BRPI0612807A2 - system for selectively providing message content in a communication system bell ringing space - Google Patents

Abstract

SYSTEM TO SELECTIVELY PROVIDE MESSAGE CONTENT IN A COMMUNICATION RINGER RINGER SPACE. A system for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space is provided. A message database is accessible by one or more message creators and stores one or more messages adapted to be reproducible in place of a communication system ringer. An endorser database is accessible by a plurality of endorsers having communication service and stores a plurality of endorser profiles. Each of the endorser profiles includes endorser selectable variables to select at least one of the messages to be played in place of the ring tone of the respective endorsers. An endorsement routing interface, in communication with the message database and the endorser database, routes messages from the message database to endorser communication service providers for playback instead of ringing tone. endorser bell ring according to endorser profiles. The endorser is compensated for each reproduction of the message in the endorser ringer ring space.

Description

"SYSTEM TO SELECTIVELY PROVIDE MESSAGE CONTENT IN A COMMUNICATION RINGER RINGING SPACE"

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a partial continuation of US Patent Application No. 11 / 198,341, filed August 6, 2005, and claims domestic priority of this and US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 696,447, filed on January 1, 2005. July 2005, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for replacing ringtones with other content, and more specifically to a system for marrying message creators and potential endorsers for the purchase of an endorsed message transmission between associated individuals.

Description of Related Art

Users of mobile phones, phones, and other communication devices are often looking for new accessories and services to use with their devices. For example, a big business has jumped in selling ringtones, the sound a communication device makes to signal its owner that a broadcast (whether text, audio, video, or the like) is coming in.

Another aspect of telecommunication services that has recently become customizable is the ringback tone, the "ringing" tone generated for the benefit of the caller to let the caller know that the call has been connected and is ringing at the receiver end. Current systems for customizing the ringback ringtone include the user paying a fee for putting alternate content in the ringback ringtone space.

Another constant in telecommunication services (or any service, for that matter) is that consumers often want lower service charges, discounts, or service rebates. Rebates are usually offered when consumers buy new devices, and calling plans typically offer less expensive per minute rates when minutes are bought in increasing quantities. However, there must still be a system or device that enables the telecommunication user to benefit financially the more they receive calls or messages.

Completely unrelated, marketing is used for a variety of purposes, such as commercial advertising, political advertising, compelling marketing, or simply for the purpose of spreading non-commercial content. Traditionally, marketing campaigns are implemented by placing marketing content adjacent to non-marketing content, such as placing a television ad or magazine ad. For a campaign to be effective, marketers rely on the popularity of complementary non-marketing content; therefore, the cost of different placements varies, depending on the size of the audience for non-marketing content. For example, the cost of advertising during popular television shows is often higher than the cost of advertising on unpopular shows. In addition, audience qualities are also taken into consideration. For example, the cost of placing an ad during a popular television program is likely to be further increased if the audience can be shown to have a high level of expendable income. Marketing in these ways has some inherent disadvantages. First, the cost of such marketing is high, as the income generated by ads is entrusted to the development of complementary non-marketing content. In addition, the public was shown to perceive these methods as intruding on non-marketing content, and thus means were invented to help consumers exclude content from broadcasters such as television and radio, such as special commercial-free television stations, digital video recorders (eg TiVo), and satellite radio. Direct marketing relies on more deliberately targeted messages using either direct mail, the telephone (telemarketing), direct email, or a variety of direct Internet marketing methods (eg, banner advertising, advertising from pop-up ', search engine advertising, etc.). Direct marketing was designed to allow a broader range of merchants to reach specific individuals who could be identified by publicly or privately exposed demographics or psychographic data commonly known about individuals (eg, postal address, phone number, age, shopping habits). , web browsing habits, etc.). Direct marketing also has several disadvantages: First, the sheer volume of competent marketing messages that exist in this medium make it difficult for a single marketer's message to be recognized. Second, these media are also commonly perceived as intruders to the person receiving the ad (for example, no one expects a pop-up ad while surfing the Internet). Third, because of this negative perception, direct marketing methods such as telemarketing and direct email are being deliberately blocked by state and federal law.

Considering these issues, marketers focused on finding ways to make their messages more reliable, more likely to be heard, and more relevant to the recipient (the person who finally receives the message from the merchant). One such way is to have your offer endorsed by trusted or influential individuals, and to encourage these individuals to communicate with others about the benefits of the merchant's products and services. A common and long-standing manifestation of this concept is celebrity endorsement, where a merchant will pay a famous individual to endorse a specific product, and either to explicitly register the endorsement or embed media endorsement in other ways (eg product placement in a movie or logo placement on sports uniforms). Merchants can then use mass media to broadcast or distribute the endorsement to the public. Advertising in this way is commonplace, but it is unfeasible for resource-poor traders who are unable to pay the normal (exorbitant) fees associated with both celebrity endorser and mass media. In addition, it is commonly recognized that a significant portion of the celebrity endorsement expense and associated distribution method is lost due to the fact that not all such endorsements are recognized by the middle audience or subscriber base (for the reasons listed above), and usually only a portion of the hearing that recognizes the endorsement considers the endorser to be a safe and trusted endorser.

