Interactive messaging system

• US 20050188090A1
• Filed: 04/11/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imageware Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vocel, Inc.
• Inventors: Washburn, Carl
• Granted Patent: US 7,353,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0218 based on score
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

The interactive messaging system of the present invention provides for an interactive communication process between users, both senders and recipients. The sender composes a message by filling in a template stored in data services. Once completed, the sender pushes the message to a recipient'"'"'s wireless device if the wireless device contains a WAP browser which is capable of receiving pushed messages. Typically the message includes a question along with answers for the recipient to choose from. Each answer corresponds with a pre-assigned response key and the recipient answers the question by selecting one of the pre-assigned response keys. The recipient'"'"'s response is available to the sender in the form of an e-mail, WAP Push, on-line access or interactive message that is shown to the sender on an on-line status screen.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating interactive messages where the interactive messages are exchanged with wireless devices, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a pre-defined template to send a message to a recipient;

filling in the template with the message;

transmitting the message to an application server which sends the message to an authentication server which assigns a date and time stamp to the message;

sending the message back to the application server which sends the message to a mobile access gateway for transforming for transforming the message into a format capable of being pushed to at least one wireless device;

pushing the message to at least one wireless device of the recipient, the recipient communicating with a sender of the message via the at least one wireless device and a sender'"'"'s wireless device; and

the application server managing an interactive workflow and collaboration between the at least one recipient and the sender of the interactive message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is sent to the at least one recipient using any enabling push technology.

3. A method of using interactive messaging in clinical trials where the interactive messages are exchanged with wireless devices, the method comprising the steps of:

composing an alert by filling in a template and transmitting the alert to an application server, the alert having at least one pre-assigned response key;

sending the alert from the application server to a mobile access gateway for transforming the alert into a format capable of being pushed to at least one wireless device;

receiving the alert and emitting a special ring tone on at least one recipient'"'"'s wireless device to notify that at least one recipient to take a particular action;

displaying a message on the at least one recipient'"'"'s wireless device for the at least one recipient to respond to;

responding to the message by selecting a pre-assigned message key; and

the application server managing an interactive workflow and collaboration between the at least one recipient and the sender of the interactive message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the message asks the at least one recipient if the at least one recipient took medication that is part of a clinical trial.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of pushing a second message to the at least one recipient requesting the at least one recipient identify the mount of relief provided by the medication by selecting a second pre-assigned message key.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of

transmitting the at least one recipient'"'"'s response to an application server which sends the response to an authentication server which assigns a date and time stamp to the response.

6. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of rewarding the at least one recipient for responding to messages in the clinical trial by giving the at least one recipient minutes to be utilized on the at least one recipient'"'"'s wireless device.

8. A method of interactive learning using wireless devices, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a curriculum to study;

pushing a series of questions via a web application server to a wireless device of a user;

receiving the series of questions one at a time on the user'"'"'s wireless device;

starting a browser session by a session initiation application;

answering each question in a series of questions by selecting at least one pre-assigned response key;

providing feedback to the user showing whether the response selected was correct; and

downloading another series of questions to the wireless device comprising the steps of;

selecting an update key from a menu on the user'"'"'s wireless device;

displaying a list of additional series of questions that can be downloaded to the user'"'"'s wireless device;

selecting the additional series of questions to download;

retrieving the additional series of questions from a server; and

installing the additional series of questions to the user'"'"'s wireless device.

9. A method of creating a fan club by exchanging interactive messages with wireless devices, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting an artist fan club menu from a wireless device of a user;

pushing a group of artists to the user'"'"'s wireless device;

selecting an artist from the fan club menu by selecting a pre-assigned response key assigned to that artist, causing a menu to be pushed to the user'"'"'s wireless with a list of options the user can select from;

selecting an option from the list of options by selecting a second pre-assigned response key assigned to the option; and

pushing the options selected by pressing the second pre-assigned response key to the user'"'"'s wireless device.

10. The method of claim 9, where the list of options includes items for the user to purchase.

11. The method of claim 9, where the list of options includes information about the artist the can be downloaded to user'"'"'s wireless device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the list of options is selected from the group consisting of songs, photos, ringtones and wall paper.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the list of options is selected from the group consisting of news, biography and discography.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the user can interact live with the artist during a live event by selecting the appropriate pre-assigned response key.