Method of and apparatus for utilizing SMS while running an application on a mobile device controlling a viewer's participation with a broadcast

• US 8,813,112 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winview IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: WinView Incorporated (GameSquare Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Berner, Mark K., Lockton, David B., Cibula, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Alcon, Fernando
• Application Number:
  US12/288,768
• Time in Patent Office: 2,127 Days
• Field of Search: 725/24
• US Class Current: 725/24
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/355 Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/245 visual
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

An improved method of and system for participating in SMS-TV contests enables a user to utilize one or more applications to perform desired operations such as using the user interface to efficiently make selections to respond to a question in a contest, downloading SMS short codes, promoting contests within the application, storing a history of SMS-TV programs, enabling an alternate phone number to be submitted, utilizing user identification tags, disconnecting the application to receive an incoming call, verification, contacting a server to send an SMS message on the device'"'"'s behalf and other operations. Some of the aforementioned operations are performed by the user specifically while others are automatically performed by a server to provide the user with the best service possible.

Claims

1. A method implemented on a computing device of providing an improved user experience when participating in a Short Messaging Service television (SMS-TV) contest comprising:

a. implementing a single application containing a user interface;

b. presenting content related to the SMS-TV contest to a user with the single application through the user interface;

c. enabling the user to submit a Short Messaging Service (SMS) response to the SMS-TV contest through interacting with the user interface of the single application, wherein an SMS short code for the SMS-TV contest is stored as an application accessible resource, wherein the SMS short code is updatable, wherein the application accessible resource is overwritten by an updated resource file which is downloaded when the single application couples to a server and after the single application automatically determines if the application accessible resource should be updated; and

d. notifying a winner of the contest.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface includes at least one of a list or a set of icons.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a user submits a response by highlighting and selecting a choice from the list or the set of icons.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing a history of SMS-TV programs wherein the history of SMS TV programs enables a user to review missed programs.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein notifying the winner includes contacting an alternate phone number that is different than the number from which the SMS response is sent.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the alternate phone number is embedded in an SMS message.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising disconnecting a data connection of the application to allow incoming calls.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein disconnecting a data connection comprises:

a. determining which applications to disconnect;

b. sending a message to the applications to terminate the data connection; and

c. providing an explanation to users of the disconnected applications.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein determining which applications to disconnect comprises disconnecting applications of the users who made a correct selection.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein determining which applications to disconnect comprises disconnecting applications of the users who are potential winners.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising verifying qualifications of the winner through the application.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein verifying qualifications occurs before the contest begins.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a non-SMS message from the computing device to a server with the application, wherein the non-SMS message causes the server to send the SMS response.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the SMS message is tagged with a unique identifier indicating that the SMS message did not come directly from the computing device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a computer workstation, a server, a mainframe computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular/mobile telephone, a smart appliance, a gaming console, a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a camera phone, an iPod®

, a video player, a DVD writer/player, a television and a home entertainment system.

53. The method of claim 1 wherein the winner of the contest is notified without disconnecting a data connection.

16. A system implemented on a computing device for providing an improved user experience when participating in a Short Messaging Service television (SMS-TV) contest comprising:

a. a server; and

b. a device coupled to the server, the device containing a single application configured for;

i. implementing a user interface;

ii. presenting content related to the SMS-TV contest to a user with the application through the user interface;

iii. enabling the user to submit a Short Messaging Service (SMS) response to the SMS-TV contest through interacting with the user interface of the application, wherein an SMS short code for the SMS-TV contest is stored as an application accessible resource, wherein the SMS short code is updatable, wherein the application accessible resource is overwritten by an updated resource file which is downloaded when the single application couples to a server and after the single application automatically determines if the application accessible resource should be updated; and

iv. notifying a winner of the contest.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the user interface includes at least one of a list or a set of icons.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein a user submits a response by highlighting and selecting a choice from the list or the set of icons.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the application is further configured for storing a history of SMS-TV programs wherein the history of SMS TV programs enables a user to review missed programs.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein notifying the winner includes contacting an alternate phone number that is different than the number from which the SMS response is sent.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the alternate phone number is embedded in an SMS message.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the application is further configured for disconnecting a data connection of the application to allow incoming calls.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein disconnecting a data connection comprises:

a. determining which applications to disconnect;

b. sending a message to the applications to terminate the data connection; and

c. providing an explanation to users of the disconnected applications.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein determining which applications to disconnect comprises disconnecting applications of the users who made a correct selection.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein determining which applications to disconnect comprises disconnecting applications of the users who are potential winners.

26. The system of claim 16 wherein the application is further configured for verifying qualifications of the winner.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein verifying qualifications occurs before the contest begins.

28. The system of claim 16 wherein the application is further configured to send a non-SMS message from the computing device to a server, wherein the non-SMS message causes the server to send the SMS response.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the SMS message is tagged with a unique identifier indicating that the SMS message did not come directly from the computing device.

30. The system of claim 16 wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a computer workstation, a server, a mainframe computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular/mobile telephone, a smart appliance, a gaming console, a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a camera phone, an iPod®

, a video player, a DVD writer/player, a television and a home entertainment system.

