Method and system for providing an opinion and aggregating opinions with mobile telecommunication device

• US 7,319,863 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wildseed Ltd. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zatloukal, Peter, Engstrom, G. Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, PIERRE LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US10/477,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20040235460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,076 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.3, 455/186.01, 455/458, 455/466, 455/560, 455/426.1, 379/92.04, 379/31
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0058 provided with channel identification means arrangements for monitoring the use made of broadcast services H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/20 Radio receiver with possibility to choose a station with a certain program style
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1041 Televoting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• 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 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile device (620) provides an opinion system (600) for receiving opinions from a user and displaying results relating to the received opinion. Opinion user interface elements (621-622) receive input relating to the item of the opinion. The opinion is aggregated with other opinions received from other mobile devices and the result is provided to the user. A probability thereon may be applied to the aggregated opinions, and may be used to generate estimates of probability for a users propensity to an item based on the user'"'"'s preferences.

Claims

1. A mobile device that provides for telecommunication and provision of opinions relating to items, comprising:

a body of the mobile device to house mobile device components, the body having dimensions designed to allow mobile usage of the mobile device by a user;

a telecommunication module, housed by the body and configured to facilitate telecommunication by the user of the mobile device with another party;

a processor, housed by the body;

a user interface element, housed by the body and operated by the processor to facilitate a user to provide opinion inputs;

a wireless interface, housed by the body and coupled to the telecommunication module and the processor to send telecommunication or opinion data and receive aggregated opinion data; and

an opinion application, housed by the body and operated by the processor to

facilitate a user of the mobile device in selecting an item on which to provide an opinion input,

associate a received opinion input with the selected item,

send the received opinion, as well as identification information identifying the selected item to which the sent opinion relates, through the wireless interface, to another device for aggregation with other opinion data provided by other users for the selected item,

receive aggregated opinion data for at least the selected item, and

customize one or more user preferences of the mobile device based on the received aggregated opinion data for at least the selected item.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said opinion application is operated by the processor to said facilitate, and said facilitate comprises facilitate the mobile device user in selecting an opinion provision context of the mobile device, the opinion provision context including the selected item.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein

the mobile device further comprises a tuner configured to receive a radio broadcast, and a player configured to play the received radio broadcast;

and

the opinion application is equipped to (a) facilitate the mobile device user in selecting the current radio broadcast being played by the player as the item to provide opinion input on, when the opinion provision context of the mobile device is the current radio broadcast being played, and (b) send a first identifier directly/indirectly identifying the radio broadcast and a second identifier identifying the first identifier as an identifier identifying a radio broadcast, as said identification information identifying the item.

4. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein

the mobile device further comprises a location device configured to provide a location of the mobile device;

and

the opinion application is equipped to (a) facilitate the mobile device user in selecting an item to be inferred from the location of the mobile device as the item to provide opinion input on, when the opinion provision context of the mobile device is the location of the mobile device; and

(b) send a first identifier identifying the location of the mobile device and a second identifier identifying the first identifier as an identifier identifying a location of the mobile device, as said identification information identifying the item.

5. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein

the mobile device further comprises a barcode device configured to read a barcode;

and

the opinion application is equipped to (a) facilitate the mobile device user in selecting an item identified by the barcode as the item to provide opinion input on, when the opinion provision context of the mobile device is the barcode read the barcode device; and

(b) send a first identifier comprising the barcode, and a second identifier identifying the first identifier as a barcode, as said identification information identifying the item.

6. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein

the mobile device further comprises a keypad device configured to facilitate a user in inputting an item identifier;

and

the opinion application is equipped to (a) facilitate the mobile device user in selecting an item identified by the received item identifier as the item to provide opinion input on, when the opinion provision context of the mobile device is the item identifier received through the keypad device; and

(b) send a first identifier comprising the received item identifier, and a second identifier identifying the first identifier as a received item identifier, as said identification information identifying the item.

7. The mobile device of claim 2, further comprising an input/output interface configured to facilitate the mobile device user in selecting the opinion provision context of the mobile device from a list of opinion provision contexts.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the list of opinion provision contexts comprises a current broadcast being played on the mobile device, a location of the mobile device, a manually inputted item identifier, and a barcode read by the mobile device.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the user interface element configured to facilitate a user in providing opinion inputs comprises a number of levels to facilitate the user in indicating a degree of the opinion.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein

the wireless interface is also configured to receive aggregated opinion data;

the mobile device further comprises a display to display the received aggregated opinion data; and

the opinion application is also communicatively coupled to the display to control said reception and display of the aggregated opinion data.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the opinion application is also equipped to request the aggregated opinion data.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the opinion application is also equipped to automatically make the request in view of an opinion on a selected item provided.

13. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the opinion application is also equipped to request the aggregated opinion data to be sent to other mobile devices.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the other mobile devices corresponds to a predetermined list of other users, and the predetermined list corresponds to a selected one of a PAL LIST selected by the user, a group of similar users generated based on the user'"'"'s preferences, and a group of all users.

