SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING SYMBOL COMMAND LANGUAGE WITHIN A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK VIA SMS OR INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOLS

• US 20110093949A1
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Message4U Pty. Ltd. (Sinch AB)
• Original Assignee: Bulletin.Net Inc
• Inventors: MACRAE, David N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A system and method for generating actions utilizing predefined commands within a communications network comprises predefined commands called symbol commands. These are character strings entered into a platform during an internet or SMS communications protocol session. The method and system can be used via the internet or a GSM network and is well-suited for mobile use. In addition, utilization of keywords and alpha-numeric or other character symbols to form symbol commands allows for complex command structuring. A search process is used in combination with a symbol command and a symbol command directory to identify specific goods and services, or related symbol commands. In addition, a platform performs specific predetermined actions in response to the symbol command such as making product purchases or providing services such as location-based services, coupon delivery or travel ticketing. The symbol command structure and platform will also utilize identification information associated with an individual user. Furthermore, the platform may implement a response using location information associated with the user from the country code, area code or prefix code of a user'"'"'s telephone number, or use GPS location information associated with the user'"'"'s internet device. The symbol command system and method provide an improved form of access to products and services via the internet or SMS.

Claims

1. A symbol command message processing platform connected to a communications network for distributing goods or services, said platform comprising:

a) a computing device and a computer operations program, module or programming code for processing a symbol command message;

b) a symbol command directory comprising a database of symbol commands;

c) a comparison program, module or programming code for comparing the symbol command message with the database of symbol commands in the symbol command directory; and

d) a distribution program, module or programming code for implementing the distribution of a good or service associated with a symbol command in the symbol command directory.

2. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the symbol command directory includes one or more smart symbol commands and a comparison program, module or code for comparing a smart symbol command in the symbol command message with one or more smart symbol commands listed in the database of the symbol command directory.

3. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the symbol command directory includes one or more keyword commands and a comparison program, module or code for comparing a keyword command in the symbol command message with one or more keyword commands listed in the database of the symbol command directory.

4. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the symbol command directory includes one or more function commands and a comparison program, module or code for comparing a function command in the symbol command message with one or more function commands listed in the database of the symbol command directory.

5. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the computer operations program, module or code is associated with a database for maintaining a profile associated with a user, said database including at least one user identification data field for holding user identity data.

6. The platform according to claim 5, wherein the user identity data is associated with a phone number, a fixed IP address, an identifier defined by the user, or another identifier associated with the user.

7. The platform according to claim 5, wherein the user identity data is associated with a MSISDN number, a part of a MSISDN number, a fixed IP address, or an ID defined by or associated with the user.

8. The platform according to claim 5, wherein the computer operations program, module or code includes coding for a process for verifying a user'"'"'s identity a) prior to granting a user access to the platform and/or b) a) after granting a user access to the platform.

9. The platform according to claim 5, wherein the computer operations program, module or code includes coding for a process for accepting manual input of data associated with a user'"'"'s identity.

10. The platform according to claim 5, wherein the computer operations program, module or code includes coding for a process for accepting automated input of data associated with a user'"'"'s identity.

11. The platform according to claim 10, wherein the automated input of data is loadable from a user'"'"'s internet device.

12. The platform according to claim 10, wherein the automated input of data is loadable from a location associated with a communications network connectable with the platform or a user'"'"'s internet device.

13. The platform according to claim 12, wherein the communications network connectable with the platform or the user'"'"'s internet device is a) the internet or b) a GSM, TDMA, CDMA or satellite communications network.

14. The platform according to claim 5, wherein a platform database includes at least one data field for user billing information data.

15. The platform according to claim 5, wherein a platform database includes at least one data field for user authentication data for authenticating the identity of a user when a) providing a user access to the platform or b) processing a purchase or distribution of goods or services distributed through the platform.

16. The platform according to claim 15, wherein the user authentication data corresponds with a PIN associated with the user.

17. The platform according to claim 5, wherein a platform database includes at least one data field for holding location information for locating or delivering goods or services distributed using the platform.

18. The platform according to claim 17, wherein the data field for location information is configured to hold data associated with a telelocation.

19. The platform according to claim 17, wherein the data field for location information is configured to hold data associated with a global positioning system location.

20. The platform according to claim 17, wherein the data field for location information is configured to hold data associated with an E911 location.

21. The platform according to claim 17, wherein the data field for location information is configured to hold data associated with a HLR or VLR registry in a GSM network.

22. The platform according to claim 17, wherein the data field for location information is configured to hold data associated with a geographic variable location.

23. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the computer operations program, module or code includes coding for sending a response to a user after a symbol command is processed at the platform.

24. The platform according to claim 23, wherein the coding for a response specifies sending the response to the interface.

25. The platform according to claim 23, wherein the coding for a response specifies sending the response by IM, SMS, MMS or email message.