WO2003005692A1

WO2003005692A1 - Audio message delivery system

Info

Publication number: WO2003005692A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/000889
Authority: WO
Inventors: Warwick Peter Freeland; Ian Edward Dixon
Original assignee: Famoice Technology Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-07-04
Filing date: 2002-07-04
Publication date: 2003-01-16
Also published as: AUPR610601A0

Abstract

A system of delivering an audio message to a subscriber using a communications network, the system comprising storage means (22, 26) for storing audio sequences representing any one of the following: voices of one or more characters, one or more sound effects or recordings associated with an event; and server means (16) for constructing the audio message. The audio message comprises at least one of the stored audio sequences wherein the audio message is associated with the event and is transmitted by a server means over said communications network to the subscriber.

Description

AUDIO MESSAGE DELIVERY SYSTEM

This invention relates to an event based message alerting and message input system and method and more particularly to a system and method of delivering an audio message to a subscriber based on an event.

With standard short message service (SMS) message alerts, a subscriber receives the SMS message on their mobile telephone when a particular event occurs such as a score in sport, news, finance or other information requested by the subscriber. The SMS message includes the event alert in SMS text format and is transmitted to the subscriber from their service provider because the subscriber wishes to be alerted upon that event occurring or the service provider determining that a message event is required based upon the profile of the subscriber. An example of this is a Manchester United football fan who receives an SMS message from the MU Service Provider every time the football team kicks a goal. The MU Service Provider is connected to a media feed (or an on-site source) to extract the real time or event related information from the particular match. The service provider would construct an SMS message containing the required news and broadcast the message to subscribers using standard short message servicing functionality. A further example may be a subscriber wishes to be informed by SMS message when a particular stock falls or increases by a certain percentage or a certain value. Many other examples are possible where a subscriber wishes to be updated with information on a particular topic or item.

Although the SMS alert service is popular, it lacks the ability to convey the thrill or emotion of the news or the alert event. It is simply just a text message delivered to the subscriber to inform the subscriber in a limited fashion basic information (up to 160 characters in length) on a particular item or event that they have requested. There is no personality let alone voice attached to the text message and particularly there is no voice or sound with all of the emotion of a particular event. There is also no voice of the person creating that event. Thus using this invention for example, to take the football scenario described above, a subscriber who would be a fan of Manchester United may receive a voice message from the player who actually kicked a goal as it happens or at a time after the scoring of the goal. This voice may be conveyed in various emotions to give the subscriber a feeling of actually being there watching the event and may be combined with other sounds relevant to conveying the thrill, excitement, emotion or entertainment of the event.

It would be desirable to provide an improved message alerting service to subscribers of a communications network, that transmits an audio message to the subscriber based on a particular event to which the subscriber wishes to be informed or associated.

It would also be desirable to provide an audio message which may contain some content spoken in the voice of a character or personality where the association of that character or personality voice creates excitement, entertainment, fun or emotion associated with the event.

The audio message may utilise the voice of a character or personality that has either created an event about which the subscriber wishes to be informed or may be decided by the service provider to be suitable for such association with such event, as well as other sounds that may be associated with the event.

It would also be desirable to provide a method and system of delivering an audio message to a user informing that user about information pertaining to an event or some question or prompt in relation to some event requiring the user to predict an outcome or provide an answer about the event. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a system of delivering an audio message to a subscriber using a communications network, said system comprising:

storage means for storing audio sequences representing any one or more of the following: voices of one or more characters, and one or more sound effects or recordings associated with an event;

server means for constructing said audio message, said audio message comprising at least one of said stored audio sequences or a combination of said stored audio sequences, wherein said audio message is associated with said event and is transmitted by said server means over said communications network to said subscriber.

The audio message may be constructed as a result of said event occurring or at the instigation of a service provider that delivers said audio message to said subscriber via the server means.

The audio message may include the voice of a character, retrieved from the storage means, associated with the event.

Information pertaining to the event may be delivered via a live broadcast source to an operator system or alternatively to said server means, whereupon said audio message is initially constructed.

