SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING INFORMATION TO A TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING DEVICE

• US 20100041331A1
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helferich Patent Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Wireless Science LLC
• Inventors: Helferich, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/025 with acknowledge back capability

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering information to a transmitting and receiving device. The device receives a notification alerting a user of the device that information is available to be obtained and, in some embodiments, providing a short description of the information. After receiving the notification at the device, the user can then use the device to obtain or otherwise act on the information at a time and at a place convenient to the user.

Claims

1-114. -114. (canceled)

115. A method that alerts a mobile phone of media content comprising:

a. storing media content in an internet accessible system that includes a computer;

b. causing a paging call to be sent to a mobile phone;

wherein the paging call includes an information identifier that;

(i) identifies the media content and its location;

(ii) is configured for display on the mobile phone; and

(iii) is usable by the mobile phone to retrieve the media content.

116. The method of claim 115 wherein the information identifier indirectly identifies the media content and its location.

117. The method of claim 115 wherein the information identifier identifies the media content and identifies the media content'"'"'s location using different portions of the information identifier.

118. The method of claim 115 further comprising determining a location of the mobile phone.

119. The method of claim 118 wherein the location of the mobile phone is determined using a home location registry (HLR).

120. The method of claim 118 wherein the location of the mobile phone is determined from information supplied by the mobile phone.

121. The method of claim 115 wherein the paging call comprises a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message.

122. The method of claim 115 wherein the media content comprises video.

123. The method of claim 115 wherein the mobile phone is integral with a television.

124. The method of claim 115 wherein the paging call indicates a time after which the media content is available.

125. The method of claim 115 wherein the paging call indicates a time during which the media content is available.

126. The method of claim 115, further comprising transmitting the media content from the internet accessible system to the mobile phone.

127. The method of claim 115 wherein the media content is identified with a unique code.

128. The method of claim 115 wherein the paging call includes descriptive text relating to the media content.

129. The method of claim 128 wherein the descriptive text identifies the media content sender.

131. The method of claim 115 wherein the content comprises an advertisement.

130. The method of claim 130 wherein the media content sender comprises a content provider.

132. A content provider comprising:

a. an internet accessible system that includes a computer;

b. wherein the internet accessible system is configured to cause a paging call to be sent to a mobile phone, the paging call configured to alert the mobile phone of available media content;

c. wherein the paging call includes an information identifier that;

(i) identifies the available media content and the available media content'"'"'s location;

(ii) is configured for display on the mobile phone; and

(iii) is usable by the mobile phone to retrieve the content.

133. The system of claim 132 wherein the information identifier indirectly identifies the media content and its location.

134. The system of claim 132 wherein the information identifier identifies the media content and identifies the media content'"'"'s location using different portions of the information identifier.

135. The system of claim 132 further comprising determining a location of the mobile phone.

136. The system of claim 135 wherein the location of the mobile phone is determined using a home location registry (HLR).

137. The method of claim 135 wherein the location of the mobile phone is determined from information supplied by the mobile phone.

138. The system of claim 132 wherein the paging call comprises a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message.

139. The system of claim 132 wherein the media content comprises video.

140. The system of claim 132 wherein the mobile phone is integral with a television.

141. The system of claim 132 wherein the paging call indicates a time after which the media content is available.

142. The system of claim 132 wherein the paging call indicates a time during which the media content is available.

143. The system of claim 132 wherein the internet accessible system is further configured to transmit the media content from the internet accessible system to the mobile phone.

