Pricing information pager

• US 6,819,225 B1
• Filed: 02/19/1997
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• 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: Fine, David, Wicks, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US08/802,575
• Time in Patent Office: 2,827 Days
• Field of Search: 345/311.1, 345/825.44, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 705/26, 705/400
• US Class Current: 340/286.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

A novel paging technology allows a group of subscribers to share and take advantage of bargain, promotion, and special pricing information that may otherwise be difficult to obtain or only useful for a very limited time. 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 matching the interest profile of each subscriber this 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:

a processor;

a bargain information database;

a profile database; and

a transmitter;

said bargain information database storing bargain information, said bargain information including pricing information received from one of a plurality of paging system subscribers;

said profile database storing profiles of said paging system subscribers, a subscriber profile of said profiles being an interest pertaining to another subscriber of said plurality of paging system subscribers;

said processor accessing said bargain information database to select said bargain information, said bargain information being selected in accordance with said subscriber profile; and

said transmitter transmitting said selected bargain information to said another subscriber by way of a pager.

2. A paging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pager includes:

a display

an antenna; and

a controller.

3. A paging system as claimed in claims 2, wherein said bargain information transmitted by said paging system is received by said antenna and displayed on said display.

4. A paging system as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said paging-system further comprises a receiver for receiving transmissions from said pager; and

said pager further comprises an input device for inputting data to said controller, wherein said data may be transmitted with said antenna to said receiver of said paging system.

5. A paging system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said input device is a virtual keyboard.

6. A paging system as claimed in claims 4, wherein said input device includes a transmit icon displayed on said display such that data is transmitted by said pager to said receiver in response to the selection of said icon.

7. A paging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bargain information is received from said one of a plurality of paging system subscribers by way of a telephone.

8. A paging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bargain information is received from said one of a plurality of paging system subscribers by way of another pager.

9. A paging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bargain information includes pricing information received from a merchant or manager.

10. A paging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bargain information includes pricing information collected by a service provider, said service provider maintaining said paging system.

11. A method of using a paging system comprising the steps of:

compiling a database of bargain information;

receiving pricing information from one of a plurality of paging system subscribers as said bargain information;

compiling a profile database of subscriber profiles, a subscriber profile of said subscriber profiles being an interest pertaining to another subscriber of said plurality of paging system subscribers;

accessing said database of bargain information to select said bargain information;

selecting said bargain information in accordance with said subscriber profile; and

transmitting said selected bargain information to said another subscriber by way of a pager.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

providing said Pager;

displaying data on a display of said pager; and

receiving transmitted information with an antenna of said pager.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step of receiving data further comprises receiving said bargain information transmitted by said paging system;

and said step of displaying data further comprises displaying said bargain information.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

receiving transmissions from said pager with a receiver of said paging system;

inputting data to a controller of said pager with an input device provided on said pager; and

transmitting said data to said paging system.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said input device is a virtual keyboard.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said step of inputting data further comprises displaying a transmit icon; and

said step of transmitting further comprises selecting said transmit icon to transmit data entered with said input device.

17. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

determining the location of said pager with said paging system; and

screening said information for information relevant to said location.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said step of determining the location of said pager comprises determining an identity and location of said transmitter from among a plurality of transmitters in said paging system.

19. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said bargain information is received from said one of a plurality of paging system subscribers by way of a telephone.

20. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said bargain information is received from said one of a plurality of paging system subscribers by way of another pager.

21. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising receiving pricing information from a merchant or manager as said bargain information.

22. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a service provider maintains said paging system, the method further comprising receiving pricing information collected by said service provider as said bargain information.