Audience participation method and apparatus
OwnerAmir Leitersdorf, Yoav Leitersdorf +1inventors
InventorsAmir Leitersdorf, Yoav Leitersdorf, Paul Aitken
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for interactive broadcasting comprises: an in step device for determining predetermined times in a broadcast relevant to user interaction; a content insertion device for inserting interactivity content for sending over a network to users for interaction at the predetermined times; and an embedding unit for embedding timing control into the interactive content to ensure that the interactive content is displayed to the users at the predetermined times. The apparatus is useful for providing timely user interaction even via the cellular network. Further refinements include traffic spreading at the application layer, and the use of SMS to provide a user with the URL for initial logging on.
Claims40
A method for connecting a user of a mobile unit of a cellular communication service to a server, the method comprising:
- receiving a cellular connection to a telephone number associated with a server;
- sending a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to said mobile unit;
- receiving a request including said URL from said user via said mobile unit;
- and
- connecting said mobile unit to said server via said cellular communication service.
A method of interaction between a user of a cellular mobile unit and a broadcast program, the method comprising:
- sending a group of interaction displays to said mobile unit, wherein each of said interaction displays is assigned a time-of-display in accordance with which said respective interaction display is displayed to said user;
- wherein said time-of-display is synchronized with at least one of said broadcast program and a response of said user.
A method of interaction between a user of a cellular mobile unit and a broadcast program, the method comprising:
- receiving a group of interaction displays at said mobile unit, each of said interaction displays having a time-of-display assigned thereto;
- and
- displaying said interaction displays according to their respective times-of-display;
- wherein said time-of-display is synchronized with at least one of said broadcast program and a response of said user.
A method for interacting with a plurality of users of a respective plurality of cellular communications mobile units, the method comprising:
- assigning delay parameters to respective mobile units, said delay parameters defining a delay prior to transmitting said user-response to a server;
- wherein values of said delay parameters are distributed over a time period to obtain a substantially constant rate of transmissions of responses from said plurality of mobile units.
A method for interacting with a user of a cellular communications mobile unit, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a server, from said mobile unit, a user-response sent at a time of response;
- measuring a time-of-reception of said user-response;
- sending, from said server to said mobile unit, a first request at a first time;
- receiving, at said server, from said mobile unit, an automatic response to said first request at a second time;
- measuring, at said server a round-trip-time between said first time and said second time;
- and
- calculating said time-of-response by subtracting half of said round-trip-time from said second time.
A method for retaining a communication channel with a mobile telephony device, comprising:
- sending to the mobile device at least one interaction display;
- embedding a request having a predetermined delay within said interaction display;
- at expiry of said predetermined delay sending said request to said server, thereby to retain said communication channel.
A server for connecting a user of a cellular communications mobile unit thereto via a cellular network, the server comprising:
- a call identifier operative to receiving a call from said mobile unit to a telephone number;
- and
- a URL transmitter, operative to send a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to said mobile unit, said URL being associated with predetermined content, thereby enabling said user to select said URL and to connect to said content.
A broadcasting interaction system for allowing interaction with a broadcast via a cellular device, the system comprising:
- a content source for providing to requesting users a group of interaction displays, and
- a synchronizer for providing each interaction display with a preconfigured time-of-display, wherein said time-of-display is for synchronization with said broadcast program.
A grading system for grading participants engaging in a multi-user interaction between users of cellular mobile units and a broadcast, said grading program comprising:
- a calculator unit operative to calculate, for each said user, an average of a plurality of measurements of time-of-response of said user to said broadcasting program;
- and
- a grading unit operative to compare respective averages of said time-of-response, therewith to grade said participants.
A synchronized content distribution apparatus for distributing content to a plurality of users in accordance with external time constraints, the content being within an application;
- the system comprising:
- a content distributor of said application for receiving requests from users and distributing content in response thereto;
- and
- a request spreading unit for sending to each user a respective delay parameter for use within said application, to define for each user a delay in sending a respective request, respective delays being varied, thereby to ensure that receipt of requests at said content distributor is staggered in time.
Apparatus for interactive broadcasting comprising:
- an in step device for determining predetermined times in a broadcast relevant to user interaction;
- a content insertion device for inserting interactivity content for sending over a network to users for interaction at said predetermined times;
- and an embedding unit for embedding timing control into said interactive content to ensure that said interactive content is displayed to said users at said predetermined times.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.