EP1597924A1

EP1597924A1 - Method and system for disseminating commercial information by mobile telephone

Info

Publication number: EP1597924A1
Application number: EP04703812A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thierry Demars
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-25
Filing date: 2004-01-21
Publication date: 2005-11-23
Also published as: WO2004084567A1; US20070078704A1; FR2851717A1; FR2851717B1

Abstract

The invention enables a mobile telephone (1) user to receive commercial information relating to the geographical position thereof on his/her telephone in the form of messages. The mobile telephone user voluntary registers with a service (3). Registration is received and stored in a data base (4; 5). The mobile telephone user is also provided with a portable module (2) which can be automatically detected (6) in the closest geographical area (8) of a terminal (7). Once the registration (9) of the mobile telephone user has been verified in the data base (4; 5), information is sent (10) in the form of messages to the mobile telephone of the user (1) and said information is displayed thereon.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BROADCASTING BUSINESS INFORMATION BY MOBILE TELEPHONY.

The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for the dissemination of business information by mobile telephony. More particularly, this invention allows the wearer of a mobile telephone to receive on his telephone, in the form of messages, commercial information or the like linked to his geographical position. The principle of distributing commercial information by mobile telephone is already known. It generally results in the arrival of commercial messages on the screen of a mobile phone.

However, in such a system, the holder of a mobile telephone can receive unsolicited commercial messages. In addition, these messages keep a very general character, and concern for example a commercial proposition valid on all the national territory. In no case are these messages specific to the immediate geographic position of the mobile phone holder. In addition, geographic localization is currently done by complex processes, linked to expensive, restricted or not widely used technologies, such as GPS type systems, BlueTooth ™ type or the possibilities offered with mobile telephone networks. GSM type. We know in the prior art patent WO9114984 concerning a device for the dissemination of advertisements in a store. The method requires the implementation of specific terminals coupled to a shopping cart, the information to be broadcast is already present in memory. This solution is not suitable for broadcasting messages intended for existing equipment.

French patent FR2818851 relates to a method allowing the transmission of advertising messages to an undefined set of mobile telephone equipment near a terminal. The method however requires in each of the mobile terminals the presence of a technical system for detecting the transmission terminals and the installation of specific software, such a solution involves a software update of the mobile telephony fleet. achievable without the agreement of the manufacturers and telephone operators.

French patent FR2819366 relates to a system of terminals detectable by mobile telephones, as well as a method for transmitting messages. This system implements a server connected to the cellular network to which the mobile telephones must belong. It is then necessary to intervene on this network, which is impossible to achieve without the agreement and participation of the mobile operator. Such a solution is not possible without high costs.

The present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks and shortcomings of current and previous systems, by providing a method and a system for distributing commercial information by mobile telephone, enabling the reception of information related to the geographical position of the holder of a telephone. mobile, therefore real proximity information, by performing the precise location of the telephone carrier by particularly simple and economical means, without modifying the existing fleet, while avoiding the reception of unsolicited messages.

To this end, the invention firstly relates to a method of distributing commercial information by mobile telephone, the method essentially consisting of:

- For the mobile phone holder, to have a portable module with a remote detection function;

- To subscribe voluntarily to the service allowing the reception of commercial information;

- To receive this registration request, to associate it with the numbers of the portable module and the mobile phone and to store this data in a database;

- To detect in an automated way the portable module present on the carrier of the mobile phone in a geographical radius close to a terminal allowing the detection of the modu-le_p.o-rta-tif -; _ - To verify that the number of the portable module detected is present in the database and extracting the associated mobile phone number.

- To send the information, in the form of messages, to the mobile phone concerned; and - To display this information on the mobile phone screen.

According to the mode of implementation of the method which is the subject of the invention, the voluntary registration of the carrier of the mobile telephone is carried out using any means enabling registration of the service, such as access by fixed telephone or mobile, by a website, “Wap” or “I-Mode”, by minitel, by “SMS” or “'MMS”, or others.

According to the same mode of implementation of the method, the portable module has a unique number or identifier.

According to the same mode of implementation of the method, the detection and communication technology used between the portable module and the terminal is of the BlueTooth ™ type or equivalent.

According to the same mode of implementation of the method, the information is sent back to the mobile phone of the carrier, in the form of messages of the “SMS” (Short Message System) or “MMS” (Multimedia Message System) type.

According to the same mode of implementation of the method, the database is installed in the terminal.

According to another mode of implementation of the method, the database is installed on a remote server on which the terminal connects to verify the presence of the number of the portable module detected.

Optionally, the message containing the selected business information sent to the mobile phone also contains a unique code assigned to a particular business promotion. This code, identifiable by the merchant or the service provider offering the promotion, makes it possible to avoid any misuse (multiple uses of the same promotion, communication of the message to people who cannot benefit from the promotion, etc.). As is easily understood, the process which is the subject of the invention enables the wearer of a mobile telephone to receive, automatically and almost instantaneously, the commercial information corresponding to his geographical position. However, according to an advantageous possibility, the mobile phone numbers of the stored carriers can be used, in order to make them benefit later from preferential information or promotions, always by automatic sending of messages to their mobile phone.

