Messaging system

• US 20080082617A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: CVON
• Inventors: Ahopelto, Timo, Friman, Kai, Peppers, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

A method of selecting a recipient of a message on the basis of data identifying access to previously transmitted messages, wherein each said message includes content data for display within a display area of a receiving terminal and control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area. The method includes receiving content data having one of a plurality of different types for use in creating said message, accessing tracking data corresponding to a previously transmitted message containing content data of a given type, the tracking data being indicative of selection of said user selectable portion upon display thereof at said receiving terminal, and selecting a recipient of the message on the basis of the received content data and the tracking data.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a recipient of a message on the basis of data identifying access to previously transmitted messages, each said message comprising content data for display within a display area of a receiving terminal and control data comprising data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area, the method comprising:

receiving content data having one of a plurality of different types for use in creating said message;

accessing tracking data corresponding to a previously transmitted message containing content data of a given type, the tracking data being indicative of selection of said user selectable portion upon display thereof at said receiving terminal; and

selecting a recipient of the message on the basis of the received content data and the tracking data.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising creating a message on the basis of the received content data and the selected recipient.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising characterising content data by attributes thereof so as to assign content data to one of said plurality of different types.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising accessing tracking data corresponding to a previously transmitted message containing content data of a type other than said given type, wherein the other type of content data is related to the given type of content data according to a specified relationship.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the received content data is of a first type and the previously transmitted message contains content data of said first type.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control data comprise a set of processable instructions for use in controlling operation of a receiving terminal in dependence on selection of the user selectable portion.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving terminal operates in one of a plurality of modes in dependence on selection of the user selectable portion.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a first mode comprises the receiving terminal sending a response message identifying the receiving terminal to a network location corresponding to a device arranged to perform at least part of said method, and the access status of the message is updated at the network location.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein a first mode comprises the receiving terminal transmitting a response message identifying the receiving terminal to a network location other than the network location, and the access status of the message is updated at the other network location.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the control data further comprise data identifying the other network location, for use in formulating the response message.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the response message has emanated.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

14. A message recipient selection system for selecting a recipient of a message on the basis of data identifying access to previously transmitted messages, each said message comprising content data for display within a display area of a receiving terminal and control data comprising data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area, the system comprising an interface for receiving content data having one of a plurality of different content types for use in creating said message,

wherein the system is arranged:

to access tracking data corresponding to a previously transmitted message containing content data of a given type, the tracking data being indicative of selection of a said user selectable portion upon display thereof at a said receiving terminal; and

to select a recipient of the message on the basis of the received content data and the tracking data.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the system is responsive to receipt of said content data so as to identify one or more attributes thereof so as to assign content data to one of said plurality of different types.

16. The system according to claim 14, further comprising means for creating a message on the basis of the received content data and the selected recipient.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the selected content data is of a first type and the previously transmitted message contains content data of a second type, the system being arranged to select content data for the message on the basis of a predetermined relationship between said first and second content types.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the first type is different as compared to said second type.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein the control data comprise processable instructions for use in controlling operation of a receiving terminal in dependence on selection of the user selectable portion.

20. The system according to claim 19, further comprising a device arranged to receive a response message, said response message being created by the receiving terminal in relation to the previously transmitted message and in accordance with at least one of said set of processable instructions therein, wherein the response message identifies the receiving terminal and upon receipt thereof the device is arranged to update the access status of the previously transmitted message, whereby to update the tracking data.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the device is operatively coupled to the system.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein the device has a network address and the control data associated with the previously transmitted message comprises data identifying a network address associated with the device, for use in formulating the response message.

23. The system according to claim 14, wherein the system is arranged to update the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the response message has emanated.

24. The system according to claim 14, wherein the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

25. The system according to claim 14, wherein the content data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

26. A method of tracking access status of store-and-forward messages transmitted in a communications network, the method comprising:

selecting content for insertion within a store-and-forward message, the content including display data for display within a display of a receiving terminal and control data comprising data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display, said display data including data for display in the user selectable portion;

creating a store-and-forward message comprising the selected content for transmission to a receiving terminal;

responsive to receipt of data indicative of selection of the user selectable portion of the created store-and-forward message within the display of the receiving terminal, modifying the access status of the transmitted store-and-forward message,

wherein the display data and the control data originate from a network location other than a terminal adapted to send messages in the communications network.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the control data comprise a set of processable instructions for use in controlling operation of a receiving terminal in dependence on selection of the user selectable portion.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein the receiving terminal operates in one of a plurality of modes in dependence on selection of the user selectable portion.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein a first mode comprises the receiving terminal sending a response message identifying the receiving terminal to the network location, and the access status of the message is updated at the network location.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein a first mode comprises the receiving terminal transmitting a response message identifying the receiving terminal to a network location other than the network location, and the access status of the message is updated at the other network location.

31. The method according to claim 26, wherein the control data further comprise data identifying the other network location, for use in formulating the response message.

32. The method according to claim 26, further comprising updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

33. The method according to claim 26, wherein the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

34. The method according to claim 26, wherein the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

35. The method according to claim 26, further comprising transmitting the store-and-forward message to the receiving terminal.

