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

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.

1 . A method implemented on a computing device of providing an improved user experience when participating in one or more games, contests or entertainment events, comprising:
 a. implementing an application containing a user interface;   b. presenting content related to the one or more games, contests or entertainment events, to a user with the application through the user interface; and   c. enabling the user to submit a response to the one or more games, contests or entertainment events, through the user interface of the application, wherein the application submits the response using a code which is updatable and stored as an application accessible resource.   
     
     
         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 game, contest or entertainment event programs wherein the history of game, contest or entertainment event programs enables a user to review missed programs. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising notifying a winner of the one or more games, contests or entertainment events. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein notifying the winner comprises contacting an alternate phone number that is different than the number from which the data message was sent, and further wherein the alternate phone number is embedded in an SMS message. 
     
     
         7 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 one or more games, contests or entertainment events, begin. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising sending the response on behalf of a user utilizing the application and a server. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the response is tagged with a unique identifier indicating that the response 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. 
     
     
         16 . A system implemented on a computing device for providing an improved user experience when participating in one or more games, contests or entertainment events, comprising:
 a. a server; and   b. a device coupled to the server, the device containing an application configured for:
 i. implementing a user interface; 
 ii. presenting content related to the one or more games, contests or entertainment events, to a user with the application through the user interface; and 
 iii. enabling the user to submit a response to the one or more games, contests or entertainment events through interacting with the user interface of the application, wherein the application submits the response using a code which is updatable and stored as an application accessible resource. 
   
     
     
         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 game, contest or entertainment event programs wherein the history of game, contest or entertainment event programs enables a user to review missed programs. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising notifying a winner of the one or more games, contests or entertainment events. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein notifying the winner comprises contacting an alternate phone number that is different than the number from which the data message was sent, and further wherein the alternate phone number is embedded in an SMS message. 
     
     
         22 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 for sending the response on behalf of a user utilizing a server. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the response is tagged with a unique identifier indicating that the response 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 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A device comprising:
 a. a memory for storing an application, the application configured for:
 i. implementing a user interface; 
 ii. presenting content related to one or more games, contests or entertainment events, to a user with the application through the user interface; and 
 iii. enabling the user to submit a response to the one or more games, contests or entertainment events through interacting with the user interface of the application, wherein the application submits the response using a code which is updatable and stored as an application accessible resource; 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 the application is further configured for notifying a winner of the one or more games, contests or entertainment events. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39  wherein notifying the winner comprises 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 one or more games, contests or entertainment events, through a user-side application; 
 ii. storing a list of game, contest or entertainment event programs to be presented on a user device; and 
 iii. receiving a response from the user-side application, wherein the application submits the response using a code which is updatable and stored as an application accessible resource; and 
   b. a processing component coupled to the memory, the processing component configured for processing the application.   
     
     
         43 . The server device of  claim 42  further comprising notifying a winner of the one or more games, contests or entertainment events. 
     
     
         44 . The server device of  claim 43  wherein notifying a winner comprises 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 for sending the response on the user device's behalf. 
     
     
         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 an application configured for:
 i. implementing a user interface; 
 ii. presenting content related to one or more games, contests or entertainment events to a user with the application through the user interface; and 
 iii. enabling the user to submit a response to the one or more games, contests or entertainment events, through interacting with the user interface of the application, wherein the application submits the response using a code which is updatable and stored as an application accessible resource; and 
   c. a network for coupling the at least one server and the plurality of mobile devices.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events are selected from the group consisting of a television-based event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game or electronic game, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show, a news show and a commercial contained in a broadcast. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise multiple contests. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the multiple contests comprise athletic contests. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise multiple contests taking place in a single day. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise a variety of events. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise a season of events. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise events that occur on multiple days. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events are related events. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise one or more competitions based on a video game, computer game or electronic game. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events are selected from the group consisting of a television-based event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game or electronic game, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show, a news show and a commercial contained in a broadcast. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise multiple contests. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58  wherein the multiple contests comprise athletic contests. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise multiple contests taking place in a single day. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise a variety of events. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise a season of events. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise events that occur on multiple days. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events are related events. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise one or more competitions based on a video game, computer game or electronic game. 
     
     
         66 . The device of  claim 36  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events are selected from the group consisting of a television-based event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game or electronic game, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show, a news show and a commercial contained in a broadcast. 
     
     
         67 . The device of  claim 36  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise multiple contests. 
     
     
         68 . The device of  claim 67  wherein the multiple contests comprise athletic contests. 
     
     
         69 . The device of  claim 36  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise multiple contests taking place in a single day. 
     
     
         70 . The device of  claim 36  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise a variety of events. 
     
     
         71 . The device of  claim 36  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise a season of events. 
     
     
         72 . The device of  claim 36  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise events that occur on multiple days. 
     
     
         73 . The device of  claim 72  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events are related events. 
     
     
         74 . The device of  claim 36  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise one or more competitions based on a video game, computer game or electronic game. 
     
     
         75 . The server device of  claim 42  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events are selected from the group consisting of a television-based event, a scheduled competition, a scheduled series of competitions, a sporting event, an event based on a video game, computer game or electronic game, an entertainment show, a game show, a reality show, a news show and a commercial contained in a broadcast. 
     
     
         76 . The server device of  claim 42  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise multiple contests. 
     
     
         77 . The server device of  claim 76  wherein the multiple contests comprise athletic contests. 
     
     
         78 . The server device of  claim 42  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise multiple contests taking place in a single day. 
     
     
         79 . The server device of  claim 42  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise a variety of events. 
     
     
         80 . The server device of  claim 42  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise a season of events. 
     
     
         81 . The server device of  claim 42  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise events that occur on multiple days. 
     
     
         82 . The server device of  claim 81  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events are related events. 
     
     
         83 . The server device of  claim 42  wherein the one or more games, contests or entertainment events comprise one or more competitions based on a video game, computer game or electronic game.