Data processing system, method and computer program, computer program and business method

• US 20020116263A1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul Gouge
• Original Assignee: Paul Gouge
• Inventors: Gouge, Paul
• Application Number:
  US09/792,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116263A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention relates to a data processing system, method, computer program product and business method. There are many forms in which information, such as advertisements or other information, can be determinate electronically. Businesses are constantly seeking ways of exploiting the internet you increase the geographical coverage of their market. Advertising plays a significant role in extending those markets. The most common form of advertising via the internet is for a vendor of goods or services to establish a web site which can be accessed via a URL to display in a web browser of a prospective purchaser the goods and/or services offered by the vendor. This method of advertising has the advantage of being globally accessible. However, the method of advertising relies upon the prospective purchaser knowing the URL in advance of being able to locate an appropriate URL via a search engine. Many forms electronic communication are readily passed on or forwarded between friends and work colleagues. The present invention takes advantage of this fact and incorporates within any such electronic communication data representing an advertisement, when rendered by appropriate software, which can be made to vary with time by ensuring that all such electronic communications between third parties are directed and processed by a central or controlling server. Accordingly, the present invention provides data processing system comprising means for creating an outgoing email addressed to a remote server, the email having an attachment containing first data to be processed in an operation at the remote server and data representing a third party email address; means for receiving from the remote server an incoming email comprising an attachment containing second data representing the results of processing the first data; and means for displaying graphically the results of the processing. Advantageously, by ensuring that an exchange of emails between parties is always guaranteed to pass through a specific server containing the advertising information, the advertising information can be made to vary even though the e-mail carrying the advertising data is apparently passed between or directly to individuals.

Claims

1. A data processing method comprising the steps of

receiving a first electronic communication addressed to a first addressee containing first data comprising an electronic address of a second addressee;

extracting the electronic address of the second addressee from the first data of the first electronic communication;

creating a second electronic communication addressed to the second addressee comprising data representing graphical information to be displayed to the second addressee; and

sending the second electronic communication to the second addressee using the extracted electronic address of the second addressee.

2. A data processing method as claimed in claim 1 in which the first addressee is a data processing system, such as, for example, a Domain Name Server or a remote server.

3. A data processing method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the first and/or second electronic communication is/are an email.

4. A data processing method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the data representing graphical information comprises third party advertising information.

5. A data processing method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the data representing graphical information varies with time

6. A data processing method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the first data comprises attribute data representing at least one attribute of the sender of the first electronic communication or at least one attribute of the second addressee.

7. A data processing method as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising the step of selecting the data representing graphical information from a plurality of data each representing respective graphical information.

8. A data processing method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of matching the at least one attribute with at least one of the plurality of data each representing respective graphical information, and wherein the step of creating the second email incorporates into the second electronic communication said at least one of the plurality of data representing graphical information as the graphical information to be displayed to the second addressee.

9. A data processing method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the data processing method is a method of advertising.

10. A data processing method as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising the step of receiving the second electronic communication;

extracting the data representing graphical information and outputting the data representing graphical information via an output device.

11. A data processing method as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising the steps of creating and sending the first electronic communication to the first addressee containing the first data comprising the electronic address of the second addressee.

14. A data processing system as claimed in claim 13 in which the first addressee is a data processing system, such as, for example, a Domain Name Server.

17. A data processing system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the data representing graphical information varies with time

19. A data processing system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising means for selecting the data representing graphical information from a plurality of data each representing respective graphical information.

20. A data processing system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising means for matching the at least one attribute with at least one of the plurality of data each representing respective graphical information, and wherein the means for creating the second email incorporates into the second electronic communication said at least one of the plurality of data representing graphical information as the graphical information to be displayed to the second addressee.

28. A computer program product as claimed in any preceding claim in which the data representing graphical information varies with time

62. A system or method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the data of an attachment comprises data representing a game and the system or method further comprising means for or the step of varying the game by selecting the game from a plurality of games.

85. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least one of the first and second console devices is at least one of a computer or a communication device

86. A method as claimed in claim 85 in which the communication device is a mobile communication device.

87. A method as claimed in claim 86 in which the mobile communication device is at least one of a mobile telephone.

90. A method as claimed in either of claims 87 and 88 in which the mobile communication gateway is arranged to receive messages from at least one of the first and second console devices.

91. A method as claimed in any of claims 87 to 90 in which the mobile communication gateway is an SMS gateway.

92. A method as claimed in any of claims 87 to 90 in which the data processing apparatus comprises at least one computer for processing the first and second data.