Another marketing scheme is sometimes known as peer-to-peer marketing (or experience marketing or viral marketing), where the marketer sponsors and / or creates a modern experience for a targeted front-line audience, and relies on new experience. to activate a chain reaction in which the front row audience is compelled to tell their friends and other associates about the experience, and to encourage these friends and associates to continue telling others. Experience marketing is more widely available than celebrity endorsement, as the scale of experience can range from a very small experience (for example, a street performance, poster, graffiti, or brand citation in a unique location), to a larger experience (e.g., retail store experiences, sports event sponsorship, movies, entertainment events). Peer-to-peer marketing is also considered to have some advantages over conventional advertising methods because the merchant is establishing a relationship with an individual who, in reaction to a positive experience provided by the merchant, is compelled to work on the merchant's behalf to endorse it. the merchant's offer directly to a "second row": the individual's friends and associates. When successful, this method is recognized to have two advantages over conventional advertising: First, each of the front-row audience can be compelled to tell several other people (a second-row audience), which in turn can tell others ( a third row, and so on), and so the merchant can reach an extended audience with a single initiative or campaign. Second, the pre-existing relationship that front row individuals have with second row individuals gives individuals a degree of credibility and trust that benefits the trader. However, in common practice, peer-to-peer marketing has one major disadvantage: the merchant has no agreement with the individual endorser, and thus has very little control over which actual message is conveyed by the individual, or the means by which to verify whether any message Positive feedback was conveyed about the experience.

A computer based advertising system called 'Attention Brokerage' is described in US Patent No. 5,794,210 to Goldhaber, et al. Goldhaber's invention describes a "Attention Brokerage" and "" Orthogonal Sponsorship "marketing system, in which the ad recipient is compensated for their attention and interaction with Internet broadcast advertising content, and where compensation may include coupons or other 'negatively rated content' that the ad recipient may spend on online purchases. This attempts to make the relevant marketing content directly to the recipient of the marketing content by compensating the recipient for their attention. While modern compared to the other forms of marketing discussed above, this invention has one major disadvantage as it requires interaction between the recipient of the marketing content and the content itself for each placement, such as actions taken (for example, "clicks" on a web-based advertisement) on behalf of the recipient using a personal computer to provide for the recipient's attention to be given, so compensation can be made accordingly. The value of receiver time and attention is underestimated in Goldhaber's invention; In practice, it is difficult to compensate receivers reasonably for such use of their time. In addition, because non-marketing content for Goldhaber's invention is intended as content that the recipient specifically requested via the Internet or other media, marketing content adjacent to this non-marketing content is more likely to be ignored or considered to be indifferent to compensation. In addition, there is no explicit mechanism for compelling the recipient to pass the merchant's message to a second-tier audience, and no compensation to the recipient for any additional endorsements, such as in celebrity endorsement arrangements.

US Patent No. 5,438,356 to Ushiki, et al., Describes an accounting system for multimedia communication systems in which third party content such as advertisements may be embedded in transmissions between two terminals within a multimedia communication system such as a broadband phone system. The merchant, in Ushiki's invention, sponsors individual communication links between users, thereby reducing the cost of end-user service in exchange for marketing content to be transmitted with the same communication link. As above, the marketing content in the Ushiki invention is transmitted during non-marketing content, ie the time the two communication terminals are communicating. This is a major disadvantage for marketers, because once again, like Goldhaber's invention, marketing content is competing with more relevant non-marketing content, that is, communication itself. In addition, Ushiki's invention fails to integrate a mechanism whereby the content provider (the merchant) can pre-arrange with the user from any terminal for content endorsement. Therefore, embedded content is less likely to be perceived by the recipient as reliable, authentic, and / or relevant to the recipients.

Based on the previous examples, there remains a strong need among marketers for more effective ways to make their messages more trusted, authentic, more likely to be acknowledged, and more relevant to the recipient. Similarly, although so far completely unrelated, there remains a strong need to provide customizable content in a telecom user's ringer ring space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Prior and other previously discrepant needs are met by the invention, which is a system for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space. Messages are usually audio messages, but may include a visual component for playback on a caller's communication device screens. The system includes a message database, accessible by one or more message creators, in which one or more messages adapted to be reproducible in place of a communication system bell tone are stored. An endorser database, accessible by a plurality of endorsers having telephone service, stores a plurality of endorser profiles. Each of the endorser profiles includes endorser selectable variables to select at least one of the messages to be played in place of the ringer tone of the respective endorsers. An endorsement routing interface is in communication with the message database, the endorser database, and the endorser telecommunication service providers, routing the messages from the message database to the communication service providers. for reproduction in place of the endorser ringer tone according to the endorser profiles.

