•
`
`•
`
`Pl 390633
`
`REC'D O 8 MAY 2001
`
`PCT
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`
`May04,2001
`
`THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT ANNEXED HERETO IS A TRUE COPY FROM
`THE RECORDS OF THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK
`OFFICE OF THOSE PAPERS OF THE BELOW IDENTIFIED PATENT
`APPLICATION THAT MET THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE GRANTED A
`FILING DATE UNDER 35 use 111.
`
`APPLICATION NUMBER: 09/507,774
`FILING DATE: February 18, 2000
`PCT APPLICATION NUMBER: PCTIUSOJ/03684
`
`3
`
`By Authority of the
`COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
`
`E. BORNETT
`Certifying Officer
`
`PRIORITY
`DOCUMENT
`
`SUBMIITED OR TRANSMIITED IN
`COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 17.l(a) OR (b)
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`001
`
`

`

`I PATENT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL LE1TER
`0 0 8 l/ e
`
`(Small Entity
`
`Docket No.
`5114.00
`
`..
`
`,4
`
`(
`
`C).Ld
`
`• s · n LLL::Jr
`
`TO THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`
`Transmitted herewith for filing under 35 U.S.C. 1 f1 and 37 C.F.R. 1.53 is the patent application of:
`
`David Robert NOBLE and L. Evan BAERGEN
`
`2
`§
`!iE ~~
`A.
`.r- ==:&
`cnl'- ~&
`::;&; -~
`&--~ .......
`~ ! § ; ; ...
`For: EVENT TRIGGERED PUSH DELIVERY AND ELECTRONIC REDEMPTION OF PROMOTION~g: • :
`u ~
`.,., ~
`INFORMATION
`Enclosed are:
`181 Certificate of Mailing with Express Mail Mailing Label No.
`181 14 informal
`sheets of drawings.
`0 A certified copy of a
`181 Declaration
`D Signed.
`~ Power of Attorney
`0
`Information Disclosure Statement
`0 Preliminary Amendment
`Verified Statement(s) to Establish Small Entity Status Under 37 C.F.R. 1.9 and 1.27.
`~ unsigned
`~ Other:
`~jj
`ifi
`f-1
`-=-=
`I:.:
`..,,,
`T"i>fal Claims
`Yo;._J
`- 3 =
`1opep. Claims
`,,
`~tlple Dependent Claims (check If applicable) D
`
`EI218003855US
`
`application.
`
`181 Unsigned.
`
`e
`
`For
`
`#Filed
`
`#Allowed
`
`#Extra
`
`CLAIMS AS FILED
`
`38
`
`3
`
`- 20 :.::
`
`18
`
`0
`
`X
`
`X
`
`Rate
`
`$9.00
`
`$39.00
`
`Fee
`
`$162.00
`
`$0.00
`
`$0.00
`
`BASIC FEE
`
`TOTAL FILING FEE
`
`$380.00
`
`$542.00
`
`ali A check in the amount of
`to cover the filing fee is enclosed.
`181 The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge and credit Deposit Account No.
`as described below. A duplicate 5.opy of this sheet is enclosed.
`'P.547... tW
`as filing fee.
`~ Charge the amount of
`181 Credit any overpayment.
`181 Charge any additional filing fees required under 37 C.F.R. 1.16 and 1.17.
`D Charge the issue fee set in 37 C.F.R. 1.18 at the mailing of the Notice of Allowance,
`pursuantto 37 C.F.A. 1.311(b).
`
`04-1415
`
`Dated: February 18, 2000
`
`cc: SUMedia.com, Inc.
`
`'~~~
`G..:: I;:: 6,A08
`
`Dorsey & Whitney LLP
`Customer No. 20686
`
`P01SMAWREV06
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`002
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. E1218003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`EVENT TRIGGERED PUSH DELIVERY AND ELECTRONIC REDEMPTION
`
`OF PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION
`
`Technical Field
`
`5
`
`The invention relates to computers and computer networks. More particularly, the
`
`invention relates to distribution and redemption of promotional information over a communications
`
`network.
