METHOD OF COMMUNICATING BUSINESS CONTACT INFORMATION TO A WIRELESS USER

• US 20100159894A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Rysenga, Jeffrey P., Schwinke, Steven P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,660,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A method for providing business services to a customer via a wireless device used by the customer. The method includes asking a customer for a wireless telephone number associated with a wireless device used by the customer, receiving the wireless telephone number, storing the wireless telephone number, and sending the customer a short message service (SMS) message to the wireless telephone number, wherein the SMS message contains a phone number or universal resource locator (URL) that allows the customer to use the wireless device to interact with the business.

Claims

1. A method of providing business services to a customer via a wireless device used by the customer, comprising the steps of:

(a) asking a customer for a wireless telephone number associated with a wireless device used by the customer;

(b) receiving the wireless telephone number;

(c) storing the wireless telephone number; and

(d) sending the customer a short message service (SMS) message to the wireless telephone number, wherein the SMS message contains business contact information that allows the customer to use the wireless device to interact with the business.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling a function relating to the operation of the vehicle in response to customer input via the business contact information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the function relating to the operation of a vehicle comprises:

locking the doors of the vehicle, unlocking the doors of the vehicle, flashing the lights of the vehicle, honking the horn of the vehicle, controlling a vehicle navigation system, or requesting a vehicle diagnostic upload.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises:

sending the customer an email that includes a URL; and

offering access to a web portal of the business using the URL.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of asking the customer to choose a wireless service provider that will provide data service for the SMS message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises receiving the wireless telephone number at a web portal associated with the business.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises receiving the wireless telephone number at a vehicle call center.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the business contact information comprises a phone number or universal resource locator (URL) through which the user can access the business via the wireless device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling a function relating to the operation of a vehicle in response to customer input via the phone number or URL.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the function relating to the operation of a vehicle includes:

locking the doors of the vehicle, unlocking the doors of the vehicle, flashing the lights of the vehicle, honking the horn of a vehicle, controlling a vehicle navigation system, or requesting a vehicle diagnostic upload.

9. A method of providing business services to a customer via a wireless device used by the customer, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a wireless telephone number associated with a wireless device used by the customer;

(b) automatically sending a short message service (SMS) message to the wireless device associated with the wireless telephone number, wherein the SMS message includes a phone number or a universal resource locator (URL) capable of allowing the wireless device to contact a business;

(c) receiving the message at the wireless device;

(d) extracting the phone number or URL from the message at the wireless device;

(e) saving the phone number or URL used for interacting the business at the wireless device; and

(f) interacting with the business using the phone number or URL.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein step (a) further comprises providing the wireless telephone number to a vehicle call center.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

using the phone number to contact a vehicle call center; and

requesting the vehicle call center control a function relating to the operation of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein step (a) further comprises providing the wireless telephone number to a business at a web portal.

15. A method of providing business services to a customer via a wireless device used by the customer, comprising the steps of:

(a) sending an email to a customer, wherein the email contains a universal resource locator (URL) linking the customer to a web portal of a business;

(b) receiving a wireless telephone number at the web portal;

(c) sending a short message service (SMS) message including the URL to a wireless device associated with the wireless telephone number;

(d) receiving the SMS message at the wireless device;

(e) accessing the web portal using the wireless device and the URL included with the SMS message; and

(f) controlling a function related to the operation of a vehicle using customer input received via the wireless device at the web portal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the function related to the operation of the vehicle comprises:

locking the doors of the vehicle, unlocking the doors of the vehicle, flashing the lights of the vehicle, honking the horn of the vehicle, controlling a vehicle navigation system, or requesting a vehicle diagnostic upload.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein step (g) further comprises controlling the function from a vehicle call center.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of forwarding the wireless telephone number from the web portal to a vehicle call center.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of saving a password at the wireless device for controlling the function.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the URL is saved at the wireless device.