Interactive messaging system

• US 20050210114A1
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imageware Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vocel, Inc.
• Inventors: Washburn, Carl
• Granted Patent: US 7,340,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• 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 67/55 Push-based network services

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 using interactive messaging to send interactive messages to a user'"'"'s 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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert asks the at least one recipient if the at least one recipient took medication.

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

4. The method of claim 1, wherein if the user cancels the reminder or fails to respond to the reminder a message is sent to a guardian for the guardian can follow up with the user to make sure the user is OK.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the guardian is a child caring for aging parents.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the guardian is a parent.