31. A system implemented on a computing device, the system comprising:

a. a memory for storing an application, the application comprising;

i. a user interface for presenting content related to a contest to a user and enabling the user to submit a Short Messaging Service (SMS) response to the contest, wherein an SMS short code for the SMS-TV contest is stored as an application accessible resource, wherein the SMS short code is updatable, wherein the application accessible resource is overwritten by an updated resource file which is downloaded when the single application couples to a server and after the single application automatically determines if the application accessible resource should be updated and for presenting a list of only television programs that have been previously aired on television and notifying a winner; and

b. a processor for processing the application.

32. The system of claim 31 further comprising an SMS-TV entry module operatively coupled to the winner notification module, the SMS-TV entry module configured for communicating with a server to send an SMS message.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the winner notification module is further configured for disconnecting a data connection of the application to allow incoming calls.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the winner notification module is further configured for verifying qualifications of the winner.

35. The system of claim 31 wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a computer workstation, a server, a mainframe computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular/mobile telephone, a smart appliance, a gaming console, a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a camera phone, an iPod®

, a video player, a DVD writer/player, a television and a home entertainment system.

36. A device comprising:

a. a memory for storing a single application, the application configured for;

i. implementing a user interface;

ii. presenting content related to the SMS-TV contest to a user with the application through the user interface;

iii. enabling the user to submit a Short Messaging Service (SMS) response to the SMS-TV contest through interacting with the user interface of the application, wherein an SMS short code for the SMS-TV contest is stored as an application accessible resource, wherein the SMS short code is updatable, wherein the application accessible resource is overwritten by an updated resource file which is downloaded when the single application couples to a server and after the single application automatically determines if the application accessible resource should be updated; and

iv. notifying a winner of the contest; and

b. a processing component coupled to the memory, the processing component configured for processing the application.

37. The device of claim 36 wherein the user interface includes at least one of a list or a set of icons.

38. The device of claim 37 wherein a user submits a response by highlighting and selecting a choice from the list or the set of icons.

39. The device of claim 36 wherein notifying a winner includes disconnecting a data connection of the application to allow incoming calls.

40. The device of claim 36 wherein notifying the winner includes verifying qualifications of the winner.

41. The device of claim 36 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a computer workstation, a server, a mainframe computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular/mobile telephone, a smart appliance, a gaming console, a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a camera phone, an iPod®

, a video player, a DVD writer/player, a television and a home entertainment system.

42. A server device comprising:

a. a memory for storing an application, the application configured for;

i. presenting content related to contests through a user-side application;

ii. storing a list of only Short Messaging Service television (SMS-TV) programs to be presented on a user device;

iii. receiving a Short Messaging Service (SMS) response from the user-side application, wherein an SMS short code for the SMS-TV contest is stored as an application accessible resource, wherein the SMS short code is updatable, wherein the application accessible resource is overwritten by an updated resource file which is downloaded when the application couples to a server and after the application automatically determines if the application accessible resource should be updated; and

iv. notifying a winner of a contest; and

b. a processing component coupled to the memory, the processing component configured for processing the application.

43. The server device of claim 42 wherein notifying a winner includes contacting an alternate phone number supplied by the user device that is different than the number from which the SMS response is sent.

44. The server device of claim 42 wherein notifying a winner includes disconnecting the user-side application so that the user device is able receive an incoming call.

45. The server device of claim 42 wherein the application is further configured for verifying user credentials.

46. The server device of claim 42 wherein the application is further configured to send a non-SMS message from the computing device to the server, wherein the non-SMS message causes the server to send the SMS response.

47. A network of devices comprising:

a. at least one server;

b. a plurality of mobile devices, each of the plurality of mobile devices containing a single application configured for;

i. implementing a user interface;

ii. presenting content related to the SMS-TV contest to a user with the application through the user interface; and

iii. enabling the user to submit a Short Messaging Service (SMS) response to the SMS-TV contest through interacting with the user interface of the application, wherein an SMS short code for the SMS-TV contest is stored as an application accessible resource, wherein the SMS short code is updatable, wherein the application accessible resource is overwritten by an updated resource file which is downloaded when the single application couples to a server and after the single application automatically determines if the application accessible resource should be updated; and

c. a network for coupling the at least one server and the plurality of mobile devices.

48. A method implemented on a computing device of providing an improved user experience when participating in a game comprising:

a. implementing an application containing a user interface;

b. presenting content related to the game to a user with the application through the user interface;

c. enabling the user to submit a Short Messaging Service (SMS) response to the game without closing the application, wherein an SMS short code for the SMS-TV contest is stored as an application accessible resource, wherein the SMS short code is updatable, wherein the application accessible resource is overwritten by an updated resource file which is downloaded when the application couples to a server and after the application automatically determines if the application accessible resource should be updated.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the SMS response is sent by the computing device in the background.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein the game is a Short Messaging Service television (SMS-TV) game comprising a question related to a television broadcast.

51. The method of claim 48 wherein the television broadcast and the application are synchronized.

52. The method of claim 48 further comprising presenting results.