FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2005

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTION 10 AND RULE 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENT ON MOBILE DEVICES”
APPLICANT:
Name : M/S. ASTUTE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY PVT LTD
Nationality : Indian COMPANY
Address : Astute House, 88, Jaora Compound, Indore
(M.P.)-452001

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENT ON MOBILE DEVICES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates generally to mobile device usage in a wireless communication network and more particularly to displaying advertisement on mobile communication devices for subsidy in such usage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Wireless mobile devices including mobile phones, PDAs, appliances, portable computers, etc. can be configured for voice, data or combined voice and data communication capabilities and are commonly used for personal and business communications. Wireless network service providers, seller agents, etc. offer wireless services for voice, data or voice and data communications to a subscribing user in accordance with a plan (i.e. a contract) having applicable fees.
[0003] Communicating via voice based phone call is the most common use of mobile devices in communication network. In the recent years many attempts have been made to reduce the burden on the end consumer by subsidizing voice based phone calls. One of the most popular methods for subsidizing phone calls is through advertisements. Many different types of advertisement subsidized phone calling methods exist.
[0004] Some methods of ad-subsidizing network usage use text based advertising, where the user receives a stipulated number of advertisements for certain subsidy on the usage subscription plan. But text messaging requires that the user pay for the advertisement by consuming valuable transmission minutes from the consumer''s mobile telephone plan. Additionally, text messaging is largely text based, with limited graphic capability and supports only one advertising message or campaign at a time. Text messaging also requires significant participation or set-up from the user—going to the message inbox, opening individual messages, and following the prompts of the message to access a web/WAP page. This required set-up also does not appeal to some mobile device users.
[0005] In the recent years processors have become smaller and cheaper, along with cheaper and more compact memories, it has become more feasible to increase the processing power on the mobile device, which enables applications to be implemented locally on the mobile device. Sun Microsystem''s Java technology, which is implemented on mobile phones as J2ME, offers one possible way of implementing applications on mobile devices. In addition, Qualcomm has developed the Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW) platform, which is described in further detail at http://www.qualcomm.com/brew. The Java and BREW technologies allow applications to be downloaded over the air and stored locally on a mobile device.
[0006] Using locally implemented applications advertisers provide advertising content on mobile devices, which typically includes a brand name, such as a name of a particular product, service, and/or company. A growing number of advertisers are also providing advertising content that includes a brand name as well as associated content, such as games, short-form video, animation, or consumer marketing material such as surveys, coupons, or promotions.
[0007] The problem with such advertising is that there is no way of measuring if the user has really seen the advertisement and if the user is influenced by the advertisement. Also it is not easy to track the user involvement and appeal by these methods of advertising. One difficulty with advertising on mobile devices via locally implemented application is finding ways to make mobile device advertisements appeal to and be receivable to mobile device users.
[0008] Therefore there exists a need for advertisement subsidized mobile device usage such that the advertisements remain appealing to the end consumer and the advertisement impact measurable by the advertiser.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] System and method for delivering advertisement to mobile devices and presenting advertisement on mobile devices are disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques by which a network operator can track user involvement with the advertisement and the network operator can offer subsidy for network usage based on the user involvement with the advertisement.
[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the invention a method for displaying advertisement on a mobile device is provided, the method may include dialing a number to initiate a wireless communication, presenting an advertisement and carrying out the call after the advertisement is displayed.
[0011] In accordance with a another aspect of the invention, advertisement display on mobile device may be implemented by storing an advertisement with a set period of display on a mobile device; initiating a wireless communication involving the mobile device using a pre-defined condition; and presenting the advertisement on the mobile device by interrupting the wireless communication for the set period of display; re-initiating the wireless communication after the set period of display.
[0012] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention options to respond with the advertisement may be displayed after the wireless communication is terminated. The interaction page may be a merchant portal for purchasing the advertised product. The interaction page may be a online product purchase portal. The interaction page may be a quiz page. The interaction page may be a product discount coupon.
[0013] In accordance with another aspect of the invention a system is provided for displaying advertisement on a mobile device. The system may include a server for storing and transmitting advertisement, a mobile device with a processor, storage device, a display and a means for downloading advertisement from the server, storing advertisement on the storage device and displaying advertisement on the mobile device display.
[0014] In accordance with one aspect of the invention a method subsidizing wireless communication on mobile device by displaying advertising is provided. The method may include dialing a number to initiate a wireless communication, presenting an advertisement, sending information about the displayed advertisement and characteristics of the mobile device to a network operator, subsidizing the network usage charges for the wireless communication and carrying out the wireless communication after the advertisement is displayed.
[0015] The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for displaying advertisement on a mobile device.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a process for displaying advertisement on a mobile device.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a process for managing advertisements for display on a mobile device.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a process for subsiding subsidizing calls on mobile device by displaying advertising.
[0020] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 for displaying advertisement on a mobile device 105. The mobile device 105 can be a cellular telephone, a PDA, or another type of handheld wireless communications device. The mobile device 105 is capable of executing one or more software applications, displaying information to a user, and receiving user input. The mobile device 105 includes an advertising application 110 that is specially designed for use on mobile devices. The advertising application 110 is stored in a storage device 115 within the mobile device 105 and executes on a processor 120. The mobile device 105 operates to conduct wireless communications using a cellular, satellite, or other radio communication link 125 with other devices over a network 130. The network 130 can include, for example, a public land mobile network, a public switched telephone network, a local area network, a wide area network, and/or any other type of telecommunication network.
