Initiating a wireless connection to a broadcast program

• US 7,062,222 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Boda, Peter Pal, Saarinen, Petteri J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, TUAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/015,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20030114145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• Field of Search: 455 301- 306, 725 86- 87, 725/62, 725/91, 725/98, 725/104, 705/1, 705/12, 705/14, 705/26
• US Class Current: 455/3.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A method and system for users to select and participate in call-in broadcast programs are disclosed. A user speaks a station name into a mobile device, providing an indication that the request is for a broadcast channel, to tune the mobile device to that channel. The user initiates a request to contact a show by inputting an indication that the user would like to contact the show. The mobile device sends the request to a call server, which looks up the show'"'"'s contact information based on the current channel being received by the mobile device, and forwards the request to a show representative. The show representative screens calls and provide automated responses. When the show'"'"'s representative accepts a request to contact the show, the call server initiates a connection between the mobile device and a telephone or other device associated with the show. Once the connection has been established, the call server withdraws from the connection, allowing the user to communicate with the show representative.

Claims

1. A call server, comprising:

a processor;

memory for storing data comprising;

a database that correlates information identifying a plurality of broadcast programs to information for contacting each of the plurality of broadcast programs; and

computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the call server to perform a method for establishing a two-way wireless connection, comprising steps of;

i. receiving from a mobile device a first request to establish a two-way connection between a broadcast program and the mobile device, said first request comprising a current condition of a dynamic variable and comprising additional information about the first request;

ii. querying the database based on the dynamic variable to retrieve information for contacting the broadcast program corresponding to the dynamic variable;

iii. sending a second request to establish the two-way connection between a device associated with the broadcast program and the mobile device as requested in the first request, said second request comprising the additional information about the first request;

iv. receiving a response to the second request from the device associated with the broadcast program for establishing a two-way wireless connection to the mobile device;

v. when the response indicates acceptance of the second request, establishing the requested two-way wireless connection between the mobile device and the device associated with the broadcast program; and

vi. exiting from the connection between the device associated with the broadcast program and the mobile device.

2. The call server of claim 1, wherein the contact information comprises a telephone number and, in step (v), the connection is a telephony connection.

3. The call server of claim 1, wherein the contact information comprises an IP address and, in step (v) the connection is a data network connection.

4. The call server of claim 1, wherein the dynamic variable represents a current broadcast channel to which the mobile device is tuned.

5. The call server of claim 1, wherein, in step (iv), the connection response comprises a defined delay time, and wherein the computer readable instructions further comprise the step of waiting for the defined delay time before performing step (v).

6. The call server of claim 5, wherein the defined delay time is defined by the broadcast program.

7. The call server of claim 1, wherein step (i) comprises receiving a text message.

8. The call server of claim 7, wherein step (i) comprises receiving an SMS message.

9. The call server of claim 1, wherein the additional information about the request comprises user information corresponding to a user from whom the first request was received.

10. The call server of claim 1, wherein the additional information about the request comprises a summary of an intended discussion topic.

11. The call server of claim 1, wherein the additional information about the request comprises location information.

12. The call server of claim 1, wherein receiving the connection response comprises receiving an automated response from the device associated with the broadcast program.

13. The call server of claim 1, wherein the computer readable instructions further cause the call server to perform the step of sending to the mobile device connection information to establish a connection between a device associated with the broadcast program and the mobile device from the call server.

14. The call server of claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises a contact address of the mobile device and, in step (v) the connection is a data connection.

15. The call server of claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises a contact address of the mobile device and, in step (v) the connection is a voice connection.

16. The call server of claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises a contact address of the mobile device and, in step (v) the connection is a text message connection.

17. The call server of claim 1, wherein step (i) comprises receiving a message via data messaging.

18. The call server of claim 17, wherein step (i) comprises receiving a HTTP message.

19. A method for establishing a two-way wireless connection, comprising steps of:

i. a mobile device receiving a broadcast signal;

ii. the mobile device receiving user input to establish the two-way wireless connection;

iii. the mobile device sending to a call server a request to contact a second party associated with the broadcast signal, wherein the request comprises a current condition of a dynamic variable based on the broadcast signal;

iv. the mobile device receiving a response to the request containing connection information from the call server;

v. the mobile device joining a two-way wireless connection to the second party established by the call server; and

vi. maintaining the two-way wireless connection between the mobile device and the second party without the call server remaining involved in the two-way wireless connection.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, in step (iii), the dynamic variable identifies a current broadcast being received by the mobile device via the broadcast signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, in step (iii), the current broadcast comprises an advertisement.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein, in step (iii), the current broadcast comprises a call-in program.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein, in step (v), the connection comprises a telephony connection.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein step (ii) comprises receiving the user input as a verbal command.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein step (iii) comprises sending a text message.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein step (iii) comprises sending an SMS message.

27. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor;

memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile device to perform steps of;

i. receiving user input to initiate a two-way connection with a device associated with a broadcast program;

ii. sending a request to call a server to establish a two-way connection between the device associated with the broadcast program and the mobile device comprising a current value of a dynamic variable representing the broadcast program, and comprising additional information about the request;

iii. when the request is accepted, establishing the two-way connection with the device associated with the broadcast program; and

iv. maintaining the two-way connection between the mobile device and the device associated with the broadcast program without the call server being involved in the maintained two-way connection.

28. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein in step (ii) the dynamic variable represents a presently tuned broadcast station.

29. The mobile device of claim 28, wherein in step (i) the broadcast program comprises an advertisement.

30. The mobile device of claim 28, wherein in step (i) the broadcast program comprises a call-in program.

31. The mobile device of claim 28, wherein step (i) comprises receiving a verbal command from a user of the mobile device.

32. The mobile device of claim 28, wherein step (ii) comprises sending a text message.

33. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein step (ii) comprises sending an SMS message.

34. The mobile device of claim 27, further comprising instructions for performing the step of, when the request is rejected, receiving a rejection message from the broadcast program.

35. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein in step (iii) the connection comprises a voice connection.

36. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein the additional information about the request comprises user information corresponding to a user of the mobile terminal.

37. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein the additional information about the request comprises a summary of an intended discussion topic.

38. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein the additional information about the request comprises location information.

39. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein the computer readable instructions further cause the mobile device to perform the step of receiving connection information to establish a connection between a device associated with the broadcast program and the mobile device from the call server.

40. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a device to perform steps of:

i. receiving user input to initiate a two-way connection with a device associated with a broadcast program;

ii. sending a request, to a call server, comprising a current value of a dynamic variable representing the broadcast program, and comprising additional information about the request;

iii. receiving a response to the request containing two-way connection information;

iv. when the request is accepted, establishing the two-way connection with a device associated with the broadcast program; and

v. maintaining the two-way connection between the device and the device associated with the broadcast program without the call server being involved in the maintained two-way connection.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein in step (ii) the dynamic variable represents a presently tuned broadcast station.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein in step (i) the broadcast program comprises an advertisement.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein in step (i) the broadcast program comprises a call-in program.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein step (i) comprises receiving a verbal command from a user of the mobile device.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein step (ii) comprises sending a text message.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 45, wherein step (ii) comprises sending an SMS message.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein the computer readable instructions further comprise the step of, when the request is rejected, receiving a rejection message.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein in step (iii) the connection comprises a voice connection.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein in step (ii) the additional information about the request comprises user information corresponding to a user of the device.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein in step (ii) the additional information about the request comprises a summary of an intended discussion topic.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein in step (ii) the additional information about the request comprises location information.

52. In a mobile terminal, a method of establishing a voice connection between a user of the mobile terminal and a device associated with a broadcast radio program, comprising the steps of:

(i) receiving and demodulating a broadcast signal at the mobile terminal;

(ii) in response to a user-activated command, transmitting a request to establish a voice connection with the device associated with the broadcast radio program, wherein the request includes information that identifies the broadcast radio program;

(iii) receiving from a call server that communicates with the device associated with the broadcast radio program an indication as to whether the request to establish the voice connection has been accepted;

(iv) in response to step (iii), establishing a voice connection with the device associated with the broadcast radio program; and

(v) maintaining the voice connection between the mobile terminal and the device associated with the broadcast radio program without the call server remaining involved in the voice connection.

53. A method for establishing a connection with a host of a broadcast program, comprising steps of:

(a) receiving a connection request originating from a mobile terminal, wherein the connection request comprises information about the request;

(b) determining whether to accept the connection request based on the information;

(c) when the connection request is accepted, sending a response to the connection request to the mobile terminal;

(d) establishing an interactive connection between a device associated with the host and the mobile terminal; and

(e) exiting from the interactive connection between the device associated with the host and the mobile terminal.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein in step (d) the interactive connection comprises a voice connection.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein in step (d) the interactive connection comprises a data chat connection.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein in step (a) the information comprises user profile information corresponding to a user of the mobile terminal.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein in step (a) the information comprises a summary of an intended discussion topic.

58. The method of claim 53, wherein in step (a) the information comprises location information corresponding to the mobile terminal.