The system may further comprise second storage means for storing subscriber data, said subscriber data for example including the identity of one or more characters nominated by each subscriber in whose voice they may wish to receive said audio message as a result of said event. Therefore, in constructing said audio message, said server means may search said further storage means for subscribers eligible to receive an audio message based on the type of message, the content of such messages or the nominated characters included in such messages, which nominated characters are involved in said event. A third storage means may store audio recordings associated with said event, for example music recordings, crowd noise, etc. Said audio recordings may be inserted as part of said audio message transmitted to said subscriber.

Alternatively, said audio recordings may be extracted directly from said live broadcast source and inserted into the audio message.

In constructing said audio message, message metadata may be attached to an interim message to permit said server means to search said second storage means for eligible subscribers based on a match with subscriber profiles. The interim message metadata may include event information such as the time the event took place, names of key people involved or companies, etc. Based on the metadata said search can take place whereby various criteria in each profile of each subscriber is matched with the metadata. In constructing said audio message, the message may be made up of a combination of message segments and background noises as may automatically or manually be created and so as to include some message segments which are customised to the particular subscriber, where as an example the subscriber's name might be included in the message spoken in the voice of a personality of character as selected during the construction of the message.

The subscriber may receive said audio message on a telephone means, either linked to said communications network directly or via a wireless telecommunications network, in turn linked to said communications network.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of delivering an audio message to a subscriber using a communications network, said method comprising the steps of:

storing audio sequences representing any of the following:

voices of one or more characters; one or more sound effects or recordings associated with an event; constructing said audio message having at least one of said stored audio sequences or a combination of said stored audio sequences;

transmitting said audio message over said communications network to said subscriber wherein said audio message is associated with said event.

If desired, a service provider may create a voice message in the recognisable voice of a selected character or personality suited to the audio message using a processing means to add effect to the constructed message.

If desired, the service provider may record, retrieve from a storage means or otherwise generate suitable audio message segments or background noises to add effect to the constructed message.

The audio message may be constructed as a result of said event occurring or at the instigation of said service provider. The audio message may involve the voice of one of said stored character voices, the personality of a stored character or in combination with stored sound effects. It is to be noted that the audio message may solely comprise sound effects associated with the event.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a system of delivering an audio message to a user using a communications network, said system comprising:

a communications terminal linked to said communications network for use by said user;

said user making a request representative of an outcome of an event;

server means linked to said communications network for constructing and transmitting said audio message to said user providing said user with information pertaining to the event or pertaining to the outcome of the event. The audio message may be transmitted to the user using a voice generally recognised by the user or using a voice that is associated with or is a characteristic of the event. It may be a voice which by its incongruity with the event makes the message more entertaining, fun, surprising, valued or engaging to the recipient.

Preferably said system includes a proxy agent for receiving said request of said user and enters details of said request into a proxy agent terminal for storage therein. Said request may be a bet on an outcome of an event such as a competition, race, sporting event, etc and said proxy agent may be an organisation responsible for making available betting on said event. Details of the request may include the telephone number (fixed or mobile) of the user, the event the user wishes to bet on, date, where the event is, which team, player, horse, or number they seek a favourable outcome, how much they wish to wager.

The user may contact the proxy agent by using their communications terminal, which may be a wired telephone or a wireless telephone. Alternatively the user contacts the proxy agent in person and provides details of their request or the user may transmit their request via the Internet to a website of the proxy agent. A remote session may be established between a terminal device and said server means or proxy agent using any one of a number of standard techniques such as USSD, WAP, Interactive Voice Response (IVR).

Request data of a user may be transmitted from said proxy agent terminal to said server means for use by said server means in constructing said audio message. The audio message may be transmitted to said user prior to the event, during the event or after the event.

Once the results of the event have been established by the proxy agent, the results are transmitted to the server means for use in constructing said audio message. The results of the event are inserted into said audio message in the voice of a character, taken from a storage means storing pre-recorded audio files of one or more characters. Thereafter the audio message is transmitted to said user to be received at their communications terminal.

Such collection of results of the event and construction of messages may be performed by a human operator or a processing means using a set of predetermined rules, or a combination of human operator and processing means.