144. The system of claim 132 wherein the media content is identified with a unique code.

145. The system of claim 132 wherein the paging call includes descriptive text relating to the media content.

146. The system of claim 145 wherein the descriptive text identifies the media content sender.

147. The system of claim 146 wherein the media content sender comprises a content provider.

148. The system of claim 132 wherein the content comprises an advertisement.

149. A method of communicating content from an internet accessible system to a cellular phone comprising:

a. generating media content in a format suitable for wireless delivery to a cellular phone;

b. storing the generated media content in a first internet accessible system, the system having memory, a processor, data storage, and a networking interface;

c. identifying that a cellular phone is subscribed to receive the stored media content;

d. providing a notification to a second system, the notification;

i. including data that identifies;

(1) the subscribed cellular phone, (2) the media content, and (3) the location of the media content as stored on the first internet accessible system; and

ii. configured to cause the second system to place a paging call to the subscribed cellular phone, the paging call including data that identifies the media content and the location of the media content on the first internet accessible system;

e. receiving at the first internet accessible system a response related to the paging call, the response including a request to transmit to the subscribed cellular phone at least a portion of the generated media content stored at the first system and identified in the notification; and

f. communicating at least a portion of the media content to a cellular service provider for transmission to the subscribed cellular phone over a network comprising a cellular telephone data system.

150. The method of claim 149 wherein the notification indirectly identifies the media content and its location.

151. The method of claim 149 wherein the data that identifies the media content and the data that identifies the location of the media content are the same data.

152. The method of claim 149 further comprising determining a location of the mobile phone.

153. The method of claim 152 wherein the location of the mobile phone is determined using a home location registry (HLR).

154. The method of claim 152 wherein the location of the mobile phone is determined from information supplied by the mobile phone.

155. The method of claim 149 wherein the paging call comprises a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message.

156. The method of claim 149 wherein the media content comprises video.

157. The method of claim 149 wherein the paging call indicates a time during which the media content is available.

158. The method of claim 149 wherein the notification is configured for display on the mobile phone.

160. The method of claim 149 wherein the media content is identified with a unique code.

161. The method of claim 149 wherein the paging call includes descriptive text relating to the media content.

162. The method of claim 161 wherein the descriptive text identifies the media content sender.

163. The method of claim 162 wherein the media content sender comprises a content provider.

164. The method of claim 149 wherein the content comprises an advertisement.

165. The method of claim 149 wherein the first internet accessible system and the second system are the same system.

159. (canceled)

166. A method of communicating content from an internet accessible system to a cellular phone comprising:

a. generating media content in a format suitable for wireless delivery to a cellular phone;

b. storing the generated media content in a first internet accessible system, the system having memory, a processor, data storage, and a networking interface;

c. providing a notification to a second system, the notification;

i. including data that identifies;

(1) the generated media content, and (2) the location of the media content as stored on the first internet accessible system; and

ii. configured to cause the second system to place a paging call to a cellular phone subscribed to receive notifications, wherein the paging call includes data that identifies the generated media content and the location of the media content on the first internet accessible system;

d. receiving at the first internet accessible system a request to transmit to the cellular phone at least a portion of the generated media content stored at the first system and identified in the notification; and

e. communicating at least a portion of the media content to a cellular service provider for transmission to the subscribed cellular phone.

167. The method of claim 166, wherein the notification directly or indirectly identifies the media content and its location.

168. The method of claim 166 wherein the data that identifies the media content and the data that identifies the location of the media content are the same data.

169. The method of claim 166 further comprising determining a location of the mobile phone.

170. The method of claim 169 wherein the location of the mobile phone is determined using a home location registry (HLR).

171. The method of claim 169 wherein the location of the mobile phone is determined from information supplied by the mobile phone.

172. The method of claim 166 wherein the paging call comprises a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message.

173. The method of claim 166 wherein the media content comprises video.

174. The method of claim 166 wherein the paging call indicates a time during which the media content is available.

175. The method of claim 166 wherein the notification is configured for display on the mobile phone.

176. The method of claim 166 wherein the notification is configured to be usable by the mobile phone to retrieve the media content.

