Digital content distribution system for delivering location specific content to an ad hoc group of mobile subscribers

摘要

A digital content distribution system and method are disclosed for delivering location specific content to an ad hoc group of mobile subscribers and method of delivering subscriber-requested, location-based content directly to a mobile communication device, such as a cell phone or personal digital assistant (PDA) or other mobile communication device. The system consists of a downloadable application that runs on the subscribers mobile communication devices and communicates with the server-based content composer system. The content composer system manages outgoing content based upon the geographic location reported by the mobile communication device application and the demographic and preference data stored in a subscriber database. Using available messaging technology, such as Short Message Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messaging, relevant sponsored content, mobile emergency alerts, and the ability to facilitate 2-way text or voice based services utilizing Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping is provided to an ad hoc group of subscribers in designated geographic locations. In order to optimize the utility for deaf and hard of hearing subscribers, the mobile communication device may be placed in a low power sleep or hibernate mode instead of a no power mode when the device is turned off. In a hibernate mode, in response to emergency content, the mobile communication device will wake up to an alert even when it is hibernating. Moreover, the alerts take over the portable device no matter what other tasks are being executed. In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, in response to emergency content, the system will cause the mobile communication device to vibrate even if the mobile communication device has been configured with the vibrate feature turned off.