Where said user wishes to pay for the service of receiving said audio message by debiting their phone bill (with a service provider operating said server means), said server means sends a data template structure to their communications terminal for display on a display means of the terminal. The data template structure may have a number of fields that permit data entry by said user of details of said request. Alternatively, based on data sent from said proxy agent terminal on said request, some of the fields may have data embedded therein. The data template structure, once completed by said user, may be transmitted to said server means by depressing one or more keys on said communications terminal.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of delivering an audio message to a user using a communications network, said method comprising the steps of:

making a request by said user which is representative of an outcome of an event;

receiving at a server means said request;

constructing said audio message including information pertaining to said event or pertaining to the outcome of said event; and

transmitting said constructed audio message to a communications terminal of said user over said communications network. According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a system of delivering the combination of an audio message and a screen picture to a user using a communications network, said system comprising:

said communications network;

said user making a request representative of an outcome of an event;

server means linked to said communications network for constructing and transmitting said combined audio message and screen picture to said user providing said user with information pertaining to the event or pertaining to the outcome of the event.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a system block diagram depicting a system used for delivering an audio message to a user according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a table showing various criteria of how a user wishes to have an audio message sent to them;

Figure 3 is a flow diagram showing the processes involved in delivering an audio message to a user on the occurrence of a particular event;

Figure 4 is a table showing various criteria upon which an alert message is constructed for a particular user, what personalisation of the message may be required or on which a decision is made by the service provider whether to send a message or not; Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of a system used to deliver an audio message to a user in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a data structure showing an example of specific data relating to a horse racing bet placed by a user.

Shown in Figure 1 is a system used to create and transmit an audio message to one or more subscribers as a result of a particular event or happening on which each one of the subscribers wishes to be informed. Each subscriber has a cellular telephone 4 or 6 linked to a mobile communications network 8 through respective radio links 10 and 12. The network 8 is in turn linked to a further communications network 14 which may be the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or a packet switched network such as the Internet. Both networks 8 and 14 may suitably be linked by a common gateway (for example Voice, SMS, Data or WAP) to enable transmission of short audio messages, SMS messages, client - server sessions, and/or Internet protocols. The communications network 14 may be connected to a server 16 which is owned and operated by a service provider that provides a subscription service together with Internet connection and telephone service to those subscribers. The server 16 is generally responsible for constructing and delivering messages to a subscriber on their mobile phone 4. This may include an audio message constructed by a service provider. The audio message may be in a voice of a person known to that subscriber or may include other audio effects. The server 16 may also act as a message manager that apart from constructing and transmitting a message, queries various databases for eligible recipients. The server 16 can take a live broadcast feed from a particular source 18, whether it be a sporting event, the stock exchange or other event and this live broadcast feed 18 is also transmitted to the server 16. Alternatively an operator enabled system 20 may construct the messages and enable a separate message manager means to query a subscriber database to seek eligible recipients of the constructed message.

In one form of the invention, the server 16 may construct a message using text-to-speech means to convert a script into a message spoken in a voice. In another form of the invention the server 16 may take certain pre-recorded voice recordings and concatenate such recording to form a message of the type required by the service provider. In another form of the invention the message sent to the subscriber may be a combination of message segments created by some combination as may be required of text-to-speech, concatenation and replaying of existing recordings. Such combinations may be end-to-end or background or a mixture of end-to-end and background.

In another form of the invention text-to-speech may be used to customise the message with words, names or other phrases so as to be personalised to the subscriber or the event.

In yet another form of the invention concatenation may be used to customise the message with words, names or other phrases so as to be personalised to the subscriber or the event.

In a further form of the invention a combination as may be required by the processing means of text-to-speech and concatenation may be used to customise the message with words, names or other phrases so as to be personalised to the subscriber or the event.

The server 16 may be connected directly to the mobile communications network 8.