Overall, the process which is the subject of the invention has the following possibilities and advantages:

- This process requires memorization of the mobile phone number of the user, to obtain commercial information, which already prevents the reception of unsolicited messages, and makes the process compatible with all laws or regulations which require a prior agreement with communication. - This process allows the geographic location of the carrier of the mobile phone with practically the same level of precision as systems of the GPS 'type, but at a much lower cost and with a very remarkable and unique simplicity of implementation. - This process makes it possible to offer the bearer of the mobile telephone, duly located, information or commercial promotions of real proximity, therefore of practical interest and of certain relevance, such as for example: hotels, restaurants, shops offering a promotion, transit times for nearby public transport, etc., within a close geographic radius.

- This process is fully controllable by participating merchants or service providers, on the one hand by the presence in the store of terminals allowing the detection of portable modules, on the other hand thanks to the authentication of promotions by a unique code, and finally by the choice of messages to send on the mobile phone of the wearer. - This process is compatible with the entire fleet of mobile telephones without requiring any technical or software update.

The invention also relates to a system for distributing commercial information by mobile telephone, specially designed for the implementation of the method defined above.

This system essentially comprises, in combination:

- Means of reception of the registrations, emitted by the carriers of the mobile telephones, - A database making it possible to associate with each registration received the numbers of the portable module and the mobile telephone of the carrier,

- Detection means between the terminals and the portable modules in a close geographic radius, - Means of sending messages to mobile phones.

In any case, the invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of modes of implementation of this method of distributing commercial information by mobile telephone, with reference to the appended schematic drawing in which:

- Figure 1 is a block diagram of the system for implementing this method.

- Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the two processes of the method of the invention.

Figure 1 is a block diagram of the system implementing the processes "A" and "B" of Figure 2. In this functional diagram, the subscription to service 3, issued by the user of mobile phone 1, enriches the base data 4; 5, which stores the numbers of the portable module 2 and of the mobile phone of the user 1.

The system also comprises a terminal 7 which detects 6 in a close geographical radius 8 the presence of the portable module 2. This terminal checks 9 the presence of the number of the detected portable module 2 in the database 4; 5, and if necessary sends 10 relevant information to the mobile phone 1. As shown in Figure 2, the process has two main processes, designated "A" and "B", respectively.

In process “A”, as indicated in 1, the user voluntarily subscribes to the service allowing him to receive commercial information linked to his geographical position, and indicates his mobile module and mobile phone numbers. After this indication, this information is stored in a database.

In process "B", as indicated in 5, the terminal present at the merchant or service provider detects the portable modules present in a close geographic radius.

As indicated in 7, the verification of the presence of the number of the portable module detected in the database is then carried out. As indicated in 8, if the presence is validated, the information is sent, in the form of an “SMS” or “MMS” message, to the mobile phone of the carrier, so as to be displayed on

1 screen.

As a practical example of use, a person carrying a mobile phone will be able to register for the service, indicate his mobile phone number, and automatically receive a message containing a promotional offer when passing near a store. .

Similarly, she can receive a message at the bus stop, indicating the timetable for the passage of the next bus.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited only to the processes of this method of distributing commercial information by mobile telephone which have been described above, by way of examples; on the contrary, it embraces all variants respecting the same principle. It is thus in particular that one would not depart from the scope of the invention:

- By using any other information, other than the mobile phone number, which uniquely identifies the user's mobile phone. - By removing the presence of the portable module for all mobile telephony devices that already have the functions of the portable module.

- By receiving messages, using all devices having the functions of a mobile telephone;

- By disseminating all kinds of commercial, promotional or practical information, relating to services of all kinds;

- By selecting and disseminating information of greater or lesser proximity, in relation to the location of the carriers.

Claims

1. A method of distributing commercial information by mobile telephone, allowing the user of a mobile telephone to receive on his telephone, in the form of messages, commercial information or the like linked to his geographical position, characterized in that 'it consists :

- For the mobile phone holder (1), to have a portable module with a remote detection function (2);

- receiving this registration request (3), then associating it with the numbers of the portable module (2) and the mobile telephone (1) and storing this data in a database (4; 5);

- Detecting (6) in an automated manner the portable module (2) present on the carrier of the mobile telephone within a close geographic radius (8) of a terminal (7) allowing the detection of the portable module (2);

- To check (9) that the number of the portable module (2) detected is present in the database (4; 5) and to extract the associated mobile phone number.

- To send (10) the information, in the form of messages, to the mobile phone concerned (1); and

- To display this information on the mobile phone screen d).

2. Method ^according to claim 1, characterized in that the subscription (3) volunteer carrier of the mobile phone comprises indicating the detectable module number (2) and the mobile telephone number (1).

3. Method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the carrier of the mobile telephone (1) must carry on him the portable module (2) detectable by the terminal (7).

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the message containing the commercial information sent to the mobile phone (1) also contains a unique code assigned to a commercial promotion special.

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the telephone number of the stored carrier is used in order to make the carrier benefit later from preferential information or promotions, always by automatic sending of messages to his mobile phone (1).

6. System for distributing commercial information by mobile telephone, for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises, in combination:

- Means for receiving registrations (3), issued by holders of mobile phones (1),

- A database {4; 5) allowing to associate with each received registration the number of the portable module (2) and the mobile phone number of the carrier • (!),

- Detection means (6) between the terminals (7) and the portable modules (2) in a close geographic radius (8),

- Means for transmitting (10) messages to mobile phones.

7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the database (4; 5) is a database which associates the number of the portable module (2) and the mobile telephone number d).

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the database (5) is installed on each detection terminal (7).

9. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the database (4) is installed on a remote server on which the terminal (7) is connected to check (9) the presence of the number of the portable module (2) detected .