AU5592901A - System and method for annotating information and receiving notification - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT .i 9.

9 9 9.99 Invention Title: System and method for annotating information and receiving notification The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- Field of Invention The present invention relates to a system and method for recording reminders in relation to information located on a data communications network and more particularly to a system and method of transmitting notices related to such reminders.

Background of the Invention Reminders are used in many instances where users wish to be reminded of a task or some other information at a time in the future.

Whilst many different systems are in existence for the recording of reminders, they generally require active monitoring on the part of a user in order for the reminder to be effective. Additionally, reminders are usually recorded with an indication of the point in time in the future when the user wishes to be reminded of a task or some other information.

15 Time sensitive reminder systems are useful in many instances.

However, these systems generally do not take account of the physical location S'of a user at the time of determining whether a reminder should be brought to :the attention of the user.

Accordingly, reminder systems currently in existence place a burden upon the user to actively monitor the reminders such that they are acted 00.0 upon in a timely fashion. In the event that a user is likely to be travelling, once again, existing reminder systems usually require the user to actively monitor their reminders in order to ensure that those reminders are acted upon.

25 Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the "purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Summary of the Invention In one aspect the present invention provides a system for recording a reminder in relation to information located on a data communications network and subsequently transmitting a reminder notification to a user's mobile communications device including: a means operable to receive information from the data communications network; a means operable to record a reminder, the reminder including information received from the data communications network and user preferences for the transmission of a reminder notification; a means for determining the physical location of the user's mobile communications device; and a means for transmitting a reminder notification in accordance with the user preferences where said preferences include at least an indication of a geographic region in which the user prefers to receive the reminder notification on their mobile communications device.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of recording 15 a reminder in relation to information located on a data communications network and subsequently transmitting a reminder notification to a user's "mobile communications device, including the steps of: operating a means to receive information from the data communications network; operating a means to record a reminder, the reminder including information received from the data communications network and user preferences in relation to the transmission of a reminder notification, the user preferences including at least an indication of a geographic region in which the user prefers to receive a reminder notification on their mobile 25 communications device; determining the physical location of a user's mobile communications device; determining the preferred geographic regions for the receipt of the reminder notification from the user preferences; comparing the determined physical location of the user's mobile communications device with the preferred geographic regions for which the user prefers to receive the reminder notification; and transmitting the reminder notification to the user's mobile communication device if the physical location is within a geographic region preferred by the user.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of recording a reminder in relation to information located on a data communications network and subsequently transmitting a reminder notification to a user's mobile communications device including the steps of: operating a means to receive information from the data communications network; operating a means to record a reminder, the reminder including information received from the data communications network and user preferences for the transmission of a reminder notification, the user preferences including at least an indication of a geographic region in which the user prefers to receive the reminder notification on their mobile communications device; receiving information regarding the physical location of the user's mobile communications device; and 15 transmitting the reminder notification to the user's mobile communication device if the physical location of the user's mobile communications device is within a preferred geographic region for the receipt the reminder notification.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of the main components of a system 25 according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the main components of a 0• wireless telephone network location and proximity determination system; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a web page incorporating a reminder tag; Figure 4 is an illustration of an embodiment of a reminder tag; Figure 5 is an illustration of a reminder tag message; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the steps involved in maintaining a reminder tag; and Figure 7 is an illustration of another embodiment of a reminder tag.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the system includes a database system in communication with a wireless telephone network system. The wireless telephone network system preferably includes location determination means for determining the physical location of a mobile device that is operable to communicate with the wireless telephone network.

The database system operates under the control of a computer software program which resides on a server that is in communication with a computer network and a wireless telephone network. The software program monitors information entered by a user through a web interface means. The user is able to input information and control data in the web interface means. Entered information is stored in the database system.

Figure 1 illustrates the main components of a system which includes a prime access point in the form of a mobile device in communication with a cellular wireless telephone network 150. Connected to the wireless telephone 15 network is a server-side system 130 being the operational support for the database of reminder tags 120 and a location determination means 260. A mobile device 160 is in connection with the cellular wireless telephone network 150. As an alternate subscriber connection point, there is an Internet access point 110 connected to a computer network operable to enable a user to access the world wide web 117 via a local web browser 105.

