Provision of additional content to mobile communication devices

• US 10,536,820 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2017
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Cohen
• Original Assignee: Robert Cohen
• Inventors: Cohen, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Behnamian, Shahriar
• Application Number:
  US15/649,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20180160280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 455466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0227 Frequent usage incentive value reconciliation between diverse systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system and method for the insertion of additional content to messages sent between mobile communications devices. The system provides for a point system which allows users of the system to accumulate points for additional content sent with text messages. The points may be used for various functions such as purchasing premium services or may be applied towards the user'"'"'s service charges.

Claims

1. A method for use in providing additional content to a mobile communication device, comprising:

receiving a text message by a first mobile communication device, the text message having been generated by a user of the first mobile communication device inputting text information into the first mobile communications device;

after receiving the text message, requesting, by the first mobile communication device, additional content from a service provider;

receiving, by the first mobile communication device, a plurality of items of additional content;

selecting an item of additional content out of a plurality of items of additional content;

appending the selected item of additional content to the text message; and

transmitting the text message and the appended selected item of additional content to a second mobile communication device for display on the second mobile communication device;

wherein the first mobile communications device performs selection of the item of additional content out of a plurality of items of additional content; and

further comprising associating a point value with the user of the first mobile communication device based on transmission of the text message and the appended selected item of additional content to the second mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the text message and appended selected item of additional content are transmitted to the second mobile communications device by way of a cellular communication system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the different items of the plurality items of additional content have different associated point values.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the point value has a monetary value.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the point value is redeemable for goods or services.