Content Provisioning Server for Independent Ad Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile communications networks face complexity and inefficiency in introducing new services, such as augmented SMS/MMS messages with advertisements, due to the need for extensive modifications in the SMS gateway infrastructure, leading to increased complexity, administration difficulties, and potential delays in message forwarding.

Innovation Solution

A method for controlling the transmission of content items in mobile communications networks, where a content provisioning server and content analysis entity operate independently of the SMS/MMS gateway to associate and present secondary content items, such as advertisements, with primary content items, using item identifiers and keyword-based matching, allowing for flexible and efficient service introduction without modifying the existing network infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the SMS gateway infrastructure is modified to support augmented messages with advertisements, then service functionality is improved, but device complexity and administration difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice functionalityVSAvoidgateway complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into independent functional modules: the existing SMS gateway handles primary message transmission, while a separate content provisioning server handles secondary content (advertisements). This segmentation allows the gateway to remain unchanged and simple, while the provisioning server provides enhanced service functionality independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A content provisioning server acts as an intermediary between the SMS gateway and the user terminal. This intermediary receives item identifiers from the gateway, retrieves corresponding secondary content, and delivers it to the terminal without requiring modifications to the gateway infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the SMS gateway is modified to process and modify messages before forwarding, then added-value services are enabled, but message forwarding speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadded-value serviceVSAvoidmessage forwarding speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Secondary content is pre-associated with primary content through item identifiers during message creation. This preliminary association allows the SMS gateway to forward messages immediately without waiting for advertisement retrieval or processing, thus maintaining high forwarding speed while enabling added-value services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The content provisioning server operates as an independent intermediary that retrieves and delivers secondary content in parallel with the primary message transmission. This eliminates sequential processing delays and maintains message forwarding speed while enabling added-value services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If extensive modifications are made to the SMS gateway to support new services, then service flexibility is improved, but ease of operation and administration deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice flexibilityVSAvoidadministration ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the system into an unchanged SMS gateway and a separate content provisioning server, the gateway remains easy to operate and administer. Service flexibility is achieved through the provisioning server, which can be independently configured and managed without affecting the gateway's simple operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The content provisioning server autonomously retrieves secondary content using item identifiers provided by the gateway. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual configuration and administration of the gateway, maintaining ease of operation while enabling flexible service delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2347380B1Controlling transmission of a content item to a user terminal by independently transmitting additional content to the user terminal

Publication Date: 2015.02.25 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

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AI summary

An infrastructure (136, 138, 140, 142) for a delivery of content items such as SMS messages (134) or MMS messages in a mobile communications network (100) is proposed, wherein these primary content items are augmented by secondary content items, e.g. advertisements (150). A method embodiment related to the proposed network infrastructure is performed in a content provisioning server (138) and comprises the steps of receiving (S6) a content indicator (146) indicative of content of the first content item; determining (S7) a second content item based on the content indicator; and transmitting (S8) the second content item towards a user terminal (132), wherein a transmission path (S8, S9) of the second content item in the mobile communications network is at least in part separate from a transmission path (S3) of the first content item.