100. A data processing system for implementing a method as claimed in any preceding claim.

101. A computer program element for implementing a system or method as claimed in any preceding claim.

102. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program element as claimed in claim 101

12. A data processing method substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

13. A data processing system comprising

means for receiving a first electronic communication addressed to first addressee containing first data comprising an electronic address of a second addressee;

means for extracting the electronic address of the second addressee from the first data of the first electronic communication;

means for creating a second electronic communication addressed to the second addressee comprising data representing graphical information to be displayed to the second addressee; and

means for sending the second electronic communication to the second addressee using the extracted electronic address of the second addressee.

15. A data processing system as claimed in any of claims 13 to 14 in which the electronic communication is an email.

16. A data processing system as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15 in which the data representing graphical information comprises third party advertising information.

18. A data processing system as claimed in any of claims 13 to 17 claim in which the first data comprises attribute data representing at least one attribute of the sender of the first electronic communication or at least one attribute of the second addressee.

21. A data processing system as claimed in any of claims 13 to 20 further comprising means for receiving the second electronic communication;

means for extracting the data representing graphical information and means for outputting the data representing graphical information via an output device.

22. A data processing system as claimed in any of claims 13 to 21 further comprising means for creating and sending the first electronic communication to the first addressee containing the first data comprising the electronic address of the second addressee.

25. A computer program product as claimed in claim 24 in which the first addressee is a data processing system, such as, for example, a Domain Name Server.

23. A data processing system substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

24. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon

computer program code means for receiving a first electronic communication addressed to first addressee containing first data comprising an electronic address of a second addressee,

computer program code means for extracting the electronic address of the second addressee from the first data of the first electronic communication;

computer program code means for creating a second electronic communication addressed to the second addressee comprising data representing graphical information to be displayed to the second addressee; and

computer program code means for sending the second electronic communication to the second addressee using the extracted electronic address of the second addressee.

26. A computer program product as claimed in any of claims 24 to 25 in which the electronic communication is an email.

27. A computer program product as claimed in any of claims 24 to 26 in which the data representing graphical information comprises third party advertising information.

29. A computer program product as claimed in any of claims 24 to 28 claim in which the first data comprises attribute data representing at least one attribute of the sender of the first electronic communication or at least one attribute of the second addressee.

30. A computer program product as claimed in any of claims 24 to 29 further comprising computer program code means for selecting the data representing graphical information from a plurality of data each representing respective graphical information.

31. A computer program product as claimed in claim 30, further comprising computer program code means for matching the at least one attribute with at least one of the plurality of data reach representing respective graphical information, and wherein the computer program code means for creating the second email incorporates into the second electronic communication said at least one of the plurality of data representing graphical information as the graphical information to be displayed to the second addressee.

32. A computer program product as claimed in any of claims 24 to 31 further comprising computer program code means for receiving the second electronic communication;

computer program code means for extracting the data representing graphical information and computer program code means for outputting the data representing graphical information via an output device.

33. A computer program product as claimed in any of claims 24 to 32 further comprising computer program code means for creating and sending the first electronic communication to the first addressee containing the first data comprising the electronic address of the second addressee.

36. A computer program element as claimed in claim 35 in which the first addressee is a data processing system, such as, for example, a Domain Name Server.

34. A computer program product substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

35. A computer program element comprising

computer program code means for receiving a first electronic communication addressed to first addressee containing first data comprising an electronic address of a second addressee,

computer program code means for extracting the electronic address of the second addressee from the first data of the first electronic communication;

computer program code means for creating a second electronic communication addressed to the second addressee comprising data representing graphical information to be displayed to the second addressee; and

computer program code means for sending the second electronic communication to the second addressee using the extracted electronic address of the second addressee.

37. A computer program element as claimed in any of claims 35 to 36 in which the electronic communication is an email.

38. A computer program element as claimed in any of claims 35 to 37 in which the data representing graphical information comprises third party advertising information.

39. A computer program element as claimed in any of claims 35 to 38 in which the data representing graphical information varies with time

40. A computer program element as claimed in any of claims 35 to 39 claim in which the first data comprises attribute data representing at least one attribute of the sender of the first electronic communication or at least one attribute of the second addressee.

41. A computer program element as claimed in any of claims 35 to 40 further comprising computer program code means for selecting the data representing graphical information from a plurality of data each representing respective graphical information.

42. A computer program element as claimed in claim 41, further comprising computer program code means for matching the at least one attribute with at least one of the plurality of data reach representing respective graphical information, and wherein the computer program code means for creating the second email incorporates into the second electronic communication said at least one of the plurality of data representing graphical information as the graphical information to be displayed to the second addressee.

