System and method for providing context based services

Abstract

In one aspect of the disclosure, a method of delivering content to a portable electronic device is provided that comprises receiving a request for content; determining a subscription level for a subscriber of the portable electronic device; determining, based on the subscription level, whether to deliver supplementary content with the content; and, if delivery of the supplementary content is to be effected then determining a method of delivery of the content; determining a method of delivery of the supplementary content; determining the supplementary content; and delivering the content and the supplementary content.

1 . A method in a server of delivering content to a portable electronic device comprising:
 determining a subscription level for a subscriber of the portable electronic device;   retrieving a subscriber profile associated with the portable electronic device;   determining, based on the subscription level and the subscriber profile, whether to deliver supplementary content with the content;   when delivery of the supplementary content is to be effected then:
 determining the supplementary content based on the subscription level and the subscriber profile; and 
 delivering the content and the supplementary content; and 
   detecting a change in at least one contextual attribute during the delivery of the content and the supplementary content, and repeating the determination as to whether to deliver the supplementary content.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the content is a map and the supplementary content includes weather conditions for a location on the map. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, when the subscription level does not indicate whether to deliver the supplementary content, sending a query to the portable electronic device querying whether the subscriber wishes to receive the supplementary content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the subscription level includes an indication of whether the subscriber has elected to receive the supplementary content when the subscriber is roaming. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to determining a subscription level, receiving a request for the content from the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the subscription level includes an indication of whether the subscriber is to receive the supplementary content. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the set of contextual attributes includes one or more of a type of the portable electronic device, the location of the portable electronic device, the presence of the portable electronic device, proximity of the portable electronic device to vendors of services or products, or attributes of available communications links portable electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . A carrier administrator server comprising:
 an interface for connecting the carrier administrator server connected to a portable electronic device and at least one content server;   a processing unit interconnected with the interface, the processing unit configured to determine a subscription level associated with the portable electronic device;   the processing unit further configured to retrieve a subscriber profile associated with the portable electronic device;   the processing unit further configured to determine, based on the subscription level and the subscriber profile, whether to deliver supplementary content with the content;   the processing unit further configured, when delivery of the supplementary content is to be effected, to:
 determine the supplementary content based on the subscription level and the subscriber profile; and 
 deliver the content and the supplementary content; and 
   the processor further configured to detect a change in at least one contextual attribute during the delivery of the content and the supplementary content, and to repeat the determination as to whether to deliver the supplementary content.   
     
     
         9 . The carrier administrator server of  claim 8  wherein the content is a map and the supplementary content includes weather conditions for a location on the map. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier administrator server of  claim 8 , the processor further configured, when the subscription level does not indicate whether to deliver the supplementary content, to send a query to the portable electronic device querying whether the subscriber wishes to receive the supplementary content. 
     
     
         11 . The carrier administrator server of  claim 8  wherein the subscription level includes an indication of whether the subscriber has elected to receive the supplementary content when the subscriber is roaming. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier administrator server of  claim 8 , the processor further configured, prior to determining a subscription level, to receive a request for the content from the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The carrier administrator server of  claim 8  wherein the subscription level includes an indication of whether the subscriber is to receive the supplementary content. 
     
     
         14 . The carrier administrator server of  claim 8  wherein the set of contextual attributes includes one or more of a type of the portable electronic device, the location of the portable electronic device, the presence of the portable electronic device, proximity of the portable electronic device to vendors of services or products, or attributes of available communications links portable electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer readable instructions executable by a processing unit of a carrier administrator server, the instructions for implementing a method comprising:
 determining a subscription level for a subscriber of the portable electronic device;   retrieving a subscriber profile associated with the portable electronic device;   determining, based on the subscription level and the subscriber profile, whether to deliver supplementary content with the content;   when delivery of the supplementary content is to be effected then:
 determining the supplementary content based on the subscription level and the subscriber profile; and 
 delivering the content and the supplementary content; and 
   detecting a change in at least one contextual attribute during the delivery of the content and the supplementary content, and repeating the determination as to whether to deliver the supplementary content.