Endorser profiles may further include endorser identification variables to place each endorser in one or more endorser demographic subsets. These variables may include such demographic data as age, location, lifestyle, or communication service provider.

The inventive system preferably also includes message profiles stored in the message database which include message creator selectable instructions to enable message reproduction in place of the ring tones of at least one of the endorser demographic subsets determined by the message variables. endorser identification.

Another preferable feature of the inventive system is a message creator interface that allows message creators access to the message database. The message creator interface may be a web-based GUI, and may include playback limiting variables to limit message transmission. Replay limiting variables may include maximum number of message replays, frequency of message replays, or message playback expiration date.

Similarly, the inventive system may preferably include an endorser interface allowing the construction and access to endorser profiles by endorsers. The endorser interface may be a web-based GUI, and may include a search engine that allows the endorser to select which message to play in place of the endorser ringtone. The endorser interface may preferably also include a new endorser interface to enable individuals with telephone service to subscribe as endorsers. The new endorser interface can also be a web based GUI.

As the inventive system has, as one of its features, the ability to compensate endorsers for each message placed in their respective ringtone space, a transaction database is preferably provided in communication with communication service providers for store information regarding the successful reproduction of messages in place of endorser ring tones. A billing module in communication with the transaction database credits endorsers when the transaction database records a successful replay of messages. A transmission monitoring interface is preferably provided in communication with the communication service providers and the transaction database to determine when successful message reproduction has occurred based on information provided by the communication service providers and to hide playback cases. partial messages. The broadcast monitoring interface may also preferably indicate aberrant message playback rates to identify system abuse, for example, an endorser repeatedly calling his own telephone to reinforce his playback rate.

In addition to having message creators providing unique messages that are adopted one at a time by endorsers, messages can be grouped together in one or more different ways.

For example, the system may include message variables associated with messages in the message database to combine multiples of messages into one or more message sets. Such message variables preferably include message creator identity, message content, message playback rate, or associations with specific endorsers. These message sets or "feeds" may be endorser-writable, storable in the message database, and endorser-selectable. That is, one endorser can create a set or can feed messages, and other endorsers can adopt such a feed to avoid having to create their own message queue. In such a case where a first endorser creates a set or feed and a second endorser adopts it, the message set created by a given endorser is preferably editable only by the given endorser (of course, the subsequent endorser can create his own feed originally based on the first one). feed and can modify it as desired). Alternatively, message sets or feeds are writable by message writers, storable in the message database, and selectable by endorsers. These could be in the form of multiple ads for the same company or product that would alternate in an endorser's ringer ring space.

After posting a message and establishing an account, the sponsor (message creator) can choose to make the message a 'feed', or duplicate the message as a feed. A meal has its own rate set by the sponsor. Once the sponsor has established a feed, the sponsor can add additional messages to the same feed, or remove messages from the feed as long as at least one message always remains in the feed. Endorsers may choose to select a 'feed' type message instead of a regular message. If they choose a feed, they can receive the feed rate for each feed broadcast, and they accept the fact that the message ringing from their ringing bell is at the discretion of the person controlling the feed.

Endorsers can also establish endorser feeds by compiling and editing choices of all available feeds (or even just the queue they have), and giving them a name. The rating for endorser feeds is preferably variable from lowest to highest feed offerings.

Message sets or feeds provide several advantages over the single message model. First, endorsers can endorse entire brands or organizations they trust. Also, endorsers can endorse feeds rather than single messages, thereby avoiding the need to visit the site frequently. Sponsors can build and maintain larger communities over time by adding endorsers of their food. Endorsers can also establish category feeds and customize feeds by grouping criteria or feeds together on a pallet for other users to endorse: 'the ultimate environmental activist feed', or 'the highest paying messages on the system feed'. These types of feeds make it extremely easy for users to pick their endorsements as a group rather than pick and choose each message, and reinforce community and social networks within the system.

The present invention greatly improves the ability of merchants to conduct peer-to-peer marketing campaigns by providing a system that enables a merchant to enter into a "micro-endorsement" and transaction agreement with an individual endorser in which the endorser agrees to convey the message from trader to the endorser's own peers and associates (ie, the people who call the endorser). In addition, such transmissions are performed in such a way that they are consistent with the intent of the merchant, and verifiable to a degree that compensation may be made to the individual endorser of the content for each transmission. Once the agreement has been made, the endorser names the merchant's message to be audibly (or visibly) reproduced to incoming callers who attempt to contact the endorser through a communication network (for example, a landline cordless telephone network). , or the Internet). By the nature of the transmission method, the message is very likely to be heard only by the incoming caller just prior to a conversation with the endorser, creating an increased likelihood of further conversation about the merchant's offer between the endorser and the incoming caller.

