SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ENABLES ADVERTISERS TO CONVEY THEIR

MESSAGES

Cross reference to related application:

This invention is a divisional out of the original Patent Application No. 2516/CHE/2007 dated November 4, 2007.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system and method that enables advertisers to convey their messages to the potential customers in best possible way. More particularly, present invention relates to a system and method that enables the user to identify and configure the right time and place when the user wants to be reminded of an advertisement or product within a short range communication network such as Bluetooth or the like.

Background of the invention

Advertising has always been a big industry. It allows sellers to brief a potential buyer about the product so as to induce him to purchase the product.

In early days the most common method of adverting was through a news paper. With the advent of the electronic media, many methods were proposed to potential advertisers. These methods have been directed to increase the impact of the advertisement to potential buyers.

It has been observed that when an advertisement is sent though a mass medium like television, the target group percentage is very small. Therefore advertisers are always looking for

better and better methods that can help them reduce dependence on broadcast delivery and help them target just the potential customers .

So a need always exists for system and methods that enable advertisers convey their messages to the potential customers in best possible way.

There is also a need for a system and method that can identify the right time when the user should be shown a particular advertisement to induce best effect.

There is also a need for a system and method that can identify the right place when the user should be shown a particular advertisement to induce best effect.

There is also a need for a system and method that can identify the right. time and place, such time and place to be configurable by the user.

There is also a need for a system and method that also provides other facilities besides advertisement to the user as this may improve engagement with the system, which in-turn shall improve the impact.

Summary of the Invention

A system and method to enable advertisers to convey their messages to the potential customers in best possible way are provided.

Briefly, one exemplary embodiment relates to a method to enable advertisers to convey their messages to the potential customers in best possible way, the method comprising the

steps of setting a reminder for alert messages, configuring a reminder for the relevant alerts having configured information for executing alert, saving the reminder in the enabling means of the user's device, saving the reminder in the system server, accessing the environment of configured information, detecting the user's device through Smart-IB in the system's network, executing alert based on the configured information, delivering the alert messages as per the detected setting.

Another exemplary embodiment relates to a system to enable advertisers to convey their messages to the potential customers in best possible way, the system comprising a communication network having interactive means coupled with short range wireless network and world wide web, a mobile communication device having interactive means in a short range wireless zone, a smart - IB box capable of sending and receiving data/content, a central server capable of interpreting received data/content from Smart - IB and user' s mobile communication device, a display screen having display means operable to display data/information.

The object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that enables advertisers to convey their messages to the potential customers in best possible way.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that can identify the right time when the user should be shown a particular advertisement to induce best effect .

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that can identify the right place when the user should be shown a particular advertisement to induce best effect .

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that enables the user to identify and configure the time when the user wants to be reminded of something .

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that enables the user to identify and configure the place when the user wants to be reminded of something .

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that enables the user to identify and configure the right time and place when the user wants to be reminded of something.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that enables the user to identify and configure the right time when the user wants to be reminded of an advertisement or product.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that enables the user to identify and configure the place when the user wants to be reminded of an advertisement or product.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that enables the user to identify and configure the right time and place when the user wants to be reminded of an advertisement or product.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that promotes instant purchasing.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that enabled all buying to be marked.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that enables user to send all buying receipts back to the system server and allows the user to get reward points or goodies.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that enables a charging mechanism wherein the participating Advertiser and Shopping establishments are charged based on successful leads.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system and method that enables the system to suggest improvements for future campaigns.

Brief description of accompanying Drawings

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive features of the present invention together with its objects and advantages are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system to enable advertisers to convey their messages to the potential customers in best possible way according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the hardware elements of the central server employed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of the method to enable advertisers to convey their messages to the potential customers in best possible way according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 depict block diagrams of the methods of receiving an alert according to configured data/content in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the Invention

A system and method to enable advertisers to convey their messages to the potential customers in best possible way are provided .

In the following description for purposes of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary preferred embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The following detailed

description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense .

Referring to Fig. 1, it depicts a system to enable advertisers to convey their messages to the potential customers in best possible way, the system comprising a communication network having interactive means coupled with short range wireless network 3005, 3007 and world wide web 3013, a mobile communication device 3001 having interactive means in a short range wireless zone, a smart - IB box 3006 capable of sending and receiving data/content, a central server 3011 capable of interpreting received data/content from Smart - IB 3006 and user's mobile communication device 3001, a display screen 3003, 3008 having display means operable to display data/information .

The system allows the administrator to inspect the physical location and profile information of the user's communication device. Based on this profiling relevant data/content may be transferred to display screen for display of the configured data/content.

