WO2009050722A2

WO2009050722A2 - A method and a system for providing commercial information in a telecommunication network

Info

Publication number: WO2009050722A2
Application number: PCT/IN2008/000005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Koranapalli Nagaraju Rohith; Nanjundaiah Vinay
Original assignee: Onmobile Global Limited
Priority date: 2007-10-16
Filing date: 2008-01-07
Publication date: 2009-04-23
Also published as: WO2009050722A3

Abstract

A method and system for contextually advertising to a caller in a telecommunication network have been disclosed. The context of the advertisement is based on a value added service (VAS) accessed by the caller. In one embodiment of the invention, the callee has subscribed to a VAS. The caller, while initiating a call with a callee, gets access to the VAS, when the caller is waiting for the callee to respond to the call. In case certain transferring conditions are satisfied, the callee is disconnected from the call and the call is transferred to an Commercial Information (Cl) module. The Cl module plays to the caller a Cl, whose context is based on VAS accessed by the caller. Instructions may be provided in the Cl to be followed by the caller for availing herself the VAS.

Description

TITLE : "A METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING COMMERCIAL INFORMATION IN A TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and a method for providing commercial information in a telecommunication system. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and a system for providing contextual advertising information to a caller in a telecommunication system.

DEFINITIONS

Caller: The mobile phone user who initiates a call is called a 'caller'

Callee: The mobile phone user to whom the call is made is called a 'callee'

Ring back Tone (RBT): A tone which is played to the caller while she is waiting for the callee to respond to the call is called an RBT. The RBT is played till the callee responds to the call.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An individual uses telecommunication service like a mobile telephony service to communicate with other individuals. A telecommunication service provider provides telecommunication services, enabling an individual to make and receive calls using a communication terminal, for example a mobile phone, landline phone etc. The individual initiating a call is hereinafter referred to as a caller and an individual receiving the call is hereinafter referred to as a callee. When the caller makes a call to the callee using a communication terminal, the caller hears a call progress tone. A call progress tone is a tone heard by the caller before the callee responds to the call and initiates communication with the caller. The call progress tone may be a ring-back tone (RBT), busy tone, call-waiting tone or the likes. RBT is usually a monotonous sound heard by a caller while waiting for a callee to respond to a call.

The RBT, conventionally a monotonous sound, can be replaced by other tones, for example, songs, music, news, sports commentary etc. Typically, telecommunication service providers provide an option to individuals, using the telecommunication service, to select an RBT of their choice by subscribing to an RBT service. An individual subscribed to an RBT service is hereinafter referred to as an RBT subscriber. Both caller and callee can be RBT subscribers. The RBT service enables the RBT subscriber to choose a particular tone as the RBT of the RBT subscriber. Depending on the nature of service provided by the service provider, a caller can hear the RBT selected by her, or the RBT selected by the callee, or the RBT selected by the telecommunication service provider etc. while waiting for the callee to respond to the call.

The RBT played to the caller can be used for advertising. For example, an advertisement of a particular product can be played as RBT to the caller. In some cases, advertising in RBT is used by the telecommunication service provider

promote value added services (VAS) provided by the telecommunication service provider. Such VAS could be, for example RBT service, voice mailbox service, playing contests etc. Advertising using the RBT is gaining popularity with the increasing number of telecommunication system users.

One such method of using RBTs for advertising has been disclosed in US patent 7224788, titled "Advertising method by using ring-back tone", assigned to Kim Kang Suk. The patent discloses a method and a device for commercial information RBT to be played while the caller is waiting for the callee to respond. The commercial information RBT may be an advertisement, music, news or some other information. The patent enables a caller to hear commercial information RBT played by the service provider while waiting for the callee to pick up the call.