In one form of the invention the service provider shall have in an additional means of storage a selection of images suited to sporting and other events. If required by the subscriber, the service provider shall send to the subscriber the combination of the selected audio message and the selected corresponding screen image, so as to convey to the subscriber a sense of the occasion of the event. In one form of the invention, the image may be sent to a mobile phone by the service provider in the form of a message conforming to the SMS, Extended Message Service (EMS), Multi-media Messaging System (MMS) or like protocol so as to create a still or animated image of the screen image on the screen of the mobile phone. In another form of the invention, the screen image may be sent to the mobile phone via a data link or IP based session between the terminal device and a server means, so that the screen image is shown on the screen of the terminal device corresponding to the audio message, where such screen image may be still or animated.

Initially a potential subscriber in order to join the system and have messages transmitted to them may be required to provide a profile, an example of which is shown in the table depicted as Figure 2. In this example a subscriber who supports a football team such as Manchester United, would select from the options displayed on their mobile telephone by inputting responses to full name, age, sex, mobile phone number, email address, membership number of the sporting club and credit card details. These are collectively shown in block 29. Various other options are provided as to charging shown in block 30, how the delivery of the messages is to be conducted on various criteria shown in block 32 and in block 34 specific details on voice alerts and any SMS alerts as a result of the football team or players in that team performing an event are shown.

The table shown in Figure 2 may be arranged in data template structures that are transmitted from the message processing means or server 16 to the mobile telephone of the would-be subscriber delivered in an SMS format for the subscriber to complete and return to the server 16. Alternatively the user may use the Internet and access a website of the particular service provider and download web pages in order to fill out their required details. Alternatively it can be completed by paper forms and done through the normal mail channels. It may also be done through a call centre session with a human operator or via interactive voice response sessions via PSTN or mobile phone. The details of each subscriber profile are stored in subscriber database 21 (or server means 16).

In one form of the invention, if the subscriber does not answer their phone, then the processing means will deliver such message to the voice mailbox of the telephone.

In another form of the invention the recipient subscriber may forward the message to another person through an interactive voice response or menu based session, where the phone number or other contact details would be input and then the message forwarded. If a message is forwarded to another person, the original recipient may be afforded the option to add their own voice message to the original message.

At any time the subscriber may un-subscribe or modify their subscription by any of the means just mentioned. The particular subscriber, having filled in their details in Figure 2 shown as given details on their particular favourite players or player numbers and conditions or events on which to send messages such as the team losing, the team kicking a goal, one of their favourite players being injured, half time scores, pre game and post game voice alerts and voice alerts based on certain events happening during the game.

A character voice database 22 is linked to the server 16. This character voice database can be used to store data and sound files required for text-to- speech, concatenation and pre-recorded voice messages. In the case of prerecorded sound segments the character database stores pre-recorded audio sequences that can be in the voice of sporting personalities, film actors, fictional characters, TV performers, recording artists and famous characters or people generally known to various subscribers and identified through an object oriented database structure. Thus the favourite players of the particular subscriber playing for Manchester United may have pre-recorded audio sequences stored in this database 22 on any particular subject. For example when Manchester United scores a goal the voice of the player scoring that goal can be retrieved from the database 22 and via audio mixer 24 mixed with any specialist sound effects from a sound effects database 26 or from sounds taken from the live broadcast source 18 whether it be a piece of commentary or crowd noise or other noise associated with the game. Thus when a particular event occurs during a football match the particular subscriber is rung by the service provider and that subscriber would receive a message which includes a voice message from a personality or character linked to the event. For example the voice might be of the footballer who kicked a goal and telling a little bit about the circumstances in which he kicked the goal. The voice alert could combine a voice message with a short sound bite of the event commentary before or during or after the event. An example might be "Freddy Barrett here from MU, I've just kicked the first goal for the game, it's 1 nil MU to Bristol and there's only 4 minutes to go... Listen to the crowd roar (the crowd roar from the stadium is played) press 1 to play again, press 2 to send to a mate and press 3 to send me your congratulations".

Another example might be "MU win again, by 2 nil here is the commentary from the stadium just before and after the final siren" (audio sequences depicting commentary from the stadium commentary are then played to the recipient) ..."press 1 to play again, press 2 to send to a mate and press 3 to send me your congratulations".

