FR2875364A1 - FM radio or audio-visual program information e.g. song, receiving process for mobile telephone, involves finding program broadcasting radio station/television channel by server and transmitting information related to program to telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

The process involves entering by a user (1) of a mobile telephone (2), data identifying a radio station (4) or a television channel broadcasting a FM radio or audio-visual program in the telephone. The telephone transmits the data to a server (9) which finds the broadcasting station/channel from the data. The server transmits information related to the program to the telephone. The information is displayed on a screen of the telephone. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a system permitting a user of a mobile telephone to receive information related to a radio or audio-visual program broadcasted by a radio station or a television channel (B) a mobile telephone.

Description

The invention relates to the field of mobile telephony.

  More particularly, it relates to a method and system for providing mobile phone users with a radio or interactive media.

  WO 03/034735 discloses a method for conducting surveys of mobile phone users who listen to a radio station.

  WO 2004/036797 discloses a method for providing an interactive FM radio which allows a mobile phone user to receive regular information relating to the radio program he or she is listening to (song title, performer's name) , animations).

  In WO 03/034735 and WO 2004/036797, a radio station transmits to a mobile phone information relating to a site on which the mobile phone can connect. The information is transmitted by RDS (Radio Data System) and includes a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the site. The user can connect his mobile phone to a server using the URL. The server transmits to the mobile phones information, survey proposals or information related to the radio program broadcast by the radio station.

  Such methods apply to mobile phones having an integrated FM radio receiver.

  These methods further require that the mobile phones are able to detect the RDS signals transmitted by the radio station and display on the screen a link corresponding to the URL, selectable by the user.

  In addition, with such methods, each radio station must be provided with specific equipment including a server capable of communicating with mobile phones.

  A problem solved by the invention is to provide an information exchange service in connection with a radio or audio-visual program broadcast by a radio station or a channel, accessible to users who do not have a telephone. specific mobile. In particular, the method of the invention can be implemented on a mobile phone which is not capable of detecting RDS signals.

  This problem is solved in the context of the present invention by means of a method enabling a user to receive on a mobile phone information relating to a radio or audio-visual program broadcast by a radio station or a channel, comprising the steps according to which: - the user of the mobile telephone enters into the mobile telephone data intended to enable a server to identify the radio station or the channel broadcasting the program, - the mobile telephone transmits the data to the server, - the server identifies the radio station or channel broadcasting the program from data transmitted by the mobile phone, - the server transmits to the mobile phone information or data related to the program, the information transmitted by the server being able to be displayed on a screen of the mobile phone.

  According to the invention, the user interacts with the mobile phone to enter the information necessary for the identification of the radio station or the channel.

  Such a method can be implemented on any type of mobile phone capable of exchanging information with the server. In particular, this method does not require that the mobile phone be provided with an FM receiver. This method does not require that the mobile phone be able to detect RDS signals.

  Furthermore, the method can be adapted to provide an information exchange service from a single server, for a plurality of radio stations or television channels.

  Thus, the user connects the mobile phone to the same server regardless of the radio station that he listens or the television channel he watches. Therefore, it is not necessary to indicate to the user a connection address to a server associated with a particular radio station or television channel.

  In addition, radio stations or television channels need not necessarily be equipped with specific associated equipment able to communicate with mobile phones. A single server can handle the exchange of information for a plurality of stations having subscribed to an information exchange service with mobile phone users.

  The invention also relates to a system for enabling a user of a mobile telephone to receive information relating to a radio or audio-visual program broadcast by a radio station or a channel, characterized in that comprises a server including means for receiving data transmitted by the mobile telephone, said data identifying the radio station or the channel, means for determining the radio station or the channel broadcasting the program from the data transmitted by the mobile telephone means for transmitting to the mobile phone information or data relating to the program, the information being able to be displayed on a screen of the mobile telephone.

