System and method for distributing promotion messages to a communication terminal

Abstract

This invention relates to a system and a method for distributing an invitation to one or more communication terminals connected in a wireless communications network. The system and method enables a user of a communication terminal to invite other users of communication terminals to a shared media experience, such as watching a television transmission at the same time, while the users may be at different locations.

What is claims is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least on memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
 receive, from a promotion server through a first communication network, a promotion message including an invitation to be reminded prior to a start of an event scheduled to start at a defined start time; 
 enable a user of said apparatus to perform general calendar operations; 
 output playback of said promotion message; 
 store promotion message information of the promotion message; 
 determine to transmit said promotion message to one or more other communication terminals to invite the one or more communication terminals regarding the event; 
 cause transmission of an acceptance message for said invitation from the one or more other communication terminals to said promotion server; 
 receive a reminder signal for said event based on the defined start time included in said promotion message; 
 receive a notification of a launch of a shared application on the promotion server; and 
 output playback of said reminder signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said promotion message information comprises at least one of promotion message identity, one or more communication terminal identities, event data, or group application data. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to store a promotion message identity and information comprising transmitter identity and associated messaging contact information, recipient identity and associated messaging contact information, media event information, and group application data that is configured to initialize and activate a reminder application in response to receiving said reminder signal on said apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising audio and visual output components configured to communication the promotion message to the user of the apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to utilize an electronic program guide containing information on media events, and provide a reject signal when said apparatus is busy. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a mobile phone, cellular phone, personal office assistant, or a personal computer. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the promotion message comprises at least one of a text, a series of texts, a picture, a series of pictures, a video sequence, a series of video sequences, an audio track or a series of audio tracks. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first communication network comprises at least one of a wired or wireless telecommunication network, local area network, metropolitan area network, wide area network, or inter-network such as the Internet, or a dedicated communication line. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code;   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
 receive a promotion message from one or more other apparatus, the promotion message including an invitation to be reminded prior to a start of an event scheduled to start at a defined start time based on said promotion message request, wherein the invitation originates from a promotion server to the one or more other apparatus; 
 cause transmission to the promotion server via the one or more other apparatus of an acceptance signal for said invitation based on information in at least one of a calendar or a list of scheduled events residing in the apparatus; 
 receive a reminder signal from the promotion server via the one or more other apparatus based on said defined start time included in the promotion message; 
 receive a notification of a launch of a shared application on the promotion server; and 
 output playback of said reminder signal. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said promotion message information comprises at least one of promotion message identity, one or more communication terminal identities, event data, or group application data. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to store a promotion message identity and information comprising transmitter identity and associated messaging contact information, recipient identity and associated messaging contact information, media event information, and group application data that is configured to initialize and activate a reminder application in response to receiving said reminder signal on said apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising audio and visual output components configured to communication the promotion message to a user of the apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to utilize an electronic program guide containing information on media events, and provide a reject signal when said apparatus is busy. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a mobile phone, cellular phone, personal office assistant, or a personal computer. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the promotion message comprises at least one of a text, a series of texts, a picture, a series of pictures, a video sequence, a series of video sequences, an audio track or a series of audio tracks. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a communication terminal, a promotion message from a promotion server, the promotion message including an invitation to be reminded prior to a start of an event scheduled to start at a defined start time;   determining to transmit said promotion message to one or more other communication terminals to invite the one or more communication terminals;   causing transmission to the promotion server of an acceptance signal for said invitation based on information in at least one or a calendar or a list of scheduled events residing in said communication terminal, wherein the acceptance signal originates from the one or more communication terminals;   receiving, by said communication terminal, a reminder signal from said promotion server based on said defined start time included in said promotion message;   receiving, by said communication terminal, a notification of a launch of a shared application on the promotion server; and   outputting playback of said reminder signal by said communication terminal.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the acceptance signal comprises a promotion message identity and an identity of the communication terminal in response to the promotion message from the promotion server. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the invitation further comprises a communication channel for attending the event. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the communication terminal comprises at least one of a mobile phone, cellular phone, personal office assistant, or a personal computer. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the transmission of the acceptance signal to the promotion server is via the one or more other communication terminals.