Method and apparatus for communicating messages amongst a node, device and a user of a device

A method for communicating a message to a user of a device, comprising the steps of:

• receiving or generating by a device a generic message intended for a user of a device;
• determining whether the device is playing any media;
• if the device is not playing media, transmitting the generic message;
• if it is determined the device is playing media, requesting information or characteristic elements about the media;
• determining whether the media can be identified by matching the information or characteristic elements to a database or table of information or characteristic elements;
• if the media is not identifiable, transmitting the generic message;
• if the media is identifiable, modifying the generic message based on the identified media to create a specialized message;
• inserting the specialized message into the media.

A node, comprising:

• a microprocessor;
• a memory further comprised of a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• and
• a wireless module, the microprocessor, memory and wireless module coupled via a bus, the node operable to receive or generate a generic message for communication to a device via the wireless module;
• the node further operable to determine whether the device is playing any media and transmit the generic message to the device if it is determined that the device is not playing any media;
• the node further operable to request information or characteristic elements about the media if the device is playing media;
• the node further operable to determine if the media can be identified by matching the information or characteristic elements to a database or table of information;
• the node further operable to transmit the generic message if the media cannot be identified;
• and
• the node further operable to modify the generic message and send it to the device as a specialized message.

A device, comprising:

• An application processor;
• a memory further comprised of a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• and
• a wireless module,
• an output transducer;
• the application processor, memory and wireless module coupled via a bus, the device operable to receive via the wireless module or generate locally a generic message;
• the application processor further operable to determine whether a media player on the device is playing any media and convey the generic message if it is determined that the device is not playing any media;
• the application processor further operable to obtain information or characteristic elements about the media if the device is playing media;
• the application processor further operable to determine if the media can be identified by matching the information or characteristic elements to a local database or table of information or, via the communication processor and wireless module, by reference to an external source;
• the device further operable to convey the generic message via a transducer if the media cannot be identified;
• and
• the device further operable to modify the generic message and convey it as a specialized message via the transducer.