Movie information pager

• US 5,926,108 A
• Filed: 02/12/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novell Intellectual Property Holdings, Inc., Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sciammarella, Eduardo, Wicks, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US08/799,183
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 395/200.49, 455/31.3
• US Class Current: 340/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A pager and two-way paging system may be provided which allow the pager user to send a request for movie information. The system identifies the general location of the pager user; compiles theater location, movie and show time information appropriate to the pager user'"'"'s location; and transmits the information to the pager user. In a more sophisticated system, the pager user may be able to select a theater, movie and show time and transmit the selection from the pager to the paging system. The service provider of the paging system then arranges for tickets to that movie to be purchased in advance for the pager user.

Claims

1. A pager and paging system comprising:

a pager for transmitting a request for movie information to a paging system, and for receiving and displaying movie information transmitted by said paging system;

a paging system comprising;

a plurality of radio signal receiving base stations for receiving said request for movie information from said pager, wherein said plurality of base stations comprises a signal strength measuring device for determining which of said base stations receives most strongly a signal of said request for movie information from said pager;

a processor with a database of movie information which sorts said movie information for movie information most relevant to a location of said base station which most strongly receives said signal of said request for movie information; and

at least one radio signal transmitting base station for transmitting said relevant movie information to said pager;

wherein said pager further comprises a data input device for inputting movie selection information based on said movie information which is then transmitted by said pager to said paging system;

wherein said processor of said paging system further receives said movie selection information from said pager; and

arranges for the purchase of tickets to a movie represented by said movie selection information transmitted from said pager.

2. A pager and paging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pager further comprises a data input device for inputting movie selection information based on said movie information which is then transmitted by said pager to said paging system.

3. A pager and paging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movie selection information includes a number of tickets to be purchased.

4. A method of using a pager to obtain movie information comprising the steps of:

transmitting a request for movie information to a paging system with said pager;

identifying a general location of said pager within said paging system;

sorting a database of movie information for information most relevant to said general location of said pager;

transmitting said relevant movie information to said pager with said paging system;

receiving said relevant movie information transmitted by said paging system with said pager;

displaying said relevant movie information on a display of said pager;

inputting movie selection information in response to said receiving and displaying said relevant movie information;

transmitting said movie selection information to said paging system;

receiving said movie selection information from said pager with said paging system; and

arranging for the purchase of tickets to a movie represented by said movie selection information transmitted from said pager.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said movie information comprises theater location.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said movie information comprises a list of movies being shown.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said movie information comprises a listing of show times associated with said list of movies being shown.

8. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step of transmitting a request comprises:

displaying an icon on said display;

selecting said icon; and

transmitting said request in response to the selection of said icon.

9. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step of transmitting a request for movie information further comprises:

providing a pager;

transmitting a request for movie information to a paging system with said pager;

providing a paging system having at least one radio signal receiving base station for receiving radio signals from said pager and at least one radio signal transmitting base station for transmitting radio signals to said pager; and

identifying with said paging system said request for movie information transmitted by said pager.

10. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said movie selection information includes a number of tickets to be purchased.