System and method for providing user-selected information to a paging-capable device

• US 6,998,959 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Micromuse Incorporated (International Business Machines Corporation), Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Lund, Arnold M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/409,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 340/7.28, 340/7.51, 340/7.52
• US Class Current: 340/7.28
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/027 providing paging services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/185 Selective call encoders for paging networks, e.g. paging centre devices

Abstract

A system and method for providing user-selected information to a paging-capable device. An enhanced paging system responsive to information sources and a selection device transmits information to a paging-capable device. The enhanced paging system comprises a storing means, a selecting means, a storage device, and a transmitter. Such a system can provide user-selected information to a paging-capable device, allowing the user to control what information will be sent and when the information will be sent. Intelligent-agent software can automatically search for and store information that would be of interest to the user and can alert the user that more detailed information is available. It can also send critical information to the user without user request.

Claims

1. A method of providing user-selected information to a wireless device, the method comprising:

automatically storing information in a storage device;

transmitting selection choices regarding the information automatically stored in the storage device to a selection device different from the wireless device;

receiving a selection choice from the selection device indicating a selected portion of the information automatically stored in the storage device to be sent over a wireless channel to the wireless device; and

transmitting the selected portion to the wireless device over the wireless channel;

wherein the selection device and the wireless device are not in a single housing.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the selected portion on the wireless device.

3. A method of providing user-selected information to a device capable of radio communication, the method comprising:

automatically storing information in a storage device;

transmitting selection choices regarding the information automatically stored in the storage device to a selection device different from the device capable of radio communication;

receiving a selection choice from the selection device indicating a selected portion of the information automatically stored in the storage device to be sent over a radio channel to the device capable of radio communication; and

transmitting the selected portion to the device capable of radio communication over the radio channel;

wherein the selection device and the device capable of radio communication are not in a single housing.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the selection of at least a portion of the information automatically stored in the storage device is based on at least one of content, time, and a source of the information.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising formatting the selected portion of the information to produce formatted information and transmitting the formatted information to the device over the radio channel.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving source information from an external information source and using intelligent agent software to generate the information automatically stored in the storage device based on the source information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the intelligent agent software is instructed by a user to search for a particular information category.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the intelligent agent software automatically seeks out information based on inferences from a user'"'"'s past conduct.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the intelligent agent software identifies a subset of information as critical information and wherein the critical information is transmitted to the device in real-time and without user request.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the intelligent agent software is programmed to identify critical information based on a source of the information.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the intelligent agent software is programmed to identify critical information based on an inference related to a user'"'"'s past conduct.

12. The method of claim 3 further comprising displaying the selected portion on the device.

13. A method of providing user-selected information to a device capable of radio communication, the method comprising:

receiving source information;

using intelligent agent software to generate information to be automatically stored in a storage device, the stored information derived from the source information;

transmitting selection choices regarding the information automatically stored in the storage device to a selection device different from the device capable of radio communication;

receiving a selection choice from the selection device indicating a selected portion of the information automatically stored in the storage device to be sent over a radio channel to the device capable of radio communication; and

transmitting the selected portion to the device capable of radio communication over a radio channel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the selected portion is a summary and wherein the selected portion provides an indication that further information associated with the selected portion is available.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the summary is a price quote of a stock of a company and wherein the further information is additional information associated with the company.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the intelligent agent software is instructed by a user to search for a particular information category.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the intelligent agent software automatically seeks out information based on inferences from a user'"'"'s past conduct.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the intelligent agent software identifies a subset of information as critical information and wherein the critical information is transmitted to the device in real-time and without user request.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the intelligent agent software is programmed to identify critical information based on a source of the information.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the intelligent agent software is programmed to identify critical information based on an inference related to a user'"'"'s past conduct.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising displaying the selected portion on the device.

22. A method of managing delivery of user-selected information, the method comprising:

receiving source information from an information source;

automatically storing information derived from the source information into a storage device;

transmitting selection choices regarding the information automatically stored in the storage device to a selection device by an interactive voice response system that does not include a human operator;

receiving a selection choice from the selection device indicating a selected portion of the information automatically stored in the storage device;

receiving a designation of a selected device to receive the selected portion of the information, wherein the selected device is different from the selection device; and

transmitting the selected portion to the selected device over a radio channel.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving a second selection indicating a second selected portion and receiving a second designation of a second selected device and transmitting the second selected portion to the second selected device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the second selected device is a pager and wherein the system is a computer access to a web page.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the selected portion is electronic mail and the selected device is a personal digital assistant.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising displaying the selected portion on the selected device.

