SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR CONTROLLING THE SENDING OF INFORMATION TO SUBSCRIBERS

• US 20070121820A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christian Ahmann
• Original Assignee: Christian Ahmann
• Inventors: AHMANN, CHRISTIAN
• Application Number:
  US11/559,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20070121820A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.130
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

There is a system and a process for controlling the sending of information to subscribers comprising a plurality of steps. A first step can include receiving information to identify at least one information service. A next step can include inputting information for controlling the number of messages to be sent in the information service, including having the entity that initiates the information service setting a maximum number of messages that can be sent. Another step includes inputting information into the database to subscribe at least one subscriber to the information service. The next step includes transferring information to a server or a database for controlling the information service. Next, the information to be distributed is controlled based upon the information input into a controlling database. This information is controlled when it is relayed through for example, a central server. Next, messages can be continuously generated through the central server wherein these messages are distributed to the subscribers based upon the data entered into the controlling database. Furthermore, as an option, a change restriction on the maximum number of messages that can be sent by each information service can be set.

Claims

1. A process for controlling the sending of information to subscribers comprising:

a.) initiating an information service by an initiator;

b) said initiator setting a maximum number of messages that can be sent in said information service;

c) subscribing at least one subscriber to said information service;

d) setting a change restriction on the maximum number of messages that can be sent after said maximum number has been set;

e) sending at least one message to said at least one subscriber wherein the number of messages sent is limited by the maximum number of messages allowed.

2. The process as in claim 1, wherein said initiator initiates said information service through the internet such as a website.

3. The process as in claim 2, further comprising said initiator setting a limit to the amount of information that can be sent per message in said information service;

and setting a change restriction on the limit of amount of information that can be sent after said limit to the amount of information has been set;

4. The process as in claim 3, wherein the amount of information can refer to length of messages, number of pictures, size of attached documents.

5. The process as in claim 2, further comprising providing a link that leads to a subscription page to allow subscribers to subscribe to the information service.

6. The process as in claim 2, further comprising providing a link wherein when a potential subscriber clicks on said link said potential subscriber is automatically subscribed.

7. The process as in claim 6, wherein said link is provided on a website not affiliated with the central provider that hosts the service.

8. The process as in claim 2, further comprising the step of bundling information in at least one message such that at least one message being sent to at least one subscriber includes information relating to at least two information services.

9. The process as in claim 8, further comprising the initiator setting a limit to the amount of information that can be sent per message in said information service;

and setting a change restriction on the limit of amount of information that can be sent after said limit to the amount of information has been set.

10. The process as in claim 9, further comprising the step of defining a time in the future by an informer for at least one message to be sent.

11. The process as in claim 9, further comprising the step of allowing subscribers to select a time when they will receive bundled information from at least two information services in one single message.

12. The process as in claim 2, wherein said step of setting a maximum number of messages that can be sent includes a maximum number of messages that can be sent per defined time period.

13. The process as in claim 12, wherein said step of setting a maximum number of messages that can be sent includes a maximum number of messages that can be sent based upon a monthly time period.

14. The process as in claim 12, wherein said step of setting a maximum number of messages that can be sent includes a maximum number of messages that can be sent based upon a time period of more than 32 days.

15. The process as in claim 2, wherein said step of setting a maximum number of messages that can be sent includes setting a total number of messages that can be sent.

16. The process as in claim 2, further comprising the step of defining who is eligible to provide information for at least one information service.

17. The process as in claim 16, wherein said step of defining who is eligible to provide information includes selecting an individual informer by said initiator.

18. The process as in claim 16, wherein said step of defining who is eligible to provide information includes allowing members from a particular group to provide information.

19. The process as in claim 16, wherein said step of defining who is eligible includes at least one of the following:

informers ratings, indemnification status of informer.

20. The process as in claim 2, further comprising the step of defining who is eligible to subscribe to an information service by said initiator.

21. The process as in claim 20, where the definition of who is eligible to subscribe to an information service is based on payments.

22. The process as in claim 21, wherein said definition of who is eligible to subscribe to an information service is performed by the initiator who can be any person with internet access unless explicitly excluded from participation.

23. The process as in claim 20, where the definition of who is eligible to subscribe to an information service is based on membership of a particular group.

24. The process as in claim 2, wherein at least two information services are listed on a single, public website where subscribers can subscribe.

25. The process as in claim 2, wherein at least thirty informers provide information for at least thirty information services.

26. The process as in claim 2, wherein the initiation of an information service can be performed by any person with internet access unless explicitly excluded from participation.

27. The process as in claim 2, further comprising the step of defining a point in time in the future by an informer for at least one message to be sent.

28. The process as in claim 2, wherein informers can provide information by at least one of the following means:

email, sms, mms, rss, website.

29. The process as in claim 2, further comprising the step of presenting subscribers with a choice of a delivery channel of at least one message from at least one information service.

30. The process as in claim 2, further comprising the step of setting a predefined message that cannot be changed later.

31. The process as in claim 2, further comprising the step of publishing the maximum number of messages that can be sent by an information service on a public website.

32. The process as in claim 31, further comprising the step of publishing the maximum amount of information that can be sent per message of an information service on said public website so that there is a public website with both information concerning the maximum number of messages that can be sent by an information service and information concerning the maximum amount of information that can be sent per message of said information service.

33. The process as in claim 2, wherein the delivery channel of at least one message is a delivery to a mobile phone or device such as sms.

34. The process as in claim 2, wherein the setting of a maximum number of messages that can be sent is done for at least two information services by at least two different initiators so that there are at least two information services with different characteristics concerning the maximum number of messages that can be sent initiated by at least two different initiators.