In other embodiments of the invention, the audio message may invite further subscriber interaction in a different manner. For example, the subscriber may receive, as part of a voice message, an invitation for more information. For example, "press 1 to receive a call from one of our brokers on this stock opportunity". The subscriber may also receive an invitation/call to action as part of the voice message. An example may be "press 1 to be connected to one of our operators now", "press 1 to receive an SMS for the next bet", "press 1 to receive a scratching for the next race", etc. The subscriber may also be invited to receive text, audio, video or data file via another media available in wireless networks.

The subscriber may also be invited in the voice message to perform a direct action, for example based upon past behaviour of the subscriber. One example may be "press 1 to place your preferred bet on the next race", followed by a prompt for the particular horse. Another example may be "press 1 to state your house on MU winning their next game", etc.

A skilled person in the field of mobile telecommunications will easily be able to envisage other practical examples.

Thus in the above examples whether an operator is listening to a live broadcast of a commentary from the match or telecast through the source 18, audio sequences can be recorded of crowd noise using the processor means 16 or operator-based system 20. For example after that player kicked a goal and together with any commentary that might have been broadcast. Then on cue the server 16 would look up the subscriber profile database to see which Manchester United subscribers would require a voice message to be sent to their mobile telephone. On obtaining the eligible subscribers a character voice may be retrieved from database 22 together with any sound effects from database 26 by server 16 and mixed in by audio mixer 24. As an alternative any captured audio sequences form the source 18 may also be fed into the message and delivered to the subscriber 4 over the network 14 and network 8. As a further alternative text-to-speech and concatenation can be utilised to personalise or customise the message that is sent, with the possibility of each message being different.

Shown in Figure 3 is a flow diagram showing the various steps involved in constructing and delivering a message based on a voice alert event. At step 42 when the alert event occurs, for example a particular stock market price or an event occurring in a sporting fixture, the operator on hearing or seeing such an event from the live feed broadcast 18 can construct a message or alternatively the server 16 (or operator based system 20) uses the stream 18 from the event to construct the messages at step 44. A combination of both constructions of messages may occur. In constructing the message either the operator based system means 20 puts together message metadata that can include the following information, which for example is based on a subscriber interested in a sporting event:

the team that the message is targeted at;

the time that the message was created;

the time the event occurred;

a link to commentary sound clip to accompany the message;

the names of key people involved in the event;

the name of the person who kicked a goal, received a foul etc;

the time until the end of the main event, such as the end of the game;

who created the message;

ownership of any copyright material contained in the message; and

any restrictions on the use of the message.

Thus all of this metadata is attached to the constructed message at step 46 and processed by the operator based system 20 or alternatively server means 16 step 48. At step 50 the subscriber database 21 is queried by the message manager means for any matches between the message type and the message metadata and the subscriber profile stored in the subscriber database 21. On matches that do occur then the server means 16 retrieves the names of those recipients from database 21 and their mobile telephone numbers and constructs a list of the recipients to whom the messages will be sent at step 52. Thus if the player that kicked a goal for the football team example, if that name is found in any subscriber profiles stored in the subscriber database 21 and the timing of the event fits the criteria of the various profiles together with any of the other criteria, then those subscribers are placed in the eligible recipient list. Billing information for each of the eligible recipients is extracted from the subscriber profile and transferred to the billing database 27. At step 54 the server means 16 builds the message and together with any variable content such as the name of the recipient, score or other data sends the message to each recipient over the networks 14 and 8. At step 56 the server means 16 sends billing details to the billing database 27 to add the particular bill to the subscriber's account.

The server 16 can also utilise the processing means and the combination as may be required of text-to-speech and concatenation to build personalised or customised messages for subscribers, such messages being based on the subscriber's profile and the message content. One example of such customisation is the inclusion of the subscriber's name in the message.

At the stage where the subscriber profile is queried in the subscriber database based on a matrix of relevant subscriber data, the database could be object oriented such that various criteria upon which the alert message is constructed can be assembled in the database. As an example, referring to Figure 4 there is shown a table whereby in the case of the football team subscriber, the subscriber's own team has a number of columns such as alert type required column 60, pre event type alert column 62, current event column 64 and post event type alert column 66. Thus in column 60 the alert type may be the score, an injuries to players, a particular announcement to do with game, reported players and any penalties that have occurred. These may be all, on the instructions from the subscriber, be delivered as a message to the subscriber on their mobile phone either prior to the event occurring, which obviously would only include announcements, during the event where all of the alert types could be relevant or after the event where again all of the alert types could be relevant.