[0022] The server 135 may store advertisement, receives requests for advertisements from mobile device 105 via advertising application 110 over the communication network 130. The server 135 may send advertisements to mobile device 105. The server 135 may receive advertisement display information and mobile device characteristics from advertising application 110. The server may send advertisement display information and mobile device characteristics to a network operator 145. Optionally, the server 135 may store and retrieve advertisements in a database 140.
[0023] The network operator 145 collects data about network usage from server 135. The network operator may also collect information about advertisement displayed and mobile device characteristics. The network operator may offer subsidy to a network user who view advertisements on the mobile device.
[0024] The advertising application 110 may be stored in the mobile device storage device 115 by means of direct downloading via the network from remote servers 135. The advertising application 110 may be preloaded on the mobile device 105 by the mobile device manufacturer. The advertising application 110 may be embedded in the mobile device by the mobile device hardware manufacturer.
[0025] The advertising application 110 downloads advertisement from server 135 and stores them in the mobile device storage device 115 via the communication network 130. The advertisement may be downloaded during the times when device is not in use. The advertisement may be plain text based, static image, videos, audios and/or banner images.
[0026] The advertising application 110 displays advertisements on the mobile device when a call is initiated using certain pre-defined conditions. The advertisement may be displayed for a set period of display.
[0027] To facilitate portability and/or compatibility among different devices and type of devices, the advertising application 110 can be implemented, for example, on a Java platform, a J2ME platform, a BREW platform, a Symbian operating system, a native operating system, Linux, a Pocket PC operating system, a Palm operating system, a Microsoft operating system, or any other mobile software platform. The advertising application 110 can include software code defining the structure and other operations and features of the advertising application 110 , or the structure, other operations, and/or other features of the advertising application 110 can be stored in one or more separate files on the mobile device 105 .
[0028] FIG.2 is a flow diagram of a process 200 for displaying advertisement on a mobile device 105. Initially, advertising application 110 of the FIG.1 downloads advertisement to the mobile device 105 (step 205). The advertisement may be stored in an erasable memory such that the advertisement may be overwritten with other data. For example, after a specified time period, the advertisement may be replaced with a new advertisement. In some implementations, more than one advertisement may be stored so that a rotation of several different advertisements can be presented to a user of the mobile device.
[0029] A wireless communication is initiated on the mobile device by dialing (step 210). The wireless communication may be a voice call, video call, IP call, a data call or a combination of them. The data call may be to open a web browser, open any URL of web/Wap portal, send SMS/MMS/ Network Messages, request for USSD alerts, download wallpapers/animations/ themes/ ringtones/ Full track music songs, download Videos, open Video Calls/ IVR/ Video conferencing, download games, applications or software, and/or download any other content or services whether in text, image, sound, video or any other visible formats, opening a location based service, or opening location maps and travel routes, opening a social network website, or a social network application etc. The wireless communication may be initiated via dialing a phone number. The wireless communication may be initiated by dialing an alphanumeric code.
[0030] Advertising application 110 checks if the dialed call satisfies a predefined condition (step 215). The predefined condition may be presence of certain special characters or strings in the dialed call. The dialed call number or alphanumeric code may contain special characters like hash (#) or asterisk (*).
[0031] If the predefined condition is satisfied by the dialed call a stored advertisement is presented (step 225) else the call is connected to the destination (step 220). The presentation of stored advertisement may occur while the dialed call is being initiated in the background or the call may be interrupted to present the stored advertisement.
[0032] The stored advertisement is presented for a set period of time before the dialed call is connected to the destination (step 230). The set period of display may correspond to the total time the advertisement is displayed. The set period of display may correspond to the total time a video plays. The set period of display may be stipulated by the advertiser. The set period of display may be adjustable by the user of a mobile device.
[0033] After the set period of display of the advertisement the dialed call is connected to the destination. After the dialed call is terminated options to respond to the advertisement are presented (step 235). The option may be a merchant portal for purchasing the advertised product. The option may be an online product purchase portal. The option may be a quiz page. The option may be a product discount coupon. The option may be a feedback regarding the advertisement, wherein the feedback may be a poll or a quiz. The option to respond may be a message to choose a subsidy plan for viewing the advertisement. The option may be to download digital gifts like wallpapers or music. The option to respond may be a message to choose a subsidy plan.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a process 300 for managing advertisements for display on a mobile device 105. Initially, advertising application 110 of the FIG.1 downloads advertisement to the mobile device 105 (step 205). Before the advertisement is presented on the mobile device to a user, a check is done to ensure if the advertisement has been presented previously (step 310). The advertisements stored on the device may be used only for a certain period of time or number or displays. The period of time may be based on a set renewal or expiration date. The period of time for renewal may be stipulated by an advertiser or by the user of the mobile device.
[0035] If all the advertisements stored on the mobile device 105 have been presented previously via advertising application 110 they may be refreshed or replaced (step 315). The request for renewal or notice of expiration may be sent to a server. A new advertisement may be received in response from the server for a request for new advertisements (step 320). The new advertisements may be stored on the mobile device 105 via advertising application 110 in storage device 115.
[0036] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a process 400 for subsiding subsidizing calls on mobile device 105 by displaying advertisement. Initially, advertising application 110 of the FIG.1 downloads advertisement to the mobile device 105 (step 405). The advertisement may be stored in an erasable memory such that the advertisement may be overwritten with other data. For example, after a specified time period, the advertisement may be replaced with a new advertisement. In some implementations, more than one advertisement may be stored so that a rotation of several different advertisements can be presented to a user of the mobile device.

