Broadcast Channel Delivery of Location-based Services Information

Abstract

Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. In one aspect of the invention, mobile user devices that are located within a common geographic area are identified, and location-based service information is delivered to the identified mobile user devices over a broadcast channel shared by those mobile user devices. A response to the location-based service information may be received from at least a given one of the mobile user devices, and at least one message may be controllably delivered to the given one of the mobile user devices based on the response to the location-based service information.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for delivering messages, the method comprising:
 collecting profile information associated with a plurality of users, the plurality of users being associated with corresponding user devices;   determining that a message delivery opportunity is available for at least one of the plurality of users, wherein the message delivery opportunity comprises one or more slots available for delivery of a one or more messages to the at least one user via at least one user device;   establishing an auction for the message delivery opportunity;   identifying one or more bids for the auction, wherein the bids are based on at least the profile information of the at least one user associated with the message delivery opportunity; and   sending, based on the one or more bids, one or more messages to the at least one user device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more messages comprise one or more advertisements. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the profile information comprises at least one of real-time information or historical information. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the profile information comprises location information associated with the at least one user device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the profile information comprises one or more user movement statistics for the at least one user. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more user movement statistics are used to estimate whether the at least one user will be in a given geographic area during the message delivery opportunity. 
     
     
         27 . he method of  claim 21 , wherein the profile information for the at least one user associated with the message delivery opportunity is used to establish bid levels for the auction. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the profile information for the at least one user associated with the message delivery opportunity is used to establish a price charged for delivery of the one or more messages. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more bids are further based on one or more of location information for the at least one user, a time associated with the message delivery opportunity, or a message category for the message delivery opportunity. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method is implemented in a location-based services system external to a wireless network. 
     
     
         31 . A message delivery system including at least one server, the at least one server comprising at least a processor configured to:
 collect profile information associated with a plurality of users, the plurality of users being associated with corresponding user devices;   determine that a message delivery opportunity is available for at least one of the plurality of users, wherein the message delivery opportunity comprises one or more slots available for delivery of a one or more messages to the at least one user via at least one user device;   establish an auction for the message delivery opportunity;   identify one or more bids for the auction, wherein the bids are based on at least the profile information of the at least one user associated with the message delivery opportunity; and   send, based on the one or more bids, one or more messages to the at least one user device.   
     
     
         32 . The message delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more messages comprise one or more advertisements. 
     
     
         33 . The message delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the profile information of the at least one user comprises at least one of real-time information or historical information. 
     
     
         34 . The message delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the profile information comprises the at least one user location information associated with the at least one user device. 
     
     
         35 . The message delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the profile information comprises one or more user movement statistics for the at least one user. 
     
     
         36 . The message delivery system of  claim 35 , wherein the processor is configured to use the one or more user movement statistics to estimate whether the at least one user will be in a given geographic area during the message delivery opportunity. 
     
     
         37 . The message delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the processor is further configured to establish bid levels for the auction based on at least the profile information for the at least one user associated with the message delivery opportunity. 
     
     
         38 . The message delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the processor is further configured to establish a price charged for delivery of the one or more messages based on at least the profile information for the at least one user associated with the message delivery opportunity. 
     
     
         39 . The message delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more bids are further based on one or more of location information for the at least one user, a time associated with the message delivery opportunity, or a message category for the message delivery opportunity. 
     
     
         40 . The message delivery system of  claim 31 , wherein the processor is configured to establish the auction in real-time upon determining that a message delivery opportunity is available.