Mobile television reminder alert

• US 20060101492A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd. (Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd. (Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lowcock, Joshua Peter Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/531,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20060101492A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

The present invention discloses a reminder system for prospective viewers of broadcast television programmes. Those prospective viewers having access to a mobile phone (14) can send an SMS message via a public telephone network (16) and request a return SMS message be sent to their mobile phone (14) just prior to the broadcast commencing. The system and method can be modified to utilize emails, and/or fixed phone 1900 prefix services.

Claims

1. A broadcast television programme reminder system for prospective viewers each having, or having access to, a mobile phone, said system comprising a computer connected to a publicly accessible telephone service and adapted to receive SMS messages from said mobile phones, each of said messages requesting a reminder regarding a television programme to be broadcast at a future time, said computer including first storage means into which at least a portion of each said message is stored, and said computer further including a message originating means connected with said first storage means and adapted to send a reply SMS message to the corresponding mobile phone a predetermined time in advance of the future broadcast start time of said television programme for which a reminder had been requested.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said stored portion-of said message comprises the telephone number of the originating mobile phone and a G-code or other unique numeric or alpha-numeric code which identifies the television programme for which a reminder was requested.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the G-code or other numeric or alpha-numeric codes are accessible to the prospective viewers from billboards, magazines, electronic media or television.

4. The system according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said SMS message includes demographic data regarding the sender of said message and said computer includes a second storage means into which said demographic data is stored.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said computer is adapted to analyse the data stored in said second storage means.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the operator of said publicly accessible telephone service charges said prospective viewer for sending said SMS message from said mobile phone and remits a portion of said charge to the operator of said computer.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein said telephone service operator does not charge said computer operator for said reply SMS message.

8. The system according to claim 6 wherein said telephone service operator charges said prospective viewer for said reply SMS message.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein said reply SMS message includes an advertising component.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein said advertising component relates to a sponsor of said television show for which a reminder had been requested.

11. The system according to claims 9 or 10 wherein said advertising component relates to a published television programme guide.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein television programs is regularly broadcast and the reply SMS message is sent at the predetermined time in advance of each broadcast of the program.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein the prospective viewers register with the system by providing predetermined personal details, the predetermined personal details being stored in the first and second storage means.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein the predetermined personal data is accessible to the computer operator for compiling test audience data including predetermined prospective viewers for use as part of a test audience for a proposed television program.

15. The system according to claim 1 wherein said prospective viewer uses a fixed phone line, telephones a 1900 prefix number rather than sending an SMS message and receives a recorded message via said fixed phone line instead of said reply SMS message.

16. (canceled)

17. A method of providing requested reminders to prospective viewers of a broadcast television programme each having, or having access to, a mobile phone, said system comprising the steps of:

providing a computer connected to a publicly accessible telephone service, adapting said computer to receive SMS messages from said mobile phones, each of said messages requesting a reminder regarding a television programme to be broadcast at a future time,

providing said computer with first storage means and storing therein or at least a portion of each said received message,

providing said computer with a message originating means connected with said first storage means, and sending a reply SMS message via said message originating means to said mobile phones a predetermined time in advance of the future time of said television programme for which a reminder had been requested.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein said prospective viewer uses a fixed phone line, telephones a 1900 prefix number rather than sending an SMS message and receives a recorded message via said fixed phone line instead of said reply SMS message.

19. (canceled)