The inventive system of matching

Marketers / sponsors / message creators with potential endorsers offers marketers several advantages over the other existing marketing methods as listed above. First, like conventional marketing, the present invention places the marketing message adjacent to nonmarketing content; However, the relevance to the recipient of non-marketing content in the present invention is likely to be much higher than in mass media, because most people calling a given person have something to do with that person. Second, the message may be transmitted for latent time prior to the telephone conversation, that is during the time while the message receiver (the incoming caller) is simply waiting for the call to be connected to the endorser and for the endorser to "pick up" the telephone. . Therefore, this requires no additional time or effort on the part of the message endorser or receiver in order for the message to be heard, and positions the merchant's message in latent time when the receiver is likely to be listening or otherwise paying attention (to ensure that the call has been connected), and does not interrupt or interfere with non-marketing content. Third, as another endorsement marketing, the present invention attaches an implicit endorsement to the merchant's content; however, the value of endorsement is improved because the endorser is typically someone personally known to the recipient of the marketing message. This endorser is therefore likely to be a trusted source of non-marketing content to the recipient, and thus embedding the merchant's message with this non-marketing content adds specific and unique value to the merchant's message. Fourth, the message itself is created by the merchant, whereby the merchant can have control over the content of the message being exchanged between the endorser and the receiver, unlike other forms of end-to-end marketing. Another advantage is that transmission of the message over a communication network provides an easily verifiable record of each transmission, so that compensation can be done only for complete message transmissions to minimize waste associated with other marketing methods. Yet another advantage is that message transmission over a communication network enables messages to be targeted at specific geographic locations and for specific timeframes that are most directly relevant to the message content. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the endorser can individually select the messages to be transmitted, which reduces the risk to the merchant that his message will be transmitted to a disinterested receiver. A further advantage is that with the present invention marketers have a tool that gives them access to undefined and otherwise inaccessible social networks and individuals who are trusted endorsers of the merchant's message within these networks. Another advantage of this invention is that the cost of individual message transmissions can be very low and still provide a cumulative benefit to the endorser who is capable of placing multiple transmissions per day. Furthermore, since transmissions are preferably purchased individually (when they occur) rather than in bulk, the invention provides a medium that is accessible to traders with very limited resources. These advantages effectively qualify the present invention as a new marketing medium with a combination of features that are unavailable in other media.

The inventive system also offers all participating endorsers several benefits over other marketing methods listed above. First, with the present invention, all participating endorsers have an opportunity to be compensated for their status within their own social networks. Second, the endorser has control over the merchant choices and message content they want to endorse, and which one they choose to convey. Third, the endorser will have an opportunity to communicate his or her values, tastes, and preferences for specific content endorsement, just as a public celebrity can support causes, products, and other offers through endorsement arrangements. There is no existing marketing medium that authorizes and compensates for individual non-celebrity endorsement in this way on this scale, and thus these advantages effectively qualify the present invention as the first such medium. The present invention also enables the endorser to customize their ringer ring space readily and easily and achieve financial compensation in the process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood by studying a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings and further described below.

Figure 1 is a schematic showing the general environment of an implementation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic of one embodiment of the inventive system of user interfaces, data warehousing, and logic modules.

Figure 3 is a general flow chart of an aspect of the invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic of one embodiment of a merchant interface according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic of one embodiment of a database record for a message database according to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic of an embodiment of a new endorser interface according to the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic of one embodiment of an endorser delivery interface according to the present invention.

Figure 8 is a schematic of one embodiment of a database record for an endorser database according to the present invention.

Figure 9 shows an exemplary flowchart of a process on an endorsement routing interface and a transmission monitoring interface in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 10 shows an exemplary flowchart of a process on a transmission monitoring interface in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 11 is a schematic of one embodiment of a database record for a transaction database according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

AND DRAWINGS

Description of the invention will now be made with reference to Figures 1-11. It should be noted that these drawings are exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

Figure 1 is a diagram depicting the general environment of invention 0100, wherein a message creator such as merchant 0101 is interested in transmitting a message. Trader 0101 presents a message object 0104 to an endorser 0102. Endorser 0102 receives message object 0104 from the merchant and agrees to transmit message object 0104 to one or more receivers 0103. In the general environment of the invention, message 0104 may be content of any kind. For a preferred embodiment of the invention, message object 0104 has at least one feature that is audible, and is a digital file in a common format (e.g., .mp3, .wav, etc.). It is also contemplated that message object 0104 includes a visual component, either a still image (e.g., a digital file in.jpg, .bmp, or similar format) or a moving image (e.g., .avi, .wmv , mpeg, etc.).

