FR2791447A1 - Access codes generating for prepaid public telecommunication services by determining used access codes according to file in which list of recipients and associated access codes is stored - Google Patents

Abstract

A file list of the recipients and associated access codes are stored. The access codes are printed for every addressee of a public post. A support carries the associated access code. The used access codes are determined, according to the file in which the list of the recipients and the associated access codes is stored. An Independent claim is included for: (a) a system for implementing of claimed method

Description

l

  The present invention relates to direct mail.

  Direct mail - or "mailing" according to Anglo-Saxon terminology -

  involves sending an advertising document to a large number of

people at a time.

  It often happens that this type of document is not read by the recipients. The invention provides a method and a system which allow the person who sent the direct mail to have in return information on the people who, among the various recipients, are more likely than others to have been aware of

advertising document.

  Some telecommunications operators now offer prepaid services. The users then purchase in advance a certain number of communication units which they can use using a prefix corresponding to a telecommunications operator and a confidential access code which allows identify their prepaid account

with the operator.

  It has already been proposed to provide in a direct mail access code numbers allowing recipients to have a certain

  number of free communication units.

  The communications operator then generates as many

  access codes that there are recipients.

  Cards bearing these access code numbers are placed under

  envelope along with advertising materials.

  The invention proposes a direct mail method according to which as many access codes to a prepaid telecommunications service are generated as there are recipients for direct mail, characterized in that a recipient is associated with each of these access codes, in that the list of recipients and the access codes associated with them is stored in a file, in that the access codes are printed on supports and transmitted to each recipient, by direct mail, the medium that carries the access code associated with it, as determined, depending on the access codes that are used and the file in which the list of recipients and access codes associated with them is stored, a list of people

having used their access code.

  Thus, the advertiser at the origin of the direct mail has in return a list of people likely to have read his

advertising message.

  Advantageously, the supports on which the access codes are printed are advertising documents on which are also

  printed contact details of recipients.

  Also advantageously, the list of people who have used the access codes is processed to identify possible frauds. The invention also relates to a system for the implementation

  process work according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

  in that it comprises a telecommunications server, means for generating in this communications server as many access codes to a prepaid service as there are recipients in a given file, means for associating a recipient to each of these access codes and for storing in a file the list of recipients and the access codes associated with them, means for printing the access codes on supports, these supports being intended to be transmitted to each recipient, by direct mail, so that each recipient receives the medium which carries the access code associated with it, processing means to determine according to the access codes which are used and the file in which the list of recipients and associated access codes is stored, a list of people

having used their access code.

  An embodiment and embodiment of the invention will

now be described.

  When an advertiser wishes to send a direct mail, it first establishes a list of the various recipients to whom its document

  advertising is intended to be sent.

  Then it provides this list, for example in the form of a computer file, to a telecommunications operator offering services

  prepaid of the type mentioned above.

  This operator will then generate in its telecommunications server as many access codes as there are recipients for

direct mail.

  It then associates a recipient with each of these "access codes".

  A file in which recipients and codes are stored

  associated with them is then sent to the publisher of the direct mail.

  The latter will then print the documents intended to be the subject of

advertising mailing.

Each document is individualized.

  It carries the recipient's contact details (name and address).

  It also bears a mention indicating to the recipient that it benefits from a certain number of free communications units and

  highlighting the access code he can use for this purpose.

  This mention appears for example at the bottom left, below

advertising mentions.

  Alternatively, the access code could be printed on a medium, such as a card, materially independent from other advertising documents. The communications operator draws up a list of the access codes used, which it updates as the access codes are used. Processing means are provided to determine, from this list of access codes used and from the file associating the access codes

  and the recipients, the list of people who have used their access code.

  This list is provided to the advertiser who ordered the mailing,

  for example a week or two weeks after the initial shipment.

  Updates to this list may also be sent to

regular intervals.

  Thus, the advertiser at the origin of the direct mail has in return a list of people likely to have read the advertising message.

  He can use this list to continue his canvassing.

  It should be noted that communications offered for advertising purposes in the context of such direct mailings are advantageously communications

  interspersed with advertising messages.

  The advertising messages broadcast are for example those of

  the advertiser behind the mailing.

  Furthermore, means can also be provided for, advantageously, processing on the files corresponding to the lists of people who have used their access codes, processing operations making it possible to highlight possible frauds, by detecting for example names of people or numbers called or calling

  appearing many times in the lists.

  Advantageously, the advertising messages are a function of

access codes.

Claims (8)

  1. Direct mail method according to which as many access codes to a prepaid telecommunications service are generated as there are recipients for direct mail, characterized in that a recipient is associated with each of these access codes, in that the list of recipients and the access codes associated with them is stored in a file, in that the access codes are printed on supports and transmitted to each recipient, by direct mail medium which carries the access code associated with it, as determined, according to the access codes which are used and the file in which the list of recipients and the access codes which are associated with them is stored, a list of people having used their access code.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the list of   people who have used their access code is updated regularly.   3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized   in that the media on which the access codes are printed are advertising documents on which the printers are also printed contact details of recipients.   4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized   in that prepaid communications are interspersed with messages advertising.   5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the   advertising messages are a function of access codes.   6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized   in that we treat the list of people who used the access codes   to highlight possible fraud.   7. System for implementing the method according to one of   previous claims, characterized in that it comprises a server   telecommunications, means for generating in this communications server as many access codes to a prepaid service as there are recipients in a given file, means for associating a recipient with each of these access codes and for storing in a file the list of recipients and the access codes associated with them, means for printing the access codes on supports, these supports being intended to be transmitted to each recipient, by direct mail, so that each recipient receives the medium which carries the access code associated with it, processing means to determine according to the access codes which are used and the file in which the list of recipients and the access codes which are given to them associates   is saved, a list of people who have used their access code.   8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the supports on which the access codes are printed are advertising documents on which the contact details of the recipients.