With reference to Figure 2, a wireless cellular telephony network 150 usually incorporates a means to locate a mobile device 160 within one of its cells 205. This function is usually initiated by a control message, such as a CALL TRACE message in the GSM system, which gathers channel information and call related information. This information is provided to location determination equipment 240, which then generates location information about the mobile device 160 based upon input received from the o. control channels in communication with the station via the Mobile Service Centre (MSC) 230. Other forms of cellular wireless systems, other than GSM, have similar functions and capabilities.

A user interface, which is generally a web browser 105, is provided which is in communication with the World Wide Web 117. The web browser 105 connects to a system operating on a server, 130, which contains a database of reminder tags 120. When needed, the system on the server 130 communicates with the cellular wireless network 150, generally to query the current location of a mobile device 160 and also to communicate messages to the mobile device 160.

In the preferred embodiment, reminders are recorded in the form of reminder tags which include information relevant to the user, and are stored in a central facility for all users. However, it will be recognised by those skilled in the art, that reminder tags may be stored locally in a device operated and maintained by each user.

The location determination equipment 140 may also take information from various other location determining sources, internal to and external to the normal control channels (not illustrated). For example, the location determination system 140 may be in communication with a GPS means of location determination with respect to a mobile device 160. There may be several sources of location information, which are then integrated to provide the best or most accurate location information about the location of the 15 mobile device 160.

The location determination equipment 240 integrates the location information with service and subscriber information associated with the mobile device 160. The location information thus determined can be then accessed and beneficially utilised by third-party services such as a proximity resolution system 250.

Figure 2 also illustrates schematically the relationships between a cellular wireless network comprising a mobile device 160, interacting in a cell 205 with a base station 210. The base station 210 feeds into a Mobile Service Centre (MSC) 230 and the cellular network, through the MSC 230 links to a computer based system 240 capable of determining location for the mobile device 160.

The location determination equipment 240 can be considered to be *integral with the full functionality of the MSC 230 and its service point within the wireless cellular network 150.

Figure 2 shows the location determination equipment 240 linked to the proximity resolution system 250. The function of units 240 and 250 combined is to determine, from a given location of a mobile device 160, if that location is within a pre-determined area of interest. The location determination equipment 240 locates the mobile device 160, and the proximity resolution system 250 for determines if the device 160 is within a specified area. The results of this determination, which may be through a third-party provider, are transferred to the mobile network operator 150.

With reference to Figure 3, a user loads a web page 310 into their browser 105 and identifies the name 320, address 330 and contact details 360 of the subject matter of interest. This could relate to an electronic yellow page, an address book from an e-mail system, or any other address book system, or any other form of business directory.

Throughout this specification, the term "yellow pages" is used to denote all forms of electronic directories, address books, and business and personal reference pages which may be accessed directly or indirectly from the world wide web which is referred to as the "web".

A user, viewing a yellow page in a web browser 105, is provided an annotation tool 370. The annotation tool 370 may be attached dynamically to web pages delivered by a web server 130 to the user, or may be activated by 15 the user selecting a "reminder tag" button. The annotation tool 370 enables users to record reminders and to arrange notification of a reminder to a mobile device 160 about the yellow page that they have read. The mobile reminder tag allows users to specify a geographical region 390 within which they wish to have a notification of the reminder sent to their mobile device 160.

The user's browser may automatically down-load an annotation tool 370. The annotation tool 370 is preferably incorporated in the yellow page and may be embedded in the HTML code of the pages.

As each Web Page is sent from a provider to the user's browser it has a small segment of HTML code appended to it, which activates the annotation tool 370.

•.:*Yellow pages accessibly via the web generally contain a name or business name 320, and address characteristics, for example street 330, suburb 340, and postal code 350.

A user viewing a yellow page 310 activates the annotation tool tag 370 and is presented with a reminder tag 370 with the following features: An area for making notes 380; Pre-set fields to be completed for items such as the user's mobile device number 385; Control items to be set such as the date/time activation and location designation 410.