Figure 2 depicts an inventive system embodiment 0200, which includes various interface means and data storage means. Trader 0101 accesses system 0200 through merchant interface 0201 (see Figure 4), which provides and modifies information in message database 0204. Endorsers have access to system 0200 through two interfaces: People wishing to subscribe as new endorsers access system 0200 per new endorser interface 0208 (see Figure 6), while existing endorsers access the 0200 system via 0203 endorser administration interface (see Figure 7). New endorser interface 0202 is preferably connected to the endorser administration interface 0203, which provides and modifies information in the endorser database 0205. Alternatively, the new endorser interface can be connected directly to the endorser database 0201. Message data 0204 is provided for receiving and storing merchant interface information 0201 such as message content and variables associated with the messages. Provides information to the endorser administration interface 0203 and endorsement routing interface 0207. Endorser database 0205 receives, stores and updates information such as endorser profiles (see below) as directed by the endorser administration interface 0203. Endorsement routing interface 0207 receives communication service provider call routing content requests 0206, evaluates content requests 0206, extracts information from message database 0204, modifies information in message database 0204, and provides 0208 transmission commands for communication service provider call routing 0212. Transmission monitoring interface 0210 receives transmission retry logs 0209, evaluates these logs, and provides and modifies information in transaction database 0211 and message database 0204; and a transaction database 0211, which stores transmission records and provides information for a conventional billing and receiving module 0213.

Figure 3 is a flowchart depicting process 0300 for matching a message provided by merchant 010 with endorser 0102. In this embodiment, merchant 0101 creates a message at step 0302. Such a message is an audio / visual / text message to be played in the endorser ringtone space. Trader 0101 sets criteria for message transmission in step 0303. Such limiting playback variables or criteria include payment rate for successful message playback, times of day the message can be played, message playback frequency, and the like. Trader 0101 sets criteria for eligible endorsers in step 0304 based on any number of endorser variables that identify endorsers, such as age, location, lifestyle, or communication service provider. Trader 0101 establishes an offer to be made to eligible endorsers, for each case of a message transmission, at step 0305. Steps 0302, 0303, 0304, and 0305 may be taken in any order.

Once merchant 0101 has completed steps 0302, .0303, 0304, and 0305, the offer established by merchant 0101 is presented to endorser 0102 at step 0306. That is, an endorser registers on system 0200 by endorser interface 0203 and selects one or more messages. In step 0307, endorser 0102 is given the choice whether to accept the offer and endorse the message, or reject the offer. If the offer is accepted, the message is associated with endorser 0102 at step 0308. This association is stored in a database record associated with endorser .0101 within the endorser database 0205, either as part of the endorser profile or as a separate data file.

Process 0300 can continue, with multiple merchants making offers to multiple endorsers. Endorser 0102 may endorse multiple endorsement offers by choice, or may limit your endorsement to a single offer. For the purpose of this example, it is assumed that endorser 0102 has accepted an offer to reproduce a merchant-specific message 0104 0101.

Figure 4 illustrates a merchant interface embodiment .0201. This interface may be implemented by any means, including an Internet interface such as a GUI, a voice interface, an interface within a communication device such as a telephone equipped with a web browser, or any other medium that can accommodate the display and entry of these criteria. Field 0401 determines if the merchant .0101 has prepared a message, receives the message, and requests a name for the message. Field 0402 asks merchant 0101 to select criteria for geographic placement of the message. This is done through the endorser variables in the endorser profiles. For example, a merchant may ask to limit playback of a message to endorsers in a given area code. The message will only be made available to endorsers in that area code, and access will be determined by the area code variable of the endorser profile. Trader 0101 can select multiple locations, area codes, etc. Field 0403 asks trader 0101 to select time criteria for message placement, trader 0101 can make multiple time selections. Field 0404 asks merchant 0101 to select one or more demographic profiles for eligible endorsers. Again, these demographic subsets are determined by endorser variables in endorser profiles. Trader 0101 can make multiple selections. Field 0405 asks merchant 0101 to make a compensation offer, for transmission of the message, to eligible endorsers. Field 0406 asks merchant 0101 to set a limit on the total amount of money to be spent, including additional costs, and subsequently displays the maximum number of messages that will be placed under this limit. Field 0407 asks merchant 0101 to select a date after which any remaining messages will expire and become ineligible for transmission. Field 0408 asks the merchant to establish how often the message will be reproduced. Field 0409 completes the merchant interface and takes the merchant to a conventional interface for a payment guarantee. Any of fields 0401-0408 can be omitted, rearranged, or supplemented with other fields or menus. Also, instead of displaying all 0401-0409 fields simultaneously, "multiple pages" may be provided with one or more fields provided therein.

