Commercial transaction system with third party referral

• US 20070078734A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Waterleaf Limited
• Original Assignee: Waterleaf Limited
• Inventors: Oren, Yosi
• Application Number:
  US11/540,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078734A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A system for conducting commercial transactions comprises an application server in communication with a proxy server. The application server hosts a software application program performing commercial transactions and is accessible by a user from a mobile telephone that hosts a corresponding client software program. The client software program receives a user input code identifying a recipient to whom the software application is to be referred. The proxy server then constructs and transmits a referral message to the recipient, the referral message containing: an input code identifying the recipient, a code identifying the user from whom the referral originated, and an address of a download location from which the recipient of the referral message can download the client software program to a different mobile telephone.

Claims

1. A system for conducting commercial transactions, comprising:

an application server operable to host a software application for performing commercial transactions, the application server being accessible by at least one user from a mobile access terminal that hosts a corresponding client software program characterised in that

the client software program is operable to receive an input code from the user identifying a recipient to whom the software application is to be referred; and

the system includes means for constructing and transmitting a referral message to the recipient, the referral message containing at least

a) the input code identifying the recipient;

b) a code identifying the user from whom the referral originated; and

c) an address of a download location from which the recipient of the referral message can download the client software program to a different mobile access terminal.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for constructing the referral message is a proxy server communicable with the application server, the proxy server enabling access to the application server from the at least one user'"'"'s mobile access terminal.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the mobile access terminals of the at least one user and the recipient are mobile telephones having corresponding telephone numbers.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 in which the referral message is an SMS message.

5. A system as claimed in claim 3 in which the input code identifying the recipient of the referral message is the mobile telephone number of the recipient.

6. A system as claimed in claim 3 in which the code identifying the at least one user from whom the referral message originated is the mobile telephone number of the user who made the referral.

7. A system as claimed in claim 3 in which the proxy server transmits the referral message to an SMS gateway server.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the client software program on the at least one user'"'"'s mobile access terminal is operable by the user to request help and assistance relating to the software application.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8 that includes means for constructing and transmitting a request message pursuant to a request by the at least one user for help and assistance.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9 in which the request message contains at least:

d) an address of a call centre providing help and support services to users of the software application;

e) a code identifying the user from whom the request message originated; and

f) a request for assistance.

11. A system as claimed in claim 9 in which the means for constructing and transmitting the request message is the proxy server.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11 in which the proxy server constructs and transmits the request message to the call centre pursuant to receipt of a notification message from the at least one user'"'"'s mobile access terminal.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12 in which the notification message from the at least one user'"'"'s mobile access terminal is submitted to the proxy server by means of the Internet when the mobile access terminal is Internet-enabled and as an SMS message when the mobile access terminal is not Internet-enabled.

14. A system as claimed in claim 10 in which the code identifying the user from whom the request message originated is a mobile telephone number of the at least one user from whom the request originated.

15. A method of operation of a system for conducting commercial transactions, including the steps of:

hosting, on an application server, a software application for performing commercial transactions;

providing access to the application server by at least one user from a mobile access terminal hosting a corresponding client software program

characterised in that

the method includes further steps of

receiving an input code from the user identifying a recipient to whom the software application is to be referred; and

constructing and transmitting a referral message to the recipient, the referral message containing at least

a) the input code identifying the recipient;

b) a code identifying the user from whom the referral originated; and

c) an address of a download location from which the recipient of the referral message can download the client software program to a different mobile access terminal.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 in which the referral message is constructed by means of a proxy server communicable with the application server, the proxy server enabling access to the application server from the at least one user'"'"'s mobile access terminal.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15 in which mobile telephones are used as the mobile access terminals of the at least one user and the recipient, respectively, the mobile telephones having corresponding telephone numbers.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 in which the referral message is constructed as an SMS message.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17 in which the mobile telephone number of the recipient is used as the input code identifying the recipient of the referral message.

20. A method as claimed in claim 17 in which the mobile telephone number of the at least one user who made the referral is used as the code identifying the user from whom the referral message originated.

21. A method as claimed in claim 17 in which the referral message is transmitted from the proxy server to an SMS gateway server.

22. A method as claimed in claim 15 that includes a step of receiving a request from the at least one user'"'"'s mobile access terminal for help and assistance relating to the software application.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 in which a request message is constructed and transmitted pursuant to the request by the at least one user for help and assistance.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23 in which the request message is constructed to contain at least

d) an address of a call centre providing help and support services to users of the software application;

e) a code identifying the user from whom the request message originated; and

f) a request for assistance.

25. A method as claimed in claim 23 in which the request message is constructed and transmitted by means of the proxy server.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25 in which the request message is constructed and transmitted to the call centre pursuant to receipt of a notification message from the at least one user'"'"'s mobile access terminal.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26 in which the notification message from the at least one user'"'"'s mobile access terminal is submitted to the proxy server by means of the Internet when the mobile access terminal is Internet-enabled and as an SMS message when the mobile access terminal is not Internet-enabled.

28. A method as claimed in claim 24 in which the mobile telephone number of the at least one user from whom the request originated is used as the code identifying the user from whom the request message originated.