Mobile device notification with options

• US 20050266825A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clayton, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Notifying users of mobile communication devices, which may include providing options for response to notifications. A component of a communication service provider system receives an indication of a notification for a user of a mobile communication device. The notification may be received from a source internal or external to the communication service provider system. A component of the mobile communication service provider formats the notification so that it is compatible with the mobile communication device of the user and sends the notification to the mobile communication device of the user. The notification may include one or more options to respond to the notification using the mobile communication device. The notification may, for example, pertain to minutes-of-use in a mobile communication service plan, or to other information, including notifications from outside service providers such as airlines, banks, restaurants, hotels, libraries, credit card companies, etc.

Claims

1. A system for providing a user of a mobile phone with notifications regarding use of the mobile phone, wherein the user subscribes to a first communication service plan having a first arrangement of minutes of usage, the system comprising:

an event manager component configured to determine whether the user has exceeded a predetermined threshold for usage of minutes from the first communication service plan;

a message service component coupled to the event manager component, wherein the message service component is configured to generate a notification message for transmission to the mobile phone, wherein the notification message includes an indication that usage of minutes has exceeded the predetermined threshold, and wherein the notification message further includes an offer for a subscription to an alternative communication service plan having a second arrangement of minutes of usage; and

wherein the message service component is further configured to receive response messages from the mobile device, wherein the response messages include a response to the offer for a subscription to an alternative service plan.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an event database including information about the predetermined threshold.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a billing database including information about the first communication service plan and the alternative communication service plan.

4. In a wireless communication system, a method for use with a mobile phone, wherein a user of the mobile phone subscribes to a first communication service plan having a first arrangement of minutes of usage, the method comprising:

determining that the user has exceeded a predetermined threshold for usage of minutes from the first communication service plan;

sending a notification message to the mobile phone, wherein the notification message includes an indication that usage of minutes has exceeded the predetermined threshold, and wherein the notification message further includes an offer for a subscription to an alternative service plan having a second arrangement of minutes of usage; and

receiving a response to the offer for a subscription to an alternative service plan, wherein the response is generated at the mobile phone in response to a selection by the user.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the predetermined threshold is specific to the first arrangement of minutes of usage.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the predetermined threshold is determined by the user.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the offer for subscription includes the option of allowing the user to automatically subscribe to the alternative service plan using the mobile phone.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured for receiving an indication that usage of a communication service corresponding to a first service plan has exceeded a threshold for units used;

wherein the first service plan has a first arrangement of usage of units;

a user output device configured for providing a notification to the user, wherein the notification includes information associated with the received indication and an offer for a second service plan having a second arrangement of units of use;

a user input device configured for receiving input from the user, wherein the input is in response to the provided notification; and

a processor, coupled to the transceiver, user output device, and user input device, wherein the processor is configured for generating a response for the received notification based on input from the user, wherein the response relates to the offer for the second service plan.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the notification is provided in audio form.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the notification is provided in text form.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the notification is provided in graphical form.

12. In a wireless communication system, a method of notifying a user of usage of units of a communication service plan having a predetermined number of allocated units, the method comprising:

receiving a request to place a call on associated with the user;

based on the received request, determining whether a predetermined threshold has been exceeded as a result of a previous call made by the user; and

upon determining that the user has exceeded the next predetermined threshold, sending a notification indicating that the threshold has been exceeded.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the notification includes an option to respond to the notification using the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the notification includes options to respond to the notification using the mobile device, and wherein one of the included options allows the user to automatically subscribe to a new communication service plan having an increased number of allocated units.

15. In a wireless communication system, a method of notifying a user of usage of units of a service plan having a predetermined number of allocated units, the method comprising:

receiving an indication that a user has completed a communication on a device of the user;

based on receiving the indication that the user has completed the communication on the device, determining whether a next predetermined threshold has been exceeded as a result of the completed communication, wherein the next predetermined threshold is based, at least in part, on the predetermined number of allocated units; and

upon determining that the user has exceeded the next predetermined threshold, sending a notification indicating that the threshold has been exceeded.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the notification includes an option to respond to the notification using the device.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the communication is a telephone call.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the communication is a text message.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the communication is initiated by the user.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the communication is initiated by someone other than the user.

21. A method for providing a user of a mobile device with notifications, the method comprising:

at a mobile communication service provider system, receiving a communication having contents associated with a notification for the user, wherein the subject of the notification is not associated with services provided by the mobile communications service provider;

formatting at least a portion of the contents of the received communication into a form compatible with the mobile device of the user; and

sending the formatted contents to the mobile device of the user, wherein the formatted contents include multiple options for the user to respond to the notification using the mobile device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the formatting is based, at least in part, on preferences of the user.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the communication is received from a source that is external to a system of the mobile communication service provider.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the communication is received from a source that is internal to a system of the mobile communication service provider.

25. A system for providing users of a mobile communication devices with notifications, the system comprising:

means for receiving communications, wherein each of the received communications has contents associated with a notification for a user, wherein the subject of the notification is not associated with services provided by the mobile communications service provider;

means for formatting the contents of each of the received communications into a form compatible with the mobile communication device of a user to which the notification is directed; and

means for sending the formatted contents to the mobile communication device of the user to which the notification is directed, wherein the formatted contents include multiple options for the user to respond to the notification using the mobile device.

26. A computer-readable medium containing contents that allows users of mobile communication devices to be notified of events, wherein the notification is provided by a method comprising:

at a mobile communication service provider system, receiving a communication having contents associated with a notification for the user;

formatting at least a portion of the contents of the received communication into a form compatible with the mobile communication device of the user; and

sending the formatted contents to the mobile communication device of the user, wherein the formatted contents include multiple options for the user to respond to the notification using the mobile device.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein one of the multiple options for the user to respond includes an option for placing a call to a customer service number for responding to the notification.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein one of the multiple options for the user to respond includes an option for automatically selecting an offer associated with the notification.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein the computer-readable medium is a logical node in a computer network receiving the contents.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein the computer-readable medium is a computer-readable disk.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein the computer-readable medium is a data transmission medium transmitting a generated data signal containing the contents.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein the computer-readable medium is a memory of a computer system.