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`Promotional information, i.e., advertisements, discount coupons, gift certificates, etc., have
`
`been used by retailers, distributors and/or manufacturers of goods and services as a way to attract,
`
`and to induce, customers to visit their store and buy their products and services. In particular,
`
`discount coupons have a potential to serve as a useful market planning tool by-providing
`
`demographics information, e.g., consumer preferences, peak demand periods, etc.
`
`The traditional paper coupons, however, are inefficient in achieving the above marketing
`
`objectives due at least in part to low utilization of such by consumers. Paper coupons require
`
`consumers to search newspapers, magazines, mailers, etc. to find, select and save relevant paper
`
`coupons for later redemption. The search for particular coupons takes a significant amount of time
`
`and, once gathered, quantities of paper coupons become bulky and are difficult to organize in a
`
`useful manner.
`
`e 20
`
`Moreover, consumers may be further deterred from using discount ,coupons on a regular
`
`basis due to the extra time and/or embarrassment during redemption thereof at a retailer.
`
`Redemption may take a significant time when the check-out line is long, which may exacerbate a
`
`customer's embarrassment.
`
`25
`
`Furthermore, the paper coupon industry suffers from an enormous problem of fraudulent
`
`redemption practices by unscrupulous individuals who trade and/or redeem a large number of
`
`1
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`003
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. EI218003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`coupons in bulk wholly unrelated to any sale of the products for which the coupons were meant to
`
`apply. These fraudulent redemption practices not only cost the manufacture's an enormous amount
`
`of money in lost profits and wasted marketing expenses, but also result in a corruption of market
`
`research data by posting a large number ofredemptions unrelated to any purchasing activities of
`
`5
`
`consumers. Thus, the paper coupon redemption patterns fail to serve as an accurate market
`
`indicators.
`
`Recently, a small but growing number oflnternet web sites have appeared that offer
`
`electronic discount coupons on-line have appeared. For example, Fig. 1 shows an example of an
`
`on-line electronic coupon distribution network 100, which includes a wide area network (WAN)
`
`103 (e.g., the Internet), through which a consumer PC 105 communicates with the coupon server
`
`101. The consumer 105 "visits" (i.e., finds and initiates a communication to) the server 101, which
`
`may list a number of available discount coupons stored in storage 102. After downloading a
`
`selected discount coupon(s), the consumer 105 may print the coupon from the printer 106
`
`connected to the consumer PC 105, and present the paper form coupon to an "off-line" merchant
`
`for redemption. The consumer 105 may also visit an on-line merchant 104 ( e.g., a web site) and
`
`redeem the coupon during an on-line purchase.
`
`Unfortunately, some of the conventional on-line electronic coupon distribution network
`
`described above suffers from the same disadvantages of the traditional paper coupon. For
`
`example, consumers may be required to print the coupons and then present the printed coupons to
`
`20
`
`a retail store at the time of purchase.
`
`Moreover, the conventional on-line redemption described above can be even more
`
`inconvenient than the paper coupons because of the limited number of available on-line merchants,
`
`and because the consumer is required to access a computer terminal. Conventional electronic
`
`coupons are not portable (i.e., cannot be stowed in pockets or wallets, etc.), and thus do not allow
`
`25
`
`redemption during spontaneous, spur of the moment, purchases. This is particularly
`
`disadvantageous in modem society, which is becoming increasingly mobile. Current consumer
`
`e
`
`e
`
`2
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`004
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. EI2 l 8003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`redemption of a conventional on-line electronic coupons is, as can be expected, even less than that
`
`of the traditional paper coupons.
`
`Furthermore, conventional discount coupons (both in paper and electronic fonn) suffer from
`
`a fundamental flaw in that they require consumers to "pull" the coupons (i.e., initiate the search and
`
`5
`
`acquisition process). In other words, consumers are the active initiator, while the distribution
`
`system passively provides coupons on request from the consumers. Thus, conventional discount
`
`coupons are effective only to the extent consumers succeed in finding the particular coupons, and
`
`only when consumers already have the inclination for the purchases. Thus, conventional discount
`
`coupons are limited in their effectiveness in promoting new sales.
