Nightlife information pager

• US 6,060,995 A
• Filed: 02/19/1997
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 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): Tokar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEANGLAUDE, JEAN BRUNER
• Application Number:
  US08/802,583
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/905, 340/825.27, 340/825.56, 455/38.1, 455/38.4, 455/53.1, 455/54.2, 455/56.1
• US Class Current: 340/7.48
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/022 One-way selective calling networks, e.g. wide area paging

Abstract

A novel paging technology allows a group of subscribers to share and take advantage of nightlife information. A service provider collects and stores such information. The information is then compared to a profile for each subscriber detailing what type of information that subscriber is interested in receiving. Information may further be screened for that relevant to an particular area where the subscriber'"'"'s pager is determined to be. Information matching the interest profile and/or location of each subscriber is then transmitted to that subscriber'"'"'s pager. Each subscriber'"'"'s pager may include an input device, such as a virtual keyboard, so that each subscriber can submit information to the system to be shared with other subscribers.

Claims

1. A paging system comprising:

an information database from which subscribers have subscribed to receive information;

a processor for accessing said information database to provide said information to subscribers;

a transmitter for transmitting information from said database to said subscribers;

a pager of a subscriber for receiving and displaying said transmitted information; and

a user input device for inputting data to said pager, said pager further comprising a transmitter for transmitting said input data to said processor;

wherein said processor adds data transmitted from said pager to said information database so that said information transmitted by said pager is accessed from said database and transmitted to other subscribers.

2. The paging system of claim 1, wherein said user input device is a virtual keyboard.

3. The paging system of claim 1, wherein said user input device includes a transmit icon displayed on said pager such that said input data is transmitted by said pager to said processor in response to selection of said transmit icon.

4. The paging system of claim 1, wherein said information transmitted to a pager comprises nightlife information.

5. The paging system of claim 1, wherein said user input device includes an inquiry icon displayed on said display such that a request for information is transmitted by said pager to said processor in response to selection of said inquiry icon.

6. The paging system of claim 1, wherein said paging system further comprises means to determine a location of said pager, and said information transmitted to said pager is specific to said determined location.