177. The method of claim 166 wherein the media content is identified with a unique code.

178. The method of claim 166 wherein the paging call includes descriptive text relating to the media content.

179. The method of claim 178 wherein the descriptive text identifies the media content sender.

180. The method of claim 179 wherein the media content sender comprises a content provider.

181. The method of claim 166 wherein the media content comprises an advertisement.

182. The method of claim 166 wherein the first internet accessible system and the second system are the same system.

183. A method of communicating content from an internet accessible system to a cellular phone comprising:

a. generating media content in a format suitable for wireless delivery to a cellular phone;

b. storing the generated media content in a first internet accessible system, the system having memory, a processor, data storage, and a networking interface;

c. accessing a cellular phone identifier from a subscriber database, the cellular phone identifier corresponding to a cellular phone that is subscribed to receive notifications;

d. providing a notification to a second system, the notification;

i. including data that identifies;

(1) the subscribed cellular phone, (2) the media content, and (3) the location of the media content as stored on the first internet accessible system; and

ii. configured to cause the second system to place a paging call to the subscribed cellular phone, the paging call including data that identifies the media content and the location of the media content on the first internet accessible system;

e. receiving at the first internet accessible system a response related to the paging call, the response including a request to transmit to the subscribed cellular phone at least a portion of the generated media content stored at the first system and identified in the notification; and

f. communicating at least a portion of the media content to a cellular service provider for transmission to the subscribed cellular phone over a network comprising a cellular telephone data system.

184. The method of claim 183 further comprising adding the cellular phone identifier to the subscriber database.

185. The method of claim 183 further comprising removing the cellular phone identifier from the subscriber database.

186. The method of claim 183 wherein the cellular phone identifier comprises a phone number.

187. The method of claim 183 further comprising determining a location of the mobile phone.

188. The method of claim 187 wherein the location of the mobile phone is determined using a home location registry (HLR).

189. The method of claim 187 wherein the location of the mobile phone is determined from information supplied by the mobile phone.

190. The method of claim 183 wherein the paging call comprises a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message.

191. The method of claim 183 wherein the first internet accessible system stores the subscriber database.

192. An internet accessible content communication system comprising:

a. memory, data storage, a networking interface, and a processor, wherein the processor is coupled to the memory, the data storage, and the networking interface;

b. the content communication system configured to;

i. generate media content in a format suitable for wireless delivery to a cellular phone and store the generated media content in the data storage;

ii. access a cellular phone identifier from a subscriber database, the cellular phone identifier corresponding to a cellular phone that is subscribed to receive notifications,

iii. provide a notification to a second system, the notification including data that identifies;

(1) the subscribed cellular phone, (2) the media content, and (3) the location of the generated media content;

wherein the notification is configured to cause the second system to place a paging call to the subscribed cellular phone, the paging call including data that identifies the media content and the location of the media content on the first internet accessible system;

iv. receive a response related to the paging call, the response including a request to transmit to the subscribed cellular phone at least a portion of the generated media content identified in the notification; and

v. communicate at least a portion of the generated media content to a cellular service provider for transmission to the subscribed cellular phone over a network comprising a cellular telephone data system.

193. The system of claim 192 wherein the content communication system is further configured to add the cellular phone identifier to the subscriber database.

194. The system of claim 192 wherein the content communication system is further configured to remove the cellular phone identifier from the subscriber database.

195. The system of claim 192 wherein the cellular phone identifier comprises a phone number.

196. The method of claim 192 further comprising determining a location of the mobile phone.

197. The method of claim 196 wherein the location of the mobile phone is determined using a home location registry (HLR).

198. The method of claim 196 wherein the location of the mobile phone is determined from information supplied by the mobile phone.

199. The system of claim 192 wherein the paging call comprises a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message.

200. The system of claim 192 wherein the content communication system is configured to store the subscriber database.

201. The system of claim 192 wherein the internet accessible content communication system and the second system are the same system.

202. A method of communicating content from a content provider to a cellular phone comprising:

a. storing media content in a first internet accessible system, the system having memory, a processor, data storage, and a networking interface;

b. providing a notification to a second system, the notification identifying the media content and the location of the media content, and wherein providing the notification to the second system causes the second system to place a paging call to a cellular phone subscribed to receive notifications;

c. receiving a request to transmit the media content to the cellular phone; and

d. communicating the media content to a service provider for transmission to the cellular phone.