`
`In addition, because the distribution process and the redemption process of the
`
`conventional discount coupons are, for the most part, disconnected from each other, a complete
`
`tracking of a coupon from the issuance to the redemption cannot be made.
`
`Thus, there is a need for more efficient method and device for promotional information
`
`delivery and redemption system, which promotes participation by a larger number of consumers.
`
`There is also a need for a more efficient and faster method and device for promotional
`
`information delivery and redemption system, which makes it easier and more convenient for mobile
`
`consumers to participate.
`
`There is also a need for promotional information delivery and redemption system that is
`
`effective in creating new desires for purchases by actively "pushing" the promotional information to
`
`20
`
`a targeted number of consumers.
`
`There is a further need for promotional information delivery and redemption system, which
`
`provides a seamless integration of delivery and redemption process to provide a secure redemption
`
`that prevents fraud.
`
`3
`
`e
`
`e
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`005
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. EI218003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`Summary of Invention
`
`A system and method are provided for promotional information distribution and/or
`
`redemption via a wireless communication network. Upon an occurrence of one or more triggering
`
`events, promotional information, such as a discount coupon, is automatica11y sent to the wireless
`
`5
`
`communication device of a subscriber from a distribution server. In a preferred embodiment,
`
`promotional information can be sent to the wireless device even without a specific request from the
`
`e
`
`device user. The distribution server has stored therein a subscriber profile, including buying
`
`preferences, personal, family and/or :friends' biographical data, calendar/schedule information, etc.
`
`The distribution server preferably selects particular promotional information based, in part, on the
`
`l'~
`
`type of triggering event and the subscriber profile. The received promotional information may be
`
`used ( or redeemed) by the subscriber via an e-mail message, a facsimile or a telephone call ( or by
`
`on-screen vc1ification by a merchant) without necessarily printing the promotional information. The
`
`wireless communication device can also be equipped with an automatic scanner, such as a bar-code
`
`reader, to facilitate a seamlessly integrated completion of promotional information delivery and
`
`redemption without the need for a conventional point-of-sale (POS) station.
`
`In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a method of distributing
`
`promotional information is provided. At least one triggering event is provided and detected. Upon
`
`detection of such a triggering event, a push delivery of promotional information is initiated to a
`
`mobile unit at least in part via a wireless communications network.
`
`In addition, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, a promotional
`
`infonnation distribution and redemption system comprises a distribution server, a mobile unit and a
`
`communication network, where the distribution server pushes the promotional information to the
`
`mobile unit through the communication network.
`
`e
`
`20
`
`4
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`006
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. EI218003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`Description of Drawings
`
`Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in
`
`the art from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
`
`Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional electronic coupon
`
`5
`
`distribution/redemption network.
`
`Figure 2 is a block diagram showing relevant portions of an exemplary embodiment of the
`
`promotional information delivery/redemption system in accordance with the principles of the present
`
`invention.
`
`Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the mobile unit and the server of Figure 2 in more
`
`l'ej
`
`detail.
`
`Figure 4 is an exemplary flow diagram of the user sign-up process in the promotional
`
`infonnation delivery/redemption system in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
`
`Figure 4a is an exemplary flow diagram of the user profile setup process in the promotional
`
`information delivery/redemption system in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
`
`Figure 4b is an exemplary flow diagram of the user option selection/change process in the
`
`promotional information delivery/redemption system in accordance with the principles of the present
`
`invention.
`
`e
`
`20
`
`Figure 5a is a block diagram showing relevant portions of the mobile unit and the server,
`
`and an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the event triggered promotional information
`
`delivery process and system in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
`
`Figure Sb is a block diagram showing relevant portions of the mobile unit and the server,
`
`and an illustration of an alternative embodiment of the event triggered promotional information
`
`delivery process and system in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
`
`Figure 6 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating the mobile unit software component of the
`
`25
`
`promotional information delivery/redemption system in accordance with the principles of the present
`
`invention.
