Abstract:
A method for selecting and broadcasting a message is implemented using a message broadcasting server that is coupled to a mobile device and a multimedia device and that stores a plurality of messages therein. The multimedia device is operable to continuously send out a device identification, and the mobile device being operable to send a personal identification upon receiving the device identification from the multimedia device. In the method, the message broadcasting server executes the operations of: receiving the personal identification and the device identification from the mobile device; and selecting one of the messages and transmitting the same to at least one of the mobile device and the multimedia device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priorities of Taiwanese Application No. 103211101, filed on Jun. 24, 2014, and Taiwanese Application No. 103144327, filed on Dec. 18, 2014. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to a method for selecting and broadcasting a message, and more particularly to a method for selecting a message based on a personal identification of a user. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Conventional mass communication involves using traditional mass media (e.g., television, radio, etc.) to broadcast messages, such as advertisements, to the audience. However, as the mobile technology advances, the traditional mass media become less engaged to the audience (that is, there are significantly more choices other than the traditional mass media for the audience), and the advertisement providers investing in the traditional mass media are getting less returns. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a method that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior arts. 
         [0005]    The method is for selecting and broadcasting a message. In one aspect, the method is to be implemented using a message broadcasting server. The message broadcasting server is coupled to a mobile device and a multimedia device, and stores a plurality of messages therein. The multimedia device is operable to continuously send out a device identification via short range wireless communication. The mobile device is operable to send a personal identification that is associated with a user of the mobile device, upon receiving the device identification from the multimedia device via the short range wireless communication. The method includes the steps of: 
         [0006]    a) receiving the personal identification and the device identification from the mobile device; 
         [0007]    b) in response to receipt of the personal identification and the device identification, selecting one of the messages to be broadcasted according to the personal identification; and 
         [0008]    c) transmitting the selected one of the messages to at least one of the mobile device and the multimedia device. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the method is to be implemented using a message broadcasting server and a mobile device coupled to the message broadcasting server. The message broadcasting server stores a plurality of messages therein and is to be coupled to a multimedia device that is operable to continuously send out a device identification via short range wireless communication. The method includes the steps of: 
         [0010]    a) upon receiving the device identification from the multimedia device via the short range wireless communication, sending, by the mobile device, a personal identification and the device identification to the message broadcasting server, the personal identification being associated with a user of the mobile device; 
         [0011]    b) in response to receipt of the personal identification and the device identification, selecting, by the message broadcasting server, one of the messages to be broadcasted according to the personal identification; and 
         [0012]    c) transmitting by the message broadcasting server, the selected one of the messages to at least one of the mobile device and the multimedia device. 
         [0013]    Another object of the disclosure is to provide a message broadcasting server that is enabled to implement the aforementioned method. 
         [0014]    According to the disclosure, the message broadcasting server is for selecting and broadcasting a message. The message broadcasting server is to be coupled to a mobile device and a multimedia device. The multimedia device is operable to continuously send out a device identification via short range wireless communication. The mobile device is operable to send a personal identification that is associated with a user of the mobile device, upon receiving the device identification from the multimedia device via the short range wireless communication. The message broadcasting server includes a central processing unit (CPU), a database storing a plurality of messages therein, and a network interface that enables communication via a network. 
         [0015]    The message broadcasting server is enabled to receive the personal identification and the device identification from the mobile device via the network interface. 
         [0016]    In response to receipt of the personal identification and the device identification, the CPU is programmed to select one of the messages stored in the database to be broadcasted according to the personal identification, and to transmit the selected one of the messages to at least one of the mobile device and the multimedia device. 
         [0017]    Yet another object of the disclosure is to provide a system that includes the aforementioned message broadcasting server. 
         [0018]    According to the disclosure, the system is for selecting and broadcasting a message, and includes a multimedia device, a mobile device and a message broadcasting server. 
         [0019]    The multimedia device includes a first short-range wireless communication unit for continuously sending out a device identification. The mobile device includes a second short-range wireless communication unit for receiving data, and a storage medium storing therein a personal identification that is associated with a user of the mobile device. The message broadcasting server stores a plurality of messages therein. 
         [0020]    Upon receiving the device identification from the multimedia device via the second short range wireless communication unit, the mobile device transmits the device identification and the personal identification to the message broadcasting server. In response to receipt of the personal identification and the device identification, the message broadcasting server is programmed to select one of the messages to be broadcasted according to the personal identification, and to transmit the selected one of the messages to at least one of the mobile device and the multimedia device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a system according to the disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a method for selecting and broadcasting a message to be implemented by the system, according to the first embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a system according to the disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method for selecting and broadcasting a message to be implemented by the system, according to the second embodiment; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of a method for selecting and broadcasting a message, according to an alternative embodiment of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system that includes a multimedia device  2 , a message broadcasting server  3  and a mobile device  4 . The system is configured for implementing a method (see  FIG. 2 ) for selecting and broadcasting a message, according to the first embodiment of the disclosure. 
         [0029]    The multimedia device  2  is coupled to a media server  1 . In this embodiment, the media server  1  is a cable television provider server, and provides a plurality of broadcast programs and a program list. The program list includes a plurality of program identifications, and each of the program identifications is associated with a respective one of the broadcast programs. 
         [0030]    The multimedia device  2  includes a multimedia output unit  21 , a set-top box  22  and a first short range wireless communication unit  23 . In this embodiment, the multimedia output unit  21  is a television set, and the set-top box  22  is coupled to the media server  1  via, for example, a cable for receiving the program list and the broadcast programs therefrom. 