  The invention further relates to a mobile telephone, characterized in that it comprises management means containing an application allowing a user of the mobile phone to receive information in connection with a radio or audio-visual program broadcast by a radio station. radio or a channel, the application being able to automatically perform the following steps: - transmit to a server data identifying the radio station or the channel, - receive from the server information or data related to the program broadcast by the radio station or identified channel, via a mobile data channel of the telephone (eg SMS, CDS, GPRS or UMTS), - display information or data on a screen.

  Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and not limiting and should be read in conjunction with the appended drawings, among which: FIG. 1 schematically represents the various equipment involved in a possible implementation of the method of the invention, including an independent FM radio and a mobile telephone, - Figure 2 schematically shows a variant of the equipment of Figure 1, including a mobile phone with a receiver integrated FM radio.

  FIG. 1 shows a user 1, a mobile telephone 2, an FM radio station 3, independent of the mobile telephone 2, a radio station 4 including a studio 6 and a transmitting antenna 5, a mobile telephone network 7, and a information exchange system 8 including a server 9 and a database 10.

  The mobile telephone 2 is capable of transmitting and receiving information on a given channel, for example in GPRS packet mode (Global Packet Radio Service).

  The server 9 comprises means for transmitting to the mobile telephone 2 information or data relating to programs broadcast by radio stations, via a data channel of the mobile telephone 2, the information or the data being adapted to be displayed on a network. mobile phone screen 2.

  The database 10 contains information or data related to the radio programs broadcast by a plurality of radio stations, each information or data being associated with a corresponding radio station. The information or data relating to the radio programs contained in the database 10 may be provided by radio stations themselves or created as the programs unfold, depending on the contents of the programs broadcast by the radio stations. stations.

  In Figure 1, the user 1 listens to a radio program broadcast by the radio station 3. The radio program is transmitted to the radio 3 by the antenna 5 of the radio station 4.

  User 1 wishes to obtain information in relation to the program he is listening to. For this purpose, he connects the mobile phone 2 to the server 9 via the mobile network 7.

  According to a first possible implementation, the information exchange method comprises the following steps: In a first step, the server 9 transmits to the mobile telephone 2 a Java language application intended to manage the exchange of information between the mobile phone 2 and the server 9.

  The application is downloaded and stored in the residual layer of the mobile phone 2. This application, when activated, is able to trigger an information exchange process between the mobile phone 2 and the server 9.

  The download of the application is performed only if the mobile phone 2 is connected for the first time to the server 9 and the application is not already registered in the phone 2.

  If the application is already registered in the residual layer of the telephone 2, then the server 9 transmits only to the mobile phone 2 update data of the program.

  In a second step, the user 1 of the mobile phone 2 enters into the mobile phone data identifying the radio station or the channel broadcasting the program. This second step is executed as follows: According to a first possibility, the application controls the display of a message on the screen of the mobile phone, the message indicating the user to enter the name of the radio station that it listens or the frequency band corresponding to the radio station.

  In this case, the user 1 enters the required data on a keypad of the mobile phone 2.

  According to a second possibility, the application commands the display of a menu containing a plurality of selectable proposals, each proposal corresponding to a radio station. Proposals can be displayed on the mobile phone screen in text form or as icons.

  In this case, user 1 may move a cursor to the radio station proposal of interest to him and select that proposal.

  Proposals are updated with update data during the first step of the process. (The server 9 transmits to the mobile phone 2 update data of the application, including the user-selectable proposals.) In a third step, the application controls the transmission by the mobile phone 2 data identifying the application. radio station 4.

  The data identifying the radio station 4 are transmitted to the server 9 via the data channel of the mobile telephone 2. These data consist of the data entered or selected by the user 1 during the second step.

  Furthermore, the application is also able to read what is the type of mobile phone 2 in the EIR (Equipment Identity Register) of the mobile phone 2 and to order the transmission of data relating to the type of the telephone 2 to the server 9.

  This data will be useful to the server 9 so that it can transmit information or data to the mobile phone 2 in a form adapted to the capabilities and characteristics of the mobile phone 2.