35. A process for controlling the sending of information to subscribers comprising:

a) initiating an information service by an initiator through the internet such as a website;

b) providing information by said initiator for said information service for giving a clear indication of the number of messages intended to be sent in said information service on a website which is specifically designed for this purpose;

c) subscribing at least one subscriber to said information service;

d) sending at least one message to said at least one subscriber;

e) registering differences in the intended number of messages and actually sent number of messages.

36. The process as in claim 35, wherein said step of giving a clear indication of the number of messages to be sent includes setting a maximum number of messages intended to be sent.

37. The process as in claim 35, wherein a difference between the intended number of messages to be sent and the actual number of messages sent automatically leads to punishments concerning at least one of the following categories:

informer rating, payments.

38. The process as in claim 35, further comprising said initiator setting a limit to the amount of information that can be sent per message in said information service;

and setting a change restriction on the limit of amount of information that can be sent after said limit to the amount of information has been set;

39. The process as in claim 35, further comprising the step of bundling information in at least one message such that at least one message being sent to at least one subscriber includes information relating to at least two information services.

40. A process for controlling the sending of information to subscribers comprising:

a) initiating an information service by an initiator through the internet such as a website;

b) defining who is eligible to provide information for said information service which must include at least one of the following characteristics of an informer;

ratings, indemnification status;

c) subscribing at least one subscriber to said information service;

d) providing information for at least one message of said information service by at least one eligible informer;

e) sending said at least one message to said at least one subscriber;

41. The process as in claim 40, further comprising the step of allowing subscribers to rate an informer or to rate at least one message provided by at least one informer.

42. The process as in claim 41, wherein said step of allowing subscribers to rate at least one message includes providing a link associated with at least one message to allow at least one subscriber to rate said at least one message.

43. The process as in claim 41, wherein a negative rating automatically leads to a punishment of at least one informer concerning at least one of the following categories:

rating, payment, exclusion from participation.

44. The process as in claim 40, further comprising said initiator setting a maximum number of messages that can be sent in said information service and setting a change restriction on the maximum number of messages that can be sent after said maximum number has been set.

45. The process as in claim 40, further comprising the step of bundling information in at least one message such that at least one message being sent to at least one subscriber includes information relating to at least two information services.

46. The process as in claim 40, wherein the definition of who is eligible to provide information is performed by the initiator.

47. A process for controlling the sending of information to subscribers comprising:

a) initiating an information service by an initiator through the internet such as a website;

b) registering at least one informer;

c) setting up a value account for at least one informer;

d) subscribing at least one subscriber to said information service;

e) sending at least one message to said at least one subscriber;

f) raising the account'"'"'s value of said at least one informer who provided information for said at least one message;

48. The process as in claim 47, wherein the extent to which the informer'"'"'s account is raised directly depends upon the cost of the information service or message or messages to subscribers.

49. The process as in claim 47, wherein the extent to which the informer'"'"'s account is raised directly depends upon advertising revenues caused by the information service or message or messages.

50. The process as in claim 47, wherein the account'"'"'s value is reduced in exchange for a money payment to the respective informer.

51. The process as in claim 47, wherein any entity with internet access can initiate an information service and define the cost of said information service to subscribers unless explicitly excluded from participation.

52. The process as in claim 47, further comprising said initiator setting a maximum number of messages that can be sent in said information service;

and setting a change restriction on the maximum number of messages that can be sent after said maximum number has been set.

53. The process as in claim 47, further comprising the step of bundling information in at least one message such that at least one message being sent to at least one subscriber includes information relating to at least two information services.

54. A process for controlling the sending of information to subscribers comprising:

a) initiating an information service by an initiator through a website;

b) subscribing at least one subscriber to said information service;

c) providing information to said information service by at least one informer;

d) confirming of said provided information by at least two informers other than the informer who provided the initial information;

e) sending at least one message with said confirmed information to said at least one subscriber;

55. The process as in claim 54, wherein confirmations can only be made by selected entities or member of particular groups.

56. The process as in claim 54, wherein the confirmations are made on a website which is especially designed for this purpose.

57. The process as in claim 54, wherein a message is sent to a selected part of subscribers of said information service in which the subscribers are asked to confirm said provided information relating to said information service;

58. The process as in claim 57, wherein the decision which of the subscribers are asked to confirm the provided information is based on at least one of the following:

rating, date of last request to confirm other provided information, number of subscribed information services, date of subscription;

59. The process as in claim 54, wherein the sending of said at least one message to said at least one subscriber depends on at least one of the following:

certain number of confirmations required, informers rating.

60. The process as in claim 54, further comprising said initiator setting a maximum number of messages that can be sent in said information service;

and setting a change restriction on the maximum number of messages that can be sent after said maximum number has been set.

61. The process as in claim 54, further comprising the step of giving the subscriber the option to choose to receive at least two messages from at least two different information services in one single message.

62. A process for controlling the sending of information to subscribers comprising:

a) initiating an information service by an initiator through a website;

b) defining particular sections of the information service by said initiator;

c) subscribing at least one subscriber to said information service;

d) customizing the information service by said at least one subscriber based on the particular sections of the information service;

e) sending at least one message with customized information based on said subscribers selections to said at least one subscriber;

63. The process as in claim 62, wherein said particular sections are composed of at least one section for the actual message and at least one further section for attaching additional information to at least one message belonging to at least one information service.

64. The process as in claim 62, wherein said initiator can choose from predefined sections with certain formats for the information service.

65. The process as in claim 62, wherein the said initiator can define the sections and their formats for the information service.

66. The process as in claim 62, further comprising said initiator setting a maximum number of messages that can be sent in said information service;

and setting a change restriction on the maximum number of messages that can be sent after said maximum number has been set;

67. The process as in claim 62, further comprising the step of giving the subscriber the option to choose to receive at least two messages from at least two different information services in one single message.