`
`5
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`007
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. EI218003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`Figure 7a is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating the user interface in the server of the
`
`promotional information delivery/redemption system in accordance with the principles of the present
`
`invention.
`
`Figure 7b is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating the redemption method selection process
`
`5
`
`of the promotional information delivery/redemption system in accordance with the principles of the
`
`present invention.
`
`e
`
`Figure 8 is an illustrative exemplary flow diagram of handling of a calendar event trigger in
`
`the promotional information delivery/redemption system in accordance with the principles of the
`
`present invention.
`
`Figure 9 is an illustrative exemplary flow diagram of handling of a location/favorite event
`
`trigger in the promotional information delivery/redemption system in accordance with the principles
`
`-::·
`
`of the present invention.
`
`Figure 10 is an illustrative exemplary flow diagraqi of the friend notification feature of the
`
`promotional information delivery/redemption system in accordance with the principles of the present
`
`invention.
`
`Figure 11 is an illustrative exemplary flow diagram of the redemption through bar-code
`
`reader process of the promotional information delivery/redemption system in accordance with the
`
`principles of the present invention.
`
`e
`
`20
`
`Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
`
`In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an apparatus for and a method of
`
`promotional information distribution to (and/or redemption from) a wireless communication device,
`
`through a communication network are described. Upon an occurrence of one or more triggering
`
`event, promotional information ( e.g., a discount coupon, advertisement messages, gift certificates,
`
`25
`
`etc.) are automatically sent to the wireless communication device of a subscriber from a distribution
`
`server. Preferably, the promotional information can be sent even without a specific request from the
`
`6
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`008
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. El218003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`subscriber. The distribution server has stored therein a subscriber profile, e.g., buying preferences,
`
`personal, family and/or friends biographic data, calendar/schedule information, etc. The distribution
`
`server selects particular promotional information based on the type of triggering event and/or the
`
`subscriber profile. The received promotional information may be used ( or redeemed) by the
`
`5
`
`subscriber via an e-mail message, a facsimile or a telephone call ( or by on screen verification by a
`
`merchant). Optionally, redemption can be accomplished without requiring the user to print the
`
`promotional information. Alternatively, the promotional information could provide a unique code to
`
`be entered on a retailer's web site or a retailer's on-premises payment system. The wireless
`
`communication device can also be equipped with a bar-code reader or other scanning device to
`
`facilitate a seamlessly integrated completion of promotional infonnation delivery and redemption
`
`transactional loop. This eliminates the need for a conventional point-of.:sale (POS) station, thus
`
`ensuring a secured redemption of the promotional information.
`
`In particular, Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the promotional infonnation
`
`delivery/redemption system 200 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The
`
`promotional information delivery/redemption system 200 preferably comprises a wide area
`
`network (WAN) 203, e.g., the Internet, the public switched telephone network (PSTN), and the
`
`like, through which a consumer PC 205 communicates with a server 201. The network 203,
`
`however, could alternately also be a private network or intranet. The WAN 203, the consumer PC
`
`205, printer 206 and the on-line merchant 204 each operate in similar manner as those of the
`
`conventional system shown in Fig. 1.
`
`e
`
`20
`
`In addition, the inventive promotional information delivery/redemption system 200
`
`comprises a wireless communication network 210, e.g., a cellular or PCS telephone network. The
`
`wireless communication network provides communications between various wireless
`
`communications devices, such as cellular phones 212a-212c, a personal digital assistant (PDA)
`
`25
`
`213, and a portable computer 214. The wireless communication devices are collectively referred
`
`herein as mobile units (MU), which can be any devices that may be utilized to effectuate
`
`7
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`009
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. EI218003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`communication through the wireless network 210. In some instances, as used herein, "mobile unit"
`
`may include stationary wireless devices, such as appliances using blue tooth wireless technology.
