Patent Application
20120084158
The present invention relates to a system and method for selecting message content for a recipient based on a message received from the recipient.
Many information services are configured to send message content to subscribers based on preset criteria depending on content type and target audience via the Short Messaging Service (SMS), by e-mail and/or via the Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). Criteria of sent content type can be set by the content provider or it can be set by recipient of the content such as consumer or subscriber. An example of content type is promotional content where the content type is defined by party providing service of delivering promotional content and the recipients for the content are selected typically based on profiles and/or interests of recipients.
A particular problem is experienced in the process of selecting appropriate content for recipients. Often profiles of recipients do not represent the reality of consumer preferences as those might change rapidly or the preferences might depend on the context. This might lead to situation where the content service provider might not find right recipients or sufficient amount of recipients for the messages or message content might be delivered to recipients that do not appreciate the content.
In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, methods, systems and software are provided for supporting or implementing functionality to provide selection of message content for a recipient based on a message received from the recipient, as specified in the independent claims. This is achieved by a combination of features recited in each independent claim. Accordingly, dependent claims prescribe further detailed implementations of the present invention.
More particularly, aspects of the invention provide a method for selecting message content for a recipient based on a message received from the recipient, the method comprising:
receiving a message from a recipient, the message comprising at least one term;
selecting at least one of the terms in the message as a keyword;
comparing the selected keyword to content keywords in a content keyword database, the content keyword database comprising plurality of content keywords, to select at least one content keyword matching to the selected keyword as a matching content keyword;
searching if any message content stored to a content database has a content keyword associated with it that is same than the matching content keyword and/or same than a content keyword in connection to the matching keyword, the content database comprising plurality of message contents of which at least one message content is associated with at least one content keyword; and
selecting for delivery to the recipient a message content of which associated content keyword is the same than the matching content keyword and/or same than a content keyword in connection to the matching keyword.
In some embodiments of the invention, at least some of the message content has a set bid amount, and message content is selected using the set bid amount as a selection criteria.
In some embodiments of the invention, message content is associated with a content keyword by selecting at least one content keyword from plurality of predetermined content keywords. The predetermined content keywords may be arranged to a hierarchical structure to at least two levels. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the hierarchical structure is a hierarchical tree structure comprising at least one main level and at least one sub-level.
In some embodiments of the invention, content keywords may be connected to another content keyword and such a connection may exist when a first content keyword is subordinate of a second keyword.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As described above, embodiments of the invention are concerned with improving efficiency of selection of message content for a recipient. An example embodiments are related on providing Multimedia Message Service (MMS) or Short Message Service (SMS) messages to recipients. Typically embodiments of the invention would be applicable to subscribers of a mobile communications network 10 shown in
The mobile network 10 can be any cellular, broadcast, wide area network. Examples of cellular network technologies include but are not limited to GSM (Global System for Mobile communication), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), UTRAN (UMTS Radio Access Network), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), MBMS (Multicast Broadcast Multimedia System). Examples of other network technologies include but are not limited to local area networks, such as Wireless Local area networks (WLAN), BlueTooth (BT), and other technologies, such as WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), Broadcasting over cellular, Broadcasting over DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting-Handhelds), ISDB-T (Terrestrial Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting), DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting). The communication network 10 may also be connected to a public switched telephone network (not shown) and can provide generic Internet access using any transport methods. The communications network can consists of several technologies forming so called hybrid networks.
The exemplary GSM, GPRS communications network 10 of
Mobile communication network 10 can be connected to Internet via Gateway (GW) system 17 comprising one or more connectivity means depending on need. Gateway 17 can be for example for providing access to Wireless Application Protocol services in which case Gateway 17 could consist WAP gateway. For Internet access to subscribers there can be for example Gateway GPRS Service Node 18 that connects communication network 10 with Internet 9.
The mobile terminals 2, 4 may be a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a multimedia computer, a personal computer, a lap top, etc., or generally any terminal capable of accessing services, such as content download, web browsing, streaming, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browsing, Internet browsing voice and messaging. In the case of the mobile network 10 being embodied as a GSM, GPRS or WCDMA network, the terminal is a mobile phone with associated GSM, GPRS or WCDMA functionalities. While
As stated above, embodiments of the inventions are concerned with addressing communication to recipient. Referring again to
Content Provider 22 can have access to CDP 24 via Web interface or similar in order to configure CDP to deliver communication to target addresses. The message content can be delivered to users via elements in communication network 10 such as SMSC 16 and MMSC 14. Content provider 22 can be for example new service provider, entertainment service provider or provider of promotional content (e.g. Advertiser). Delivered message content can be in form of SMS, MMS etc consisting of voice, pictures, videos, data, text, coupons etc. Message content might include links such as Uniform Resource Locators (URL's) to enable users (with mobile terminals 2, 3, 4) to access more information via means of Web or WAP browsing via GW 17 or GGSN 18.
