. The voice channel is provided by the carrier 128 in the normal manner (Step 510). Internet service is also provided in a conventional manner through Internet portal 24 (step 512).

If the credit balance is below the threshold, the customer is warned that he has not received ads sufficient to put his credit balance above the threshold.

In step 514 the customer is also given the opportunity to participate. This option allows the customer to build up his credit.

If the customer C does elect to participate, in step 514, the server 1 18 sends a command to the ad adapter 130 to provide an ad to the device 12. This advertisement may be a generic advertisement or may be targeted for customer C based on his profile. The advertisement is then sent either directly from the gateway 34 or from other advertisers 36. The advertisement is sent either to the carrier 128 which presents to the device 12 through normal channels, or via an Internet and Wifi connection (see Fig. 3) (step 516). The account of customer C is then updated to reflect that the customer C gets now more credits as a result of having watched the advertisement.

As previously discussed, in one embodiment, the customer may buy goods or services related to a particular advertisement. This purchase is managed by the shopping server 50 cooperating if necessary with an application installed on the device 12. Next, back in step 508 the customer is given the choice of receiving another advertisement or continue on and get provided either a voice channel 14 so that he can call some other parties, or is given access to Internet 18 through the portal 24.

Figs. 6A-6i are some exemplary illustrations of what a customer C may see on his smart device 1 12. Starting with Fig. 6A, when customer C wants to see his balance he is provided with a screen indicating his point meter 602, together with a zone 604, zone 606 and zone 608. The point meter 602 in one embodiment is set up as the fuel gauge of an automobile and indicates how much credit or points the customer C currently has. For example, in Fig. 6A, the customer C started with 1000 points and now has 730.

Zone 604 indicates that for these 730 points, the customer can talk for 20 minutes, send 3000 (SMS) text messages or get/receive !GB data.

Zone 606 provides an indication of the customer's average usage, in this case 120 points /day or 5000 points per month. At the bottom of this zone, there is an indication that the customer can expect to use up his current points in about 17 days.

At the bottom of the display, there is provided a zone 608 for banner or other information.

The display further includes three soft buttons 612, 614, 616 for the profile, usage and ad bank respectively. If the customer selects button 614 he gets the usage screen shown in Fig. 6B showing some of the details of the average usage zone 606.

Fig. 6C shows the ad bank screen. The customer can select from this screen various types of ads, such as audio ads (zone 620), videos (zone 622), interactive ads (zone 624) etc. Optionally, after one of these zones is selected, the customer is added provided an ad directly, or is provided with a plurality of ads available to him either in the form of a list, or as an array of stamp-sized clips. For this latter implementation, the customer can then chose one of the ads.

Next, the ad is shown to the customer, as indicated in Fig. 6D. As mentioned previously, the ad could be an audio ad, a video, an interactive ad, etc. While the ad is playing, the customer is given the ability to interrupt it. If he does so, than a dialog box 630 appears asking the customer whether he wants the ad interrupted or not. If the ad is interrupted, the customer may be receive only partial or no credit for this ad. The ads can be saved on the device 1 12, or in the database 120.

At the end of the ad, the customer C gets a message indicating that how much credit or points he has received and his total number of points. As part of the process of fine tuning the customer's profile, he can be asked if the ad was relevant or not.

The customer can then go on and either view another ad or either request service or end the service.

Preferably, a customer is given access to a limited number of ads, for example, five a day.

Fig. 6G shows a profile screen indicating the customer's name, other information and two soft switches 640, 642. Selection of zone 642 leads to the account setting screen of Fig. 6H. Selection of zone 640 leads to a list of interests of the customer.

As previously discussed, in one embodiment, each time a customer watches ads, he is awarded points that can are used to pay for or offset the cost of providing the customer his voice and/or his data service. Alternatively, or in addition, the customer can accumulate points for watching and then use these points to buy goods or services from either participating or other suppliers. For example, the customer could get on a website and download music paid for with his points.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 7. This embodiment enables system 3700 to implement several additional features related to the delivering of ads to the customer and monitoring how such ads are consumed. Preferably, the elements of subsystem 700 shown in Fig. 7 are part of the system 10 shown in Fig. 1 . The subsystem 700 is preferably implemented at the base of the customer C using mobile device 712, such as his home, office, etc. As such, the system 700 includes a WIFI router 714 connected to a modem 716. The modem 716 provides connection to the internet 716. At a remote location, for example at the site of a VNMO, a manager module 718 is provided that manages the ads and other operational parameters for the mobile device712. The manager module 718, maybe, for example, part of account manager server 30. The manager module 718 is associated with several submodules, including a profile submodule 720, an ad matching module 722, an ad server 724, a credit generator 728 and a shopping submodule 728. For example, the submodules may be integrated in the manager module 718, however they are represented here as separate elements for the sake of clarity.