15. A mobile device that provides for telecommunication and provision of opinions relating to items, comprising:

a body of the mobile device to house mobile device components, the body having dimensions designed to allow mobile usage of the mobile device by a user;

a telecommunication module, housed by the body and configured to facilitate telecommunication by the user of a mobile device with another party;

a processor, housed by the body;

a first selected one of

a tuner-player combination, housed by the body, to receive and play a broadcast,

a location device, housed by the body, to identify a location of the mobile device,

a barcode device, housed by the body, to read a barcode of an item, and

a keypad, housed by the body, to facilitate the user in entering an item identifier identifying an item;

a user interface element, housed by the body and operated by the processor to facilitate the user to provide opinion inputs;

a wireless interface, housed by the body and coupled to the telecommunication module and the processor, the wireless interface configured to send telecommunication data or opinion data and to receive aggregated opinion data; and

an opinion application, housed by the body and operated by the processor to associate the received opinion input with a first corresponding selected one of

a broadcast being played by the tuner-player combination,

an item to be inferred based on the location of the mobile device,

an item identified by the barcode read, and

an item identified by an item identifier entered by the user,

send the received opinion, as well as identification information identifying the

item to which the sent opinion relates, through the wireless interface, to another device for aggregation with other opinion data provided by other users for the selected item,

receive aggregated opinion data for at least the selected item, and

customize one or more user preferences of the user of the mobile device based on the received aggregated opinion data for at least the selected item.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the mobile device further comprises a second selected one of the remaining unselected ones of

a tuner-player combination to receive and play a broadcast,

a location device to identify a location of the mobile device,

a barcode device to read a barcode of an item,

a keypad to facilitate a user in entering an item identifier identifying an item;

and

the opinion application is equipped to

associate the received opinion input with a selected one of a first and a second corresponding selected one of

a broadcast being played by the tuner-player combination,

an item to be inferred based on the location of the mobile device,

an item identified by the barcode read, and

an item identified by an item identifier entered by the user.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the mobile device further comprises a third selected one of the remaining unselected ones of

a tuner-player combination to receive and play a broadcast,

a location device to identify a location of the mobile device,

a barcode device to read a barcode of an item,

a keypad to facilitate a user in entering an item identifier identifying an item;

and

the opinion application is equipped to

associate the received opinion input with a selected one of a first, a second and a third corresponding selected one of

a broadcast being played by the tuner-player combination,

an item to be inferred based on the location of the mobile device

an item identified by the barcode read, and

an item identified by an item identifier entered by the user.

18. A system for aggregating opinions, comprising:

a memory for storing logical instructions;

a network interface unit for sending and receiving data relating to aggregated opinions; and

a processor for executing the logical instructions stored in the memory, the execution of the logical instructions causing functions to be performed, including;

receiving opinion data from an opinion application on a mobile device;

determining an opinion based on the received opinion data;

determining an item to which the received opinion relates;

aggregating the opinion with other opinions received from other mobile devices for the item;

producing aggregated opinion data based on said aggregating of the opinion, including applying a probability calculation to the aggregated opinion, the probability calculation based at least in part on one or more known user preferences; and

sending the aggregated opinion data to a set of mobile devices in non-audio form to customize one or more user preferences of a user of at least one of the set of mobile devices based on the aggregated opinion data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said aggregating of the opinion with other opinions received from other mobile devices further comprises keeping track of each unique opinion received.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the probability calculation is performed in accordance with a probability theorem.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein said determining of the opinion based on the opinion data comprises associating the opinion with an item.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said determining of an item to which the received opinion relates comprises parsing the opinion data to extract one or more identifiers that uniquely identify the item.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more identifiers comprise at least a selected one of the set of identifiers including a song name, a barcode, a SKU number, a text name, call letters, and a location.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the other mobile devices correspond to a predetermined list of users.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the predetermined list corresponds to one of the following:

a PAL LIST provided by a user of the mobile device, a group of similar users generated based on the user'"'"'s preferences, and a group of all users.

26. The system of claim 24, said execution of the logical instructions further causes the function of receiving from the mobile device the predetermined list to be performed.

27. In a computing environment, a method for collecting, aggregating and distribution opinion, comprising:

receiving a plurality of transmissions of opinion data from an opinion application on one or more mobile devices;

determining an opinion based on each received transmission of opinion data;

determining an item to which the received opinion relates;

aggregating the opinion with other opinions received from opinion applications on other mobile devices for the item;

producing aggregated opinion data based on said aggregating of the opinion, including applying a probability calculation to the aggregated opinion, the probability calculation based at least in part on one or more known user preferences; and

sending the aggregated opinion data to a set of mobile devices in non-audio form to customize one or more user preferences of a user of at least one of the set of mobile devices based on the aggregated opinion data.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

generating a result, by the mobile device, based on the aggregated opinion; and

providing the result to a user.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the other opinions correspond to opinions expressed by users in a predetermined list.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined list corresponds to a PAL LIST.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the predetermined list is generated based on the user'"'"'s preferences.

32. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein the item to which the received opinion relates is a broadcast, a location, an item identified by a manually inputted item identifier, an item identified by an item identifying message, and an item identified by a barcode.

33. A mobile device that provides for telecommunication and provision of opinions, comprising:

a body housing means of the mobile device, the body housing means having dimensions designed to allow mobile usage of the mobile device by a user;

means, housed by the body housing means, for telecommunication by the user of the mobile device with another party;

processing means, housed by the body housing means;

means, housed by the body housing means, for receiving an opinion from the user;

means, housed by the body housing means, for selecting an item to which the opinion relates and for associating the opinion input with the selected item;

means, housed by the body housing means, for sending the opinion, as well as identification information directly/indirectly identifying the selected item to which the opinion relates, to another device for aggregation with other opinion data provided by other users for the selected item;

means, housed by the body housing means, for receiving aggregated opinion data for at least the selected item; and

means, housed by the body housing means, for customizing one or more user preferences of the user of the mobile device based on the received aggregated opinion data for at least the selected item.

34. The mobile device of claim 33, wherein

the mobile device further comprises means, housed by the body housing means, to tune and play a broadcast;

and

said sending means includes means to include with said identification information an identifier identifying a broadcast, when the broadcast is the selected item to which the opinion relates.