Abstract:
A wireless cellular or other device to control distribution and presentation of audio, video, or combined audio and video content transmitted from a content server and delivered to at least one contiguous device at substantially the same time. The cellular device sends control signals via various wireless communication protocols based upon user input. The control signals are sent to a content server attached to a TCP/IP network. The wireless cellular device and the content server interact through a request and reply interface, located within the wireless cellular device, based on inputs from the wireless device user. Content available for transmission from the content server is displayed and subsequently selected by the user. Separate audio and video content may be distributed to individually distinct rendering devices contiguous to and selected by the user. During or after the content is transmitted, the user may interact with the content through the wireless cellular device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/838,438, filed on Aug. 18, 2006, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to methods for distributing content to devices substantially contiguous to a person or device. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Changes in the electronic distribution of audio and visual content have created an environment in which end-users have increasing control over the means by which they may hear, view and interact with any given digital content. Through the use of various methods that incorporate wireless and Internet technologies, for example, Apple&#39;s iTunes system, music may be downloaded into handheld wireless devices and stored in a persistent manner so that it may be listened to at some future time. Audio, video and combined audio-video content may also be downloaded into handheld wireless devices and then stored in a persistent manner so that it may be listened to and viewed at the user&#39;s discretion. Additionally, once stored, such audio-visual content can readily be transferred to other devices via simple commands. 
     In all cases where wireless cell phone devices are used to send, receive and store audio-visual content, one of three scenarios occurs. The first scenario involves the transfer of audio and visual content to another wireless cell phone device from a server, service or other wireless cell phone device acting itself as a server in a client-server relationship. The second scenario involves the transfer of audio and visual content from a wireless cell phone device acting as a server to one or more servers, services or other wireless cell phone devices acting as clients in a client-server relationship. The third scenario involves the use of a cell phone to control media devices by using wireless protocols such as SMS or Internet services such as Web browsers to request that media be sent to a specific device based on user requests. 
     At this time, the ability of a wireless cell phone user to control the distribution and delivery of digital content to physically contiguous audio and video devices is limited to a request-response model that does not allow the user to continuously interact with contiguous audio and visual display devices in real time over the Internet. 
     Orange France has created a service that allows customers of bars, restaurants and other businesses to choose a song from an SMS music menu to be played at the customer location. This service does not, however, provide a means to have the music sent to a speaker system located in direct proximity to the user. Neither does it provide the means to make selections using a cell phone and to have music videos provided to a visual display device and speaker system located in direct proximity to the user. 
     AT&amp;T, Inc. provides subscribers with the ability to control their digital video controllers through Web-enabled phones by scheduling or deleting recordings on their in-home set-top boxes. This service does not, however, provide users with the means to control the dissemination of content to contiguous audio and display devices that may be located in public venues, such as airports and malls. Furthermore, this control mechanism is dependent on the presence of an in-home set-top box to display the audio and visual content. In other words, it does not allow content dissemination over the Internet to contiguous devices in real time. 
     In U.S. Published Patent Application No. 20070136778, Birger, Joffe and Netchitailo generally describe a method to use an apparatus with a processor, memory, a display screen and an input device to accept user input from a user, the use of which is to control the operation of multiple devices for purposes of playback on the part of each device. There is, however, no reference to the use of a wireless cell phone device to accomplish the same or similar tasks. Furthermore, the invention set forth does not allow the user to use the apparatus to control the dissemination of content over the Internet in public venues. As with the prior cited references, this one, too, is deficient. 
     None of the presently-known methods of wireless cell phone content delivery addresses the complexity of a distributed audio-visual user experience, i.e., both individual and multiple persons experiencing the same or similar content simultaneously or substantially simultaneously through respective contiguously located devices. Specifically, the prior art fails to demonstrate any method or system that disengages wireless cell phone users from the constraints of traditional audio-video media delivery by allowing the user of a wireless cell phone to interactively control the real-time delivery of audio-visual media to multiple audio devices, e.g., within hearing or other ranges of the cell phone user, and/or multiple visual display devices, e.g., within line-of-sight view of the wireless cell phone user, through the use of controls commonly-available on a standard wireless cell phone over the Internet. 
     There is, therefore, a present need to provide an improved paradigm for managing the distributed, multi-tier, real-time delivery of audio-visual content using a wireless cell phone that overcomes the aforementioned constraints of existing media distribution techniques, and that exploits the enhancements of the new technologies offered. 