Similarly, incorporated or associated with mobile device 712 there are several submodules, including an ad caching module 740, and ad player 742, and ad

consumption submodule 744,, a profile submodule 746, an ad reporting module 748 and so on.

Several scenarios are now presented that illustrate how the subsystem 700 is used. In a first scenario, a profile for a customer C is obtained based on information provided by C and other criteria, and stored in submodule 746. The profile of all customers serviced by the system is also stored in profile submodule 720. If at any time mobile 12 device is lost, stolen or replaced for other reason, the customer specific information, is replaced in the new device from the profile submodule 720 (and other sources).

As discussed previously, the profile of the customer is used to select ads for the customer. For example, the ad matching submodule 722 contains rules for selecting ads for various customers based on their profiles as indicated in the profile submodule 720. More particularly, at certain intervals, the ad server submodule 724 checks the profiles of customers as found in the submodule 720 (step 800 on Fig. 8), compare the same to the criteria set forth in the matching submodule 722 (step 802) and uses these to identify ads for the customers of the system (step 804). The ads can be obtained from a master library or can be obtained from an independent ad server as discussed above in conjunction with Fig. 1 .

Next, respective ads of the system are sent to the customers (step 806) where they are cached on the ad caching module 740). Depending on several factors, such as the type of data connection of device 712, the type of service to the device, etc., the ads can be delivered directly, or only when the device 712 is within the range of a WIFi router 714.

Fig. 9 illustrates the process for playing an ad on the device. For example, ad player submodule 742 may receive a request for playing and ad from the manager module 718, a request for an ad from the customer C, or some other event may trigger the ad player 742. Thus, in step 900 the ad player decides that an ad is to be played. In step 902 an ad is retrieved by the ad player submodule from the caching module 740. In step 904 the ad is played to the customer C on device 712. In step 906 ad

consumption submodule 744 monitors how much of an ad the customer C watched before doing something else on the device 712 . (E.g., the customer watches 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the ad). This information is provided to reporting module 748. The reporting module reports these events to the profile submodule 746 to update the profile of the customer C as well as to credit generating submodule 726, The profile module adjusts the profile. For example, if an ad is played with classical music and the customer C cuts off fast, his profile can reflect that the customer does not like classical music.

In one embodiment, at the end of an ad the customer presented with a brief survey to indicate whether he likes the ad or not (step 908). In step 910 the reporting submodule 748 collects the customer's response and stores it. Again, the customer's response may be used to modify/update his profile. It should be noted that steps 900- 912 can be performed even if the device 12 is not in contact with its mobile tower and/or the central manager 718. Any information required by the central manager 718 is stored and sent when a communication channel to the manager 718 becomes available.

In step 914, information, such as the ad consumption or likes/dislikes of the customer are transmitted to central manager 718. The central manager 718 then performs several tasks using this information. One such task is to issue credit/update the credit account of the customer using credit generator 726 (step 916)).

In addition, the matching submodule 722 is also updated (step 918)to broaden the population or range of ads that are suitable to various customers based not only on their own profiles but on the likes and dislikes of other customers. So, for instance, if two customers have somewhat similar profiles as reported by the profile submodule 720, if one of the customer indicates that he likes a certain ad, that ad can also be included in the list of ads that can be shown to the second customer by the ad matching module 722.

In another embodiment of the invention, the central manager 718 includes a social network submodule 730 that keeps of tracks of social media associations for each customers such as their Facebook friends, their tweeter followers, etc. When a customer likes an ad, he can indicate that he wants to share the ad with his social media contacts as indicated by the submodule 730. The submodule then sends the ads directly to the social media contacts (step 920). Of course, the customer may be rewarded for sharing the ad with others by adjusting his credit account accordingly.

A typical advertisement (or ad) may consist of data including audio and/or visual components, and other data for playing the same on any suitable customer device, including mobile device 12. As shown in Fig. 10, an ad 1000, in addition to conventional ad data 1002 may also include a metadata portion 1004 defining a coupon. The coupon is presented to the customer, either, before, during or after the ad itself, and may be related to the content (e.g., product and service associated with the ad, or can be completely independent therefrom). The coupon may be printed or may be formatted so that it appears on the display (not shown) of the mobile device 12. For example, the metadata 1002 may define a coupon 1 100 as shown in Fig. 1 1 that entitles the customer to a free product (e.g., a cup of coffee) or a reduction in the price of an article or service.

The coupon 1 100 includes a main portion 1 102 with details of the offer being presented with a zone, for example at one corner 1 104, indicating that the customer may share the coupon with friends. The sharing option may be unlimited, or may be limited to N (for example) three friends.

