SMS-TV Application Integration for Seamless Contest Participation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing play along TV applications on mobile devices require users to exit the application to send SMS messages, leading to a cumbersome user experience due to the need to remember and input SMS short codes, keywords, and manage incoming calls, especially for potential winners who may not be notified of their eligibility verification.
Innovation Solution
An improved system and method that allows users to participate in SMS-TV contests within the application by storing SMS short codes, reducing keystrokes, promoting contests in-app, storing a history of programs, and enabling winner notification through alternate phone numbers and user identification tags, while disconnecting data connections to allow incoming calls and sending SMS messages on behalf of users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users send SMS messages by exiting the application to use the SMS function, then the SMS message can be sent successfully, but the user experience becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the SMS messaging function with the play along TV application by integrating an SMS interface directly into the application. Users can compose and send SMS messages without exiting the application, as the SMS input field and sending capability are embedded within the application's user interface, allowing seamless participation in SMS-TV contests.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that acts as a bridge between the play along TV application and the device's SMS functionality. This intermediary layer enables the application to send SMS messages on behalf of users without requiring users to manually access the SMS function, thus maintaining application continuity while achieving SMS communication.
2Reliability
If users manually input SMS short codes and keywords, then the SMS message can be sent to the correct destination, but the number of keystrokes increases and user convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by automatically retrieving and pre-filling SMS short codes and keywords associated with TV programs before the user needs to send a message. The system stores these parameters in advance and automatically populates them when a user initiates an SMS-TV contest participation, eliminating the need for manual input and reducing keystrokes while maintaining accuracy.
3Productivity
If the application remains connected to data network while running, then the application can function continuously, but incoming calls cannot be received by the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic connection management where the application's data connection is automatically adjusted based on contest status. When a user wins an SMS-TV contest, the system dynamically modifies the connection state to allow incoming calls while maintaining application functionality, enabling the user to receive winner notification calls without completely disconnecting the application.
4Adaptability or versatility
If users with phones not supporting SMS from applications want to participate, then no one can participate, but if the system is modified to support all phones, then compatibility increases but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server-based intermediary that handles SMS message sending for users whose devices do not support SMS functionality from within applications. The application communicates contest participation data to the server, which then sends the SMS messages using its own SMS capabilities, thereby enabling universal participation across all phone types without requiring complex modifications to individual device architectures.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved method of and system for participating in SMS-TV contests enables a user to utilize one or more applications to perform desired operations such as using the user interface to efficiently make selections to respond to a question in a contest, downloading SMS short codes, promoting contests within the application, storing a history of SMS-TV programs, enabling an alternate phone number to be submitted, utilizing user identification tags, disconnecting the application to receive an incoming call, verification, contacting a server to send an SMS message on the device's behalf and other operations. Some of the aforementioned operations are performed by the user specifically while others are automatically performed by a server to provide the user with the best service possible.