Interactive content delivery system

Abstract

The present invention is a computer-implemented interactive content delivery system having a central control device operable for processing and verifying information, at least one messaging device operable for communicating with the central control device, a location control unit in communication with the central control device, and a service for obtaining data and information. The service is in communication with the central control device and the location control unit. The present invention further includes a user having a mobile communication device operable for sending a signal to the at least one messaging device. When the messaging device receives the signal from the mobile communication device, the messaging device will verify information of the user and communicate information to the central control device. The location control unit will receive information from the central control device and the service, and the location control unit will deliver information to the user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/134,368, filed Jul. 9, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an interactive content delivery system, where a user is able to obtain specific information from the content delivery system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Internet based or web-based games are generally known. The internet has allowed any person with access to a computer and the internet to play all different types of games, some of which can be played against other people anywhere in the world. These types of games include online adventure games, word puzzles, number puzzles, and sports-related games. One of the most common and popular form of web-based sports games are commonly referred to as “fantasy games” or “fantasy sports.” Fantasy sports typically include one or more people which allocate, or “draft” athletes onto their respective teams, which are also called “fantasy rosters.” Often, several people will form a league together amongst friends, family, or coworkers. The athletes typically play for a professional sports team. The performances and statistics of the individual athletes are used to determine the performance of each person's fantasy team.

The various fantasy leagues will often have different types of scoring systems, which are usually established by the people in the league. The scoring systems can vary from league to league, and from sport to sport. Many different fantasy sport leagues involve two people facing each other, with the outcome of the contest being decided by which athletes on the respective rosters of the two people performs the best. The overall winner for the fantasy season is typically decided by which person wins the most contests compared to the other players in the league.

Many of the sporting events in which the athletes on the various fantasy rosters participate in are broadcast on television. Some of these sporting events are broadcast on network television. It is also very common for people to watch these various sporting events at different establishments, such as bars, pubs, restaurants, and the like. Many of the people who attend these various establishments also participate in fantasy sports. However, without the use of a device with internet access, the people who have fantasy teams cannot access their fantasy roster to determine how well the athletes on their fantasy team are performing, or if they are winning their respective contest. Also, many people who have fantasy teams desire to have up-to-the-minute statistics on how well the athletes on their team are performing, which are not always available in the various establishments where these games are being broadcast.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a way for people who have a fantasy team to access the relevant statistics for their team, as well as view the performance of the athletes on their team, and determine if they are winning their respective fantasy contest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a computer-implemented interactive content delivery system having a central control device operable for processing and verifying information, and at least one messaging device operable for communicating with the central control device. The present invention also includes a location control unit in communication with the central control device, and a service for obtaining data and information. The service is in communication with the central control device and the location control unit. The present invention further includes a user having a mobile communication device operable for sending a signal to the at least one messaging device.

When the messaging device receives the signal from the mobile communication device, the messaging device will verify information of the user and communicate information to the central control device. The location control unit will receive information from the central control device and the service, and the location control unit will deliver information to the user.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

The FIGURE is a general schematic of an interactive content delivery system, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

Referring to the FIGURE, a schematic of an interactive content delivery system is shown generally at 10. The system 10 includes various servers, processors, and other network devices which are operable for receiving, processing, and transmitting information. The present invention can be practiced in conjunction with the Internet, World Wide Web, intranets, extranets, electronic media (e.g., CD/DVD-based systems), or the like. The system 10 of the present invention is operable with a user for receiving a signal, such as a text message or the like, identifying the user based on the signal received, and transmitting information to the location of the user that the user can view on a display monitor, such as a television, computer monitor, or the like. The information sent to the location of the user is based on a profile created by the user; the profile contains information such as information related to a fantasy sports team or the like which is entered into the profile by the user. The user will then view the information on a display, such as a computer monitor, television, or the like.

In order to fully appreciate the benefits and features of the interactive content delivery system 10 of the present invention, it is assumed that an individual practicing the present invention will have: access to a mobile communications device, such as a cellular phone (and is conversant with the basic functions thereof, which has various communications capabilities, such as text messaging, email, or the like.

To fully use the system 10 of the present invention, the user will also have access to a computer (and is conversant with the basic functions thereof); an Internet service provider (“ISP”) (e.g., AOL, JUNO, or the like) with e-mail capability; a Web browser (e.g., INTERNET EXPLORER, NETSCAPE, or the like); any required plug-ins (e.g., FLASH, SHOCKWAVE, JAVA VIRTUAL MACHINE, or the like); and have the ability to navigate successfully to any given uniform resource locator (“URL”).