In a further section of the table the team that is playing against the subscriber's team may also have similar criteria as outlined with respect to column 60, 62, 64 and 66. There are also rows 68 for entry of a valid subscription, row 70 for data on time limits on particular messages and row 72 for other subscriber query data.

A user may also undertake a competition transaction, such as entering a lottery, betting on a horse race or participating in a television quiz show and receive via their mobile or fixed phone information either about the event that they are betting on or the results of their transaction.

Referring to Figure 5, a competition agency or competition proxy 62 has a proxy server 60 linked to communications network 14 which competition agency may be for example a chain of fast food outlets, a betting agency, a television show, football club, telecommunications company or other organisation that has a relationship with customers and can collect money or attract sponsorship for a competition. The user will typically use a mobile telephone 4 or 6 linked to communications network 8 or a fixed phone 61 that is linked to the communications network 14 which may be the PSTN. Alternatively they may call in person to the competition agency to place a bet or undertake a competition transaction. The types of competition situations that a customer may participate include horseracing and other totaliser betting, a football competition, fast food outlet competitions, world wrestling federation bouts, golf events, lottery agencies or numbers type lotto, participation in a TV show test-of-skill for a prize, NASCAR or betting via a phone whether it is through a SMS or IVR. Many other examples exist. As an example, participants may place a bet on a competition event such as a horse race or a football outcome with a competition or proxy agency 62 that has its own server 60. A bet may be defined as an outcome for reward and the user may wager money, points, the cost of a phone call or it may be for free. The participant may place the bet via a mobile phone, a fixed phone, in person or via the Internet or otherwise. If they were to place the bet through the Internet they would use their own computer terminal or processing device which may be linked to the PSTN through the Internet and in turn to the server 60. If a mobile terminal 4 is used then an appropriate gateway 15 would be used to enable transmission of Internet protocols and this may for example be the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). The competition transaction may be placed via another competition agency such as a telecommunications company or a TV show.

The user then has the choice of receiving a message on their telephone as feedback for how the bet went or transaction went. If the user "subscribes" to receive the message, they may pay extra for the service or it might be made available on an opt-in or co-opted basis by a sponsor, event manager or it might be included in the price of the original bet. This is done through a server 16 of a service provider that is linked to a billings database 27 and a voice or audio file database 22. The participant can opt in to have the message service delivered or is co-opted by the competition or proxy agency 62. Opting in or co-option requires that the user or participant gives their mobile telephone number or fixed phone number to the competition agency or proxy. Alternatively if the participant already has a profile with that competition agency then such a telephone number may already be stored in the server 60 of the competition agency. The proxy agent then provides to the server 16 data which describes the participants phone number, the details of the bet or bets that they have undertaken and other information as might be available regarding the participant or the competition event. For example details on the competition event might include the type of event, names, number of units bet, key personalities etc.

In one form of the invention, the server 60 and the server 16 may be the one processing device operated by the one owner or service provider.

The server 16 may transmit pre event messages to the user to be received on their mobile telephone 4 or 6 which describes or provides information about the event, details about what bets they have placed and how much for example. The server 16 may also send or play the event commentary live to the user. The proxy agency provides to the server 16 through the server 60, data that describes results of the competition event and any special or descriptive information that might be relevant to the provision of the message to the user. At the time that the service provider who operates server the 16 determines that the competition event has concluded and the results are finalised then the service provider constructs a suitable audio message which may include a voice message for the participant or participants. The message might be based on a win/lose criteria or more complex set of data as previously disclosed. The server means 16 may retrieve recorded voices from audio data base 22 to provide an entertaining message to the user or may use a combination as may be required of text-to- speech and concatenation message building approaches to build a suitable message.