`
`The wireless communication network 210 can be any network providing wireless communication
`
`channel(s), and may utilize any of the wireless communication standards and protocols, such as a
`
`5
`
`personal communications service (PCS) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA)
`
`network , a time division multiple access network (TDMA), the global system for mobile
`
`communications (GSM), or the like, each of which are known to those familiar with wireless
`
`communications.
`
`The base stations (BS) 211a and 211b act as wireless interfaces between the wireless
`
`network 210 and the mobile units 212a-212c, 213 and 214. The wireless communication network
`
`210 may additionally comprise, one or more home location registers (HLR) (not shown), several
`
`visitor location registers (VLR) (also not shown), mobile switching center(s) (MSC) (also not
`
`shown), all of which are well known to those familiar with wireless telecommunication networks.
`
`Additionally, the inventive promotional infonnation delivery/redemption system 200 includes
`
`a wireless/WAN gateway 207, which allows a mobile unit to communicate with the server 201
`
`across the wireless network 210 and the WAN 203, by providing a translation between the
`
`wireless communications protocol 209 and the WAN protocol 208.
`
`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wireless communication protocol
`
`209 utilizes the wireless markup language (WML) of the wireless applications protocol (W AP), the
`
`20
`
`W AP protocol 208 utilizes the hypertext transport protocol/Internet protocol (HTTP/IP). The
`
`wireless/WAN gateway of the preferred embodiment comprises a WAP/HTTP gateway, e.g., ones
`
`commercially available from the Phone.com, Inc. of Redwood City, California . It should, however,
`
`be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill that the wireless communication protocol 208 may
`
`comprise any other communications protocol, without departing from the true spirit and scope of
`
`25
`
`the present invention.
`
`8
`
`e
`
`e
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`010
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. EI218003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`Shown in Fig. 3, are block diagrams of exemplary embodiments of the mobile unit 310 and
`
`the server 301, which may be utilized as the mobile units 212a-212c, 213 and 214 and the server
`
`201 shown in Fig. 2, respectively. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the
`
`server 301 may include communication interface 302, through which message can be sent and
`
`5
`
`received to and from the WAN 203. The user interface 303 enables a user/consumer to have
`
`access to the server 301 through the WAN 203 and the communication interface 302. Merchants
`
`who wish to place promotional information for their goods and services preferably access the server
`
`301 through the WAN 203, the communication interface 302 and the merchant interface 304.
`
`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the server 301 accesses each of the
`
`merchants through the communication interface 302 and the WAN 203 to monitor the inventory of
`
`goods and/or services to provide a real time inventory control and/or inventory level based
`
`promotional events. For example, if the on-line merchant 204 has an excessive surplus in its
`
`inventory, the server 301 may generate and send promotional information to selected users in order
`
`to promote more sales. In the alternative, the server 301 may initiate an inventory level based
`
`promotional event when, e.g., a merchant reports via the merchant interface 304 an excessive
`
`surplus in its inventory. Preferably, the server 301 includes an inventory web site accessible by
`
`merchants. On-line inventory tracking services are know in the art. By allowing merchants to keep
`
`track of their inventory on server 301, however, server 301 can provide additional infonnation to
`
`users about haw and where to redeem their coupons or other promotional materials. This is
`
`20
`
`explained in greater depth hereinafter.
`
`The server 301 may also include a financial institution interface 305 in order to access and
`
`provide access to financial institutions, e.g., credit card companies and banks, to process
`
`transactions involving payments by consumers to the merchants. The Administration portion 306
`
`includes the operating system (OS) for the server 301. This portion 306 controls the
`
`25
`
`communication sessions and the database operations. The database storage 307, may be a disk
`
`array and stores a user profile database, promotional information from the merchants, and the like.
`
`9
`
`e
`
`e
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`011
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. EI218003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`An example is the AUTO RAID available from Hewlett Packard Company of Fort Collins, CO,
`
`USA.
