Match maker service

• US 20100048228A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Varma, Manish, Vesterunen, Matti I., Alakoski, Timo, Harju, Teemu, Schwarz, Uwe
• Granted Patent: US 8,934,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, apparatuses and systems for providing a service, utilizing Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), to a user in a communications network. According to one example of the invention, a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message is received from an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) server or gateway. Relevant content is then retrieved from a database upon receiving the HTTP message. A USSD message content is created based on a set of parameters, the USSD message content is sent to the USSD server, and the relevant content may then be provided to a user terminal in a text message.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message from an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) server;

retrieving content from a database upon receiving the HTTP message;

creating a USSD message content based on a set of parameters and the retrieved content; and

sending the USSD message content to the USSD server.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of parameters are received in the HTTP message from the USSD server.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of parameters comprises at least one of Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN), type of USSD request, end user answer, USSD session ID, user language, and location.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sending of the message content comprises sending the message content in an HTTP response body.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing user information in the database.

6. The method according to 1, wherein the database is configured to store information in a logical tree structure.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the content to a user terminal in a text message.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the text message comprises a short message service (SMS) message.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the providing comprises providing the content to a user terminal in a text message via an SMS gateway.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises contact information of a supplier.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message from an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) server;

a processor configured to retrieve content from a database upon receiving the HTTP message, and to create an USSD message content based on a set of parameters and the retrieved content;

a transmitter configured to send the USSD message content to the USSD server.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the set of parameters are received in the HTTP message from the USSD server.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the set of parameters comprises at least one of Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN), type of USSD request, end user answer, USSD session ID, user language, and location.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the USSD message content is sent in an HTTP response body.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to store user information in the database.

16. The apparatus according to 11, wherein the database is configured to store information in a logical tree structure.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter is further configured to provide the content to a user terminal in a text message.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the text message comprises a short message service (SMS) message.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the content is provided to a user terminal in a text message via an SMS gateway.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the content comprises contact information of a supplier.

21. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a web server.

22. A method comprising:

receiving an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) request for content from a user of a USSD server;

transforming the USSD request to a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request; and

indicating the service menu path the user has taken in a uniform resource identifier (URI) of the HTTP request.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) request for content from a user of a USSD server;

a processor configured to transform the USSD request to a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request; and

an indicating unit configured to indicate a service menu path the user has taken in a uniform resource identifier (URI) of the HTTP request.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the apparatus comprises a USSD-to-HTTP gateway.

25. A computer program, embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message from an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) server;

retrieving content from a database upon receiving the HTTP message;

creating a USSD message content based on a set of parameters and the retrieved content;

sending the USSD message content to the USSD server.

26. The computer program according to claim 25, wherein the method further comprises:

providing the content to a user terminal in a text message.

27. A computer program, embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) request for content from a user of a USSD server;

transforming the USSD request to a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request; and

indicating a service menu path the user has taken in a uniform resource identifier (URI) of the HTTP request.

28. An apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message from an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) server;

retrieving means for retrieving content from a database upon receiving the HTTP message;

creating means for creating a USSD message content based on a set of parameters and the retrieved content;

sending means for sending the USSD message content to the USSD server.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising providing means for providing the content to a user terminal in a text message

30. An apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) request for content from a user of a USSD server;

transforming means for transforming the USSD request to a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request; and

indicating means for indicating the service menu path the user has taken in a uniform resource identifier (URI) of the HTTP request.