A user then interacts with the reminder tag and completes any notes desired in the notes area, plus the designated fields. The reminder tag is completed and the user indicates their preferences with respect to notification of the reminder by selecting the data, and time and location constraints for the transmission of notifications. For example, the user may provide the following: Their mobile device number 385; The name of the business or name to which the reminder relates 320b; The telephone number of the business or name to which the reminder relates 360b; The e-mail address of the business.

The control fields are then completed including: The date/time period for which reminder notifications will be active 420; The target location 390 within which reminder notifications will be activated and communicated to the mobile device number 385; Whether the notification is to repeat, or be a one-time transmission 430; *Priority of the notification high, medium or low 440.

*The designation of the target location 390 within which the notification will be active enables a user to choose locations from among items typically maintained in yellow pages, or an address book for example. That is, a user will be offered a choice including street, suburb, postal code, (4) city.

If a user elects to enter a postal code 350, preferably being the postcode .0 25 of the business displayed on the web page 310, then the reminder notification (refer FIGURE 5) will be sent to them when they next enter that postal code area (refer FIGURE If the user sets the notification to be a once only transmission then it is not sent again. Otherwise, from time to time at a period determined by the system each 24 hours) the notification, will be sent to the user's mobile device 160 again, if the mobile device 160 is in the postal code area 350 at the time of the next scheduled transmission of the reminder notification.

The target location 390 may also be specified in a radius from the location of the business 450, that is a user may select preset radii of say lkm, 3km, or 10km, and specify a radius in kilometres from the street address of the business.

In a preferred embodiment, the system manages web pages by filtering and scanning the hypertext entries of pages and uses these entries to automate the task of completing a reminder tag. For example, if a user selects a button marked "Business Name" 710 within the reminder tag the tag finds all the business names on the yellow page and displays them for selection.

as a pull-down list 750 under the button). If there is only one business name displayed on the page that name is automatically entered into the business name field. For the telephone number 720 and e-mail address of the business or name on the page. Similarly, for the location field 730, the system offers a list of the street, suburb, postal code, and city as found by scanning and decoding the hypertext markup language comprising the encoded web page.

The user may specify a mobile device number to be notified with the reminder tag, other than their own mobile device number.

15 Once the user has completed entering data into the reminder tag, the save function is invoked by selecting the save button 395.

The reminder tag is then stored in a database store 120 associated with a system server 130. The system processes and monitors the records of the database store 120. Each record in the database store 120 represents a coded version of a reminder tag, previously completed by a user. The system scans all records cyclically and maintains extra fields associated with each stored reminder tag such as the last time it was transmitted to a user, and the number of times it has been transmitted, and its period value (see below).

The actual real time cycle time of scanning the records is an operator dependent variable and may be determined by the operator of the system.

Scanning and transmitting notifications too often may place a high load on a cellular telephone network, and scanning too infrequently may reduce the ability of the system to detect users while in smaller geographic regions of interest such as a street.

A heuristic method of determining how often to test for the presence of a user in the location 390 nominated in a reminder tag is also used in the preferred embodiment.

Period Heuristic Location 390 Location Code Radius Period City 10Km 1000 Suburb 5Km 200 Postal Code 3Km 100 Street 1Km 4 TABLE 1 The heuristic method also caters for the priority 440 set by the user for the reminder tag. If the priority is high, the current reminder location of the owner of a reminder tag is checked more often than a tag with a low priority.

Period Heuristic Priority 440 Priority Adjustment Low Medium 0 High 10 TABLE 2 The period value is decreased for a higher priority as this value represents the cycle period between checks of the current location of the user's mobile device 160. The lower the number the more often the wireless telephone system is asked to check the current location of the user's mobile 15 device 160.

The system uses the frequency table, TABLE 1, to determine how often to check the location of a user's mobile device 160 when the user has an active reminder tag in the database store 120. Firstly, for each new entry, the system calculates the frequency unit for the new reminder tag, as follows: For the type of location selected by the user, retrieve the period value TABLE 1. if the user has submitted to be reminded upon entering a postal code, then the period value will be 100); Multiply the period value retrieved in step 1 by the priority adjustment (TABLE to provide an adjusted period value.

