Network invitation arrangement and method

• US 20080250482A1
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: CVON
• Inventors: AHTISAARI, Marko
• Granted Patent: US 8,464,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity

Abstract

Method and arrangement for enabling communications between an entity operating a network including a first user, and a second user includes sending a message from the first user to the entity informing the entity of identification information of the second user interested in joining the network, sending from the entity to the first user a key to allow the second user to communicate with the entity, providing a message from the first user directly to the second user containing the key, sending a message from the second user to the entity using the key, determining whether the key sent by the second user corresponds to the key provided by the entity to the first user, and if so enabling communications between the second user and the entity. The ability of the first user to obtain a key to enable the second user to join the network is time-limited.

Claims

1. A method for enabling communications between an entity with which a first user is communicating and a second user, comprising:

sending a message from the first user to the entity informing the entity of identification information of the second user;

sending the first user a key to enable the second user to communicate with the entity;

thereafter

providing the key from the first user directly to the second user;

thereafter

sending a message using the key from the second user to the entity;

thereafter

determining whether the key sent by the second user corresponds to the key provided by the entity to the first user; and

if so

enabling communications between the second user and the entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a provider or operator of mobile telecommunications services, the message from the first user to the second user being an invitation to apply for, join a network using or accept mobile telecommunications services from the provider or operator of the mobile telecommunications services, and the identification information of the second user is a subscriber number, MSISDN, or IMEI code of the second user to a telecommunications network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second users have mobile telecommunications devices and send and receive messages via their mobile telecommunications devices.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mobile telecommunications devices are selected from a group consisting of mobile telephones, multimedia computers, personal data assistants, laptop computers, and desktop computers.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the mobile telecommunications have communication capabilities such as text, messaging, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browsing, World Wide Web (WEB) browsing, voice, audio and video communications.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a provider or operator of an Internet-based service, providing the key from the first user directly to the second user includes sending a message from the first user to the second user which is an invitation to receive the Internet-based service, and the identification information of the second user is an e-mail address.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending from the entity to the first user a key to allow the second user to communicate with the entity comprises sending from the entity to the first user a message including the key and instructions as to how the second user can initiate communications with the entity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the key from the first user directly to the second user comprises at least one of sending a short message service message to the second user containing the key, sending instructions using e-mail including the key, calling the second user and telling the second user the key, sending the key in a letter, or showing the second user the key directly from a device of the first user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the key sent by the second user corresponds to a key provided by the entity comprises comparing the key sent by the second user to a database of keys maintained by the entity.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining the origination of the message containing the key and determining whether the originator of the message corresponds to the second user in order to verify that the second user sent the key and only if so, enabling communications between the second user and the entity.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the first user is able to extend an invitation to the second user prior to sending from the entity to the first user a key to allow the second user to communicate with the entity.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein when the first user is determined to be unable to extend an invitation to the second user, storing the first'"'"'s request to extend an invitation in a database and subsequently notifying the first user when they are able to extend an invitation.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling communications between the second user and the entity comprises sending a message from the entity to the second user indicating that the second user is now authorized to communicate with the entity.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is an operator of a virtual or non-virtual community, and providing the key from the first user to the second user includes an invitation to join the virtual or non-virtual community.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is an organizer of a marketing campaign, and providing the key from the first user to the second user includes a message about a product or service which is a subject of the marketing campaign.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the key is an access code, the message being sent from the second user to the entity including the code.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the key is a number providing access to the entity, the message being sent from the second user to the entity being sent to the number providing access to the entity without any other code.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the first user of a time window in which they can extend an invitation to the second user when sending the first user the key to enable the second user to communicate with the entity.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

storing the first user'"'"'s invitation history; and

determining the time window based on the first user'"'"'s invitation history.

20. An arrangement for enabling communications between an entity with which a first user is communicating and a second user, comprising:

means maintained by the first user for sending a first message to the entity informing the entity of identification information of the second user;

means maintained by the entity for sending to the first user a second message containing a key to allow the second user to communicate with the entity;

said means maintained by the first user being arranged to send a third message directly to the second user containing the key after receiving the second message from said means maintained by the entity; and

means maintained by the second user for sending a fourth message to the entity using the key;

said means maintained by the entity being arranged to determine whether the fourth message is being sent using the same key provided by the entity and if so enabling communications between said means maintained by the second user and said means maintained by the entity.

21. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein the entity is a provider or operator of mobile telecommunications services, the third message is an invitation to accept mobile telecommunications services from the provider or operator of mobile telecommunications services, and the identification information of the second user is a subscriber number of the second user to a telecommunications network.

22. The arrangement of claim 21, wherein said means maintained by the first and second users are mobile telecommunications devices.

23. The arrangement of claim 22, wherein the mobile telecommunications devices are selected from a group consisting of mobile telephones, multimedia computers, personal data assistants, laptop computers, and desktop computers.