[0037] A wireless data communication is initiated on the mobile device by dialing for making a call (step 410). The dialed call may be a voice call, video call, IP call a data call or a combination of them. The wireless communication may be initiated via dialing a phone number. The wireless communication may be initiated by dialing an alphanumeric code.
[0038] Advertising application 110 checks if the dialed call satisfies a predefined condition (step 415). The predefined condition may be presence of certain special characters or strings in the dialed call. The dialed call number or alphanumeric code may contain special characters like hash (#) or asterisk (*).
[0039] If the predefined condition is satisfied by the dialed call a stored advertisement is presented (step 425) else the call is connected to the destination (step 420). The presentation of stored advertisement may occur while the dialed call is being initiated in the background or the call may be interrupted to present the stored advertisement.
[0040] The stored advertisement is presented for a set period of time before the dialed call is connected to the destination (step 430). The set period of display may correspond to the total time the advertisement is displayed. The set period of display may correspond to the total time a video plays. The set period of display may be stipulated by the advertiser. The set period of display may be adjustable by the user of a mobile device.
[0041] Information about advertisement display and mobile device characteristics are sent to a server 135 (step 440). The information about advertisement display may include the advertisement being displayed, advertiser of the advertisement, number of times the advertisement has been viewed, time of the day the advertisement is displayed and/or duration for which the advertisement is presented etc. The mobile device characteristics may include the device type, the device location, device model, device MIN/ MDN number, device software platform, and/or network operator name and characteristics.
[0042] The server sends information about advertisement display and mobile device characteristics to a network operator 145 (step 445). The network operator may collect the data to request compensation from the advertisers. The network operator may collect the data to offer more targeted advertisements to the user of the mobile device. The network operator may collect the data for optimizing advertisement characteristics. The advertisement characteristics may include type of the advertisement, product category of the advertisement, advertiser of the advertisement, number of times the advertisement has been viewed, time of the day the advertisement is displayed and/or duration for which the advertisement is presented.
[0043] The network operator may offer network usage subsidy based on the information about advertisement display and mobile device characteristics (step 450). The network operator may subsidize the call placed immediately after the advertisement by tracking the success of the call. The network usage subsidy may include free calls, free minutes, additional services, value added services, browsing bandwidth, discount coupons.
[0044] The systems and all of the functional operations described in this specification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structural means disclosed in this specification and structural equivalents thereof, or in combinations of them. The techniques can be implemented as one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more computer programs tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a standalone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to a file. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data, in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, sub programs, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.
[0045] The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform the described functions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).
[0046] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, the processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto optical disks, or optical disks. Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto optical disks; and CD ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.
[0047] To provide for interaction with a user, aspects of the described techniques can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.
[0048] The techniques can be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front-end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation, or any combination of such back-end, middleware, or front-end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), e.g., the Internet.
[0049] The computing system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.
[0050] A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, operations of the logic flows depicted in FIG. 2,3 and 4 can be performed in a different order than that shown and/or can be performed iteratively. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

CLAIMS

1. A method for displaying advertisement on a mobile device, the method comprising:
initiating a wireless communication on a mobile device;
presenting an advertisement on the mobile device; and
carrying out the call after the advertisement is displayed.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication is initiated by dialling a number on the mobile device.
3. The method of claim 3 wherein the dialled number further comprising at least one special characters
4. The method of claim 4 wherein the special character is at least one of hash (#) or asterisk (*).
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication is a voice call.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication is a video call.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication is an IP call.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication is a data call.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is a text message.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is a video.
11. The method of claim 1 further including:
offering through the mobile device an option to respond to the advertisement.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the option is to contact a merchant associated with the advertisement.
13. A system for displaying advertisement on a mobile device, the system comprising:
a server for storing and transmitting advertisement;
a mobile device comprising;
a processor;
a storage device;
a display; and
a means for downloading advertisement from the server, storing advertisement on the storage device, and displaying advertisement on the display.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the means comprises a client application operable to download advertisement from the server, store advertisement on the storage device, and display advertisement on the display.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the advertisement is a text message.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the advertisement is a video.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENT ON MOBILE DEVICES

ABSTRACT
System and method for delivering advertisement to mobile devices and presenting advertisement on mobile devices are disclosed. Also disclosed are techniques by which a network operator can track user involvement with the advertisement and the network operator can offer subsidy for network usage based on the user involvement with the advertisement.