27. A method of managing delivery of user-selected information, the method comprising:

storing information derived from an information source;

receiving a designation of a selected device from a selection device other than the selected device;

transmitting selection choices regarding the information to the selection device;

receiving a selection choice from the selection device, the selection choice indicating a selected portion of the stored information; and

transmitting the selected portion to the selected device over a radio channel.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the system is a computer.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the system is a computer displaying a web page.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the system is an interactive voice response system.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the selected portion is a summary and further comprising transmitting a second portion of the stored information, the second portion associated with the selected portion.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the plurality of selection options comprises a series of menus.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the plurality of selection options comprises a list of different categories of information.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the list of different categories includes business articles and email.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the user is presented with a series of interactive prompts.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the user selection further identifies a selected time of transmitting the selected portion to the selected device.

37. The method of claim 27, further comprising displaying contents of a storage device including the stored information.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the selected portion comprises a mobile alert.

39. The method of claim 27 further comprising displaying the selected portion on the selected device.

40. An information storage and communication system for transmitting a selected portion of stored information to a device capable of radio communication over a radio channel, the system comprising:

a storage device to automatically store received information;

means to transmit selection choices regarding the information automatically stored in the storage device to a selection device different from the device capable of radio communication;

a selecting device to receive a selection from the selection device indicating a selected portion of the information automatically stored in the storage device to be sent over a radio channel to the device capable of radio communication; and

a transmitter to communicate the selected portion to the device capable of radio communication over the radio channel;

wherein the means to transmit selection choices comprises an interactive voice response system that does not include a human operator.

41. The information storage and communication system of claim 40, wherein the means to facilitate selection comprises a computer network interface.

42. The information storage and communication system of claim 40, wherein the device capable of radio communication is operative to display the selected portion.

51. The method of claim 42 further comprising displaying the selected portion on the device.

43. A method of providing user-selected information to a device capable of radio communication, the method comprising:

receiving source information;

using intelligent agent software to generate information derived from the source information;

automatically storing the generated information in a storage device;

transmitting selection choices regarding the information automatically stored in the storage device to a selection device different from the device capable of radio communication;

receiving a selection choice indicating a selected portion of the information automatically stored in the storage device to be sent over a radio channel to the device capable of radio communication; and

transmitting the selected portion to the device capable of radio communication over the radio channel.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the selected portion is a summary and wherein the selected portion provides an indication that further information associated with the selected portion is available.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the summary is a price quote of a stock of a company and wherein the further information is additional information associated with the company.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the intelligent agent software is instructed by a user to search for a particular information category.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the intelligent agent software automatically seeks out information based on inferences from a user'"'"'s past conduct.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the intelligent agent software identifies a subset of information as critical information and wherein the critical information is transmitted to the device in real-time and without user request.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the intelligent agent software is programmed to identify critical information based on a source of the information.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the intelligent agent software is programmed to identify critical information based on an inference related to a user'"'"'s past conduct.

52. A method of communicating formatted data over a wireless channel to a device capable of radio communication, the method comprising:

automatically storing a first set of information in a storage device;

transmitting selection choices to a selection device different from the device capable of radio communication, wherein the selection choices are provided at an internet web page, the selection choices including the first set of information automatically stored in the storage device;

receiving a selection choice from a user for selected information;

formatting the selected information for transmission to produce formatted data; and

transmitting the formatted data over the wireless channel.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the web page provides a plurality of interactive prompts.

54. The method of claim 52 further comprising:

receiving the formatted data with a wireless device; and

displaying the formatted data selected portion on the wireless device.

55. A method of communicating formatted data over a wireless channel, the method comprising:

automatically storing a first set of information in a storage device;

transmitting selection choices to a selection device different from the device capable of radio communication, wherein the selection choices are provided at an internet web page, the selection choices including the first set of information automatically stored in the storage device;

receiving a selection choice from a user for selected information; and

transmitting the selected information over the wireless channel.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the web page provides a plurality of interactive prompts.