Telecommunications initiated data fulfillment system

• US 20060106679A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barry Brager, Matthew Rosenhaft
• Original Assignee: Barry Brager, Matthew Rosenhaft
• Inventors: Brager, Barry, Rosenhaft, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/62 based on trigger specification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking

Abstract

A system for providing a wide range of telecommunications initiated data fulfillment services in which a multi-function code, such as “*#” (star, pound), input into an originating telecommunications device, such as a conventional land-line or wireless telephone, triggers the treatment of the input sequence as a multi-function code service request rather than a dialed directory number. The multi-function code is followed by an input data string to complete the multi-function code service request, which the user typically enters into the telecommunications device just like a conventional telephone call, except that the input string begins with the multi-function code. The telecommunications system recognizes the multi-function code as a trigger, and in response takes one or more actions, such as automatically terminating the call to an announcement and routing a data message to a data fulfillment center, which responds to the message by implementing a response action indicated by the multi-function code service request. For example, the data fulfillment center may respond by transmitting a message over a wireless data network or the Internet to implement a service, such as activation of a vending machine, remote control of device, delivery of a message over the Internet or wireless data network, initiation of an interactive Internet session with the originating device, or a wide range of other services. In addition, a charge for this service may be automatically charged to an account associated with the originating telecommunications device, which may be billed separately or incorporated on the user'"'"'s conventional monthly telecommunications invoice.

Claims

1-51. -51. (canceled)

52. A method for implementing a telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service comprising the steps of:

providing an item code for inclusion in an advertisement for a product or service offered for sale;

receiving a communication on a first communication channel from a telecommunications device comprising a multi-function trigger and the item code;

at a telecommunications switch, receiving the communication, looking up a data address associated with a data fulfillment platform, assembling a data message comprising the item code and identification information associated with the telecommunications device, transmitting the data message to the data address, and discontinuing the communication with the telecommunications device to free the first communication channel; and

at the data fulfillment platform, receiving the data message, looking up a promotional response message associated with the item code, and delivering the promotional response message to the telecommunications device on a second communication channel without occupying the first communication channel.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the step of transmitting the promotional response message to the telecommunications device comprises the step of transmitting a text message to the telecommunications device over a wireless data network.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the step of transmitting the promotional response message to the telecommunications device comprises the step of transmitting an email message to the telecommunications device.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the step of transmitting the promotional response message to the telecommunications device comprises the step of pushing a browser page to the telecommunications device to initiate an interactive Internet session with telecommunications device.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein the data fulfillment center performs the additional step of validating that a user of the telecommunications device is a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service prior to delivering the promotional response message to the telecommunication device.

58. The method of claim 52, wherein the data fulfillment center performs the additional steps of:

determining that a user of the telecommunications is not a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service; and

registering the user as a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service prior to delivering the promotional response message to the telecommunication device.

59. The method of claims 56, wherein the step of registering the user of the telecommunications device as a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service further comprises the step of conducting an interactive communication session with the telecommunications device without occupying the first communication channel.

60. The method of claim 52, wherein the telecommunications switch delivers an audio or data response to the telecommunications device prior to discontinuing the communication to free the first communication channel.

61. A method for implementing a telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service comprising the steps of:

providing an item code for inclusion in an advertisement for a product or service offered for sale;

receiving a communication on a first communication channel from a telecommunications device comprising a multi-function trigger and the item code;

at a telecommunications switch, receiving the communication, looking up a data address associated with a data fulfillment platform, assembling a data message comprising the item code and identification information associated with the telecommunications device, transmitting the data message to the data address, and discontinuing the communication with the telecommunications device to free the first communication channel; and

at the data fulfillment platform, receiving the data message, looking up a promotional response message associated with the item code, looking up a pre-defined response address associated with the telecommunications device, and delivering the promotional response message to the response address on a second communication channel without occupying the first communication channel.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the step of transmitting the promotional response message to the response address comprises the step of transmitting a text message to the response address over a wireless data network.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the step of transmitting the promotional response message to the response address comprises the step of transmitting an email message to the response address.

64. The method of claim 61, further comprising the step of receiving user input to define the response address within a user-editable customer profile associated with the data fulfillment platform.

65. A method for implementing a telecommunications initiated product vending service comprising the steps of:

providing a product code for use with a vending machine configured to house and dispense products offered for sale, the vending machine further configured to display the item code in association with each product offered for sale;

receiving a communication on a first communication channel from a telecommunications device comprising a multi-function trigger and a selected item code associated with a selected product;

at a telecommunications switch, receiving the communication, looking up a data address associated with a data fulfillment platform, assembling a data message comprising the selected item code and identification information associated with the telecommunications device, transmitting the data message to the data address, and discontinuing the communication with the telecommunications device to free the first communication channel; and

at the data fulfillment platform, receiving the data message, transmitting a vending activation message to remotely activate the vending machine to dispense the selected product selected item without occupying the first communication channel, and charging a cost associated with the selected product to an account associated with the telecommunications device.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the step of transmitting the vending activation message to the vending machine comprises the step of transmitting the vending activation message over a wireless data network.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein the step of transmitting the vending activation message to the vending machine comprises the step of transmitting the vending activation message over the Internet.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein the data fulfillment center performs the additional step of validating that a user of the telecommunications device is a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated product vending service prior to delivering the vending activation message to the vending machine.

69. The method of claims 65, wherein the data fulfillment center performs the additional steps of:

determining that a user of the telecommunications is not a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated product vending service; and

registering the user as a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated product vending service prior to delivering the vending activation message to the vending machine.

70. The method of claims 69, wherein the step of registering the user of the telecommunications device as a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated product vending service further comprises the step of conducting an interactive communication session with the telecommunications device without occupying the first communication channel.

71. The method of claim 65, wherein the telecommunications switch delivers an audio or data response to the telecommunications device prior to discontinuing the communication to free the first communication channel.