System and method of marketing using a multi-media communication system

Abstract

A system method of advertising using a multi-media application system is disclosed. The multi-media application relates to the delivery of multi-media messages using animated entities that audibly deliver messages created by a sender using text-to-speech technologies. The method provides targeted advertising based on information learned about both the sender of a multi-media message and the recipient of the multi-media message. The information may relate to an analysis of a text message created by the sender, emoticons chosen by the sender and inserted into the text of the message, the choice by the sender of an animated entity, or other parameters such as background music chosen for which template is chosen by the sender. Advertising messages may be delivered before the recipient receives the multi-media message, during the reception by the recipient of the multi-media message or following the reception of the multi-media message. A decision regarding whether to include an advertising message may be based on a text analysis or an analysis of the emoticons or other tags inserted into the text by the sender. Further, animated entities such as professionally designed face models, templates, additional emoticons, animation or sound effects may also be purchased by the sender for a limited number of multi-media messages, for limited amount of time or longer for use in creating multi-media messages. The system comprises a server to handle the reception and processing of sender multi-media messages and client software for both creating multi-media messages and receiving multi-media messages.

Description

PRIORITY APPLICATION [0001] The present application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 999,525, filed Nov. 2, 2001, which claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 60 / 245,521 filed Nov. 3, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. RELATED APPLICATIONS [0002] The present application is related to the following U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 003,094, filed Nov. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,203,648; Ser. No. 11 / 259,883, filed Oct. 27, 2005; Ser. No. 11 / 679,905, filed Feb. 28, 2007; Ser. No. 10 / 003,091, filed Nov. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,082; Ser. No. 11 / 212,267, filed Aug. 27, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,203,759; Ser. No. 11 / 679,911, filed Feb. 28, 2007; Ser. No. 10 / 003,350, filed Nov. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,452; Ser. No. 11 / 214,666, filed Aug. 30, 2005; Ser. No. 10 / 003,093, filed Nov. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,035,803; Ser. No. 11 / 276,556, filed Mar. 6, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,177,811; Ser. No. 11 / 615,079, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] The features available for sale may comprise, for example, certain animated entities such as a famous character, actor, professionally created entities and the like. The features may also relate to accessories to associate

Problems solved by technology

One drawback of related systems is that the synthesized voice bears no resemblance to the sender voice.

There are several disadvantages to delivering multi-media messages in this manner.

Such software requires a large amount of disc space and the recipient may not desire to utilize his or her space with the necessary software.

Further, with viruses prevalent on the Internet, many people are naturally reluctant to download software when they are unfamiliar with its source.

Images