     It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to set forth an improved paradigm for the distribution of digital media using a wireless cell phone device as a controller. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for a wireless cell phone device user to specify the devices to which the audio and visual components of audio-visual content will be transmitted. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and system for a wireless cell phone device user to specify the devices to which the audio components of audio-visual content will be transmitted independently of the devices to which the visual components of audio-visual content will be transmitted. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and system whereby a wireless cell phone device may be used to control the concurrent, synchronous, real-time delivery of visual media to one or more display devices of the same or dissimilar type and to one or more audio devices of the same or dissimilar type. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and system whereby a wireless cell phone device may be used to interact with audio and visual content that is being heard though one or more audio devices of the same or dissimilar type and seen through one or more display devices of the same or dissimilar type. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention involves a method and system which permits the delivery of audio and visual content among multiple audio devices of similar and dissimilar type and multiple visual devices of similar and dissimilar type using a wireless cell phone device as the method of control. Audio devices include, but are not limited to, wireless and wireline speaker systems, earphones, headphones, handsets, cell phones, handheld wireless devices and other devices that have inputs that originate as electrical signals and resulting outputs that are acoustic in nature. Visual devices include, but are not limited to, wireless or wireline connected plasma screens, LCD screens, televisions, digital projectors, computer monitors, and other devices that have inputs that originate as digital information and resulting outputs that are visual in nature. The unique method and system described herein creates an audio-visual environment capable of being interactively controlled by a wireless cell phone device, in which all audio and video components can be transmitted to multiple audio, visual and audio-visual devices in a dynamic, concurrent, synchronous, real-time manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the system and method of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a content delivery system for a wireless cell phone device in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a content delivery system using a wireless cell phone device as controller in which various protocols including but not limited to Web interfaces, Wireless Access Protocol interfaces and wireless text messaging may be used to specify the content as well as the audio and visual devices to which the content will be delivered in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a preferred embodiment for implementing a content delivery system for the interaction of a wireless cell phone device with a display device in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a preferred embodiment for implementing a content delivery system for the interaction of a wireless cell phone device with a sound system device in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates a preferred embodiment for implementing a content delivery system for interaction of a wireless cell phone device with a display device and a separate sound system device in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3D  illustrates a preferred embodiment of a content delivery system for interaction of a wireless cell phone device with a display device and the wireless cell phone device&#39;s internal audio device pursuant to the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a preferred embodiment for implementing a content delivery system for interaction of a wireless cell phone device with one or more display devices, sound systems and or projector systems using a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and RFID network to identify the physical location of the cell phone in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a preferred embodiment for implementing a content delivery system that includes the use of a user&#39;s identity, physical location, preferences and history to select the content, the formatting of the content and the output devices to which the content will be delivered in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates another preferred embodiment for implementing a content deliver system that includes the use of third party audiovisual content in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. For purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the invention. Descriptions of specific applications are provided only as representative examples. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1  of the Drawings, there is illustrated therein a distributed communications network, generally designated by the reference numeral  100 , pursuant to the teachings of the present invention. In particular, a user  110  of the network  100  uses any of a variety of wireless cellular devices, including a handheld computer, a cellular telephone, a PDA device, or any other personal portable wireless device, generally designated by the reference numeral  115 , that has as part of its function the ability to operate as a wireless cell phone device, as it is understood in the art. As shown in the figure, the user  110  uses input devices  116 , such as a keypad, control keys or a touchscreen commonly associated with the use of a wireless cell phone device  115 , to interact with a request and reply interface, designated by the reference numeral  120 , which, through a wireless connection, generally designated by the reference numeral  125 , transmits information to a TCP/IP network, generally designated by the reference numeral  130 , where the information is received by a content server or content service  135  for distribution to others. 
