Daily diversion channel

• US 7,567,799 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Grossman, Joel K., Skinner, Kent H., Tan, Albert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/944,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20060062172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/566, 455/414.3, 455/414, 455/412, 709/219, 709/231
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides diversions content delivered to a user on a mobile device. Daily diversion content is automatically delivered and stored on a mobile electronic device for access by a user. Using the device, users can quickly access the daily diversion information they are interested in without having to type in information to specifically download the content to the device. The daily diversion channel is directed at providing a quicker and less cumbersome way of accessing daily diversion information as compared to having to access a web site. Some example daily diversions include: word of the day; born on this day; and this day in history.

Claims

1. A method for receiving, displaying and interacting with daily diversion content on a mobile electronic device, comprising:

automatically and repeatedly throughout a day receiving a broadcast transmission that includes the daily diversion channel content encoded on a communication signal that is broadcast to many electronic devices at predetermined times such that each of the electronic devices receives the same daily diversion channel content;

wherein the predetermined times are based on a broadcast schedule that is predetermined and is not affected by the mobile electronic device;

wherein the daily diversion content is received as records;

wherein the daily diversion content is automatically broadcast throughout a day and a night according to a predetermined schedule; and

wherein the predetermined schedule specifies that the daily diversion channel content is automatically broadcast more frequently during the night and automatically broadcast less frequently during the day;

wherein the daily diversion channel content is not personalized when it is broadcast;

wherein the broadcast transmission includes public messages and private messages;

wherein the public messages are decodable by each of the many electronic devices receiving the broadcast and where in the private messages within the broadcast are decodable only by a single electronic device receiving the broadcast;

filtering the daily diversion channel content according to pre-defined user preferences;

wherein the pre-defined preferences are received on the mobile electronic device through the broadcast and wherein the received pre-defined preferences are stored on the mobile electronic device after being received;

storing at least a portion of the filtered daily diversion content on the electronic device;

associating the daily diversion channel content with at least one channel application on the electronic device;

decoding the received records on the mobile electronic device;

wherein decoding the received records includes associating an index value with an expanded name when one of the records is encoded as an index;

setting a current view associated with the daily diversion content; and

displaying the current view on a display of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the current view further comprises setting the current view to a glance view.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein setting the current view further comprises selecting a detail view corresponding to a glance view in response to a user selection.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the detail view comprises at least one of the following:

a this day in history view;

a born on this day view;

a trivia question view;

a puzzle of the day view;

a mystery person of the day view;

a did you know view;

a quote of the day view;

a word of the day view;

a fact view;

a joke of the day view;

a cartoon of the day view;

a fact view;

a soap watch view;

a popularity meter view;

a book recommendation view;

a consumer tip view;

a daily survival tips view;

a daily fortune view;

a daily challenge/deed view;

a do it yourself tips view;

a cooking tips view; and

a dieting tips view.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein setting the current view further comprises automatically cycling through views associated with the daily diversion content at a predetermined rate.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising periodically receiving updates to the daily diversion content such that at least a portion of the daily diversion content is replaced on a daily basis.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein setting the current view further comprises cycling through a set of views associated with the daily diversion content in response to a user selection.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically expiring the daily diversion content on the mobile electronic device that is out of date.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined user preferences are obtained through a web interface.

10. An apparatus for receiving, navigating, and displaying daily diversion content, comprising:

a data store;

a communication connection configured to repeatedly receive a communication signal including the daily diversion content that is broadcast according to a predetermined schedule as records to a plurality of mobile electronic devices and store the diversion content in the data store;

wherein the daily diversion content is automatically broadcast throughout a day and a night;

wherein the daily diversion content is broadcast according to the predetermined schedule more frequently during the night and less frequently during the day;

wherein the communication signal includes public messages and private messages;

wherein the public messages are decodable by each of the many electronic devices receiving the broadcast and where in the private messages within the broadcast are decodable only by a single electronic device receiving the broadcast;

a display;

a user interface that includes a selector; and

an electronic system that is arranged to interact with the user interface, the data store, the communication connection, and the display, wherein the electronic system is configured to;

filter the daily diversion content according to pre-defined user preferences;

wherein the pre-defined preferences are received on the apparatus and wherein the received pre-defined preferences are stored on the apparatus after being received;

decode the records;

wherein decoding the records includes associating an index value with an expanded name when one of the records is encoded as an index;

select a current view from a set of views relating to daily diversion views; and

display the current view on the display.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electronic system is further configured to select a details view associated with the current view in response to the selector.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the daily diversions view includes at least five of the following views:

a this day in history view;

a born on this day view;

a trivia question view;

a puzzle of the day view;

a mystery person of the day view;

a did you know view;

a quote of the day view;

a word of the day view;

a fact view;

a joke of the day view;

a cartoon of the day view;

a fact view;

a soap watch view;

a popularity meter view;

a book recommendation view;

a consumer tip view;

a daily survival tips view;

a daily fortune view;

a daily challenge/deed view;

a do it yourself tips view;

a cooking tips view; and

a dieting tips view.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic system is further configured to activate a detailed view in response to the interface selection device being activated while an associated glance view is being displayed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the electronic system is further configured to automatically receive the communication signal including the diversion content that includes updates to the diversion content.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising automatically expiring the diversion content on the mobile electronic device.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electronic system is further configured to automatically cycle through the set of views.

17. A system for providing and interacting with diversion content associated, comprising:

a data collector configured to collect the daily diversion content;

a broadcast device configured to automatically transmit a communication signal including at least a portion of the daily diversion content to a plurality of mobile electronic devices according to a predetermined schedule;

wherein the daily diversion content that is transmitted is encoded as records; and

wherein the broadcast device automatically broadcasts the daily diversion content more frequently at night according to the predetermined schedule;

wherein the daily diversion channel content is not personalized when it is broadcast;

wherein the broadcast includes public messages and private messages;

wherein the public messages are decodable by each of the plurality of the electronic devices receiving the broadcast and where in the private messages within the broadcast are decodable only by a single one of the electronic devices receiving the broadcast;

a mobile electronic device, having;

a data store;

a communication connection configured to receive the communication signal and store the diversion content in the data store;

a display;

a user interface that includes a selector; and

an electronic system that is arranged to interact with the communication connection, the user interface, the data store and the display, wherein the electronic system is configured to;

filtering the diversion content according to pre-defined user preferences;

wherein the pre-defined preferences are received on the mobile electronic device received through the broadcast and wherein the received pre-defined preferences are stored on the mobile electronic device after being received;

decoding the received records;

wherein decoding the records includes associating an index value with an expanded name when one of the records is encoded as an index;

select a current view associated with the daily diversion content;

change the current view; and

display the current view on the display.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the electronic system is further configured to select a current view associated with at least one of:

a this day in history view;

a born on this day view;

a trivia question view;

a puzzle of the day view;

a mystery person of the day view;

a did you know view;

a quote of the day view;

a word of the day view;

a fact view;

a joke of the day view;

a cartoon of the day view;

a fact view;

a soap watch view;

a popularity meter view;

a book recommendation view;

a consumer tip view;

a daily survival tips view;

a daily fortune view;

a daily challenge/deed view;

a do it yourself tips view;

a cooking tips view; and

a dieting tips view.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the broadcast device is configured to broadcast an FM communication signal.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a server configured to receive user preferences associated with users receiving the diversion content.