203. An internet accessible content communication system comprising:

a. memory, data storage, a networking interface, and a processor, wherein the processor is coupled to the memory, the data storage, and the networking interface;

b. the content communication system configured to provide a notification to a second system, the notification;

(1) identifying the content and the location of the content, and (2) configured to cause the second system to place a paging call to a cellular phone subscribed to receive notifications from the content communication system, wherein the paging call includes at least part of the notification sufficient to identify the media content and the location of the media content; and

c. the content communication system further configured to;

(1) receive a request to transmit the media content to the cellular phone, and (2) transmit the media content to the cellular phone over a network comprising a cellular telephone data system.

204. A method of content communication from an internet accessible content provider to a cellular phone comprising:

a. storing content in a first internet accessible system, the system having memory, a processor, data storage, and a networking interface;

b. providing a notification to a second system, the notification identifying the content and the location of the content;

c. wherein providing the notification to the second system causes the second system to place a paging call to a cellular phone subscribed to receive notifications from the content provider, wherein the paging call includes at least part of the notification sufficient to identify the content and the location of the content;

d. receiving a request to transmit the content to the subscribed cellular phone; and

e. transmitting the content to the cellular phone over a network comprising a cellular telephone data system.

205. A content communication system, comprising:

a. a memory configured to store content;

b. a first memory controller including a processor coupled to the memory configured to cause a paging call comprising a notification of content to be directed to a cellular phone,

c. wherein the paging call includes an address identifier that identifies the cellular phone, a content identifier that identifies the content and the content'"'"'s location, the content identifier configured to be displayed by the cellular phone, and a type identifier that identifies the content'"'"'s type;

d. wherein a second memory controller, that is coupled to the memory, is configured to direct the content corresponding to the content identifier from the memory to the cellular phone only upon receiving a request from the cellular phone to do so.

206. The system of claim 205 wherein the paging call comprises a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message.

207. The system of claim 205 wherein the content comprises video.

208. The system of claim 205 wherein the paging call is caused to be directed to the cellular phone via a global system for mobile communications (“

GSM”

) network.

209. The system of claim 205 wherein the notification includes descriptive text related to the content.

210. A method that communicates data from a content provider through a mobile radiotelephone network to a wireless communication device, utilizing a content notification system having an interface with a home location registry comprising:

the content provider initiating a paging call that communicates a notification of data to the wireless communication device, the notification including an information identifier that corresponds to the data stored by the content provider and identifies the location of the stored data, wherein the data is not included in the notification and is not stored in the wireless communication device;

the content provider receiving a request message that is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless communication device over the mobile radiotelephone network directly or through another system; and

the request message including a request to receive the data.

211. The method of claim 210 wherein the paging call comprises a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message.

212. The method of claim 210 wherein the paging call further includes descriptive text relating to the data.

213. The method of claim 212 wherein the descriptive text identifies the content sender.

214. The method of claim 210 wherein the data comprises an advertisement.

215. The method of claim 210 wherein the data comprises video.

216. The method of claim 210 wherein the notification is configured to be displayed on a cellular phone.

217. A system, comprising:

a. a storage unit that stores information for transmission to one or more devices;

b. a transmitter coupled to the storage unit that transmits a notification, the notification causing a selective call signal comprising an information identifier identifying the information and an acknowledgment request to be transmitted at least one of the one or more devices,

wherein the information is not included in the selective call signal;

a receiver coupled to the storage unit that receives a request transmitted from any one of the one or more devices, wherein the request is transmitted via a cellular data network and

the request identifies the information and an action to be performed on the information; and

a processor configured to perform the action.

218. The system of claim 217 wherein the information comprises video.

219. The system of claim 217 wherein the information comprises an advertisement.

220. The system of claim 217 wherein the notification or information identifier is configured to be displayed on a cellular phone.

221. The system of claim 217 wherein the notification or information identifier includes descriptive text related to the content.