Database 26 can be populated with profiles and preferences of subscribers of Mobile communication network 10. Such profiles and preferences can be for example demographic information, age, gender, likes/dislikes, information about purchasing behaviour etc. Database 26 might also store communications indented for recipients as well as preference by content provider 22 of when and to which type of recipients to send the communications.
At least one embodiment of the invention can be used to implement an advertisement delivery system. Such an embodiment is described more detailed in
High level steps of an embodiment of the invention is presented in
Step S2 can be independent process from S1. In S2 operator of advertisement service sends triggering questions to subscribers of the communication system. Triggering questions can be addressed based on profiles, based on advertisement inventory or some other criteria. Example questions are shown in
In S3 subscriber interacts with received communication. Interaction can be for example answering to question with SMS. Response can be sent to specific number (such as same number that the question was received) or there can be different number for reply than sending. In step S4 response from subscriber is analysed. Analysis refers on looking on terms in the response and comparing those with keywords in database. More detailed embodiment of the analysis is explained later. As a result from the analysis of the terms in answer to set of keywords one or more matching advertisements might be found. In case of more than one matching advertisement is found the one with highest bid might be selected for delivery to subscriber.
User sends a message to system as response to question (sending of question is not shown) in step 6. Without limiting scope of the invention the message does not necessarily have to be in connection with sent question from 24 it can also be any other communication related message that is analysed. The message keywords are analysed in Interactive Response Service module 242 and associated advertisement is send based on keywords to subscriber 2 (3, 4) in S7. Sending of advertisement can be close to communication or it can be done in scheduled time or it can be sent at random time after the communication.
One of the roles of Moderator 30 can be creating new questions and sending those to subscribers in order to activate retrieval of words and terms that can be used as keywords (as reply from subscribers). For example in step 8 Moderator 30 can get question templates related to one or more keywords for creating actual questions for subscribers. Question engine 244 might consist and provide Moderator (step 9) for example questions templates that are ranked on response rate and frequency. As an example of ranking of question templates is response rate per send question or word distribution of received answers or response time of send question type. Questions can be sorted based on the measured rank.
The questions can be targeted optionally to arbitrary subscribers or to subscribers with certain profiles or history (S10). New questions are send to one or more subscribers in step 11. Questions might be same for all, depending on the group, those can be individual, depending on location of the subscriber, depend on history of subscriber. As the subscriber responses to question(s) in step 12 Interactive Response Server selects associated advertisement to subscriber and sends it in step 13. The ad can be same as sent before or there can be set of rules that determine number of ads same or related ads to be sent for a subscriber. Since embodiments of the invention enable triggering of sending advertisement when subscriber sends any communication to Content Delivery Platform 24 the subscriber might answer same question multiple times or subscriber might send message without any question. Depending on the settings advertisement might be sent to user every time any communication is received or it might be limited for example only to be associated with sent question answer pairs.
Interactive Response Service 242 updates response rate, frequency and keywords in question to Question Engine 244 for further processing and analyse. Interactive Response Service 242 also sends to advertiser 22 contact results.
Additional embodiment of using invention is described in steps of
Additionally, at least in some embodiments of the invention, a set budget amount defines a fund amount, and the fund amount is reduced by a set bid amount, or by an amount that is second highest bid amount+a set increment, when a message content is selected for delivery. In such an embodiments, a message content is selected for delivery typically only if remaining fund amount is bigger than the set bid amount.
In case subscriber answers to sent question for example “Italian” in step S6.5 keyword mapping functionality in keyword mapper 246 might be initiated. If keyword is found (s6.6) member might be added to category group of said keyword or question. If there is advertisement, i.e. message content, associated with the content keyword, highest bid advertisement is sent to subscriber in S6.9 by messaging engine 248. If no keywords are found in step S6.10 the existence of “parent” ad is studied in content delivery platform 24. At least in some embodiments, parent ad is an ad that is that is connected to “child” ad, i.e. parent ad and child ad are arranged hierarchically in such away that child ad is subordinate of the parent ad. Similarly if no matching keyword is found parent ad is studied S6.7. If there is advertisement in higher hierarchy the highest bid advertisement is sent in S6.12 if no then for example some default message or some other message might be sent in S6.11. Further if keyword category is known the question engine 244 might send related ads to subscribers in certain category as in S6.14. Alternatively, in some embodiments message content, e.g. an ad, will be sent which has the lowest bid amount set.