43. A computer program element as claimed in any of claims 35 to 42 further comprising computer program code means for receiving the second electronic communication;

computer program code means for extracting the data representing graphical information and computer program code means for outputting the data representing graphical information via an output device.

44. A computer program element as claimed in any of claims 35 to 43 further comprising computer program code means for creating and sending the first electronic communication to the first addressee containing the first data comprising the electronic address of the second addressee.

48. A data processing system as claimed in claim 47 comprising means for retrieving from a data base information relating to a fourth party and means for including the retrieved information in the data of the attachment to at least one of the first outgoing email and the second outgoing email.

49. A data processing system as claimed in claim 48 comprising means for selecting the retrieved information from a plurality of information.

50. A data processing system as claimed in claim 49 in which the means for selecting is responsive to characteristics associated with at least one of the first party and the third party.

51. A data processing system as claimed in claim 48 or 49 in which the means for selecting is responsive to the time at which the first email was received.

52. A data processing system as claimed in claims 48 to 51 in which the means for selecting is responsive to the time at which the second outgoing email was created.

45. A computer program element substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

46. A data processing system comprising

means for creating an outgoing email addressed to a remote server, the email having an attachment containing first data to be processed in an operation at the remote server and data representing a third party email address;

means for receiving from the remote server an incoming email comprising an attachment containing second data representing the results of processing the first data; and

means for displaying graphically the results of the processing.

47. A data processing system comprising

means for receiving from a first party an incoming email having an attachment containing first data to be processed in an operation at the data processing system and data representing a third party email address;

means for creating a first outgoing email addressed to the third party having an attachment comprising second data identifying the first party from which the incoming email was received;

means for receiving from the third party an email comprising an attachment having third data to be processing in the operation at the data processing system;

means for processing the first data and the third data to produce data processing results; and

means for creating a second outgoing email having an attachment comprising the data processing results;

and means for sending the second outgoing email to at least one of the first party and third party.

53. A data processing system comprising

means for receiving from a remote server a first email having an attachment comprising first data identifying a third party;

means for creating a first outgoing email containing second data to be processed in an operation at the remote server; and

means for sending the first outgoing email to the remote server.

54. A method of advertising comprising creating an outgoing email containing an attachment having data representing an advert of a vendor;

and sending the email to at least one of a first party and a second party in response to having received an email from at least one of the first party and the second party.

55. A method of advertising as claimed in claim 54 comprising selecting the data representing the advert from a data base containing a plurality of data representing respective adverts.

56. A method of adverting as claimed in claim 55 in which the step of selecting comprises selecting the data presenting an advert from the plurality of data according to characteristics associated with at least one of the first party and the second party.

57. A method of advertising as claimed in claims 55 or 56 in which the step of selecting comprises selecting the data representing the advert from the plurality of data according to the time of day.

58. A method of adverting as claimed in any of claim 54 to 57 further comprising making a charge to the vendor for sending an email containing the vendor'"'"'s advertisement.

61. A data processing system or method for implementing an advertising method as claimed in any of claims 54 to 60.

59. A data processing system substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

60. An advertising method substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

63. A data processing method for a data processing system comprising at least a first console device for executing a first console software, at least a second console device for executing a second console software, at least one message exchange apparatus for exchanging messages with the at least first and second console devices, at least one data processing apparatus for processing data contained within the messages received by the message exchange apparatus from the at least first and second console devices, the first and second console devices further comprising respective input means for influencing the operation of the first and second console software and respective output devices for outputting processing results of activities performed by the first and second console software;

the method comprising the steps of

transmitting, from the first console device to the message exchange apparatus, a first message comprising first data generated, in response to input received via an input means, by the first console software;

receiving, at the message exchange apparatus, the first message transmitted from the first console device;

transmitting, from the second console device to the message reception apparatus, a second message comprising second data generated, in response to inputs received via an input means, by the second console software product;

receiving, at the message exchange apparatus, the second message transmitted from the second console device;

processing, at the data processing apparatus, the first and second data contained within the first and second messages to produce results data for processing by the first and second console software;

creating a response message for transmission to the first and second console devices comprising the results data;

transmitting the response message to the first and second console devices;

receiving the response message at the first console device and processing, by the first console software, the results data within the response message; and

outputting the result of processing the results data to least one output device of the first console device;

receiving the response message at the second console device and processing, by the second console device software, the results data within the response message; and

outputting the result of processing the results data to at least one output device of the second console device.

