Device based telecommunications initiated data fulfillment system

• US 20090149159A1
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VHT Starstar LLC
• Original Assignee: Zoove Corporation (Medallia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Han, Wen Khang
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A system and method for service fulfillment is based on service invocation with a preprogrammed communication device. The communication device recognizes special multi-function code digit sequences to cause service invocation. The preprogrammed communication device, upon recognition of a multi-function code, selects a communication channel or messaging protocol and forwards information related to the service invocation to a service fulfillment platform. The communication channel or messaging protocol may be selected based on availability, optimization, preprogrammed logic associated with the multi-function code, or other parameters related to the service invocation, such as user, subscription, registration, location or device ID. The preprogrammed communication device permits service invocation without reconfiguration of a communication network to which the communication device is coupled. The communication device can be reconfigured or reprogrammed to recognize and respond to different multi-function codes.

Claims

1. A system operable to permit a user to initiate a service invocation with a communication device coupled to a communication network, comprising:

a service invocation identifier preprogrammed in the communication device for identifying a service invocation;

an interface in the communication device configured to receive input from the user or display information to the user;

a processing engine in the communication device for receiving a multi-function code based on the input to the interface and comparing the multi-function code with the service invocation identifier to determine whether service invocation is requested; and

one or more of a communication channel or a messaging protocol available to the communication device to communicate with the communication network, the processing engine being operable to send information related to the service invocation using the one or more communication channel or messaging protocol when the processing engine determines that the multi-function code matches the service invocation identifier.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the service invocation identifier further comprises a code prefix and a service code.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

one or more of a second communication channel or a second messaging protocol available to the communication device for communication with the communication network, the processing engine being operable to send information related to the service invocation code using the one or more second communication channel or second messaging protocol when the processing engine determines that the multi-function code matches the service invocation identifier; and

the processing engine being further operable to select between the one or more communication channel or messaging protocol and the one or more second communication channel or second messaging protocol based on a preprogrammed selection criteria related to the service invocation identifier.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic input in the interface configured to supply the multi-function code to the processing engine when the input is actuated.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the preprogrammed selection criteria is formulated in accordance with a process logic using parameters related to the communication device.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the parameters comprise one or more of a user, subscription, registration, location or device ID.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein the preprogrammed selection criteria is based on availability of the one or more first or second communication channel or the one or more first or second messaging protocol.

8. The system according to claim 3, wherein the preprogrammed selection criteria is based on an optimal one of the one or more first or second communication channel or the one or more first or second messaging protocol.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a minimal set of operations conducted by the processing engine to attain service invocation based on the multi-function code.

10. The system according to claim 2, wherein the code prefix comprises one or more of “

* ”

, “

#”

, “

**”

, “

##”

, “

*#”

or “

#*”

.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel is a voice channel.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel is a data channel.

13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a service center operable to communication with the communication device to modify the service invocation identifier or add a second service invocation identifier.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information sent by the processing engine using the one or more communication channel or messaging protocol further comprises one or more of the service invocation code, the multi-function code, a mobile directory number (MDN), communication device brand, model type, electronic serial number (ESN), international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), screen size, location, owner or user subscription profile or user subscriptions.

15. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a service fulfillment platform operable to provide service fulfillment upon receiving a notification from the communication device, the service fulfillment being provided through one or more of email, voice, data, postal mail or fax.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the service fulfillment platform further comprises a proxy for private data available in relation to the service invocation from the communication device.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the service fulfillment platform provides predetermined private data to a service provider in accordance with settings provided by the communication device, user or owner.

18. A method for permitting a user to invoke a service with a communication device in a communication network, comprising:

receiving an input from the user into the communication device to identify a service;

determining that the input identifies a service;

selecting one or more of a communication channel or messaging protocol for communicating a service invocation to a preprogrammed recipient in accordance with a preprogrammed selection criteria; and

sending a message associated with the identified service using the selected one or more communication channel or messaging protocol to invoke the service identified by the user input.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein receiving the input further comprises receiving a code prefix and a service code.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising selecting one or more of a second communication channel or a second messaging protocol for communicating the service invocation to the preprogrammed recipient based on the preprogrammed selection criteria.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising providing an automatic input in the interface configured to identify the service when the automatic input is actuated.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising formulating the preprogrammed selection criteria with process logic using parameters related to the communication device.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the parameters include one or more of a user, subscription, registration, location or device ID.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the preprogrammed selection criteria is based on availability of the one or more first or second communication channel or the one or more first or second messaging protocol.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the preprogrammed selection criteria is based on an optimal one of the one or more first or second communication channel or the one or more first or second messaging protocol.

26. The method according to claim 18, further comprising using a minimal set of operations in the communication device to attain service invocation in accordance with the input from the user.

27. The method according to claim 19, wherein the code prefix comprises one or more of “

*”

, “

#”

, “

**”

, “

##”

, “

*#”

or “

#*”

.

28. The method according to claim 18, wherein the communication channel is a voice channel.

29. The method according to claim 18, wherein the communication channel is a data channel.

30. The method according to claim 18, further comprising reprogramming the communication device to modify or add a service identifier, a recipient or a selection criteria.

31. The method according to claim 18, wherein sending the message further comprises sending one or more of the input, a service identifier, a mobile directory number (MDN), communication device brand, model type, electronic serial number (ESN), international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), screen size, location, owner or user subscription profile or user subscriptions.

32. The method according to claim 18, further comprising sending the message to a service fulfillment platform operable to provide service fulfillment through one or more of email, voice, data, postal mail or fax.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the service fulfillment platform further comprises a proxy for private data available in relation to the service invocation from the communication device.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the service fulfillment platform provides preprogrammed private data to a service provider in accordance with settings provided by the communication device, user or owner.

35. A method for operating an end user communication device in a communication network, comprising:

configuring the communication device to recognize a code prefix to permit the communication device to determine when a service code is entered following the code prefix;

sending a new code prefix from a service center through the communication network to the communication device; and

configuring the communication device to recognize the new code prefix to permit the communication device to recognize a service code following the new code prefix.