However, if the callee is an RBT subscriber, the RBT selected by the callee will be played to the caller. In such circumstances, commercial information RBT cannot be played to the caller. Also, even when the commercial information RBT is being played to the caller, there are chances that the callee might respond to the call before the message has been delivered. Further, the commercial information RBT is chosen randomly as there is no context based on which the commercial information RBT will be selected. As such the caller may not be interested in the message of the commercial information RBT, thereby rendering the message useless.

A method is required to overcome the limitations mentioned above while advertising using ring-back tones. A method is required to make a user more accessible to the services provided by a service provider which the user may not know about or may forget. Such a method is likely to increase the number of responses to an advertisement and, thus, increase the sales of the VAS provided by a service provider. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and a system for providing contextual advertising in a telecommunication system are disclosed. The invention enables a telecommunication service provider to transmit an advertisement to the caller contextually based on a value added service (VAS) accessed by the caller. In one embodiment of the invention, the caller, while making a call to a callee using a mobile phone, gets access to a VAS subscribed to by the callee. For example, the VAS may be an RBT service. In this case, the caller hears a ring-back tone while waiting for the callee to initiate a response. If certain transferring conditions are satisfied, the callee is disconnected from the call and the call is transferred to a Commercial Information (Cl) module. The Cl module plays a Cl to the caller. The context of the commercial information is the VAS accessed by the caller. The commercial information may be transmitted in any form like, text, video, voice, sound etc.

Based on the commercial information, the caller may give a certain input, for example by pressing a specific DTMF key or by giving a voice response, to notify the telecommunication service provider that the caller wants to avail herself, the VAS being advertised in the commercial information. On receiving the certain input the telecommunication service provider executes the necessary steps to make the certain VAS available to the caller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 te a schematic depicting a telecommunication environment according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating VAS system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating application server according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the method for providing commercial information to caller according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing RBT services to a caller in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. Various aspects and features of example embodiments of the invention are described in more detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a schematic depicting a telecommunication environment. Telecommunication service provider enables caller 102 to connect to a telecommunication infrastructure 104 for making a call to a callee 106. Caller 102 and callee 106 may use a telecommunication terminal like a fixed landline telephone, mobile telephone, etc. to connect to telecommunication infrastructure 104. Telecommunication infrastructure 104 comprises switching centers for e.g. a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 108 for enabling a call connection between caller 102 and callee 106.

Telecommunication infrastructure 104 also comprises a central database 110 used to store subscription information related to subscribers of the telecommunication service. An example of central database 110 is a home location register (HLR). For each subscriber, the subscription information comprises a unique identifier for the subscriber, telephone number of the subscriber, current location of the subscriber, various services the subscriber has registered for and the likes. Telecommunication infrastructure 104 further comprises a VAS system 112 for providing VAS services, like RBT services, voice mailbox service etc., to the mobile phone user. In one embodiment of the invention, callee 106 has subscribed to a particular VAS provided by VAS system 112

According to an embodiment of the invention, VAS system 112 is an RBT system for playing the RBT to caller 102. Callee 106 has subscribed to RBT services subscribed In this scenario, when caller 102 initiates a call with a callee 106 using a mobile phone, the call is forwarded to MSC 108. MSC 108 then establishes a connection with callee 106. After a call connection is established with callee 106, i.e. the mobile phone of callee 106 starts ringing; a switch at MSC 108 forwards the call to VAS system 112. In one embodiment of the invention, VAS system 112 is responsible for playing an RBT, set by callee 106, to caller 102. In another embodiment of the invention, VAS system provides for a voice mail box service where caller 102 can leave a message for callee 106. The conditions for transferring call to VAS system 112 and the process thereafter have been discussed in detail in conjunction with FIG. 4. VAS system 112 is discussed in detail in conjunction with FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating VAS system 112 according to an embodiment of the invention. VAS system 112 comprises signaling cards 202 and media cards 204 for communication with MSC 108. Signaling cards 202 are used for processing signals from MSC 108 that provide specific information related to a call. For example, MSC 108 sends signals regarding initiation of call by caller 102, termination of call by caller 102, termination of call by callee 106 etc. The signals are transmitted using standard protocols such as the SS7 protocol. An example of signaling cards 202 is NMS TX-4000 cards. Signaling cards 202 comprises a software component used for signal handling. The software component may be written in C/C++ or any other programming language.