Figure 5 is an example of a database record 0500 generated by merchant interface 0201 and stored in message database 0204 associated with message 0104. Field 0501 is the unique message identifier. This is automatically generated and named with each message. Field 0502 is the owner identifier that identifies the owner / creator of the message for payment processing. For the purpose of this example, trader 0101 is the owner identified in field 0502. Field 0503 is the geographic transmission criteria, which 20

identify geographic locations to which the message can be transmitted, that is, to those endorsers whose profiles contain the qualifying geographic variables. Field 0504 is the time transmission criteria, which defines the time within which the message is eligible to be transmitted. Field 0505 is endorser access, which specifies the demographic subsets of endorsers that are eligible to receive and accept the offer associated with the message. (In this example, the offer is ten cents.) Field 0506 is the offer associated with the message. Field 0507 is the maximum message inventory fixed by the total budget, the offer, and a formula that defines additional costs applied to the cost of each transmission. Field 0508 is the remaining inventory of the message, based on the maximum inventory 0507 less the total sum of all messages that were successfully transmitted. This field is updated by the endorsement routing interface 0207 and the transmission monitoring interface 0210. Field 0509 is the message expiration date, after which the remaining message will be made ineligible for transmission to endorsers who have already adopted the message and no longer offered to endorsers who have not yet adopted the message. Field 0510 is the frequency of the message, which sets playback criteria for the number of times a message can be transmitted in a given time period, for example, number per day or week. This number can be made dependent on the time left until expiration date 0509. Field 0511 is the message title associated with the message, to be displayed to endorser 0102 in the endorser administration interface 0203.

Figure 6 illustrates an example of a version of a new endorser interface 0202. This interface may be implemented by any means, including an Internet interface such as a GUI, a voice interface, an interface within a communication device such as a phone equipped with a web browser, or any other medium that can accommodate the display and entry of these criteria. Field 0601 ensures that endorser 0102 is of legal age to enter into merchant agreement 0101. Other pre-shielding data may be requested. Field 0602 asks endorser 0102 to provide the country and telephone number with which their telephone account is associated. Field 0603 asks endorser 0102 to select the communication service provider that manages call routing for the telephone number given in step 0602. Field 0604 asks endorser 0102 to select one or more applicable demographic variables so that the endorser profile can be categorized appropriately. Field 0605 asks endorser 0102 to select a method by which endorsements will be administered: administered exclusively by endorser 0102, automatically administered according to demographic selection, or automatically administered according to the quantity of offers available. Other variations in endorsement administration include, for example, enabling endorser adoption of message sets or feeds. Feeds can be grouped by merchant, by some content variable, by bid price, or in other ways. Field 0606 confirms the choices, validates the confirmation process, and moves new endorser interface endorser 0102 to endorsement administration interface 0203.

Figure 7 illustrates an example of a version of an endorser administration interface 0203. This interface may be implemented by any means, including an Internet interface such as a GUI, a voice interface, an interface within a communication device such as like a phone equipped with a web browser, or any other medium that can accommodate the display and entry of these criteria. Field 0701 displays the telephone number and service provider associated with endorser 0102. Other endorser information may be displayed. Field 0702 displays the accepted endorsements and related offers associated with endorser .0102. It was Field 0702, endorser 0102 can either hear accepted endorsements or delete accepted endorsements. Field 0703 displays a selection of additional endorsements and related offerings available to endorser 0102. In Field 0703, endorser 0102 can hear or accept these endorsements. In this example, additional steps relating to the invention are illustrated as follows. Field 0704 allows endorser 0102 to search for other available offers. Field 0705 allows endorser 0102 to see offers accepted by other endorsers that allowed endorser 0102 access to view this information. Field 0706 allows endorser 0102 to recommend an endorsement to another endorser that allowed endorser 0102 to make such recommendations. Field 0707 allows endorser 0102 to name specific endorsements for specific recipients 0103. Field 0708 allows endorser 0102 to exclude offers made by certain merchant cases 0101. Field 0709 allows endorser 0102 to modify its selection made in Field 0605. A All-Browsing Function The messages or merchants, or any subset thereof, are also contemplated.

Figure 8 illustrates an 0800 database record that outlines an endorser profile storable in endorser database 0205. Field 0801 is a unique ID assigned to each endorser. Field 0802 is the service provider identifier, which identifies the service provider or network associated with the endorser account. Field .0803 is the device identifier field that identifies the specific device associated with the endorser, this can be represented by a telephone number, ESN, IMEI, or any other type of device identifier. Field 0804 describes the demographic variables selected by the endorser. Field 0805 describes the method of administration selected by the endorser. Field 0806 identifies a first endorsement identifier corresponding with a message database record 0500 of message identifier 0501 for a message that was endorsed by endorser 0102. Field 0807 identifies a second endorsement identifier for a second message endorsed by endorser 0102 Objective 0808 represents a plurality of additional fields leading to additional cases of endorsement identifiers corresponding to additional cases of message database records that have been endorsed by endorser 0102. Field 0809 represents the endorsement identifier for such endorsement identifier in In the database record, the value for 'x * in the field title could be any such number as reflects a practical and manageable number of total endorsements for a single endorser. Other fields are contemplated as included in database record 0800.

