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

Abstract

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 (S 6 ) a content indicator ( 146 ) indicative of content of the first content item; determining (S 7 ) a second content item based on the content indicator; and transmitting (S 8 ) the second content item towards a user terminal ( 132 ), wherein a transmission path (S 8 , S 9 ) of the second content item in the mobile communications network is at least in part separate from a transmission path (S 3 ) of the first content item.

1 . A method for controlling a transmission of a first content item to a user terminal via a mobile communications network, the method being performed in a content provisioning server ( 138 ,  614 ,  618 ) of the mobile communications network ( 100 ,  600 ) and comprising the following steps:
 receiving ( 502 ) a content indicator ( 146 ) indicative of content of the first content item ( 134 ,  610 );   determining ( 504 ) a second content item ( 150 ) based on the content indicator, wherein the second content item is intended for an associated presentation with the first content item on the user terminal ( 132 ); and   transmitting ( 506 ) the second content item towards the user terminal, wherein a transmission path (S 8 , S 9 ) of the second content item in the mobile communications network is at least in part separate from a transmission path (S 3 ) of the first content item.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the step of transmitting the second content item is performed independent of a transmission of the first content item in the mobile communications network.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  or  2 ,
 wherein the step of receiving the content indicator comprises receiving an item identifier (SMS ID) identifying the first content item ( 134 ) and the step of transmitting the second content item ( 150 ) comprises transmitting the item identifier in association with the second content item. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims,
 wherein the second content item ( 150 ) is determined based on a geographical location of the user terminal.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the second content item is determined based on if an intended presentation area of a content item covers the location of the mobile terminal.   
     
     
         6 . A method for controlling a transmission of a first content item to a user terminal via a mobile communications network, the method being performed in a content analysis entity ( 136 ,  608 ) of the mobile communications network ( 100 ,  600 ) and comprising the following steps:
 receiving ( 302 ) data representing content of the first content item ( 134 );   determining ( 304 ), based on the received data, a content indicator ( 146 ) indicative of the content of the first content item; and   providing ( 306 , S 6 ) the content indicator to a content provisioning server ( 138 ,  614 ,  618 ) of the mobile communications network for providing (S 9 ), independent of a provision (S 3 ) of the first content item to the user terminal ( 132 ), a second content item ( 150 ) to the user terminal, wherein the second content item is intended for an associated presentation of the first and the second content item on the user terminal.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the received data comprise at least one of a copy of content of the first content item and the content item itself.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6  or  7 ,
 wherein the determination step comprises parsing a text representing content of the first content item. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method according to any one of  claims 6  to  8 ,
 wherein the content indicator comprises one or more keywords representing content of the first content item. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling a transmission of a first content item to a user terminal via a mobile communications network, the method being performed in the user terminal ( 132 ) and comprising the following steps:
 receiving ( 802 , S 3 ) the first content item ( 134 ) from the mobile communications network ( 100 );   receiving ( 804 , S 9 ) a second content item ( 150 ) from the mobile communications network, wherein the second content item is intended for an associated presentation with the first content item on the user terminal and the reception of the second content item is independent of the reception of the first content item; and   presenting ( 806 ) the second content item in association with the first content item.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the step of receiving ( 804 , S 9 ) the second content item ( 150 ) comprises receiving an item identifier (SMS ID) related to the first content item ( 134 ) and the step of presenting both content items is performed based on the item identifier.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  or  11 ,
 wherein the second content item is presented in-line ( 902 ) with the first content item. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims,
 wherein the first content item is related to at least one of an SMS service, MMS service, email service and IMS service.   
     
     
         14 . A computer program having computer executable instructions, which when executed on a content provisioning server cause the content provisioning server to perform the method according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 . 
     
     
         15 . A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions, which when executed on a content analysis entity cause the content analysis entity to perform the method according to any one of  claims 6  to  9 . 
     
     
         16 . A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions, which when executed on a user terminal causes the user terminal to perform the method according to any one of  claims 10  to  12 . 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and the computer program according to one of  claims 14  to  16 , the computer program being stored on the computer readable medium. 
     
     
         18 . A content provisioning server ( 138 ,  614 ,  618 ) of a mobile communications network ( 100 ,  600 ) adapted for controlling a transmission (S 3 ) of a first content item ( 134 ) to a user terminal ( 132 ), the content provisioning server comprising:
 a component ( 402 ) adapted to receive a content indicator ( 146 ) indicative of content of the first content item;   a component ( 404 ) adapted to determine a second content item ( 150 ,  902 ,  904 ) based on the content indicator, wherein the second content item is intended for an associated presentation with the first content item on the user terminal; and   a component ( 406 ) adapted to transmit the second content item ( 150 ) towards the user terminal, wherein a transmission path (S 8 , S 9 ) of the second content item in the mobile communications network is at least in part separate from a transmission path (S 3 ) of the first content item.   
     
     
         19 . The content provisioning server of  claim 18 , wherein the component ( 406 ) adapted to transmit the second content item ( 150 ) is further adapted to perform the transmission of the second content item independent of a transmission of the first content item in the mobile communications network. 
     
     
         20 . A content analysis entity ( 136 ,  608 ) of a mobile communications network ( 100 ,  600 ) adapted for controlling a transmission (S 3 ) of a first content item ( 134 ) to a user terminal ( 132 ), the content analysis entity comprising:
 a component ( 202 ) adapted to receive data representing content of the first content item;   a component ( 204 ) adapted to determine, based on the received data, a content indicator ( 146 ) indicative of the content of the first content item; and   a component ( 206 ) adapted to provide the content indicator to a content provisioning server ( 138 ) of the mobile communications network for providing, independent of a provision of the first content item ( 134 ) to the user terminal, a second content item ( 150 ) to the user terminal, wherein the second content item is intended for an associated presentation of the first and the second content item on the user terminal.   
     
     
         21 . The content analysis entity of  claim 20 , wherein the receiving component ( 202 ) is adapted to receive at least one of a copy of a content of the first content item and the content item itself. 
     
     
         22 . A node of a mobile communications network, comprising a content provisioning server according to  claim 18  or  19  and a content analysis entity according to  claim 20  or  21 . 
     
     
         23 . A mobile communications network ( 100 ,  600 ) comprising a first node ( 138 ,  614 ,  618 ) implementing a content provisioning server according to  claim 18  or  19  and a second node ( 136 ,  608 ) implementing a content analysis entity according to  claim 20  or  21 , wherein the first node and the second node are remote to each other. 
     
     
         24 . A user terminal ( 132 ,  612 ) adapted for connecting with a mobile communications network ( 100 ,  600 ) adapted for controlling a transmission (S 3 ) of a first content item ( 134 ) to the user terminal, the user terminal comprising:
 a component ( 702 ) adapted to receive the first content item from the mobile communications network;   a component ( 704 ) adapted to receive a second content item ( 150 ,  902 ,  904 ) from the mobile communications network, wherein the second content item is intended for an associated presentation with the first content item on the user terminal and the reception of the second content item is independent of the reception of the first content item; and   a component ( 706 ) adapted to present the second content item in association with the first content item.   
     
     
         25 . The user terminal of  claim 24 , wherein the component ( 702 ) adapted to receive the first content item is further adapted to receive an item identifier (SMS ID) related to the first content item ( 134 ), and wherein the presentation component ( 706 ) adapted to present the second content item in association with the first content item is performed based on the item identifier.