At least in one embodiment of the present invention, plurality of message contents has found to be associated with a content keyword that is the same than the matching content keyword and/or same than a content keyword in connection to the matching keyword, a message content having associated with the same content keyword than the matching keyword is selected for delivery.
Example of categories and related keywords and example questions is shown in table of
As an “use case” example of an embodiment of the invention there might be two advertisers, i.e. advertiser 1 and 2. Advertiser 1 has two active campaigns “Drinks” and “Movie”. Both campaigns of Advertiser 1 have one advertisement associated with them namely “Cola” and “Trailer 1”. Advertiser 1 has given a bid of 0.3ε for content keyword “Drink”. The “Drink” keyword is associated with “Cola” ad of “Drinks” Campaign.
Alternatively content keyword “Drink” can be associated with keyword Category of “Soft drinks” or “Cola” ad can be associated with Category hierarchy of “Soft drinks” and/or “Drinking” and/or “Food” depending on setup of database structure.
In the example there is bid of “0.25ε” for content keyword “Movie” and 0.1ε for content keyword “going out” for campaign “Movie” and advertisement “Trailer 1”. Actual ads “Cola” could be for example MMS message with Coca Cola™ logo and “Trailer 1” could be for example MMS video message with movie trailer of the advertised movie. Advertiser 2 has one campaign “Movie promo” active. There are two different advertisements associated with campaign “Discount” and “Trailer 2”. Advertiser has set bid of 0.27ε for content keyword “Movie” and 0.15ε for content keyword “Tickets” that are associated with “Discount” advertisement. The advertiser has bid for content keyword phrase “Watch trailer” with 0.4ε and associated ad “Trailer 2” for the said content keyword. Actual advertisement of “Discount” could be for example coupon giving 10% off the price of movie ticket. Trailer 2 could be for example video sent over MMS or for example link to video streaming service showing the trailer of the video
The operator of the system sends questions to subscribers like: “Bored-what's your plans for the weekend” or “Want to know todays TV shows, Movies or Bars?”. The subscriber reads the messages and answers to one of those “Planning to watch movie on TV”. The response is analysed in keyword mapper module 246. Based on the response or history of responses associated advertisement is selected from database 26 and further send to subscriber. Selection is done by mapping terms that can be used as keywords in the response to content keywords set by the advertiser.
Since keywords “Watch” and “Movie” were found in communication the system finds at least advertisements Trailer 1 of Advertiser 1 and Discount and Trailer 2 for Advertiser 2. Trailer 2 has the highest bid (0.4ε) on found advertisements. Trailer 2 of Advertiser 2 is sent to subscriber if the daily budget of advertiser 2 has not been spent. 0.4ε of the budget is reduced after delivering or sending the advertisement.
According to at least one embodiment of the invention, message content is selected for a recipient by selecting at least one term contained in a message as a keyword and comparing the selected keyword to content keywords in a content keyword database comprising plurality of content keywords, to select at least one content keyword matching to the selected keyword as a matching content keyword. The matching content keyword is then used to search if any message content stored to a content database has a content keyword associated with it that is same than the matching content keyword and/or same than a content keyword in connection to the matching keyword. A message content of which associated content keyword is the same than the matching content keyword and/or same than a content keyword in connection to the matching keyword is selected for delivery to the recipient.
According to some embodiments, the selected message, i.e. message content, is sent to the recipient as a message, e.g. as a Short Messaging System (SMS) message or as a Multimedia Messaging System (MMS) message.
The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. For example, one embodiment could be to use received keywords to trigger sending of entertainment content to subscriber.
Since the answers are free word answers the answers can be anything As an example question: “How much are you planning to spend on Christmas presents this year? 1) More than last year; 2) The same as last year; 3) Less than last year. ̂1/2/3” was answered by about 5000 subscribers and hundredths of different answers was received. In the list below is presented some of the answers and number of answers of the type. In conventional systems expected answers would be either 1, 2 or 3 and possible analysis of the results would be based on those. Out of 5000 answers only 681+671+389=1741 answers would be used and rest (5000−1741=3259) discarded leading efficiently to waste of communication resources.
It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0823323.1 | Dec 2008 | GB | national |
This is a continuation Application of International Application No. PCT/EP2009/067775, filed on Dec. 22, 2009, which claimed the priority of Great Britain Application No. 0823323.1, filed Dec. 22, 2008, the entire content of each of which applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2009/067775 | Dec 2009 | US |
| Child | 12985866 | US |