Figure 9 depicts an exemplary process 0900 on endorsement routing interface 0207 describing how system 0200 begins a typical transaction, that is, how system 0200 marries a message to an endorser's ringtone space when a call is made. At step 0902, a receiver 0103 places a telephone call to endorser 0102. At step 0903, the call is routed to the communication service provider call routing 0212 associated with endorser 0102. At step 0904, the service provider call routing communication service 0212 identifies the call destination as a specific device associated with an endorser 0102. In step 0905, the communication service provider call routing 0212 initiates a process on the endorsement routing interface 0207, several steps of which are For example, step 0206 provides a data packet to the endorsement routing interface 0207, which includes various data elements such as (but not limited to) the general receiver location 0103, the local time at the location of receiver 0103, and the device identifier associated with the call destination.

At step 0906, the endorsement routing interface 0207 performs an operation on the endorser database 0205 to examine the endorsement identifiers 0807-0809 in the endorser profile associated with endorser 0102, and selects a message identifier from one of the 0807 fields. -0809 of endorser database record 0800. For the purpose of this example, the endorsement router selects field endorsement identifier 0807. In step 0907, the endorsement routing interface 0207 performs a query operation on the database. 0204 message data to examine the remaining inventory of 0508 field messages associated with the 0501 message identifier corresponding to the selected endorsement identifier 0807. If the message profile field value 0508 is greater than the 0506 field offer value , the message is considered available for transmission and the process moves to step 0908. If field value 0508 is less than the value of field offer 0506, the message is considered unavailable for transmission and the process returns to step 0906.

At step 0908, the endorsement routing interface performs a query operation on message database 0204 to evaluate the various reproduction limiting variables such as geographic transmission criteria field 0503 and time criteria field 0504. The value 0503 and field 0504 are compared to the corresponding data received at step 0206 of the communication service provider call routing 0212. If the general location and receiver deadline 0103 (and / or other variables) are within an acceptable range defined by corresponding fields 0503 and 0504, the process moves to step 0909. If the general location and receiver deadline 0103 are outside the range defined by corresponding fields 0503 and 0504, the process returns to step 0906.

At step 0909, endorsement routing interface 0207 validates the message selection, and modifies database record field 0508 by subtracting offer field value 0506 from the value of remaining inventory field 0508 plus any related transaction costs . At step 0910, the endorsement routing interface provides message identifier 0501 and associated message 0104 for communication service provider call routing 0212 with a transmission order 0208 (see Figure 2). Communication service provider call routing 0212 then routes message to receiver 0103. In this embodiment of the invention, message object 0104 is routed with the transmission order. In other embodiments of the invention, message object 0104 may also reside with the system associated with Communication Service Provider Call Routing 0212. In such cases, the endorsement routing interface would provide transmission order 0208 and the identifier 0501 message only; message object 0104 would be routed to receiver 0103 from within the system associated with Communication Service Provider Call Routing 0212 based on the directive included with transmission order 0208.

Figure 10 represents an exemplary process 1000 on the transmission monitoring interface 0210, describing how system 0200 completes the transaction of Figure 9. In step 1002, the communication service provider call routing 0212 fulfills the transmission order 0208 (see Figure 2). At step 1003, the communication service provider call routing 0212 provides transmission log data 0209 (Figure 2) for the transmission monitoring interface 0210, which includes the duration of the message transmission. At step 1004, the transmission monitoring interface 0210 evaluates the current message duration against predefined criteria for an acceptable message duration. If the duration value in transmission log data 0209 meets the predefined criteria, the process moves to step 1007. If the duration value in transmission log data 0209 does not meet the predefined criteria, the process moves to step 1005. In step 1005, the transmission monitoring interface modifies message database record 0500 by adding the value of offer field 0506 to the value of Inventory Remaining field 0508, that is, crediting the message creator to the quantity. of the message transmitted unsuccessfully. At step 1006, the transmission monitoring interface creates a record in transaction database 0211 for an untransmitted message case. If the duration value of the transmission log data 0209 is satisfactory, then in step 1007, the transmission monitoring interface creates a transaction database log 0211 for a transmitted message case.

Figure 11 represents an example of a .1100 transaction record in transaction database 0211. Field 1101 is the message identifier associated with message database record 0500, field 0501, for the message associated with the attempted transaction. streaming. Field 1102 is the owner identifier associated with message database record field 0502 for the message associated with the transmission attempt. Field 1103 is the endorser identifier associated with endorser database record field 0801 to endorser 0102. Field 1104 is the service provider identifier associated with endorser database record field .0802 to endorser 0102. Field 1105 is the time identifier for the transmission attempt, including the retry date, the transmission start time, and the transmission end time. Field 1106 is the offer quantity value corresponding to message database record field 0506 for the message associated with the transmission attempt. Field 1107 is a value of 1 or 0, which represents the success or failure of the transmission according to the duration value evaluation as determined by the transmission monitoring interface 0210 in step 1004 (see Figure 10).