The device 712 includes a coupon handling submodule 750 that cooperates the central manager 718 to handle the coupon as shown in Fig. 12. In step 1202 the ad 1000 is presented. In step 1204 a check is performed to determine that whether the ad includes or is associated with a coupon 1 100. If it is not, than the ad is handled is discussed above.

If an ad includes a coupon 1 100, the coupon is displayed or presented to the customer on device 12. In step 1208 the customer is asked if he is interested in the coupon 1 100. If he is not, the coupon 1 104 is discarded (step 1210).

If the customer is interested in coupon 1 100, in step 1212 the coupon 1 100 is stored. In addition in step 1214 the customer is asked whether he wants to share the coupon with his friends on social media or not. The customer may select, for example, or click on area 1 104 of the coupon if he is interested in sharing the coupon, and with who, (eg., friends X, Y, Z, or all the friends on Facebook, etc., depending on whether, inter alia, on the limitations of the coupon, if any). As mentioned above, some coupons may be unlimited and the customer may elect to share the coupon with all his friends on Facebook. In another embodiment, the coupon indicates that it may be shared only with N friends. In this case, in step 1214 the customer is requested to identify the friends that the coupon should be shared with.

Then in step 1216 the coupon handling submodule 750 sends a message to the central manager 718 indicating that the coupon 1 100 is to be shared and identifies the friends of the customers are intended to be recipients of the coupon. In step 1218 the central manager module obtains the names of the friends designated by the customer and in step 1220, the friends get a message with an embedded coupons so that they can obtain the respective products or services (free or at a reduced rate). .In addition, in step 1222 the account of the customer C is preferably credited with a predetermined amount for having shared the coupon.

At a later date and time, the customer goes to the respective store (or visits the store's website) and presents the coupon 1 100 (step 1224), for example by displaying it on his device and he is presented with the goods or service. Next, the store notifies the central manager 712 that the coupon has been used in step 1226 and in step 1228 the customer's account is credited with a predetermined amount as well.

Similarly, when ads watched by friends of the customer and coupons (when appropriate) are also shared with the customer.

As previously described, in one embodiment, the customer is holding his device and before or after he makes a call or accesses the internet, he is presented with either a visual, text, or voice ad. He then watches, reads or listens to the ad and his account is credited with money, points, credits, or using any other similar form of compensation.

In another embodiment, a collection of ads are provided for the customer that are stored on his device. He can then watch, read and/or listen to an ad from the collection without him being in communication with the central manager or the base station. In fact, if he so desires, the customer can 'consume' an ad more than once and he can then get some credit for watching an ad a second, a third time, etc. His actions are monitored, even if he is off line, and once he gets within an area that is connected to the base station or his wifi router, a report is generated of the actions of the customer so that his account can be credited accordingly.

In yet another embodiment, as an ad is presented to the customer, he is presented with a window (not shown) that can be activated by the customer to purchase a product or service associated with the ad. If the customer does make such a purchase while or after watching and ad, he can then be presented with a coupon 1 100 as discussed later that he can save, use, and/or share, as described above.

Ads are selected by the ad matching sub-module 722. In one embodiment, the sub-module 722 follows the physical location of the device 712 and when the device 712 is at one or more preselected physical locations, an ad and/or coupon is sent to the device 712 associated with a store at the location. If the customer takes advantage of the ad as he is walking by the store, he is rewarded with credit or points.

Normally, device 712 is in a dormant mode. It needs to be activated before it could be used for anything. In the present invention, the ad player prepares an ad from an ad library so that when the device is activated, before the customer can do anything, he is presented with a (preferably brief) audio and/or visual ad.

At certain times, (e.g. time of day or physical location of the device 712, an alert is generated to the customer by the device 712. When the customer activates the device to see what is the alert about, he is presented with an ad. The alerts are generated locally on the device , or sent remotely using SMS, or other automated means.

In one embodiment, when the customer is near, or enters a store, his profile is reviewed by the store, or by the ad matching submodule, one or more items of interest are selected for the customer based on his profile, and a message is sent to the customer,, (in the form of a voice, SMS, message or an ad) inviting the customer to go to a part of the store (e.g., a certain isle) to see the selected articles. Optionally, the customer is presented with a coupon for the respective items selected for the customer.

Obvious, numerous modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth above.

Claims

1 . A system for providing wireless communication to a device associated with a customer comprising:

a base station in wireless communication with the device on a data channel; and a manager server connected to said base station and receiving selectively ads from an advertisement source and a service request for service from the device, said service including providing at least one of establishing a voice communication between the device associated with the customer and other devices and data access to a distributed computer network; said manager server being adapted to present advertisements to said device and to generate an ad credit to the customer based on the ads presented to the customer on the device.