24. The arrangement of claim 22, wherein the mobile telecommunications have communication capabilities such as text, messaging, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browsing, World Wide Web (WEB) browsing, voice, audio and video communications.

25. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein the entity is a provider or operator of an Internet-based service, the third message is an invitation to receive the Internet-based service, and the identification information of the second user is an e-mail address.

26. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein said means maintained by the entity are arranged to send from the entity to the first user a message including the key and instructions as to how the second user can initiate communications with the entity.

27. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein said means maintained by the first user are arranged to enable sending a short message service message to the second user containing the key, sending instructions using e-mail including the key, or calling the second user to inform the second user of the key.

28. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein said means maintained by the entity are arranged to compare the key sent by the second user to a database of keys maintained by the entity in order to determine whether the key in the fourth message corresponds to a key provided by the entity.

29. The arrangement of claim 28, wherein said means maintained by the entity are arranged to verify that the second user sent the key by determining the origination of the message containing the key and determining whether the originator of the message corresponds to the second user, and only if so, enable communications between the second user and the entity.

30. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein said means maintained by the entity are arranged to determine whether the first user is able to extend an invitation to the second user prior to sending to the first user a key to allow the second user to communicate with the entity.

31. The arrangement of claim 30, wherein when the first user is determined to be unable to extend an invitation to the second user, said means maintained by the entity being arranged to store the first'"'"'s request to extend an invitation in a database and subsequently notify the first user when they are able to extend an invitation.

32. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein said means maintained by the entity are arranged to send a message to the second user indicating that the second user is now authorized to communicate with the entity.

33. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein the entity is an operator of a virtual or non-virtual community, and the message from the first user to the second user is an invitation to the second user to join the virtual or non-virtual community.

34. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein the entity is an organizer of a marketing campaign, and the message from the first user to the second user is a message about a product or service which is a subject of the marketing campaign.

35. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein the key is an access code, the message being sent from the second user to the entity including the code.

36. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein the key is a number providing access to the entity, the message being sent from the second user to the entity being sent to the number providing access to the entity without any other code.

37. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein said means maintained by the entity are arranged to notify the first user of a time window in which they can extend an invitation to the second user when sending the second message to the first user.

38. The arrangement of claim 37, wherein said means maintained by the entity are arranged to store the first user'"'"'s invitation history and determine the time window based on the first user'"'"'s invitation history.

39. An arrangement for enabling communications on a communications network between an entity with which a first user is communicating and a second user, comprising:

a first telecommunications device maintained by the first user;

a second telecommunications device maintained by the second user; and

an invitation server for communicating with said first and second telecommunications devices and controlling access to the entity,

said first telecommunications device being arranged to send a first message to said invitation server providing information about said second telecommunications device,

said invitation server being arranged to send a second message to said first telecommunications device when the first user is able to extend an invitation to the second user, the second message containing a key to allow the second user to communicate with the entity,

said first telecommunications device being arranged to send a third message to said second telecommunications device after receipt of the second message, the third message containing the key,

said second telecommunications device being arranged to receive the third message from said first telecommunications device and enable communications with said invitation server using the key contained in the third message.

40. The arrangement of claim 39, wherein said invitation server includes a central processing unit and memory associated therewith having a computer program, at least one database for storing information about the first and second users and at least one input/output device for communicating with the communications network.

41. The arrangement of claim 39, wherein the information about said second telecommunications devices is its subscriber number to the communications network.

42. The arrangement of claim 39, wherein said invitation server determines a permitted time window for the first user to extend invitations to others and upon receipt of the first message from said first telecommunications devices determines whether the first message is received within the permitted time window.

43. The arrangement of claim 39, wherein said invitation server is arranged to include in the second message instructions to enable the second user to initiate communications with said invitation server.

44. The arrangement of claim 39, wherein said invitation server is arranged to determine whether the key being used to send the fourth message to said invitation server corresponds to a key in a database associated with said invitation server and only if so, enabling communications between said second telecommunications device and said invitation server.

45. A computer readable media capable of coordinating communications between multiple users of a communication network and a server and which is capable of:

receiving a message from a first user belonging to a network coordinated by the computer readable media, the message providing identification information of a second user;

sending to the first user a key to allow the second user to communicate with the server;

receiving a message from the second user using the key provided to the second user directly from the first user;

determining whether the key sent by the second user corresponds to the key provided by the server; and

if so

enabling communications between the second user and the server.

46. The computer readable media of claim 45, which is further capable of sending to the first user a message including the key and instructions as to how the second user can initiate communications with the server.

47. The computer readable media of claim 45, which is further capable of determining the origination of the message containing the key and determining whether the originator of the message corresponds to the second user in order to verify that the second user sent the key and only if so, enabling communications between the second user and the server.

48. The computer readable media of claim 45, which is further capable of determining whether the first user is able to extend an invitation to the second user prior to sending to the first user a key to allow the second user to communicate with the server.