`
`The mobile unit 310 of the present invention may comprise a radio frequency (RF) front end
`
`312 to communicate to and from the base station (BS) of the wireless network 210. The mobile
`
`5
`
`unit may further include a memory 316 to store data, e.g., phone numbers, names, etc., and a CPU
`
`314 and the operating system (OS) 315 to collectively control the overall operation of the mobile
`
`unit, in a manner we11 known to those familiar with operations of a cellular handset. The memory
`
`316 can be RAM, ROM, disk, or other form of electronic storage, though it is preferred that
`
`memory 316 not erase its contents when mobile unit 310 is turned off
`
`In addition, the mobile unit 310 may include a programmable timer 318, which may be set
`
`to expire after a specified time duration, e.g., 10 minutes, etc. The mobile unit software component
`
`(MU S\V) 317 is preferably a JAVA® applet downloaded from the server 3 01. Component 317
`
`controls the promotional information delivery/redemption portion of the mobile unit 310 as will be
`
`described in more detail below. The mobile unit 310 may optionally comprise a bar-code reader
`
`311 for reading product information, e.g., the UPC code and the like, from boxes of goods.
`
`In a preferred embodiment, each of the user interface 303, the merchant interface 304 and
`
`the financial institution interface 305 comprises at least a hypertext markup language (HTML) page
`
`and/or a wireless markup language (WML) page, also referred to as web pages, allowing the users,
`
`the merchants and the financial institutions to communicate with the server 301 through a web
`
`20
`
`browser. Examples of acceptable browsers include the NAVIGATOR® from the Netscape
`
`Communications Corporation of Mountain View, CA, USA, or the INTERNET EXPLORER®
`
`from the Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington, USA.
`
`For example, a consumer may access the user interface 303 (e.g., a web page) via
`
`consumer PC 205 using a web browser and/or via a mobile unit 310 using a micro-browser, which
`
`- -
`
`25
`
`is a version of web browser specifically made for wireless communication devices.
`
`10
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`012
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. E121800385SUS
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`Figure 4 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the user sign-up procedure
`
`in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In step 401, a consumer chooses to sign
`
`up as a user by clicking on the selection link from the user interface web page, for example. The
`
`server 301 determines whether the identification of the mobile unit of the new user is known in step
`
`5
`
`402. The mobile unit identification can be obtained by having the user enter an identifier such as the
`
`mobile-unit phone number, if the new user is communicating via a PC. Alternatively, if the new user
`
`is communicating via the mobile unit, the mobile unit identification can be obtained by obtaining a
`
`unique identifying number, such as the mobile-unit identification number (MIN) or the like directly
`
`from the mobile unit.
`
`If the mobile unit identification is known, in step 404, the server 301 preferably contacts the
`
`operator of the wireless network, to which the mobile unit subscribes, to obtain the personal
`
`biographical info1mation. Information such as the user's name, address, telephone and facsimile
`
`numbers and the like can thus be obtained without requiring the new user to manually enter the
`
`information. This feature is particularly useful when the user is accessing the server web page via
`
`the mobile unit because the manual entry of information may be more difficult due to the limited input
`
`capabilities of the mobile unit.
`
`If on the other hand, in step 402, it is determined that the mobile unit identification is not
`
`readily available, or if the wireless network operator is unavailable or unwilling to provide the
`
`information, the new user is prompted to manually enter his/her personal biographical information in
`
`step 403. Once the preliminary biographical information is obtained, the new user is prompted, in
`
`step 405, to set user profile and select option settings, the processes of which is described in detail
`
`below. After the user sets the user profile and the option settings, the server 301 determines, in
`
`step 406, if the mobile unit is currently turned on. If the mobile unit is on, the server sends a mobile
`
`unit software component, e.g., a JAVA® applet, to the mobile unit in step 408. If, on the other
`
`e
`
`20
`
`25
`
`hand, the mobile unit is currently turned off, the server 301 places the mobile unit software
`
`11
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`013
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. El218003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`component in a queue, in step 407, for later transmittal to the mobile unit the next time the mobile
`
`unit is turned on.
`
`Once the mobile unit 318 receives the mobile unit software component, the sign-up process
`
`is complete. In step 409, the server 301 may send a message (such as an e-mail and/or call) the
`
`5
`
`mobile unit 310 to confinn the acceptance of the new user and the availability of the promotional
`
`delivery/redemption service.