     The content server or service  135  identifies and retrieves the specified content in the form of audio content  140 , visual content  145  or combined audio-visual content  150 , and sends, via the aforementioned TCP/IP network  130 , the requested content to the discrete specified devices, which may be plasma, LCD or other types of display screens  155 , acoustical sound systems  160 , digital projector systems  165 , or any combination thereof, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Those exemplary devices, including the wireless cell phone device  115 , the display screens  155  whose visual output is substantially within the sight of the user  110 , the acoustical sound systems  160  whose acoustical output is substantially within the hearing of the user  110 , and the digital projectors  165  whose visual output is substantially within the sight of the user, are referred to collectively as the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control, and are designated herein by the reference numeral  170 . It should, of course, be understood that a variety of other devices substantially contiguous the user  110  may be employed to receive and utilize the content transmitted thereto, and are also within the aforementioned user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , a system and method are illustrated whereby the user  110  may use the aforedescribed wireless cell phone device  115  and its request and reply interface  120  to specify the audio and visual content, as well as the devices to which the specified audio and visual content will be delivered. In a preferred embodiment, the specification of the content, as well as the specification of the devices to which the content will be delivered, may be determined as the result of the interaction of the user  110  with the wireless cell phone device  115 , its input devices  116 , the request and reply interface  120 , and other devices in the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 , including one or more display screens  155 , one or more acoustical sound systems  160  and one or more digital projector systems  165 , as illustrated and described in connection with  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , one method by which both content and devices may be specified is through the use of a Web interface  121 . For example, the user  110  uses the Web interface  121 , itself a component of the request and reply interface  120 , to specify the content to be displayed and/or heard. The information describing the content may be specified in its entirety on the Web interface  121 , or, alternatively, the information describing the content may be specified through any combination of visual and audio information provided by the wireless cell phone device  115  and its Web interface  121 , the display screens  155 , sound systems  160  and the digital projectors  165  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . With further reference to  FIG. 2 , the user  110  uses the Web interface  121  of the wireless cell phone device  115 , along with input devices  116  available on the wireless cell phone device  115 , to specify the content which will be delivered to the devices within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . Furthermore, the user  110  uses the Web interface  121  of the wireless cell phone device  115 , along with respective input devices  116  available on the wireless cell phone device  115  to specify the display screens  155 , sound systems  160  and digital projectors  165  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170  to which the content will be delivered. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 2 , another method by which both content and devices may be specified is through the use of a Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) interface  122 . As noted above in connection with the Web interface  121 , the Wireless Access Protocol interface  122  may be used to specify both the content and the devices to which the content will be delivered using methods similar to those methods described previously and with more particularity with respect to the Web interface  121 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 2 , a further method by which both content and devices may be specified is through the use of a text messaging interface  123 . As noted above in connection with the Web interface  121  and the Wireless Access Protocol interface  122 , the text messaging interface  123  may also be used to specify both the content and the devices to which the content will be delivered using methods similar to those methods described previously and with more particularity with respect to the Web interface  121 . It should, of course, be understood that additional interfaces are possible, including a voice activation interface  120  either alone or in combination with tactile approaches. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3A  of the Drawings, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment for implementing a content delivery system for the interaction of a wireless cell phone device with a display device. In this embodiment, the user  110  uses a wireless cell phone device  115  to obtain a wireless connection  125  with a TCP/IP network  130  that, in turn, accesses a content server or services  135 , as set forth hereinabove, for outside distribution to other devices. The user then uses the information provided by the request and reply interface  120  to specify the content to be displayed. It should be understood that the information describing the content may be specified in its entirety via the wireless cell phone device  115 , or, alternatively, through any combination of visual and audio information provided by the wireless cell phone device  115  and at least one display screen  156  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 3A , the user  110  uses the request and reply interface  120  of the wireless cell phone device  115 , along with input devices  116  available on the wireless cell phone device  115 , to specify visual content  145 , which will be delivered to at least one display screen  156  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . Furthermore, the user  110  uses the request and reply interface  120  of the wireless cell phone device  115 , along with input devices  116  available on the wireless cell phone device  115 , to specify the identity of the particular display screen or screens  156  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170  to which the visual content  145  will be delivered. Alternatively, rather than specifying the display screen or screens  156  to which the content will be delivered using input devices  116 , such as a keypad, control keys or a touchscreen, a shortrange frequency hopping radio link device  157 , in close physical proximity to the user&#39;s  110  wireless cell phone device  115 , may be used to transmit the identity of the display screen or screens  156  to a corresponding shortrange frequency hopping radio link device  158  contained within the wireless cell phone device  115 , where the link device  158  may be used as input to the request and reply interface  120  and other input devices  116  contained within the wireless cell phone device  115  to identify the display screen or screens  156 . It should, of course, be understood that alternate forms of wireless linkages may be employed to accomplish these short range transmission requirements, and a frequency hopping radio linkage is only exemplary. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3B , which describes a preferred embodiment for implementing a content delivery system for the interaction of a wireless cell phone device with a sound system, the user  110  uses the wireless cell phone device  116  to obtain a wireless connection  125  with a TCP/IP network  130  that, in turn, accesses a content server or services  135 . As with the embodiment illustrated and described in connection with  FIG. 3A , the user uses the information provided by the request and reply interface  120  to specify the audio content to be transmitted. The information describing the content may be specified in its entirety via the wireless cell phone device  115 , or, alternatively, through any combination of visual and audio information provided by the wireless cell phone device  115  and at least one sound system  161  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 3B , the user  110  uses the request and reply interface  120  of the wireless cell phone device  115 , along with input devices  116  available on the wireless cell phone device  115 , to specify audio content  140  which will be delivered to at least one sound system or systems  161  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . Furthermore, the user  110  uses the request and reply interface  120  of the wireless cell phone device  115 , along with input devices  116  available on the wireless cell phone device  115 , to specify the identity of the particular sound system or systems  161  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170  to which the audio content  140  will be delivered. Alternatively, rather than specifying the sound system or systems  161  to which the content will be delivered using input devices  116 , such as a keypad, control keys or a touchscreen, the aforementioned shortrange frequency hopping radio link device  157  or other wireless linkage, in close physical proximity to the user&#39;s  110  wireless cell phone device  115 , may be used to transmit the identity of the sound system or systems  161  to the corresponding shortrange frequency hopping radio link device  158  contained within the wireless cell phone device  115 , where the link device  158  may be used as input to the request and reply interface  120  and other input devices  116  contained within the wireless cell phone device  115  to identify the sound system or systems  161 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3C  of the Drawings, an additional preferred embodiment for implementing a content delivery system for interaction of a wireless cell phone device with a display device and a separate sound system device is described, in which the user  110  uses the wireless cell phone device  115  to obtain a wireless connection  125  with a TCP/IP network  130  that, in turn, accesses a content server or services  135 . The user uses the information provided by the request and reply interface  120  to specify the audio and visual content to be transmitted. As before, the information describing the content may be specified in its entirety via the wireless cell phone device  115 , or, alternatively, through any combination of visual and audio information provided by the wireless cell phone device  115  to at least one display screen  156  and at least one sound system  161  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 3C , the user  110  uses the request and reply interface  120  of the wireless cell phone device  115 , along with input devices  116  available on the wireless cell phone device  115 , to specify the audio content  140  which will be delivered to said at least one sound system  161  and the visual content  145  which will be delivered to said at least one display screen  156  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . Alternatively, the content server or service  135  may deliver combined audio-visual content  150  to the sound system or systems  161  and the display screen or screens  156  by delivering the audio portion of the audio-visual content  150  to the sound system or systems  161  and the visual portion of the audio visual content  150  to the display screen or screens  156  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . Furthermore, the user  110  uses the request and reply interface  120  of the wireless cell phone device  115 , along with input devices  116  available on the wireless cell phone device  115 , to specify the identity of the particular sound system or systems  161  and the identity of the particular display screen or screens  156  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170  to which the audio content  140  and the visual content  145  will be delivered. 
     Furthermore, the user  110  may also use the request and reply interface  120  of the wireless phone device  115 , along with input devices available on the wireless cell phone device  115 , to specify a single identity for that sound system  161  and the display screen  156  or to specify an identity for a group of sound systems  161  and a group of display screens, all within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170  to which the specified audio content  140  and the visual content  145  or the combined audio-visual content  150  will be delivered. Alternatively, rather than specifying the sound system  161  and display screen  156  to which the content will be delivered using input devices  116 , such as a keypad, control keys or a touchscreen, the aforementioned shortrange frequency hopping radio link device  157 , or other wireless linkage, in close physical proximity to the user&#39;s  110  wireless cell phone device  115 , may be used to transmit the identity or identities of the sound system or systems  161  and display screen or screens  156  to the corresponding shortrange frequency hopping radio link device  158  contained within the wireless cell phone device  115 , where the link device  158  may be used as input to the request and reply interface  120  and other input devices  116  contained within the wireless cell phone device  115  to identify the sound system or system  161  and display screen or screens  156 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3D , there is illustrated a further preferred embodiment of a content delivery system for interaction of a wireless cell phone device with a display device and the wireless cell phone device&#39;s internal audio outputs, in which the user  110  uses the wireless cell phone device  116  to obtain a wireless connection  125  with a TCP/IP network  130  that, in turn, accesses a content server or services  135 . The user  110  uses the information provided by the request and reply interface  120  to specify the audio and visual content to be transmitted. As noted, the information describing the content may be specified in its entirety via the wireless cell phone device  115 , or, alternatively, through any combination of visual and audio information provided by the wireless cell phone device  115  and at least one display screen  156  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 3D , the user  110  uses the request and reply interface  120  of the wireless cell phone device  115 , along with input devices  116  available on the wireless cell phone device  115 , to specify the audio content  140  which will be delivered to the wireless cell phone device  115  through audio outputs  117  either to an internal speaker  118  of the wireless cell phone device  115  or to an external headset  119  of the wireless cell phone device  115 , and the visual content  145  which will be delivered to the display screen or screens  156  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . The content server or service  135  may deliver combined audio-visual content  150  to the wireless cell phone device  115  and the display screen or screens  156  by delivering the audio portion of the audio-visual content  150  to the wireless cell phone device  115 , where the audio is transmitted through the wireless cell phone device&#39;s  115  audio outputs  117  either to the aforedescribed internal speaker  118  or to the external headset  119 , and the visual portion of the audio visual content  150  to the display screen or screens  156  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . 