64. A method as claimed in claim 63 in which the processing, by the data processing apparatus, comprises identifying corresponding data within the first and second data and producing a first result data, of the results data, representing at least one of an interaction between and a combination of the first and second data.

65. A method as claimed in of claims 63 to 64 in which the step of transmitting the first message comprises the step of creating a first file containing the first data for attachment to the first message to be transmitted to the message exchange apparatus;

and transmitting the first message to the message exchange apparatus together with the first file as an attachment.

66. A method as claimed in any of claims 63 to 65 in which the step of transmitting the second message comprises the step of creating a second file containing the second data for attachment to the second message to be transmitted to the message exchange apparatus;

and transmitting the second message to the message exchange apparatus together with the second file as an attachment.

67. A method as claimed in any of claims 63 to 66 in which the step of transmitting the first data comprises the step of creating a first data message comprising the first data generated by the first console software for transmission to the message exchange apparatus;

and transmitting the first data message to the message exchange apparatus.

68. A method as claimed in any of claims 63 to 67 in which the step of transmitting the second data comprises the step of creating a second data message comprising the second data generated by the second console software for transmission to the message exchange apparatus;

and transmitting the second data message to the message exchange apparatus.

69. A method as claimed in either of claims 67 and 68 in which the step of creating the data message comprises the step of creating a text message comprising text generated first console software.

70. A method as claimed in claim 69 in which the text message is an SMS message.

76. A method as claimed in any of claims 63 to 75 in which the step of transmitting, from the first console device to the message exchange apparatus, a first message comprising first data generated, in response to input received via an input means, by the first console software comprises the step of

transmitting, from the first console device, a first electronic communication addressed to the message exchange apparatus, the first electronic communication containing first data comprising at least an electronic address of the second console device of a second addressee.

77. A method as claimed in claim 76 further comprising the steps of:

extracting the electronic address of the second addressee from the first data of the first electronic communication.

78. A method as claimed in claim 77 further comprising the steps of

creating, by the message exchange apparatus, a second electronic communication addressed, using the electronic address, to the second console device of the second addressee comprising data to cause the second console software to generate an output via the output means of second console device;

and

transmitting the second electronic communication to the second console device using the extracted electronic.

79. A method as claimed in any of claims 63 to 78, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, at the second console device, the second electronic communication; and

processing, by the second console software, the data contained within the second electronic communication to produce an output via the output means of the second console device; and

receiving, via the input means of the second console device, inputs for controlling the generation of data for responding to the receipt of the second electronic communication.

80. A method as claimed in claim 79 in which the step of transmitting, from the second console device to the message reception apparatus, a second message comprising second data generated, in response to inputs received via an input means, by the second console software product;

Comprises the step of creating, by the second console software, the second data comprising response data for transmission to the message exchange apparatus.

81. A method as claimed in any of claims 79 to 80 in which the step of transmitting the first message comprises the step of creating a first file containing the first data for attachment to the first message to be transmitted to the message exchange apparatus;

and transmitting the first message to the message exchange apparatus together with the first file as an attachment.

82. A method as claimed in any of claims 79 to 81 in which the step of transmitting the first data comprises the step of creating a first data message comprising the first data generated by the first console software for transmission to the message exchange apparatus;

and transmitting the first data message to the message exchange apparatus.

83. A method as claimed in any of claims 79 to 82 in which the step of creating the data message comprises the step of creating a text message comprising text generated first console software.

84. A method as claimed in claim 83 in which the text message is an SMS message.

88. A method as claimed in any of claims 63 to 87 in which the message reception comprises at least one of an email server and a mobile communication gateway connected to the data processing apparatus.

89. A method as claimed in claim 88 in which the mobile communication gateway is connected to the data processing apparatus via a communication network.

94. A method as claimed in any of claims 63 to 93 in further comprising the step of receiving via an input device audio data and in which at least one of the first and second data comprises such audio data.

95. A method as claimed in any of claims 63 to 94 further comprising the step of selecting audio data from a plurality of audio data for inclusion in at least one of the first and second data;

and including the selected audio data in said at least one of the first and second data.

96. A method as claimed in claim 95 further comprising the step of storing the plurality of audio data in a format defined by an audio codec.

97. A method as claimed in claim 96 in which the audio codec is at least one of a TDMA, GSM, CDMA and IS-95 audio codec.

98. A method as claimed in claim 95 to 97 in which the step of outputting results data by at least one of the first and second console software further comprises the step of outputting the selected audio data.