`
`e
`
`Figure 4a shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the user profile setup
`
`process. When a user wishes to set up a user profile as a part of the initial sign-up process, or to
`
`make a change in the user profile previously created, he/she selects the user profile S(:t up menu by,
`
`e.g., clicking on the corresponding selection link from the user interface web page, the server 301
`
`provides the user with three areas of the user profile to set-up and/or change, namely the personal
`
`profile 451, favorite profile 452, and the calendar event profile 453.
`
`Within the personal profile menu, the user may set-up/change the personal data, e.g., the
`
`name, e-mail address, telephone numbers, credit card information, bank account information, etc. in
`
`steps 454 to 456 as shown. In steps 457 to 459, the user may specify or change the default
`
`method of payment for future purchases that may be made through the promotional information
`
`delivery/redemption system of the present invention.
`
`e
`
`In steps 460 to 463, within the favorite profile menu 452, the user may set-up/change his
`
`preference data such as his favorite types and/or color of clothing, his favorite coffee shop, his
`
`20
`
`favorite brand of cereal, etc. He may also be permitted to specify the date and times to be notified
`
`for the corresponding coupon categories.
`
`Finally, in steps 464 through 468, within the calendar event profile menu 453, the user may
`
`specify one or more important dates. These dates might include wedding anniversaries, birthdays,
`
`etc. The user may also specify corresponding coupon categories for each date. For example, the
`
`25
`
`user may specify toys for the birthday of a child.
`
`12
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`014
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. EI218003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`Figure 4b shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the user option
`
`selection/change process, which is initiated when the user chooses the select/change option menu by
`
`clicking on the selection link from the user interface web page in step 470.
`
`In step 471, the server 301 queries the user if the user wishes to de-activate the
`
`5
`
`promotional information delivery service, which is activated as a default. If the user answers yes,
`
`then the server sets the service disable flag in the option setting of the user in step 472, and saves
`
`the change in the option setting in step 487. If the user answers no, the server 301 queries, in step
`
`473, whether the user wishes to enable (or disable) any of the "event based triggers" -occurrences
`
`of which may initiate the promotional information delivery process.
`
`e
`
`If the user answers yes, the enable/disable setting of the calendar event trigger and
`
`location/favorite event trigger, both of which are described in more detail below, may be modified in
`
`steps 474 to 484. If the question of step 473 is answered "no," then the process proceeds to step
`
`475, in which the server prompts the user whether the user wants to activate the "notify a friend"
`
`feature, which is described in more detail below. Similarly, in steps 477 through 482, the default
`
`display setting of the mobile unit and the user home page selection may be modified. The
`
`modification(s) made in steps 475 to 482 are used by the server 301 to update the user profile.
`
`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the promotional information is arranged
`
`in terms of the geographical location(s) of the merchants who offer the goods and services to which
`
`the promotional infonnation relates. At step 481, the user is permitted to specify a web page listing
`
`promotional information that is limited to a particular geographical area of the offering merchants, as
`
`the home or log in web page from which to start the promotional information delivery service.
`
`Figure Sa shows a block diagram of the relevant portions of the mobile unit 501 and the
`
`server 507. The mobile unit 501 may include a memory 502. Memory 502 stores the mobile unit
`
`software component (MUSW) 504, and a list of triggering events 503. In this example, the
`
`e 20
`
`25
`
`MUSW 504 updates the location of the mobile unit S01 and sends the updated location of the
`
`mobile unit to the server 508 via the signal path 505. The MUSW 504 according to this
`
`13
`
` Snap's Exhibit No. 1019
`015
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. EI218003855US
`Attorney Docket No. 5114.00
`
`e
`
`embodiment also determines if any of the triggering events have occurred, and, if so, sends a trigger
`
`signal to the server upon an occurrence of a triggering event via the signal path 505. In response to
`
`the trigger signal, the server 507, examines the trigger event