Mobile Device Notification With Options

• US 20100093309A1
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clayton, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,396,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Notifying users of mobile communication devices, which may include providing options for response to notifications. A component of a communication service provider system receives an indication of a notification for a user of a mobile communication device. The notification may be received from a source internal or external to the communication service provider system. A component of the mobile communication service provider formats the notification so that it is compatible with the mobile communication device of the user and sends the notification to the mobile communication device of the user. The notification may include one or more options to respond to the notification using the mobile communication device. The notification may, for example, pertain to minutes-of-use in a mobile communication service plan, or to other information, including notifications from outside service providers such as airlines, banks, restaurants, hotels, libraries, credit card companies, etc.

Claims

1. A method of providing a notification of usage of units of a service plan associated with a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving on a network device a request from the mobile device to establish a communication between the mobile device and a remote device;

before establishing the communication between the mobile device and the remote device, determining on the network device that a predetermined threshold of units of use associated with the mobile device has been exceeded, wherein the predetermined threshold is based, at least in part, on a predetermined number of allocated units of use; and

sending a notification to the mobile device, the notification comprising an indication that the predetermined threshold has been exceeded and presenting a first option to respond to the notification using the mobile device, wherein the first option automatically provides a subscription to an alternative communication service plan.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a response message from the mobile device comprising an indication of a selection of the first option.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating the communication between the mobile device and the remote device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative communication plan comprises an increased number of allocated units of use.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is sent based on a preference of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification formatting is based, at least in part, on preferences of the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is sent based on a configuration of someone other than the user.

8. A system for providing a notification of usage of units of a service plan associated with a mobile device, the system comprising:

a network device configured to receive a request from the mobile device to establish a communication between the mobile device and a remote device;

an event manager configured to, before the communication between the mobile device and the remote device is established, determine that a predetermined threshold of units of use associated with the mobile device has been exceeded, wherein the predetermined threshold is based, at least in part, on a predetermined number of allocated units of use; and

a message service component configured to send a notification to the mobile device, the notification comprising an indication that the predetermined threshold has been exceeded and presenting a first option to respond to the notification using the mobile device, wherein the first option automatically provides a subscription to an alternative communication service plan.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the message service component is further configured to receive a response message from the mobile device comprising an indication of a selection of the first option.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the network device is further configured to initiate the communication between the mobile device and the remote device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the alternative communication plan comprises an increased number of allocated units of use.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the notification is sent based on a preference of the user.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the notification formatting is based on preferences of the user.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the notification is sent based on a configuration of someone other than the user.

15. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for providing a notification to a user of usage of units of a service plan associated with a mobile device, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving on a network device a request from the mobile device to establish a communication between the mobile device and a remote device;

before establishing the communication between the mobile device and the remote device, determining on the network device that a predetermined threshold of units of use associated with the mobile device has been exceeded, wherein the predetermined threshold is based, at least in part, on a predetermined number of allocated units of use; and

sending a notification to the mobile device, the notification comprising an indication that the predetermined threshold has been exceeded and presenting a first option to respond to the notification using the mobile device, wherein the first option automatically subscribes the user to an alternative communication service plan.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for receiving a response message from the mobile device comprising an indication of a selection of the first option.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for initiating the communication between the mobile device and the remote device.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the alternative communication plan comprises an increased number of allocated units of use.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the notification is sent based on a preference of the user.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the notification formatting is based on preferences of the user.