For example, if a user nominates to be reminded upon being detected in a suburb then the base frequency of being checked is 200 units that is every 200 scans of the reminder tag database 120. If the user also nominates HIGH priority then the 200 units are decreased by 40% to give a base frequency of 120. This means that the reminder tag will be activated every 120 scans, instead of every 200 scans for transmission of a notification.

The system continually checks the database store 120 of reminder tag records. It maintains a count for each time it retrieves and checks a record, at a frequency matching each adjusted period value. When the system determines that a reminder tag should be transmitted, it retrieves the location value 390 or 450 and communicates it and the user's mobile device number 385 to the mobile telephone network for a proximity check 260 and 270. If the network (refer FIGURE 2) resolves that the mobile device 160 of the user is active 260 and proximate 270 in the location 390 or 450 nominated by the user, then the system transmits a reminder notification 370 to the user's mobile device 160. If the user is not in the nominated location as reported by the location services 260 270 then scanning of the database store 120 of reminder tags is continued.

15 In an alternative embodiment, location information of user's mobile devices is regularly monitored and such information is stored in another database. At the time of scanning a database to determine whether a reminder tag accords with the time and date preferences of a user, the second *o database may also be scanned to determine the currently recorded physical location of a user's mobile device. Comparing the location constraints for the transmission of a notification with the current physical location enables the .S 0 system to determine whether all the necessary user preferences are satisfied 0000 in order to transmit a reminder notification. Of course, the databases may reside on a single server or may even be combined into a single database.

(e 25 The location information (390 450) may be a suburb, postcode, city or street, or a radius from an address. The system preferably includes access to a service that will transcribe location indicators into geographic coordinates. These coordinates may, for instance, be represented as a series of lines connected to one another to form a polygon. The mapping format and its digitisation depends on the method used in the proximity resolution system 250, and would be recommended by the provider of that service. As a result, location designators would then refer to known geographic coordinates associated with suburbs, streets, cities and postal codes, or calculate coordinates for a radius from an address.

When a user is verified by the location services 260 270 as being in a location set in a reminder tag 270 record in the database store 120 then the system transmits through the wireless telephone network 150 a reminder notification to the mobile device 160 (refer to Figure This notification contains the annotation notes 380 annotated by the user when at the web page 310, along with other information such as the name of the business 380 and the telephone number 360. The notification could be transmitted in many forms such as a text message or SMS message or e-mail message or by voice or call centre to the user's mobile device. With reference to Figure 5, a text message (320) is shown. However, other forms of message format are possible a text-to-voice synthesiser). In a preferred embodiment of the system, the user will also have the option of automatically calling the business 360, upon receipt of a reminder notification, by pressing a single key on their mobile device 160.

If the user has requested repeat notifications 430 then the notification will be repeated until cancelled, or a count exceeded, or it is outside a 15 date/time window 420.

A user may be requested to permit the notification 760 of a merchant when the web page they are annotating with the reminder tag is a web page of an electronic business directory. In this instance when a user completes a reminder tag, a merchant at the telephone number associated with the business is also sent a message indicating the completion of a reminder tag.

The mobile device number of the user is provided, or made available through a call-back function to the merchant.

The system preferably includes a maintenance function available to a user at a web interface 105, with access to their previously stored reminder 25 tags. This maintenance service enables users to delete or modify 610 the contents of their previous reminder tags (refer Figure Such access would be limited and restricted by usual name and password control means, S perhaps using the name and the mobile telephone number of the user as keys.

It will be recognised by those skilled in the art that although the words "yellow pages" have been used in this description, the present invention can be applied to all web pages containing address information and naming information associated with that address information. For example the invention may be used in relation to, an address book with a reminder tag of "remind me when I am 3 kilometres from Jean's house", or a company web page "remind me to inspect this building".

The present invention embodies many advantages and in a preferred embodiment enables users to generate a reminder tag to hold reminder information with respect to information located on a computer network for subsequent transmission of the reminder information to a user's mobile device when the mobile device is in a predefined geographic region. Various parameters may be established with respect to a reminder tag and the subsequent transmission of notifications thereof. Reminder tags may be established with the aid of an annotation tool that aids the user in completing the relevant fields of a tag.