The system 10 also includes a user registration and maintenance device 12 which is in electronic communication with a user database 14. The user registration and maintenance device 12 is a device where a user will create a profile by logging onto a website using a computer, the profile will include various personal information about the user (such as the user's name, email address, gender, address, or the like) as well as information about any of the user's web-based activities that the user desires to have as part of the profile. The user's web-based activities may include information relating to fantasy sports, financial information (such as stock quotes or the like), local, national, and international news, or any other type of information the user desires to have as part of the profile.

In this embodiment, the profile will contain personal information submitted by the user, as well as various types of information relating to internet-based fantasy sports. Fantasy sports are very common and are continuously growing in popularity. There are fantasy sport leagues for football, baseball, basketball, hockey, auto racing, and the like. Fantasy sport leagues also have various types of scoring systems, which can vary between the different sports, as well as vary within different leagues of the same sport. There are also internet fantasy leagues for other types of activities that are non-sports related, such as television shows, or the like. The profile of the user will not only have the personal information of the user, but will also incorporate scoring systems of the user's fantasy league, as well as other information relating to the user's fantasy team.

It should also be noted that information of multiple user profiles are stored on the user database 14. The user database 14 is in communication with a data aggregation and presentation server 16. The data aggregation and presentation server 16 is also in communication with a data service 18, as well as a stored data device 20. The data service 18 is a service that is provided by companies which provides statistics and other information relating to sports events and other news events. The data aggregation and presentation server 16 will receive and process information from the data service 18 and user database 14 and store the processed information in the stored data device 20.

The data aggregation and presentation server 16 is in communication with a type of web service 22, which can be any type of ISP as mentioned above. The web service 22 is in electronic communication with a central control server 24 and one or more location control units 26. The central control server 24 is also in communication with each location control unit 26, and an SMS messaging server 28. The web service 22 receives the processed information from the data aggregation and presentation server 16 and will send the processed information regarding the user profile and the user's fantasy sports team to the location control unit 26.

The data aggregation and presentation server 16 is also capable of accessing information from the stored data device 20 as well as process information from the user database 14 and data service 18 at the same time.

The location control unit 26 also receives information from the central control server 24. The central control server 24 is a device provides central control of various feeds which are to be presented using the location control unit 26. The various feeds delivered from the central control server 24 to either the web service or to the location control unit 26 include various types of data, advertising schedules, verification of subscription of the user, performing remote maintenance on the location control unit 26, or the like. If the information is sent to the web service 22 from the central control server 24, it is then sent to the location control unit 26.

The SMS messaging server 28 receives communication in the form of a signal from the mobile communication device possessed by the user. The signal in this embodiment is in the form of a text message, although it is within the scope of the invention that other types of signals may be used. The central control server 24 receives the signal from the SMS messaging server 28, the central control server 24 will then send a signal to the location control unit 26 to modify the output of the location control unit 26.

The present invention also includes the user having a specific location, represented at 30 in the FIGURE. The location user 30 and location control unit 26 both interface with a display 32. The display 32 is in the form of a computer monitor, television, or the like. In this embodiment, the display is a liquid crystal display (LCD) television. The display 32 is controlled by the location control unit 26, and will display information based on the information sent to the location control unit from the web service 22 or the central control server 24. The information on the display 22 is therefore based on the user profile, the data service 18, and the stored data device 20.

The location control unit 26 also has a location display modification service 34. The location display modification service 34 is a service which updates the location control unit 26 to change the information produced on the display 32 as the amount or type of location users 30 change, as well as information provided by the data service 18 and stored data device 20 changes. The location display modification service 34 is controlled by the central control server 24.

In operation, a location user 30 will be in a specific location where the location control unit 26 and display 32 are also located. This location could be a restaurant, a bar or pub, or any other establishment where it is desired to obtain information regarding the user's profile, the data service 18 and the stored data device 20. The location user 30 will send a signal, which in this embodiment is a text message having a specific numerical code, to the SMS messaging server 28. The location user 30 will send the text message from a mobile communications device, such as a cell phone; because each cell phone has a different phone number, the phone number is then used to provide identification of the location user 30, allowing the proper information to be accessed. Additionally, the text message containing the proper code will ensure that the proper location control unit 26 is updated with the profile of the location user 30. Because there are several location control units 26, which are located at various establishments which are visited by various location users 30, each location control unit 26 will have a specific code, which is used by the location user 30 in the form of a text message to access the information desired by the location user 30.

Once the SMS messaging server 28 receives the text message, the SMS messaging server 28 will then communicate with the central control server 24, indicating to the central control server 24 the identification of the location user 30, as well as the location of the location user 30 such that the central control server 24 will communicate with the proper location control unit 26 and web services 22 to modify or add information to be displayed by the location control unit 26 on the display 32. The location control unit 26 will communicate with the web service 22, which receives information from the data aggregation and presentation server 16 regarding statistics, scoring systems, and personal information of the location user 30.