36. A tracking system for tracking access status of store-and-forward messages transmitted in a communications network, said store-and forward message comprising content including data for display within a display of a receiving terminal and control data comprising data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display, said display data including data for display in the user selectable portion, wherein the display data and the control data originate from a network location other than a terminal adapted to send messages in the communications network, the tracking system comprising:

an interface for receiving data indicative of selection of a said user selectable portion of said store-and-forward message delivered to a terminal,

wherein the tracking system is arranged to modify the access status of the delivered store-and-forward message in response thereto.

37. The tracking system according to claim 36, wherein the control data comprise a set of processable instructions for use in controlling operation of a receiving terminal in dependence on selection of the user selectable portion.

38. The tracking system according to claim 36, wherein the receiving terminal operates in one of a plurality of modes in dependence on selection of the user selectable portion.

39. The tracking system according to claim 38, wherein a first mode comprises the receiving terminal sending a response message identifying the receiving terminal to the network location, and the access status of the message is updated at the network location.

40. The tracking system according to claim 38, wherein a first mode comprises the receiving terminal transmitting a response message identifying the receiving terminal to a network location other than the network location, and the access status of the message is updated at the other network location.

41. The tracking system according to claim 36, wherein the control data further comprise data identifying the other network location, for use in formulating the response message.

42. The tracking system according to claim 36, further comprising updating the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

43. The tracking system according to claim 36, wherein the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

44. The tracking system according to claim 36, wherein the display data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.

45. The tracking system according to claim 36, further comprising a transmitting device which transmits the store-and-forward message to the receiving terminal.

46. A computer program resident on computer readable media and arranged to select a recipient of a message on the basis of data identifying access to previously transmitted messages, each said message comprising content data for display within a display area of a receiving terminal and control data comprising data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area, the computer program being arranged to:

process content data having one of a plurality of different types for use in creating a said message;

access tracking data corresponding to a previously transmitted message containing content data of a given type, the tracking data being indicative of selection of a said user selectable portion upon display thereof at a said receiving terminal; and

select a recipient of the message on the basis of the received content data and the tracking data.

47. The computer program according to claim 46, wherein the computer program is further arranged to create a message on the basis of the received content data and the selected recipient.

48. The computer program according to claim 46, wherein the computer program is further arranged to characterize content data by attributes thereof so as to assign content data to one of said plurality of different types.

49. The computer program according to claim 46, wherein the computer program is further arranged to include accessing tracking data corresponding to a previously transmitted message containing content data of a type other than said given type, wherein the other type of content is related to the given type of content according to a specified relationship.

50. The computer program according to claim 46, wherein the computer program is further arranged to update the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the response message has emanated

51. A computer program resident on computer readable media and arranged to track access status of store-and-forward messages transmitted in a communications network, the computer program being arranged to:

select content for insertion within a store-and-forward message, the content including display data for display within a display of a receiving terminal and control data comprising data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display, said display data including data for display in the user selectable portion;

create a store-and-forward message comprising the selected content for transmission to a receiving terminal; and

responsive to receipt of data indicative of selection of the user selectable portion of the created store-and-forward message within the display of the receiving terminal, modify the access status of the transmitted store-and-forward message,

wherein the display data and the control data originate from a network location other than a terminal adapted to send messages in the communications network.

52. The computer program according to claim 51, wherein the computer program is further arranged to update the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the selection data has emanated.

53. The computer program according to claim 51, wherein the computer program is further arranged to transmit the store-and-forward message to the receiving terminal.

54. A message recipient selection system for selecting a recipient of a message on the basis of data identifying access to previously transmitted messages, each said message comprising content data for display within a display area of a receiving terminal and control data comprising data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area, the system comprising:

an interface for receiving content data having one of a plurality of different content types for use in creating a said message;

a message tracking system arranged to access tracking data corresponding to a previously transmitted message containing content data of a given type, the tracking data being indicative of selection of a said user selectable portion upon display thereof at a said receiving terminal; and

a message generating system arranged to select a recipient of the message on the basis of the received content data and the tracking data.

55. The system according to claim 54, wherein the interface is responsive to receipt of said content data so as to identify one or more attributes thereof so as to assign content data to one of said plurality of different types.

56. The system according to claim 54, wherein the message generating system is arranged to create a message on the basis of the received content data and the selected recipient.

57. The system according to claim 56, wherein the selected content data is of a first type and the previously transmitted message contains content data of a second type, the message generating system being arranged to select content data for the message on the basis of a predetermined relationship between said first and second content types.

58. The system according to claim 57, wherein the first type is different to said second type.

59. The system according to claim 54, wherein the control data comprise a set of processable instructions for use in controlling operation of a receiving terminal in dependence on selection of the user selectable portion.

60. The system according to claim 59, further comprising a device arranged to receive a response message, said response message being created by the receiving terminal in relation to the previously transmitted message and in accordance with at least one of said set of processable instructions therein, wherein the response message identifies the receiving terminal and upon receipt thereof the device is arranged to update the access status of the previously transmitted message, whereby to update the tracking data.

61. The system according to claim 60, wherein the device is operatively coupled to the system.

62. The system according to claim 60, wherein the device has a network address and the control data associated with the previously transmitted message comprises data identifying a network address associated with the device, for use in formulating the response message.

63. The system according to claim 54, wherein the message tracking system is arranged to update the access status so as to identify the receiving terminal from which the response message has emanated.

64. The system according to claim 54, wherein the user selectable portion comprises a link, and the message is created in accordance with the Wireless Application Part Hypertext Protocol.

65. The system according to claim 54, wherein the content data comprise image data and the user selectable portion is an integral part of the image data.