SS

Claims (41)

1. A system for recording a reminder in relation to information located on a data communications network and subsequently transmitting a reminder notification to a user's mobile communications device including: a means operable to receive information from the data communications network; a means operable to record a reminder, the reminder including information received from the data communications network and user preferences for the transmission of a reminder notification; a means for determining the physical location of the user's mobile communications device; and a means for transmitting a reminder notification in accordance with the user preferences where said preferences include at least an indication of a 15 geographic region in which the user prefers to receive the reminder notification on their mobile communications device.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the user is able to specify any one or more of the following preferences in relation to a reminder notification: an identifier of a mobile communications device; an identifier of a name to which the reminder relates; 0000 an identifier of a business to which the reminder relates; a telephone number corresponding to the name to which the reminder relates; a telephone number of the business to which the reminder relates; any other contact information relating to the name to which the reminder relates; any other contact information relating to the business to which the reminder relates; the date and/or time period for which the reminder notification is to be transmitted to the user; an identifier of a geographic region, or regions, in which the user prefers to receive the reminder notification on their mobile communications device; the number of times a reminder notification is to be transmitted to a mobile communications device; a minimum period of time between repeated transmissions of a reminder notification; a priority value for the reminder notification; a message to be transmitted with the reminder notification; a list of recorded user preferences to be transmitted with the reminder notification.

3. A system according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the means operable to receive information from the data communications network and the means operable to record a reminder comprise a single computing means.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the single computing means 15 comprises a personal computer. o° °e *0 o

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the personal computer is connected to the data communications network via a wireless connection. elf 0

6. A system according to either claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the personal computer is operable as mobile telecommunications device. *0.0 0 0049

7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the ,,data communications network comprises the Internet and information 25 located on the data communications network includes information contained 0*00 in world wide web pages.

8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mobile communications device is a mobile telephone handset in communication with a cellular communications network.

9. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for determining the physical location of mobile telecommunications device comprises the location determination facilities of a cellular telecommunications network.

A system according to either claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the means for transmitting a reminder notification comprises the cellular communications network transmitting a message to the user's mobile telephone handset.

11. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the geographic indication includes any one or more of the following: an identifier of a street; an identifier of a suburb; an identifier of a postal code; an identifier of a city; an identifier of a user defined geographic region comprising a set of a geographic coordinates identifying the vertices of a polygon bounding a region; an identifier of a radius from a location.

12. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the *means operable to receive information from the data communications network and the means operable to record a reminder is a computing means including a memory in which the reminder is recorded.

13. A system according to any one of claim 1 to 11 wherein the means operable to receive information from the data communications network and the means operable to record a reminder is a computing means in .communication with the data communications network, the data communications network including a memory in which the reminder is recorded.

14. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein recorded reminders are stored in a first data base and regularly analysed to 30 determine when a reminder is to be transmitted according to time and/or date preferences of a user.

A system according to claim 14 wherein upon determining a reminder that accords with the time and/or date preferences of a user, a request is transmitted to the means for determining the physical location of the user's mobile communications device to provide an indication of that physical location, said determined physical location being compared with the location preferences of the user to determine whether a reminder notification is to be transmitted.

16. A system according to claim 14 wherein the means for determining the physical location of the user's mobile communications device maintains a second database of the physical location, the second database being regularly updated by said means for determining physical locations, and the first and second databases being regularly analysed to determine when a reminder is to be transmitted according to the time and/or date and location preferences of a user.

17. A system according to either claim 15 or claim 16 wherein upon determination of a reminder notification to be transmitted to the user, the reminder notification is transmitted to the user's mobile communications device.

18. A system according to claim 17 wherein the reminder notification comprises a string of text characters.

19. A system according to claim 17 wherein the reminder notification comprises a recorded voice message.

A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein upon recording a reminder, where the information received from the data communications network relates to a merchant, a copy of the reminder is o transmitted to the merchant.

21. A system according to claim 20 wherein an identifier of a 30 communication device of the merchant is recorded with the user preferences such that upon transmitting a reminder notification to the user, the reminder notification is also transmitted to the merchant.