         [0031]    The first short range wireless communication unit  23  stores a device identification, and is operable to send out the device identification to be picked up by other devices that is in proximity (e.g., within a 10-meter range) to the first short range wireless communication unit  23 . In this embodiment, the first short range wireless communication unit  23  conforms to iBeacon™ protocol standardized by Apple®, and is a Bluetooth® transceiving device, for example, using Bluetooth® low energy proximity sensing to transmit the device identification. In other embodiments, the first short range wireless communication unit  23  may be embodied as a Bluetooth® transmitter. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment, the multimedia output unit  21 , the set-top box  22  and the first short range wireless communication unit  23  of the multimedia device  2  may be integrated into a smart television. 
         [0033]    The set-top box  22  is coupled to the message broadcasting server  3  via the Internet. The message broadcasting server  3  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  31 , a database  32  and a network interface  33 . The message broadcasting server  3  is capable of obtaining the program list from the multimedia device  2  (or the media server  1 ), and of storing the program list in the database  32 . In this embodiment, the database  32  further stores a plurality of messages. Each of the messages may include advertisement content, and is associated with one of the program identifications. 
         [0034]    The mobile device  4  may be embodied using a mobile phone, a tablet (e.g., an iPad®), a laptop computer, etc. In this embodiment, the mobile device  4  includes a second short range wireless communication unit  41  that stores a personal identification associated with a user of the mobile device  4 . The personal identification may include information such as telephone number, gender, age, etc. The second short range wireless communication unit  41  may be embodied using a device similar to the first short range wireless communication unit  23 , and is capable of communicating with the first short range wireless communication unit  23  within a certain range (e.g., 10 meters). 
         [0035]    In use, when the mobile device  4  comes within the certain range of the multimedia device  2  (that is, the user of the mobile device  4  may be interested in and currently watching a program broadcasted by the multimedia device  2 ), the system is enabled to implement the method as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0036]    In step S 1 , when the multimedia device  2  is active (e.g., powered on), the first short range wireless communication unit  23  of the multimedia device  2  continuously sends out the device identification. 
         [0037]    When the second short range wireless communication unit  41  receives the device identification in step S 2 , the mobile device  4  in turn transmits the personal identification and the device identification to the message broadcasting server  3  in step S 3 . 
         [0038]    Then, the user may operate the set-top box  22  of the multimedia device  2  (for example, using a remote controller) in order to select one of the broadcast programs to watch. In response, a program selection command, which is associated with the selected one of the broadcast programs, is generated by the set-top box  22 . The set-top box  22  in turn transmits the program selection command to the media server  1  in step S 4 , and transmits to the message broadcasting server  3  a corresponding one of the program identifications, which indicates the selected broadcast program that is to be played by the multimedia device  2 . 
         [0039]    In step S 6 , the set-top box  22  of the multimedia device  2  receives the selected one of the broadcast programs provided by the media server  1  for playback. 
         [0040]    In step S 7 , the message broadcasting server  3  determines, based on the personal identification and the device identification received from the mobile device  4  in step S 3 , that the mobile device  4  (and possibly the user thereof) that is indicated by the personal identification is in proximity of the multimedia device  2  that is indicated by the device identification. 
         [0041]    Subsequently, in step S 8 , the CPU  31  of the message broadcasting server  3  selects one of the messages stored in the database  32  according to the personal identification and the device identification received from the mobile device  4  in step S 3 , and the corresponding one of the program identifications received from the multimedia device  2  in step S 5 . 
         [0042]    Specifically, the personal identification and/or the corresponding one of the program identifications may be used to select one of the messages. For example, each of the messages is targeted to a particular age range (e.g., teenage, middle aged, old, etc.). Based on the personal identification which contains the age of the user and on the corresponding one of the program identifications, the message broadcasting server  3  is able to select one of the messages that corresponds to the age of the user and that is associated with the corresponding one of the program identifications. 
         [0043]    In steps S 9  and S 10 , the CPU  31  of the message broadcasting server  3  transmits the selected one of the messages to at least one of the media server  1  and the multimedia device  2 , via the network interface  33 . In this embodiment, the selected one of the messages is transmitted to both the media server  1  and the multimedia device  2 , respectively in steps S 9  and S 10 . In some embodiments, the selected one of the messages may be transmitted to only the mobile device  4 . For example, when the multimedia device  2  is powered off before the moment of step S 9 , the selected one of the messages may be transmitted to only the mobile device  4 , and step S 10  is omitted. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  illustrates a system according to a second embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the media server  1  is associated with an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) provider and is included in the message broadcasting server  3 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 4  illustrates a flow chart of a method implemented by the system shown in  FIG. 3 . The method of  FIG. 4  according to this embodiment is similar to that described in the first embodiment. As a result, a similar effect may be achieved. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  illustrates steps of a method according to an alternative embodiment of the disclosure. In this method, steps S 11 -S 14 , S 16  and S 17  are similar to steps S 1 -S 3 , S 7 , S 9  and S 10  of the method shown in  FIG. 2 , respectively, and the program identification is not considered in selecting the message in step S 15 . That is, the received personal identification is the only factor in selecting the message, and the content played by the multimedia device  2  is irrelevant. 
         [0047]    To sum up, the system according to the disclosure is enabled to implement a method that uses the mobile device  4  to receive the device identification from the multimedia device  2  and to send out the received device identification and the personal identification stored therein to the message broadcasting server  3 , in order to notify the message broadcasting server  3  that the mobile device  4  is in proximity of the multimedia device  2 . The message broadcasting server  3  is in turn enabled to select one of the messages stored therein, and to transmit the selected one of the messages to at least one of the mobile device  4  and the multimedia device  2 . In this manner, a relatively appropriate message (e.g., an advertisement) that somewhat fits the user of the mobile device  4  can be broadcasted to the user. 
         [0048]    While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.