  According to a fourth step, the server 9 interrogates the database 10. From the data identifying the radio station 4, the server 9 extracts from the database 10 information or data related to the program broadcast by the station radio 4.

  According to a fifth step, the server 9 transmits to the mobile phone 2 the information or data related to the program. The information or data is transmitted in a form that allows the terminal to display it on a screen of the mobile phone 2.

  The information and data relating to the radio program broadcast by the radio station 4 are, for example, information in textual form and / or in the form of images and / or sound files and / or related animation files. with the broadcast sound content.

  It may be information or data identifying the content of the broadcast program. If the program broadcast is a piece of music, the information transmitted by the server 9 are textual data containing for example the title, the interpreter and the name of the album.

  It may also be survey questions related to the broadcast program. For example, do you like this title? .

  It can also be information or advertising animations.

  It may be multimedia content in relation to a piece of music broadcast. For example, a wallpaper, a ringtone, a video clip or an animation.

  It may also be proposals to purchase user-selectable content. For example, a proposal to buy a CD album.

  The method may comprise a sixth step according to which the user 1 sends back to the server 9 a response via the data channel of the mobile telephone 2, in response to the information or data transmitted by the server 9 to the mobile telephone 2.

  For example, when the server 9 has sent the user 1 a survey question, the user can select or develop an answer to the question. The application controls the mobile phone 2 so that the mobile phone transmits to the server 9 the response given by the user 1.

  In another example, when the server 9 has transmitted to the user 1 a purchase proposal, the user can select the purchase proposal. The application controls the mobile phone 2 so that the mobile phone transmits to the server 9 a control of the content and payment data to enable validation of the purchase.

  As will be understood, the method allows a user to receive information regularly in relation to the radio program he is listening to.

  The method also allows the user to receive content and react to the information and data it receives.

  The information and the responses sent by the user 1 to the server 9 can be recorded by the server 9 in a database. This information can enable the server to determine a profile of the user 1 and adapt the information and data transmitted to the user 1 according to this profile.

  According to a second possible implementation, the information exchange method is identical to the method of the first implementation except that during the second step, the user 1 enters the mobile phone 2 data identifying the radio station by capturing a sound sequence corresponding to the program broadcast by the radio station or the channel.

  In this second implementation, during the second step, the application controls the recording of a sound sequence.

  User 1 approaches his mobile telephone 2 of the loudspeaker of the radio station 3. The sound broadcast by the radio station 3 is then recorded in memory means of the mobile phone 2 in the form of a sound sequence.

  Thus, the data identifying the radio station includes a sound sequence corresponding to the program broadcast by the radio station or the channel.

  During the third step, the server 9 determines the radio station broadcasting the program from the data transmitted by the mobile phone 2.

  For this purpose, the server 9 is able to compare the sound sequence transmitted by the mobile phone 2 with one or more sound sequence (s) broadcast (s) by radio station (s). The server 9 is able to deduce the radio station or the channel broadcasting the program.

  Embodiments of the method of the invention have been described in the case of an FM radio station 3 independent of the mobile telephone 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the same method can of course be implemented. works with a mobile phone 2 equipped with a built-in FM 3 radio receiver.

  Embodiments of the method for exchanging information in connection with an FM radio program have been described. Of course, the same method applies to an exchange of information in relation to an audio-visual program broadcast by a television channel. For this purpose it is sufficient to replace in FIGS. 1 and 2, the FM radio station 3 by a television set and the radio station 4 by a television channel.