22. A method of recording a reminder in relation to information located on a data communications network and subsequently transmitting a reminder notification to a user's mobile communications device, including the steps of: 18 operating a means to receive information from the data communications network; operating a means to record a reminder, the reminder including information received from the data communications network and user preferences in relation to the transmission of a reminder notification, the user preferences including at least an indication of a geographic region in which the user prefers to receive a reminder notification on their mobile communications device; determining the physical location of a user's mobile communications device; determining the preferred geographic regions for the receipt of the reminder notification from the user preferences; comparing the determined physical location of the user's mobile communications device with the preferred geographic regions for which the user prefers to receive the reminder notification; and transmitting the reminder notification to the user's mobile communication device if the physical location is within a geographic region S" preferred by the user. 20

23. A method according to claim 22 including the step of the user entering time and/or date preferences for the receipt of the reminder notification.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the reminder notification is transmitted if the time and/or date preferences also accord with the time and date of transmission of the reminder notification

25. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 24 wherein the step of recording user preferences in relation to reminder notifications includes the step of recording any one or more of the following preferences: S 30 an identifier of a mobile communications device; an identifier of a name to which the reminder relates; an identifier of a business to which the reminder relates; a telephone number corresponding to the name to which the reminder relates; a telephone number of the business to which the reminder relates; any other contact information relating to the name to which the reminder relates; any other contact information in relation to the business to which the reminder relates; the date and/or time period for which the reminder notification is to be transmitted to the user; an identifier of a geographic region, or regions, in which the user prefers to receive reminder notifications on their mobile communications device; the number of times a reminder notification is to be transmitted to a mobile communications device; a minium period of time between repeated transmissions of a reminder notification; a priority value for the reminder notification; a message to be transmitted with the reminder notification; a list of recorded user preferences to be transmitted with the reminder notification.

26. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 25 wherein the step of 20 operating a means to receive information from a data communications network and the step of operating a means to record a reminder and user preferences for reminder notifications comprises operating a personal computer in communication with the data communications network.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the step of operating a means to record a reminder and user preferences for reminder notifications includes 699000 the step of storing said reminder and user preferences for reminder notifications in a first database of the personal computer. 6:60 30

28. A method according to claim 26 wherein the step of operating a means to record a reminder and user preferences for reminder notifications comprises storing said reminder and user preferences for reminder notifications in a second database connected to the data communications network.

29. A method according to claim 27 wherein the step of determining time and/or date preferences of reminder notifications includes the step of scanning the records of the first database to identify those reminder notifications that accord with the time and/or date preferences of a user.

A method according to claim 28 wherein the step of determining time and/or date preferences of reminder notifications includes the step of scanning records of the second database to identify those reminder notifications that accord with the time and/or date preferences of a user.

31. A method of recording a reminder in relation to information located on a data communications network and subsequently transmitting a reminder notification to a user's mobile communications device including the steps of: operating a means to receive information from the data communications network; operating a means to record a reminder, the reminder including information received from the data communications network and user preferences for the transmission of a reminder notification, the user preferences including at least an indication of a geographic region in which 20 the user prefers to receive the reminder notification on their mobile communications device; receiving information regarding the physical location of the user's mobile communications device; and :transmitting the reminder notification to the user's mobile communication device if the physical location of the user's mobile .communications device is within a preferred geographic region for the receipt of the reminder notification.

32. A method according to claim 31 including the step of the user entering 30 time and/or date preferences for the receipt of the reminder notification.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein the reminder notification is only transmitted if the time and/or date preferences also accord with the time and date of transmission of the reminder notification. 21

34. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 33 including the step of a user receiving said transmitted reminder notification.

A method according to claim 34 wherein the reminder notification is received as a string of text characters.

36. A method according to claim 34 wherein the reminder notification is received as a recorded voice message.

37. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 36 wherein the step of recording a reminder includes the additional step of determining whether the information received from the data communications network relates to merchant and where the received information relates to a merchant, a copy of the reminder is transmitted to said merchant.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein the method includes the S additional step of recording an identifier of a communications device of the S" merchant and transmitting a reminder notification to the merchant at substantially the same time as transmitting the reminder notification to the user.

39. A system according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. *oo*

40. A method according to claim 22 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

41. A method according to claim 29 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this twenty-fourth day of July 2001 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO