Alcatel-Lucent5130 Geographic
Messaging Services Platform(GMSP)
Location-basedsocial networking application for mobile devices
Today’s mobile end users have a world of information available to them through their mobile device. Whether they are using cell phones, smartphones, or personal data assistants (PDAs), end users can connect with friends and family using short messaging services, multimedia messaging services, and e-mail,or access the Internet to locate products or services within a specific geographic area, such as a restaurant recommended by a friend.
These “pull-based”services require users to manually initiate a query. When retailers offer products or services by “pushing” advertisements or offers to end users, this information is often out of context with a user’s location. So that reminder to
try the cheesecake at the local bistro, pick up milk on the way home, or join a friend for a coffee may appear on the end user’s mobile device at the wrong time and wrong place.
At the same time, these messages produce an extra load on a mobile network and extra drain on the battery in the end user’s mobile device.
The Alcatel-LucentSocial Networking Application changes the way mobile end users receive information by delivering messages when and where they matter. It makes each message more immediate and relevant by associating it to the end user’s location.
Powered by Geographic Messaging Services Platform (GMSP)
The Alcatel-LucentSocial Networking Application is a novel, locationbased social networking service for mobile devices that delivers content and buddy alerts based on the user’s location. It is part of the AlcatelLucent Application Suite offered with theAlcatel-Lucent5130 Geographic Messaging Services Platform (GMSP).
With this application, location-basedmessages are only “pushed” to end users when they enter a geographic messaging zone or “geographic fence” (Figure 1), such as the block where a coffee shop is located or an airport. For example, users walking through downtown New York can choose to receive messages about the nearestWi-Fi® hot spot or mobile sticky notes left by friends about a great restaurant in the area. The same users could choose to receive a different set of messages when they enter a different geographic fence, such as a New York burrough.
This unique messaging capability enhances the end-userexperience by ensuring end users get the messages they want when they want them. By allowing users toopt-into the marketing messages and social networks of their choosing, spam messages are minimized and the load on the network is reduced. Both service providers andend-usersbenefit with the reduction of unnecessary message traffic resulting in improving quality of service and optimal useage of available network resources. And it reduces the drain on the battery inend-userdevices. Most importantly, it enables a variety of mobile marketing, social networking, child tracking and location based services (LBS)geo-channelsthat can deliver more revenue to service providers.
Built on Geofencing technology
The Alcatel-LucentSocial Networking Application and 5130 GMSP, invented by Bell Labs, is powered by theAlcatel-Lucentpatent-pendingGeofencing engine. Geofencing* uses predictive movement algorithms and intelligent load balancing to dynamically shift message processing from a central server to a distributed
*A geofence is a virtual geographic region defined by the service provider, advertiser or end user (e.g., 1000 meters around a mall or arena)
HOW IT WORKS
To activate the Alcatel-LucentSocial Networking Application, mobile service providers must contract for service on the hostedAlcatel-Lucent5130 GMSP. This hosted platform allows end users to opt in for the service and download the geographic messaging service (GMS) client to their cell phone. With the application, end users can:
•Manage multiple messaging channels from a single account
•Use their existing contact databases (e.g., from popular social networking or email applications) to build a Geopepper network
•Create and manage GMS messages where and when they want them
2 Alcatel-Lucent5130 GMSP —Location-basedsocial networking application for mobile devices
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