Transaction record 1100 is used by billing and receipt module 0213 to reconcile billing accounts for merchant 0101 and reconciling accounts payable to endorser 0102.

The invention is not limited to the foregoing description or embodiments shown in the accompanying exemplary drawings, but is instead defined in extent by the following claims and any and all reasonable equivalents thereof. Those skilled in the art will be able to devise other embodiments of the invention with modified or additional features not described in this embodiment, or may establish an alternate sequence of the steps described by this embodiment. One case may include compensation for receiver 0103; another may include compensating the communication service provider; another may include compensation for receiver 0103 within the content of message 0104, in the form of a coupon code or an incentive. All such variations are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is defined by the claims appearing below and their reasonable equivalents as comprehensible to one of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly, the embodiment of the invention described above is described primarily in terms of telephone ringer ring space, but any communication device or system, either in existence now or to be developed later, is considered an appropriate jurisdiction for the invention.

Claims (27)

1. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space, characterized in that it comprises: a message database, accessible by one or more message creators, storing one or more messages adapted for be reproducible in place of a communication system ringer tone; an endorser database, accessible by a plurality of endorsers having telephone service, storing a plurality of endorser profiles, each of said endorser profiles including endorser selectable variables to select at least one of said messages to be reproduced in place of the ringing tone of the respective endorsers; and an endorsement routing interface, in communication with said message database and said endorser database and also in communication with endorser telecommunication service providers, routing said messages from said message database to communication service providers for reproduction in place of the endorser ringtone according to said endorser profiles. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 1, characterized in that said endorser profiles further include endorser identification variables for placing each endorser in one or more demographic subsets of endorsers. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 2, characterized in that said endorser identification variables include at least one of age, location, lifestyle. , or communication service provider. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises message profiles stored in said message database, including instructions selectable by message creator to enable playback of said messages in place of the ringing tones of at least one of said endorser demographic subsets determinable by said endorser identification variables. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a message creator interface allowing access to said message database by the creators. Message System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 5, characterized in that said message creator interface includes a web-based GUI. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 5, characterized in that said message creator interface comprises playback limiting variables to limit the transmission of said messages. . System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 7, characterized in that said reproduction limiting variables include at least one of maximum number of message reproductions, frequency message playbacks, or message playback due date. A system for selectively providing message content in a communication system bell ring space according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an endorser interface permitting construction and access to said endorser profiles by endorsers. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 9, characterized in that said endorser interface includes a web-based GUI. A system for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 10, characterized in that said endorser interface additionally comprises a search engine which allows the endorser to select which of said ones. messages play instead of the endorser ringtone. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system bell ring space according to claim 9, characterized in that said endorser interface furthermore includes a new endorser interface to allow individuals with service phone sign up as endorsers. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 12, characterized in that said new endorser interface includes a web-based GUI. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a transaction database in communication with the communication service providers for store information regarding the successful reproduction of said messages instead of the endorser ring tones. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises a billing module in communication with said transaction database to credit endorsers. when said transaction database records a successful reproduction of said messages. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises a transmission monitoring interface in communication with the communication service providers and said Transaction database to determine when successful message reproduction has occurred based on information provided by communication service providers. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 16, characterized in that said transmission monitoring interface conceals partial message playback cases. A system for selectively providing message content in a communication system bell ring space according to claim 16, characterized in that said transmission monitoring interface signals aberrant message playback rates. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 1, characterized in that said messages include a visual component for playback on the screens of a caller's communication device. A system for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises message variables associated with said messages in said message database to combine multiple said messages in one or more message sets. A system for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 20, characterized in that said message variables comprise at least one of message creator identity, message content. , message playback rate, or associations with specific endorsers. System for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 20, characterized in that said message sets are writable by the endorsers, storable in said message database, and selectable by endorsers. A system for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 20, characterized in that said message sets are writable by the message writers, stored in said database. message, and selectable by endorsers. A system for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 22, characterized in that a given set of messages created by a first endorser is adoptable by a second endorser. A system for selectively providing message content in a communication ringer ring space according to claim 22, characterized in that a given set of messages created by a given endorser is editable only by the endorsing data. A system for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises message variables associated with said messages in said message database to combine multiple said messages in one or more message sets, wherein said message sets are writable by the message writers by said message builder interface, storable in said message database, and selectable by the endorsers. A system for selectively providing message content in a communication system ringer ring space according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises message variables associated with said messages in said message database to combine multiple of said messages in one or more message sets, wherein said message sets are writable by the endorsers by said endorser interface, storable in said message database, and selectable by the endorsers.