Media cards 204 are used for processing media, for example playback, recording, DTMF etc., to and from MSC 108. An example of media cards 204 is NMS AG-4040 card. Media cards 204 comprise a software component used for media processing and handling. The software component may be written in C/C++ or any other programming language.

Media cards 204 and signaling cards 202 are connected with an application server 206 and serve as a link between MSC 108 and application server 206. Further, application server 206 comprises various applications based on computer programming languages like JAVA, C/C++, etc. Different applications are invoked based on input from media cards 204 and signaling cards 202. For example, when caller 102 initiates the call with callee 106, and callee 106 is a subscriber for the RBT service, caller 102 hears an RBT. The RBT is played by a particular application in application server 206. The particular application for playing RBT is invoked by inputs from media cards 204 and signaling cards 202. Details of application server 206 have been discussed in conjunction with FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating application server 206. Application server 206 comprises various applications that may be used to provide different VAS to the subscribers. The various applications are based _on computer programming languages like JAVA, C/C++, etc. According to an embodiment of the invention, application server 206 comprises a VAS provider 302, a gatherer 304, a VAS daemon 306, a commercial information (Cl) player 308, a VAS enquiry module 310, and a VAS database 312. According to an embodiment of the invention, VAS provider 302 comprises an RBT player for playing the RBT to caller 102. Although only applications for providing RBT services have been discussed, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that applications for providing other services like voice mailbox service may also be used without deviating from the scope of the invention.

The applications in application server 206 are connected to signaling card 202, media card 204, and VAS database 312. Application server 206 sends and receives inputs from the signaling cards 202 and media cards 204. Any transfer of media to and from the applications in the application server 206 is through media cards 204. For example, pressing of DTMF key by caller 102 is recognized by media cards 204 and is conveyed to VAS provider 302. Similarly, playing of RBT to caller 102 from VAS provider 302 is routed through the media cards 204. Signaling card 202 sends signaling information to application server 206, for example, when callee 106 is busy or declines the call, a signaling message indicating the status of callee 106 is sent to application server 206. Similarly on receiving the signaling information that a connection is established between caller 102 and callee 106, VAS provider 302 starts playing RBT to caller 102. Further, on receiving signaling information callee 106 is busy or has declined the call; VAS provider 302 stops the playback of RBT to caller 102.

Cl player 308 is responsible for playing a commercial information (Cl) to caller 102 based on certain conditions. The commercial information is an advertisement prompting caller 102 to subscribe for a particular VAS. The Cl is based on the VAS. ' In one embodiment of the invention, the Cl is an advertisement prompting caller 102 to press a particular DTMF key for setting the RBT of callee 106 as RBT of caller 102. The conditions have been discussed in detail in conjunction with FIG. 4.

VAS database 312 is accessible by different applications in the application server 206. VAS database 312 contains subscription information regarding RBT subscribers. Subscription information may include phone number of the RBT subscribers, time of RBT subscription, RBT used by RBT subscriber etc. Subscription information also includes charges for registration, charges for accessing any particular RBT service and other related information. VAS database 312 also contains various RBTs which can be used by RBT subscribers as their RBT. Further, VAS database 312 contains information stored by different applications from time to time. Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the method for providing commercial information to caller 102 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method is executed, when caller 102 initiates a call with callee 106. The call is routed through MSC 108. Thereafter, MSC 108 queries central database 110 to identify if callee 108 is an RBT subscriber. Central database 110 responds back to MSC 108 regarding the callee's RBT information. The RBT information includes information like status of RBT subscription for callee 106, and the nature of RBT service accessed by callee 106. MSC 108 then forwards the call to callee 106. After the connection is established between caller 102 and callee 106, i.e., the phone of callee 106 starts ringing, a switch at MSC 108 forwards the call to VAS system 112. In one^' embodiment of the invention, call is transferred to VAS system 112 only if callee 102 is an RBT subscriber. Signaling card 202 receives signal regarding the establishment of connection and forwards the signal to VAS provider 302. VAS provider 302 obtains information regarding RBT of callee 106 from VAS database 312.