Claims (18)

  A method for a user (1) to receive on a mobile telephone (2) information relating to a radio or audio-visual program broadcast by a radio station (4) or a channel, comprising the steps of : - the user (1) of the mobile phone (2) enters into the mobile phone (2) data identifying the radio station (4) or the channel broadcasting the program, - the mobile phone (2) transmits to a server (9) the data identifying the radio station or the channel, - the server (9) determines the radio station (4) or the channel broadcasting the program from the data transmitted by the mobile telephone (2), - the server (9) transmits information or data relating to the program to the mobile telephone (2), the information being able to be displayed on a screen of the mobile telephone (2).   2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the user (1) enters into the mobile phone (2) data identifying the radio station (4) or the string by entering said data on a keypad of the mobile phone (2) .   3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the user (1) enters into the mobile phone (2) data identifying the radio station (4) or the channel by selecting a proposal from among a plurality of proposals identifying radio stations. radio or channels.   4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data identifying the radio station (4) or the chain includes data indicating the frequency band on which the radio or audiovisual program is broadcast.   5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data identifying the radio station (4) or the string include data indicating the name of the radio station (4) or the channel broadcasting the radio program or audio-visual.   6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user (1) enters the mobile phone (2) data identifying the radio station (4) or the channel by capturing a sound sequence corresponding to the program broadcast by the station. radio (4) or the channel.   7. Method according to one of claims 1 or 6, wherein the data identifying the radio station (4) or the channel include a sound sequence corresponding to the program broadcast by the radio station (4) or the channel.   The method according to claim 7, wherein the data identifying the radio station (4) or the channel is transmitted to the server (9) via the data channel of the mobile telephone (2).   9. Method according to one of claims 7 or 8, comprising the step of the server (9) comparing the sound sequence transmitted by the mobile phone (2) to one or more sound sequence (s) broadcast ( s) by radio station (s) and / or channel (s) and deduces from it the radio station or channel broadcasting the program.   10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the information or data in relation to the program broadcast by the radio station (5) or the string transmitted by the server (9) to the mobile phone (2) include information in textual form and / or in the form of images and / or sound files and / or animation files in relation to the broadcasted audio or audio-visual content.   11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the information or data in relation to the program broadcast by the radio station (4) or the string transmitted by the server (9) to the mobile phone (2) contain information or data identifying the content of the broadcast program.   12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the information or data in relation to the program broadcast by the radio station (5) or the string transmitted by the server (9) contain probing questions in relation to the broadcast program.   13. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the information or data in connection with the program broadcast by the radio station (4) or the channel transmitted by the server (9) contain information or advertising animations.   14. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the information or data in relation to the program broadcast by the radio station (4) or the string transmitted by the server (9) mobile phone (2) contain a proposal of purchase of a user-selectable content, including the step that, when the user selects the purchase proposal, the mobile phone transmits to the server an order of the content and payment data to enable a validation of the purchase.   15. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the step according to which the user (1) sends back to the server information via the data channel of the mobile telephone (2), in response to the information or data transmitted by the server. (9) on the mobile phone (2).   16. System (8) for enabling a user (1) of a mobile telephone (2) to receive information relating to a radio or audio-visual program broadcast by a radio station (4) or a channel, characterized in that it comprises a server (9) including means for receiving data transmitted by the mobile telephone (2), said data identifying the radio station (4) or the channel, means for determining the radio station (4) or the channel broadcasting the program from the data transmitted by the mobile telephone (2), means for transmitting to the mobile telephone (2) information or data relating to the program, the information being able to be displayed on a screen of the mobile phone (2).   The system (8) of claim 16, further comprising a database (10) containing information or data relating to the radio or audio-visual program broadcast by a plurality of radio stations or channels, each information or data being associated with a radio station or a given string, the server (9) comprising means for querying the database (10) from the data transmitted by the mobile telephone (2) and extracting the information or the data associated to transmit them to the mobile phone (2).   18. Mobile telephone (2), characterized in that it comprises management means containing an application allowing a user (1) of the mobile phone (2) to receive information in connection with a broadcast radio or audio-visual program by a radio station or a channel, the application being capable of automatically performing the following steps: - transmitting to a server (9) data identifying the radio station or the channel, - receiving from the server (9) information or data relating to the program broadcast by the radio station (4) or the identified channel, via a mobile data channel of the telephone (2), - displaying the information or data on a screen.