Every location user 30 will have a profile established in the user data base 14 as described above, relating to the personal information as well as the fantasy sports information of the location user 30. Each location control unit 26 will then publish the information on the display 32. The information relating to statistics, the scoring system of the user's fantasy sports team, and personal information is all visible on the display 32 at the location of the location user 30. The information of other location users 30 is published as well. Multiple location users 30 at the same location (i.e. bar, restaurant, or the like) are able to send the same text message from their respective cellular phones and are able to view each of their respective personal and fantasy information on the display 32. The display 32 will show each location user's 30 name (which is the actual user's first name only, first and last name, a nickname of the location user 30, or the like), fantasy team name, the relevant statistics, and fantasy scoring. The display 32 is also able to show scoring comparisons if two location users 30 are playing against each other.

Additionally, the display 32 will also show various types of advertising. The types of advertising shown are received from the central control server 24. The central control server 24 will dictate how often the advertisements change, and how often a location user's information will be shown on the display 32. The rate at which the information of the location user 30 is shown on the display 32 is also varied by how many location users 30 have sent a text message to the SMS messaging server 28. If there are a large amount of location users 30 at one location, the information of each location user 30 will be shown less frequently.

Additionally, the central control server 24 also has the ability to change the rate at which the information of each location user 30 as well as any advertising is shown on the display 32. Different factors such as the time of year, a specific sporting event, holiday, or the like may have an effect on the type of location user 30 at the location of the location control unit 26 and display 32. The advertising may be changed to compensate for different interests of each location user 30. For example, it may be desirable to have different advertising for a location user 30 having a fantasy baseball team, which plays its season through the spring and summer months, compared to a location user having a fantasy football team, which plays its season through the fall and winter months.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented interactive content delivery system, comprising:

a central control device operable for processing and verifying information;

at least one messaging device operable for communicating with said central control device;

a location control unit in communication with said central control device;

a service for obtaining data and information, said service in communication with said central control device and said location control unit; and

a user having a mobile communication device operable for sending a signal to said at least one messaging device, and when said at least one messaging device receives said signal from said mobile communication device, said at least one messaging device will verify information of said user and communicate information to said central control device, and said location control unit will receive information from said central control device and said service, and said location control unit will deliver information to said user.

2. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data aggregation and presentation server operable for gathering, compiling, and storing data;

a data service operable for supplying information and statistics to said data aggregation and presentation server;

a database for storing statistics and information desired by said user; and

a user database for storing information related to said user, said information related to said user forming a profile, and said data aggregation and presentation server receives information and statistics from said data service, said database, and said user database, and said data aggregation and presentation server processes requests from said web service to deliver processed data and information from said data service to said location control unit.

3. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 2, further comprising a user registration and maintenance device, wherein said user will register and maintain said profile through the use of said user registration and maintenance device.

4. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 1, further comprising:

a location display modification device controlled by said central control device, said location display modification device operable for receiving commands from said central control device; and

a display operable with said location control unit for displaying information from said location control unit, wherein the information displayed by said display is modified by said location display modification device.

5. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 1, said central control device further comprising a central control server.

6. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 1, said at least one messaging device further comprising an SMS messaging device.

7. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 1, said service further comprising a web service.

8. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 7, the data and information requested by said web service further comprising web-based activities of said user.

9. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 7, said web service operable for providing data related to fantasy sports.

10. A computer-implemented interactive content delivery system comprising:

a central control server for controlling the transmission of information;

an SMS messaging server operable for communicating with said central control server;

a user having a profile, said user operable for communicating with said SMS messaging server using a mobile communications device, said mobile communications device operable for identifying said user;

a web service operable for requesting data and information, operable and receiving commands from said central control server; and

a location control unit operable for receiving information relating to said profile of said user, and information from said web service, as well as commands from said central control server, said central control server operable for commanding said location control unit to output information of said profile of said user, and information from said web service, and when said user communicates with said SMS messaging server, said SMS messaging server will identify said user and indicate the identification of said user to said central control server, and said central control server will then command said location control unit to deliver information relating to said user profile and information and data from said web service to said user.

11. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 10, further comprising:

a data service operable for supplying information and data;

a database for storing statistics and information desired by said user;

a user database for storing said profile of said user;

a data aggregation and presentation server operable for gathering, compiling, and storing data received from said data service, said database, and said user database, and processing requests from said web service to deliver processed data and information from said data service to said user.

12. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 10, further comprising:

a display operable with said location control unit for displaying information from said location control unit; and

a location display modification device controlled by said central control server, said location display modification device operable for receiving commands from said central control server and modifying the information displayed by said display of said location control unit.

13. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 10, further comprising a user registration and maintenance device operable for allowing said user to register and maintain said profile.

14. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 10, the data and information requested by said web service further comprising web-based activities of said user.

15. The computer-implemented interactive content delivery system of claim 10, said web-based activities further comprising fantasy sports.