At step 402, the RBT is transmitted to caller 102. VAS provider 302, starts playing the RBT of callee 106 to caller 102. RBT media is transferred to caller 102 via media cards 204. At step 404, certain transferring conditions are verified. Transferring conditions are conditions for transferring the call from VAS provider 302 to Cl player 308. Transferring conditions includes conditions like callee 106 has not responded to the call, callee 106 has disconnected the call, or callee 106 is busy on another call. Transferring conditions are continuously checked for by MSC 108. Central database 110 provides MSC 108 with information related to caller 102 based on which the call is to be transferred to Cl player 308 for caller 102. Signaling card 202 gets a response from MSC 108 regarding transferring conditions. Signaling card 202, then, forwards the response to Cl player 308.

The RBT which was played to caller 102 is, played till either callee 106 responds to the call or the transferring conditions are satisfied. In case callee 106 responds to the call, a signal is received by signaling card 202 and the information is transferred to VAS provider 302. On receiving information from signaling card 202, VAS provider 302 stops playing of RBT.

In case transferring conditions are satisfied, the call is transferred from VAS provider 302 to Cl player 308. Cl player 308 obtains the information regarding RBT of callee 106, which was played to caller 102, from VAS database 312. Thereafter, Cl player 308 receives Cl from VAS database 312 related to RBT of callee 106. Cl player, then, at step 406, begins playing the Cl to caller 102. The Cl played is in context of the RBT which was played to caller 102. For example, a song, which is RBT of callee 106, was played to caller 102. The Cl played to the caller 102 could then be a message like 'would you like to set the song that was played to you as your own RBT?'. Thus the advertising, or playing of Cl, is in context of the RBT played. Another example could be, caller 102 accessing the voice mailbox service of callee 106 to leave callee 106 a voice message and the Cl could be a message prompting the caller 102 to subscribe to voice mailbox service. The Cl may contain information regarding the features, pricing and methodology to setup a voice mailbox. According to an embodiment of the invention, a call is made by caller 102 directly .to VAS system 112 on a pre-specified number. The RBT is then played to the caller 102 in a pre-specified manner. Further, the Cl is directly played to caller 102 by Cl player 308 without checking the transferring conditions.

The commercial information may be transmitted in the form of text message, voice message, video message, or a combination thereof. The commercial information may contain certain instruction to be followed by caller 102. For example, the instruction may be to give a certain input like pressing a DTMF key like the '^*' (star) key to set the RBT of callee 106 as RBT of caller 102.

Based on input provided by caller 102, the RBT played to caller 102 can be set as RBT of caller 102. The process has been discussed in conjunction with FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing RBT services to a caller in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The method of FIG. 5 is executed when caller 102 sends a response to VAS system 112 related to the Cl played to caller 102. In an embodiment of the invention, Cl played to caller 102 prompts caller 102 to set the RBT played as RBT of caller 102. Caller 102, then, sends response to VAS system 112 for setting RBT played as RBT of caller 102.

At step 502, caller 102 sends a request to VAS system 112 for setting the RBT played as RBT of caller 102. In one embodiment of the invention, the request can be send by caller 102 through pressing of DTMF keys. The pressing of DTMF key by caller 102 is recognized by media card 204. The information regarding pressing of DTMF key by caller 102 is passed on to Cl player 308..VAS enquiry module 310 then enquires about the VAS accessed by caller 102 with VAS database 312. For example if an RBT was played to caller 102, then information related to the RBT will be enquired by VAS enquiry module 310. Different modes like File Transfer Protocol (FTP) mode can be utilized for making enquiries to VAS database 312 by VAS enquiry module 310. VAS enquiry module then makes an entry into VAS database 312 pertaining to the VAS requested by caller 102. The entry comprises phone number of caller 102, callee 106, time of pressing of DTMF key, the VAS requested by caller 102 etc. The entries such made by VAS enquiry module 310 are read by gatherer 304 one by one.

