SYSTEM FOR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUS ALERTS

• US 20070087791A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vergence Entertainment, LLC
• Original Assignee: Vergence Entertainment, LLC
• Inventors: Feeney, Robert, Haas, Jeff, Pinter, Gregory, Barkley, Brent
• Granted Patent: US 7,805,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5593 involving scheduling aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/57 details of game services offered to the player
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3279 wherein the competition is one-to-one, e.g. match
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

Provided, inter alia, is a system for generating substantially simultaneous alerts, in which a plurality of user devices is accessible via at least one publicly available network. Each such user device has installed on it an alert-based client. A server is configured to download identical alert information, including a message that has been encrypted, to the plurality of user devices. The alert-based clients are configured to receive the alert information and, in response: (i) to store the message in encrypted form until just prior to a specified delivery time; and (ii) to decrypt and deliver the message substantially at the specified delivery time. By virtue of the foregoing arrangement, substantially simultaneous delivery of the message to the user devices is achieved.

Claims

1. A system for generating substantially simultaneous alerts, comprising:

(a) a plurality of user devices accessible via at least one publicly available network, each said user device having installed on it an alert-based client; and

(b) a server configured to download identical alert information, including a message that has been encrypted, to the plurality of user devices,

wherein the alert-based clients are configured to receive the alert information and, in response;

(i) to store the message in encrypted form until just prior to a specified delivery time; and

(ii) to decrypt and deliver the message substantially at the specified delivery time, thereby providing substantially simultaneous delivery of the message to the user devices.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein there are at least 100 said user devices, and wherein said user devices are geographically dispersed.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the server also is configured to download clock synchronization information to the plurality of user devices.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein each alert-based client is configured to compare information from a real-time clock and from a device clock on its respective user device to identify clock irregularities.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the alert-based clients further are configured to deliver the message together with a user interface that permits a corresponding user immediately to initiate an action in response to the message.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the alert-based clients further are configured to time how quickly the action was taken after the message was delivered, thereby generating user response times.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the alert-based clients further are configured to provide the user response times to the server, and wherein the server is configured to make decisions based on the user response times.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein the action results in a user response, and wherein the alert-based clients are configured to provide the user response to the server.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the alert information is downloaded to a majority of the user devices via at least one publicly accessible cellular wireless network.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the alert information includes the specified delivery time.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the specified delivery time is not made available to the user devices or any corresponding users prior to the specified delivery time.

12. An apparatus for receiving and providing alerts, comprising:

(a) at least one memory/storage device storing executable process steps;

(b) a processor for executing the process steps;

(c) a real-time clock that keeps track of time of day; and

(d) a device clock that provides processing synchronization signals to the memory/storage device and the processor,

wherein the executable process steps include steps to receive alert information, including a message, and in response;

(i) to store the message in encrypted form into the at least one memory/storage device until just prior to a specified delivery time; and

(ii) to decrypt and deliver the message substantially at the specified delivery time, and

wherein the executable process steps include steps to compare information from the real-time clock and from the device clock in order to identify clock irregularities.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the clock irregularities include user tampering.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the executable process steps include steps to receive clock synchronization information from an external source, and wherein said clock synchronization information also is used for identifying clock irregularities.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the executable process steps include steps to deliver the message together with a user interface that permits a corresponding user immediately to initiate an action in response to the message.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the executable process steps include steps to time how quickly the action was taken after the message was delivered, thereby generating a user response time.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the executable process steps include steps to provide the user response time to an external server.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the action results in a user response, and wherein the executable process steps include steps to provide the user response to an external server.

19. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said apparatus is a cellular telephone.

20. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the alert information also includes the specified delivery time.