71. A data processing method for a data processing system comprising at least a first console device (first mobile handset) for executing a first console software, at least one message exchange apparatus (SMS gateway) for exchanging messages with at least the first console device, at least one data processing apparatus (game server) for processing data contained within the messages received by the message exchange apparatus (SMS gateway) from at least the first console device, the first console device further comprising input means for influencing the operation of the first console software and output means for outputting processing results of activities performed by the first console software;

the method comprising the steps of

transmitting, from the first console device to the message exchange apparatus, a first message comprising first data generated by the first console software, in response to inputs received via the input means;

receiving, at the first console device, a response message comprises results data derived from processing the first data and second data generated by a second console software of a second console device; and

processing, by the first console software, the results data within the response message; and

outputting the result of processing the results data to least one output device of the first console device; and

outputting, via the first console software, at least graphical data derived from the results data.

72. A method as claimed in claim 71 in which the step of transmitting the first message comprises the step of creating a first file containing the first data for attachment to the first message to be transmitted to the message exchange apparatus;

and transmitting the first message to the message exchange apparatus together with the first file as an attachment.

73. A method as claimed in any of claims 71 to 72 in which the step of transmitting the first data comprises the step of creating a first data message comprising the first data generated by the first console software for transmission to the message exchange apparatus;

and transmitting the first data message to the message exchange apparatus.

74. A method as claimed in any of claims 71 to 73 in which the step of creating the data message comprises the step of creating a text message comprising text generated first console software.

75. A method as claimed in claim 74 in which the text message is an SMS message.

93. A method as claimed in 92 in which the data processing apparatus comprises at least one further computer for processing the first and second data.

99. A data processing method substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

103. A mobile communication comprising

means for storing operational software and console software,

means for executing operational software,

means for executing console software,

means for transmitting and receiving data messages and memory for storing at least a first type of data message and a second type of data message;

means for determining whether a received data message is a first type of data message or a second type of data message; and

means for processing the data message using console software to output a plurality of graphical images in response to the data contained within the data message if the data message is a second type of data message.

104. A mobile communication device as claimed in claim 103 in which the means for determining comprises means for routing the received data message to second area of memory accessible by the microprocessor in response to executing the console software if the data message is a second type of data message and routing the data message to the first area of memory if the data message is a second type of data message.

105. A mobile communication device as claimed in any of claims 103 to 105 in which the means for processing the first type of data message comprises means for outputting on the display a character message derived from the data contained within the data message.

106. A mobile communication device as claimed in any of claims 103 to 105 in which the data contained within the second type of data message comprises data generated by a data processing system in response to receiving at least one data message comprising respective data generated console software of at least one further mobile communication device.

107. A mobile communication device as claimed in any of claims 103 to 106 in which the data contained within the second type of data message comprises data generated by a data processing system in response to receiving and processing a first and second data messages;

the data contained within the first data message having been generated, in response to actuation of a respective input means, by respective console software of at least one further mobile communication device and the data contained within the second message having been generated, in response to actuation of the input means, by respective console software of the mobile communication device.

108. A mobile communication device as claimed in any of claims 103 to 107 comprising means for searching through at least one of the first and second areas of memory containing respective messages for messages of the second type and means for outputting an indication of the presence of any located messages of the second type on the display.

109. A mobile communication device as claimed in claim 108 further comprising means, response to actuation of the input means, for processing the data contained within a selectable one of the located second type of data messages.

110. A mobile communication device as claimed in any of claims 103 to 109 in which the data message is an SMS message.

116. A data processing system for implementing a method as claimed in any of claims 103 to 116.

117. A computer program element for implementing a method or system as claimed in any of claims 103 to 116.

118. A computer program product comprising a storage medium having stored thereon on a computer program element as claimed in claim 117.

111. A mobile communication device substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

113. A method as claimed in claim 112 in which the step of processing the received data message using the operational software comprises the steps of outputting a character string derived from data contained within the received data message.

112. A data processing method for a mobile communication device comprising means for storing operational software and console software, means for executing operational software, means for executing console software, means for transmitting and receiving data messages and memory for storing at least a first type of data message and a second type of data message;

the method comprising the steps of

storing a received data message in the memory;

determining whether the received data message is a first type of data message or a second type of data message; and

processing the received data message using the operational software or the console software if the received data message is a first or second type of data message respectively.

114. A method as claimed in either of claims 112 or 113 in which the step of processing the received data message using the console software comprises the steps of generating a plurality of graphical images using the data contained within the received data message.

115. A method for processing data substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.