Mobile originated interactive menus via short messaging services

• US 20020119793A1
• Filed: 02/27/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Titus, Mark, Weichselbaumer, Walter, Hronek, Daniel, Pike, Orville, Wallace, Erik, Geil, Phillip, McCormick, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 7,127,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• 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 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing 2-way interactive short message system menus to a mobile device using text-based short messaging rather than WAP techniques. This provides the ability to provide WAP like services at a fraction of the cost of CSD. Mobile Originated Interactive Menus are implemented as a feature of a Short Message Service Center (SMSC). Each option guides either to the next menu level, or to a final action to be executed according to the path followed by the subscriber. Importantly, the mobile originated interactive menus use SMS communications instead of circuit switched data (CSD) (e.g., instead of WAP communications), thus leaving traffic channels available for voice calls. Interactive SMS menus allow service providers to offer their subscribers personalized messaging menus with multiple options for quick and easy access to Web-based content. Users may define the content and frequency they want, whether it is a scheduled delivery or on-demand. The interactive SMS menu options offer customers a simple-to-use technique and apparatus for checking, e.g., stock quotes, local weather, and/or other Web-based news and information when they want it. The interactive nature of the service allows the wireless network to poll the user for their next response, with multiple menued options offered, making it highly intuitive. Replacement of messages in TDMA and GSM mobile devices allow for heavy usage without filling up the user'"'"'s phone buffer, i.e., prior messages may be overwritten, to assure that only the latest information is all that is being displayed and read. The flexibility of Interactive SMS Menus can allow service providers to define their own base offering of menus, depending upon their targeted customer segments.

Claims

1. An interactive short messaging system menu selection process, comprising:

receiving a text message from a mobile device including an identification of a main menu;

transmitting a text message to said mobile device including text of said main menu; and

receiving back from said mobile device a choice corresponding to a selected further menu.

2. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 1, further comprising in response to said receipt of said choice corresponding to a selected further menu:

transmitting a replacement menu to said mobile device to replace text of a previous menu.

3. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 1, wherein:

said, choice is a single digit choice.

4. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 3, wherein:

said single digit choice is non-zero.

5. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 1, wherein:

said text of said main menu is unformatted for transmission to said mobile device.

6. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 1, wherein:

said mobile device is a cellular telephone.

7. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 6, wherein:

said cellular telephone is IS-41 compliant.

8. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 6, wherein:

said cellular telephone is GSM compliant.

9. A method of transmitting selection of a lower level menu using text messaging, comprising:

responding to a first menu displayed on a mobile device by overwriting at least one character of an address of said first menu, and transmitting said overwritten address to a short messaging system (SMS).

10. The method of transmitting selection of a lower level menu using text messaging according to claim 9, wherein:

said overwriting overwrites only one character of said address of said first menu.

11. The method of transmitting selection of a lower level menu using text messaging according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a second menu corresponding to an address indicated by said overwritten address.

13. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for transmitting a replacement menu to said mobile device to replace text of a previous menu in response to receipt of said choice corresponding to a selected further menu.

14. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu according to claim 12, wherein:

said choice is a single digit choice.

15. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu according to claim 14, wherein:

said single digit choice is non-zero.

16. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu according to claim 12, wherein:

said means for transmitting a text message and said means for transmitting a text message each transmit unformatted text.

17. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu according to claim 12, wherein:

said mobile device is a cellular telephone.

18. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu according to claim 17, wherein:

said cellular telephone is IS-41 compliant.

19. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 17, wherein:

said cellular telephone is GSM compliant.

12. Apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu, comprising:

means for receiving a text message from a mobile device including an identification of a main menu;

means for transmitting a text message to said mobile device including text of said main menu; and

means for receiving back from said mobile device a choice corresponding to a selected further menu.

20. Apparatus for transmitting selection of a lower level menu using text messaging, comprising:

means for responding to a first menu displayed on a mobile device by overwriting at least one character of an address of said first menu, and transmitting said overwritten address to a short messaging system (SMS); and

means for receiving a second menu corresponding to an address indicated by said overwritten address.

21. The apparatus for transmitting selection of a lower level menu using text messaging according to claim 20, wherein:

said means for responding overwrites only one character of said address of said first menu.