     Furthermore, the user  110  uses the request and reply interface  120  of the wireless cell phone device  115 , along with input devices  116  available on the wireless cell phone device  115 , to specify the identity of the particular display screen  156  or a group of screens  156  within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170  to which the visual content  145  will be delivered. Alternatively, rather than specifying at least one display screen  156  to which the content will be delivered using input devices  116 , such as a keypad, control keys or a touchscreen, the aforementioned shortrange frequency hopping radio link device  157 , or other wireless linkage, in close or contiguous physical proximity to the wireless cell phone device  115 , may be used to transmit the identity of the display screen  156  or group of screens  156  to the corresponding shortrange frequency hopping radio link device  158  contained within the wireless cell phone device  115 , where the link device  158  may be used as input to the request and reply interface  120  and other input devices  116  contained within the wireless cell phone device  115  to identify respective sound systems  161  and display screens  156 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 4  of the Drawings, there is illustrated therein a preferred embodiment for implementing a content delivery system for the interaction of a wireless cell phone device having a radio frequency identification or RFID chip  114  either in or on the wireless cell phone device  115 . As before, the user  110  uses the wireless cell phone device  115  to obtain a wireless connection  125  with a TCP/IP network  130  that, in turn, accesses a content server or service  135 . The user  110  uses the information provided by the request and reply interface  120  to specify the content to be transmitted. As described hereinabove, the information describing the content may be specified in its entirety via the wireless cell phone device  115 , or, alternatively, through any combination of visual or audio information provided by the request and reply interface  120  and other information contained within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . Rather than specifying respective display screens  155 , sound systems  160  and/or digital projectors  165 , to which the content will be delivered, an RFID network  128  may be used to identify the physical location of the wireless cell phone device  115  and to communicate that information through the TCP/IP network  130  to the content server or service  135 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The content server or service  135  uses the physical location of the wireless cell phone device  115  to identity the particular or respective display screens  155 , sound systems  160  and or digital projectors  165  that are contiguous or to which the content can otherwise be delivered. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated a preferred embodiment for implementing a content delivery system containing a content server or service, itself containing a user profile and content delivery capability, in which the user  110  uses the wireless cell phone device  115  to obtain a wireless connection  125  with a TCP/IP network  130  that, in turn, accesses a content server or service  135 . The user  110  uses the information provided by the request and reply interface  120  to provide a user ID  111 , as well as to specify the content to be transmitted. As before, the information describing the content may be specified in its entirety via the wireless cell phone device  115 , or, alternatively, through any combination of visual or audio information provided by the request and reply interface  120  and other information contained within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . Rather than specifying the respective display screens  155 , sound systems  160  and or digital projectors  165 , to which the content will be delivered, the RFID network  128  may be used to identify the physical location of the wireless cell phone device  115  via the RFID chip  114  and to communicate that information through the TCP/IP network  130  to the content server or service  135 . 
     A user profile  136  associated with the user ID  111  may be used to provide user preferences and user history associated with the user ID  111  to a particular or several content delivery servers or services  137  in addition to RFID location information and the user ID  111 . The content delivery server or service  137  uses the information to select and or format the content. Additionally, the content server or service  135  may use the physical location of the RFID chip  114  associated with the wireless cell phone device  115  to identity the particular or respective display screens  155 , sound systems  160  and or digital projectors  165 , to which the content can be delivered. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 5  of the Drawings, once the user  110  has provided the user ID  111 , the content server or service  135  may use the physical location of the RFID chip  114  associated with the cell phone device  115  in combination with information contained in the user profile  136  to perform content delivery  137  by both selecting and formatting the content, as well as selecting the output device or devices to which the content will be delivered without requiring any additional input on the part of the user  110 , even as the user moves from one display screen  155 , sound system  160  or digital projector  165  image to another. 