As an example of how the system operates, the following horse racing and football betting samples are described in detail. The server 16 may send voice messages to users after a horse race telling them the bad news if they have lost and congratulating them if they have won. The message might include how much they have won and the circumstances of the race, for example how the horse had won whether it was by many lengths or a nose or a head and the conditions in which the race was run. When the participant places the bet at the totaliser agency, in this instance the proxy agent 62, the participant gives the proxy agent their mobile telephone number or the number may already be stored in the server 60 where that participant already has a profile with the proxy agency. If the participant bets via the mobile phone then the phone number is always available through caller identification data. If the participant has elected to pay for the messaging service at the time of placing the bet, or if the messaging service is free to the participant, then the service provider is sent the data from the proxy agent and delivers the constructed voice message to the participant as the competition event occurs and is finalised.

If the participant needs to pay for the messaging service via their phone bill, then the service provider may send an SMS data template structure to the participant's mobile telephone with the bet details embedded in the SMS template. Having received the SMS template, the subscriber can send the SMS template to the SMSC of their Telecommunications network provider, creating a billing event for which the subscriber will pay the Telecommunications network provider, and the service provider may share such payment. Alternatively the participant could pay for the provision of service via pre-paid cards, the use of their credit card or some other means of payment as may be suitable between the parties. Alternatively the participant could key in the data themselves relating to the bet. An example of the data template structure is shown in Figure 6. The template is made up of columns and rows where in the first column a full description of the feature such as date, meeting, race, horse, bet, win or place and telephone number is detailed in each row and in a further column an abbreviated form identifying each of those features is used. Thus a format of an SMS message could be:

MHKJR02H12B10P* MHKJR04H07B12WB5P T0418561907 The above SMS message identifies MHKJ as the venue of the meeting.

The * separates two bets placed by the same customer, the first bet being for race 2 (R02) horse 12 (H12), betting 10 units for a place (B10P). The other bet is for race 4, horse 7, betting 12 units for a win and betting 5 units for a place. The sequence ends with the mobile telephone number of the user.

It is to be noted that for one horse the template will accept the units bet for a place as well as for a win. If there are more or less characters used after a prefix then this is acceptable to the server means 16. In other words if 765,673 units are bet on a win then B765673W is the code and if only 7 units are bet on a place then B7P is the code.

Once the user has entered all the required details of the proposed bet then the user depresses the send button or another designated key on their telephone to transmit the confirmation of the bet back to the server 16 and their mobile phone account is added with the cost of this service, which is input into database 27.

The voice message delivered from the server 16 to the user on their mobile telephone may be in the voice of a suitable personality taken from audio sequences stored in database 22. For example the voice might be a jockey, trainer, race caller, or Mr Ed to keep with the horse racing theme. At the end of each race after correct weight is confirmed the service provider may send a voice message to the user telling the result and with some additional fun commentary or content. For example the message might be, in the voice of Mr Ed "Hello big boy, you have just hit the jackpot in race 3 with a win on Gallop Girl, winning $25 by at least a length and a half. It was never in doubt. Well done! Even I can't run that fast!"

If an incomplete SMS message is sent or received it will be checked for error and sent back with an error alert to the author or originator of the message. In another example, a football club may have a football tipping competition running. In this instance a football club can send an SMS template to each of its registered mobile members before each game.

The template can be any one of a match score and top player type, football tipping type or a fantasy football type.

The match score and top player type has a format as follows:

Game [4] Coll [win] vs StK [] by Pts [40] Top Player [4] Kicks Pts [10]

Thus game 4 has been selected with Collingwood to win against St Kilda by a margin of 40 points and the top player nominated is No. 4 and the kicks and points is 10.

Once the match is finished the user may receive a voice message for example "James, its St Kilda here congratulating you on tipping the closest score for the Collingwood game today. You have won a Hyundai car and will toss the coin at our next match in Sydney next week - congratulations!"

The football tipping competition may have the format as follows:

Week [7] Coll [win] vs StK by Pts [xx]

Thus in week 7 the subscriber has selected Collingwood to win against St Kilda by a margin of a certain number of points.

Similarly with the fantasy football the user can select a team and nominating various players having particular positions or functions within that team.

It will also be appreciated that various modifications and alterations may be made to the preferred embodiments above, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A system of delivering an audio message to a subscriber using a communications network, said system comprising:

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the audio message is constructed as a result of said event occurring.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the audio message is constructed at the instigation of a service provider that delivers said audio message to said subscriber via the server means.

4. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the audio message includes the voice of a character, retrieved from the storage means, associated with the event.

5. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein information pertaining to the event is delivered via a live broadcast source to an operator system.

6. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein information pertaining to the event is delivered via a live broadcast source to the server means.

7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and further comprising second storage means for storing subscriber data.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the subscriber data comprises an identity of one or more characters nominated by the subscriber.

9. A system according to either one of claims 7 or 8, wherein said server means searches said second storage means for subscribers eligible to receive said audio message based on message type, message content or the nominated characters involved in said event.

10. A system according to any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising third storage means to store audio recordings associated with said event.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said audio recordings stored on said third storage means are inserted into said audio messages transmitted to said subscriber.

12. A system according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein message metadata is attached to an interim message to permit said server means to search said second storage means for based on subscriber data when constructing said audio message.

13. A system according to claim 12, where said message metadata includes event information.

14. A method of delivering an audio message to a subscriber using a communications network, said method comprising the steps of:

storing audio sequences representing any of the following:

voices of one or more characters to one or more sound effects or recordings associated with an event; constructing said audio message having at least one of said stored audio sequences or a combination of said stored audio sequences;

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein a service provider records a voice message being recognisable as the voice of a selected character or personality suited to the audio message using a processing means to add effect to the constructed message.

16. A method according to either one of claims 14 or 15, wherein the service provider records audio message segments or background noise to add effect to the constructed message.

17. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the service provider retrieves from storage means audio message segment or background noise to add effect tot he constructed message.

18. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the service provider generates audio message segments or background noises to add effect to the constructed message.

19. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the audio message is constructed as a result of said event occurring.

20. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein the audio message is constructed at the instigation of said service provider.

21. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein the audio message comprise any one or combination of the voice of one of said stored character voices, a personality of stored character or sound effects.

22. A system of delivering an audio message to a user using a communications network, said system comprising:

said user making a request representative of an outcome of an event;

server means linked to said communications network for constructing and transmitting said audio message to said user providing said user with information pertaining to the event or pertaining to the outcome of the event.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the audio message is transmitted to the user using a voice generally recognised by the user.

24. A system according to either one of claims 22 or 23, wherein the audio message is transmitted to the user using a voice that is associated or is a characteristic of the event.

25. A system according to any one of claims 22 to 24, further comprising a proxy agent for receiving said request of said user and entering details of said request into a proxy agent terminal for storage therein.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein said request is a bet on an outcome of said event.

27. A system according to claim 25, wherein said proxy agent is an organisation responsible for making available betting on said event.

28. A system according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the details of said request include any one or more of a telephone number of the user, an event the user wishes to bet on, a date, where the event is, which team, player, horse or number the user seeks a favourable outcome, how much the user wishes to wager.

29. A system according to any one of claims 25 to 28, wherein a user makes contact with said proxy agent through a user communications terminal.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein the user transmits said request from the user communications terminal to a website of the proxy agent via the Internet.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein a remote session is established between a terminal device and said server means or proxy agent using any one ofUSSD, WAP or IVR.

32. A system according to any one of claims 22 to 31, wherein the request data of a user is transmitted from said proxy agent terminal to said server means for use by said server means in constructing said audio message.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the message is transmitted to the user prior to the event, during the event or after the event.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein a result of said event is transmitted to the server means for use in constructing said audio message.

35. A system according to claim 34, wherein the result of said event are inserted into said audio message in the voice of a character, taken from a storage means storing pre-recorded audio files of one or more characters and said audio message is transmitted to said user to be received at the communications terminal.

36. A method of delivering an audio message to a user using a communications network, said method comprising steps of:

receiving at a server means said request; constructing said audio message including information pertaining to said event or pertaining to the outcome of said event; and

transmitting said constructed audio message to a communications terminal of said user over said communications network.

37. A system of delivering the combination of an audio message and a screen picture to a user using a communications network, said system comprising:

said communications network;

said user making a request representative of an outcome of an event;