At step 504, gatherer 304 checks certain conditions which are to be satisfied for setting RBT played to caller 102 as RBT of caller 102. For example, gatherer 304 verifies whether setting of that particular RBT by caller 102 is allowed or not. For example, RBT of callee 106 could be a personalized message which callee 106 does not wants to be set by caller 102 as RBT of caller 102. In this case, caller 102 will not be able to access this particular RBT service.

At step 506, the requested RBT service is extended to caller 102. If caller 102 has requested for setting the RBT of callee 106, as the RBT of caller 102, and if caller 102 is registered as an RBT subscriber, then RBT of callee 106 is set as RBT of caller 102. In case caller 102 is not a registered RBT subscriber, then caller 102 is first registered as an RBT subscriber. Caller 102 is registered as an RBT subscriber only if certain subscription conditions are satisfied. The subscription conditions may be for example: does caller 102 has a pre specified amount in her account? In case the subscription conditions are satisfied, a pre specified amount is deducted from the account. of caller 102.

VAS daemon 308 collects subscription information of caller 102 from database 302 and sends the subscription information to a mobile phone service provider's database. The subscription information is uploaded by the mobile phone service provider on central database 110.

While example embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for providing commercial information to a caller, the caller being connected to a telecommunication infrastructure, the caller having initiated a call session with a callee in the communication infrastructure, the callee having subscribed to a value added service, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing access of the value added service to the caller; b) checking whether certain predefined transferring conditions of the call session are satisfied; and c) transmitting the commercial information to the caller based on the satisfaction of the predefined transferring conditions, wherein the commercial information is related to the value added service.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the value added service is ring back tone service.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the value added service is voice mailbox service.

4. A method for providing a value added service to a caller, the caller being connected to a telecommunication infrastructure, the caller having initiated a call session with a callee in the communication infrastructure, the callee having subscribed to the value added service, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing access of the value added service to the caller; b) checking whether certain predefined transferring conditions of the call session are satisfied; c) transmitting commercial information to the caller based on the satisfaction of the predefined transferring conditions, wherein the commercial information is related to the value added service. d) receiving a request from the caller for using the value added service, in response to the commercial information transmitted to the caller; e) checking whether certain predefined approval conditions for the value added service are satisfied; and f) providing the value added service to the caller based on the satisfaction of the predefined approval conditions.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the step of receiving a request from the caller comprises the step of recognizing a DTMF key response by the caller.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the step of receiving a request from the caller comprises the step of recognizing a voice response by the caller.

7. A system for providing commercial information to a caller, the caller being connected to a telecommunication infrastructure, the caller having initiated a call session in the telecommunication infrastructure, the system comprising: a) a ring back tone player for playing a ring back tone to the caller; b) means for checking whether certain predefined transferring conditions of the call session are satisfied; and c) a commercial information (Cl) player for playing the commercial information to the caller, wherein the commercial information is related to the ring back tone.

8. A system for providing commercial information to a caller, the caller being connected to a telecommunication infrastructure, the caller having initiated a call session with a callee in the communication infrastructure, the callee having subscribed to a value added service, the system comprising: a) a value added service provider for providing access of the value added service to the caller; b) means for checking whether certain predefined transferring conditions of the call session are satisfied; and c) a commercial information (Cl) player for playing the commercial information to the caller, wherein the commercial information is related to the value added service.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the value added service is voice mailbox service.

10. The system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a central database, the central database being used to store information related to the caller.