The mobile communication device 3001 is a wireless hand-held electronic device such as a mobile communication device having means to accurately determine its location. Said mobile communication device being able to connect and receive and transmit information over a short range communication network such as via Bluetooth and the like. Said mobile communication device may also have encoded instructions to enable a central server connected to a service location to detect and authenticate the said phone. The central server can have pre- stored information such as user authentication details, user preferences, profile history of the user and so on.

FIG. 2 illustrates the hardware elements of the central server 3011, wherein the central server 3011 comprises sending/relaying means 3106 to send the alert messages to the user's mobile communication device, interpreting means 3105 to interpret the data/content for alert messages, receiving 3101 means to receive the data/content for alert messages, updating means 3103 to update the data/content for alert messages, retrieving means 3104 to retrieve the data/content, database 3102 having the stored data/content for alert messages.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method to enable advertisers to convey their messages to the potential customers in best possible way, the method comprising the steps of setting a reminder 3201 for alert messages having relevant information, configuring 3202 a reminder for the relevant alerts having configured information for executing alert, saving the reminder 3203 in the enabling means of the user's device, saving the reminder 3204 in the system server, accessing the environment 3205 of configured information, detecting 3206 the user's device through Smart-IB in the system's network, executing 3207 alert based on the configured information, delivering 3209 the alert messages as per the detected configured setting.

The smart IB detects the presence of the user' s mobile communication device in the vicinity and passes the details of such presence to the central server. The server checks for pending alerts for the detected mobile communication device. If any alert pending for that area for the detected communication device at that time or combination of time or place of detection, the system forwards the message to the smart-IB which in turn forwards the alert message to the mobile communication device.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method wherein the user receives a discount coupan/scheme/e-catalogue 3301 or the like information. The user promptly 3302 configures a reminder for the selected relevant information so that he gets reminded by an alert message _v The reminder is saved 3303 in the enabling means in the mobile communication device. The reminder is also forwarded to the central server 3304 and saved in the central server. User gets the alert message according to the saved configured 3305 information at the configured time. User may either acknowledge 3306 the alert or set it to some future time for his perusal.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method wherein the user receives a discount coupan/scheme/e-catalogue 3401 or the like information. The user promptly 3402 configures a reminder for the selected relevant information so that he gets reminded by an alert message. The reminder is saved 3403 in the enabling means in the mobile communication device. The reminder is also forwarded to the central server 3404 and saved in the central server. User reaches the configured place 3405 wherein the user's presence is detected through smart-IB 3406. User gets the alert message according to the saved configured 3307 information of the place of presence. User may either acknowledge 3308 the alert or set it to some future time for his perusal.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method wherein the user receives a discount coupon/scheme/e-catalogue 3501 or the like information. The user promptly 3502 configures a reminder for the selected relevant information so that he gets reminded by an alert message. The reminder is saved 3503 in the enabling means in the mobile communication device. The reminder is also forwarded to the central server 3504 and saved in the central server. User reaches the configured place 3505 wherein the

user's presence is detected through smart-IB 3506. The system checks for the configured time 3507 and if the detected time matches 3508 with the configured time user gets the alert message according to the saved configured 3308 information of the place of presence and time. User may either acknowledge 3309 the alert or set it to some future time for his perusal.

The user may receive certain information including discount coupons of a discount offer on any product having a validity period. Using the menu the user may promptly choose the options through interactive means to be kept reminded of such offer at a future date within the stipulated validity period. The user may further choose an option wherein he may be reminded through an alert message when the user' s presence is detected in the vicinity of the shop offering such discount offer. Subsequently, such requests for alert _^ messages forwarded and saved in the central server. The system forwards alert messages according to the information so configured by the user. Thus for example, the system may forward the alert message to the user at the stipulated configured time. Further the present system has a database of all the stores in the locations which enable the system to verify if there is any store for which the user has asked to be reminded of some ongoing scheme etc. The interactive system thus promotes instant purchasing. In a preferred embodiment, all such instant purchasing are marked, the user may optionally be asked to send the receipt ID for goodies or reward points which enables to track all the purchases so made which further assists in data profiling and improvement of future campaigns.

The system integrates an intelligent hardware with an electronic display. The hardware contains the intelligence to receive commands/content through broadband, wireless, Bluetooth or a similar communication channel. The hardware

further comprised the intelligence to analyse the location based context. Based on the analysis of the context , the system and method thereof can pull content from internet and/or central location and push the content on an electronic display viewed by a group of viewers at a certain location/or a group of locations.

The blocks of the flowchart illustration support combinations of means for performing the specified actions, combinations of steps for performing the specified actions and program instruction means for performing the specified actions.

Although, the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the invention. Preferred embodiments of this invention have been described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.