     Finally, with reference now to  FIG. 6 , there is illustrated a preferred embodiment for implementing a content delivery system containing a content server or service, itself containing a user profile  136  and content delivery capability information  137 , in which the user  110  uses the wireless cell phone device  115  to obtain a wireless connection  125  with a TCP/IP network  130  that, in turn, accesses a content server or service  135 . The content server or service  135 , may, in turn, use a third-party interface  138  to access third-party audio content  141 , third-party video content  146 , and/or third-party audio-video content  151 . The user  110  uses the information provided by the request and reply interface  120  to provide a user ID  111 , as well as to specify the content to be transmitted. As before, the information describing the content may be specified in its entirety via the wireless cell phone device  115 , or, alternatively, through any combination of visual or audio information provided by the request and reply interface  120  and other information contained within the user&#39;s field of vision, hearing and control  170 . A user profile  136  associated with the user ID  111  may be used to provide user profile data, e.g., device ID location user ID  111 , preferences and usage history, and content delivery data  137 , e.g., selection and formatting information, via a third-party interface  138  to one or more third-party content providers providing third-party audio content  141 , third-party video content  146  and/or third-party audio-video content  151  to the user  110 . 
     The principles of the present invention are applicable in a variety of social contexts, e.g., on a street having advertising or other visual or audio media strategically placed, and at an airport, bus terminals or other transportation facilities where people congregate. For example, a kiosk or booth may be employed to facilitate a user sharing information or content with others within an immediate area or broader range. The possibilities for an entertainment usage are considerable, e.g., music concerts, sports events, gambling casinos, trade shows and many other venues. The system and methodology of the instant invention offer flexible ways for a user to mass communicate, sharing their content with a large number of contiguous individuals. 
     Although one usage is by individuals sharing with friends and/or contiguous users affiliated in some fashion, e.g., close friends or anonymous groups, it should be understood that the user can instead be an automated user, such as a program at a kiosk in an airport, which communicates with passersby. Similarly, on a street, a store may likewise communicate anonymously and perhaps randomly with passersby by targeting them for a special message or advertisement pursuant to a protocol, algorithm, randomly, sequentially or otherwise. In this commercial context, the content can be varied or identical, e.g., differing devices may require some reconfiguration of the content. With some additional information about the particular passersby, the message can be more targeted and individualized to that specific person, e.g., a snippet of the latest album to a teenager or a car ad to an older person. The possibilities for advertising revenues are equally considerable, and the boundaries of this innovation bound only by the communications limitations placed on the content. 
     Although the preferred implementation of the innovation herein is individualized sharing of content to others, it is nonetheless understood that the principles can also be employed more broadly to encompass automated push and pull messaging delivered to friends or total strangers, small numbers of people or masses, individuals or devices, and other parameters. 
     It should, of course, also be understood that the substantially contiguous devices can be audio devices within hearing range or other ranges of the user&#39;s device, display devices within visual range, e.g., within line-of-sight view, of the user&#39;s device, or some other measure that facilitates the shared nature of the social contact, facilitates social interaction in general, facilitates mass and targeted communications socially or commercially, among friends, acquaintances, groups, teams or other groupings. The principles of the present invention address various granularities of transmission, e.g., social or commercial one-on-one, one-to-few or one-to-many, and an advantage to the user (and the recipients) is the flexibility of use. 
     It should also be understood that the user, once the content is being or has been distributed to the at least one contiguous device, may interact with the content during or after delivery. 
     Although the shared experiential aspect of the present invention is a focus, it should be understood that the shared nature of the experience need not actually be experienced simultaneously or contemporaneously, but can be delayed and experienced or played at a later time. For example, a message, social or commercial, can be queued for later or even played at a scheduled time. 
     It should also be understood that the networks  100  illustrated in the Drawings can be either a private network with subscribers, with groups delineated therein pursuant to various protocols, or public, e.g., the Internet. An Internet-based Application Service Provider (ASP) could thereby provide server capability to tie a large network of users to a large network of contiguous user devices, as is understood in the art. 
     The foregoing description of the present invention provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise one disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible consistent with the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. Thus, it is noted that the scope of the invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.