System for targeting location-based communications

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for providing targeted location-based communications. An exemplary apparatus is configured to receive an encoded signal, decode the encoded signal such that embedded data is retrieved, send the embedded data a remote server; and receive a message based at least partially on sending the embedded data. Another exemplary apparatus is configured to provide the encoded signal by receiving data input, receiving a host signal, embedding the data input within the host signal such that an encoded signal is generated, and transmitting the encoded signal. A third exemplary apparatus is configured to provide the targeted communications by storing one or more messages associated with an entity, receiving data, selecting at least one of the one or more messages based at least partially on the data received, and sending the at least one of the one or more messages selected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing communications to users present in a location, the system comprising:
 a message server to store one or more messages in a searchable database;   at least one encoding device to generate at least one encoded signal;   a content management server to:
 store one or more instructions associated with the message, where the instructions cause the encoding device to generate at least one encoded signal comprising embedded data based on the message data; 
   at least one broadcast device that broadcasts the at least one encoded signal at the location, the encoded signal being identifiable by mobile devices carried by users in the location; and   wherein the message server is further to:
 receive a signal or other data is transmitted by the at least one mobile device in response to the at least one mobile device identifying the embedded data; 
 select at least one of the one or more messages based at least partially on the received signal or other data; and 
 send the selected at least one message to the at least one mobile device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the users are present in at least one location of a plurality of locations;   the one or more messages are associated with a messaging campaign of a third party entity in a searchable database based on instructions received from the third party entity through a messaging campaign interface operatively connected with the message server;   the at least one encoding device is maintained by a media distribution entity to generate at least one encoded signal comprising the embedded data and based at least in part on instructions from the content management server; and   a plurality of broadcast devices are maintained by the media distribution entity to broadcast the at least one encoded signal proximate at least one of the plurality of locations based at least in part on instructions from the content management server.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the message server comprises the content management server or the content management server comprises the message server. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the third party entity comprises a product supplier that supplies at least one product to the at least one location and the selected at least one message is associated with the at least one product. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the media distribution entity manages a media distribution network comprising the plurality of broadcast devices and the at least one encoding device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of a plurality of encoding devices is operably connected to each of the plurality of broadcast devices and wherein each encoding device generates at least one encoded signal based at least in part on instructions from the content management server. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the instructions from the content management server are received by the content management server from the third party entity through the messaging campaign interface operatively connected with the content management server. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the instructions from the content management server are received by the content management server from the media distribution entity through a media distribution interface operatively connected with the content management server. 
     
     
         9 . A computer program product for providing communications to users present in at least one location of a plurality of locations, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of codes for causing a computer to:
 store one or more messages, on a message server, the messages associated with a messaging campaign of a third party entity in a searchable database based on instructions received from the third party entity through a messaging campaign interface operatively connected with the message server; 
 store one or more instructions, on a content management server, the instructions associated with the messaging campaign of the third party entity, the instructions comprising message data and instructions to cause an encoding device to generate at least one encoded signal comprising embedded data based on the message data; 
 generate, using at least one encoding device maintained by a media distribution entity, at least one encoded signal comprising the embedded data based at least in part on instructions from the content management server; 
 broadcast, using a plurality of broadcast devices maintained by the media distribution entity, to the at least one encoded signal proximate at least one of the plurality of locations based at least in part on instructions from the content management server, the encoded signal being identifiable by mobile devices carried by users in the at least one location; and 
 receive, using the message server, the embedded data or other data representing the embedded data, wherein the embedded data or other data is transmitted by the at least one mobile device in response to the at least one mobile device identifying the embedded data; 
 select, using the message server, at least one of the one or more messages based at least partially on the received embedded data or other data; and 
 send, using the message server, the selected at least one message to the at least one mobile device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the message server comprises the content management server or the content management server comprises the message server. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the third party entity comprises a product supplier that supplies at least one product to the at least one location and the selected at least one message is associated with the at least one product. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the media distribution entity manages a media distribution network comprising the plurality of broadcast devices and the at least one encoding device. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of a plurality of encoding devices is operably connected to each of the plurality of broadcast devices and wherein each encoding device generates at least one encoded signal based at least in part on instructions from the content management server. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions from the content management server are received by the content management server from the third party entity through the messaging campaign interface operatively connected with the content management server. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions from the content management server are received by the content management server from the media distribution entity through a media distribution interface operatively connected with the content management server. 
     
     
         16 . A method for providing communications to users present in at least one location of a plurality of locations, the method comprising:
 storing one or more messages, on a message server, the messages associated with a messaging campaign of a third party entity in a searchable database based on instructions received from the third party entity through a messaging campaign interface operatively connected with the message server;   storing one or more instructions, on a content management server, the instructions associated with the messaging campaign of the third party entity, the instructions comprising message data and instructions to cause an encoding device to generate at least one encoded signal comprising embedded data based on the message data;   generating, using at least one encoding device maintained by a media distribution entity, at least one encoded signal comprising the embedded data based at least in part on instructions from the content management server;   broadcasting, using a plurality of broadcast devices maintained by the media distribution entity, to the at least one encoded signal proximate at least one of the plurality of locations based at least in part on instructions from the content management server, the encoded signal being identifiable by mobile devices carried by users in the at least one location;   receiving, using the message server, the embedded data or other data representing the embedded data, wherein the embedded data or other data is transmitted by the at least one mobile device in response to the at least one mobile device identifying the embedded data;   selecting, using the message server, at least one of the one or more messages based at least partially on the received embedded data or other data; and   sending, using the message server, the selected at least one message to the at least one mobile device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the message server comprises the content management server or the content management server comprises the message server. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the third party entity comprises a product supplier that supplies at least one product to the at least one location and the selected at least one message is associated with the at least one product. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the media distribution entity manages a media distribution network comprising the plurality of broadcast devices and the at least one encoding device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of a plurality of encoding devices is operably connected to each of the plurality of broadcast devices and wherein each encoding device generates at least one encoded signal based at least in part on instructions from the content management server.