System, method and computer software product for providing interactive data using a mobile device

1. A method of providing interactive services to a mobile device, comprising:

transmitting programming over-the-air to a mobile device by a first facility in communication with a service provider, wherein the service provider can be notified of intermittent loss of reception of information;

receiving from the mobile device by a second facility comprising a first wireless access point, wherein the first wireless access point provides audio-visual programming storage and replay function in communication with the service provider, first information comprising location data of the mobile device, wherein the reception of the first information occurs during sporadic intervals when the mobile device is within communication range of the first wireless access point without scheduling the reception through a prior communications session;

receiving from the mobile device by a third facility comprising a second wireless access point the first information upon notification by the service provider of intermittent loss of reception of information such that partially completed information received through the second facility can be completely received through the third facility; and

transmitting to the mobile device by the second facility content specific to the mobile device, wherein the content comprises a program guide based on the location of the mobile device and a history of program information delivered to the service provider, wherein the transmission of the content occurs during sporadic transmission intervals when the mobile device is within communication range of the first wireless access point without scheduling the reception through a prior communications session or making the transmission dependent on an explicit request from the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving is responsive to a request transmitted to the mobile device by a facility selected from the group comprising the first facility, the second facility, and the third facility.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising aggregating programming viewing statistics by a processing node selected from the group comprising the mobile device, the wireless access point, the second facility, a gateway manager and the service provider.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises interactive response information.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information further comprises automatically transmitted program usage information.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the usage information is generated from information that documents the viewing of the programming.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information is processed by a gateway manager to remove information identifying the user of the mobile device and the processed information is communicated to the service provider.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting second information comprising at least one update to user applications of the mobile device by a facility selected from the group comprising the first facility and the second facility, wherein the at least one update is based on pre-update user applications and pre-update usage information of the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving from the mobile device the usage information and information that enumerates the user applications prior to transmitting the update.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information further comprises automatically transmitted viewing preferences of the mobile device user.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information further comprises automatically transmitted device operational preferences of the mobile device user.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information further comprises automatically transmitted demographic information of the mobile device user.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises a direct response from the mobile device to a direct request by the first or second facility.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location of said mobile device is determined by a GPS system.

15. A system for providing interactive services to a mobile device, comprising:

a broadcast transmitter configured for transmitting programming over-the- air to a mobile device by a first facility in communication with a service provider, wherein the service provider can be notified of intermittent loss of reception of information;

a receiver configured for receiving from the mobile device by a second facility comprising a first wireless access point, wherein the first wireless access point provides audio-visual programming storage and replay function in communication with the service provider, first information comprising location data of the mobile device, wherein the reception of the first information occurs during sporadic intervals when the mobile device is within communication range of the first wireless access point without scheduling the reception through a prior communications session;

the receiver further configured for receiving from the mobile device by a third facility comprising a second wireless access point the first information upon notification by the service provider of intermittent loss of reception of information such that partially completed information received through the second facility can be completely received through the third facility; and

the broadcast transmitter further configured for transmitting to the mobile device by the second facility content specific to the mobile device, wherein the content comprises a program guide based on the location of the mobile device and a history of program information delivered to the service provider, wherein the transmission of the content occurs during sporadic transmission intervals when the mobile device is within communication range of the first wireless access point without scheduling the reception through a prior communications session or making the transmission dependent on an explicit request from the mobile device.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first information further comprises automatically transmitted information based on the viewing of the programming.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first facility and second facility are co-located.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first facility comprises at least two non-co-located transmission sites.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the mobile device comprises a TV receiver.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the mobile device is affixable to a vehicle.

21. The system of claim 15 , wherein the mobile device is transportable by a pedestrian user.

22. The system of claim 15 , wherein the broadcast transmitter and receiver are both configured for a short-range wireless connection.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the short-range wireless connection comprises an IEEE 802.11 connection.

24. A computer software product embodied in a non-transitory computer- readable physical medium, comprising coded instructions for executing a computer process in a digital processor, which computer process manages providing interactive services to a mobile device, the computer process comprising:

managing transmitting programming over-the-air to a mobile device by a first facility in communication with a service provider, wherein the service provider can be notified of intermittent loss of reception of information;

managing receiving from the mobile device by a second facility comprising a first wireless access point, wherein the first wireless access point provides audio-visual programming storage and replay function in communication with the service provider, first information comprising location data of the mobile device, wherein the reception of the first information occurs during sporadic intervals when the mobile device is within communication range of the first wireless access point without scheduling the reception through a prior communications session;

managing receiving from the mobile device by a third facility comprising a second wireless access point the first information upon notification by the service provider of intermittent loss of reception of information such that partially completed information received through the second facility can be completely received through the third facility; and

managing transmitting to the mobile device by the second facility content specific to the mobile device, wherein the content comprises a program guide based on the location of the mobile device and a history of program information delivered to the service provider, wherein the transmission of the content occurs during sporadic transmission intervals when the mobile device is within communication range of the first wireless access point without scheduling the reception through a prior communications session or making the transmission dependent on an explicit request from the mobile device.

25. A method of providing interactive services to a mobile device, comprising:

receiving programming over-the-air to a mobile device from a first facility in communication with a service provider, wherein the service provider can be notified of intermittent loss of reception of information;

transmitting by the mobile device to a second facility comprising a first wireless access point, wherein the first wireless access point provides audio- visual programming storage and replay function in communication with the service provider, first information comprising location data of the mobile device, wherein the transmission of the first information occurs during sporadic intervals when the mobile device is within communication range of the first wireless access point without scheduling the reception through a prior communications session;

transmitting by the mobile device to a third facility comprising a second wireless access point the first information upon notification by the service provider of intermittent loss of reception of information such that partially completed information received through the second facility can be completely received through the third facility; and

receiving by the mobile device from the second facility content specific to the mobile device, wherein the content comprises a program guide based on the location of the mobile device and a history of program information delivered to the service provider, wherein the reception of the content occurs during sporadic intervals when the mobile device is within communication range of the first wireless access point without scheduling the reception through a prior communications session or making the reception dependent on an explicit request from the mobile device.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the mobile device is regularly returned to within connection range of the wireless access point after regularly being outside connection range.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein a user of the mobile device maintains the wireless access point.

28. The method of claim 25 , wherein the transmitting is responsive to a request received by the mobile device from a facility selected from the group comprising the first facility and the second facility.

29. The method of claim 25 , wherein the mobile device is transported from place to place by a vehicle.

30. The method of claim 25 , wherein a pedestrian user transports the mobile device from place to place.

31. The method of claim 25 , wherein the wireless access point supports a short-range wireless connection.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the short-range wireless connection supports an IEEE 802.11 connection.