FLEXIBLE AUTOMATIC REPLY FEATURES FOR TEXT MESSAGING

• US 20110320960A1
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Cai, Yigang, Hua, Suzann
• Application Number:
  US12/825,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20110320960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing automatic reply features that send a personalized reply message to a sender of a text message. In one embodiment, a system includes a network interface that receives information on a text message sent to a recipient that has activated an automatic reply feature. The system further includes a control system that processes the text message information to identify a sender of the text message, selects a reply message predefined by the recipient based on the sender of the text message, and sends the selected reply message to the sender of the text message through the network interface.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a network interface operable to receive information on a text message sent to a recipient that has activated an automatic reply feature; and

a control system operable to process the text message information to identify a sender of the text message, to select a reply message predefined by the recipient based on the sender of the text message, and to send the selected reply message to the sender of the text message through the network interface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the control system is further operable to identify a location of the sender of the text message, and to select the reply message based on the sender of the text message and the location of the sender.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the control system is further operable to identify a location of the recipient, and to select the reply message based on the sender of the text message and the location of the recipient.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the control system is further operable to process the text message information to determine information on a time/day that the text message was sent, and to select the reply message based on the sender of the text message and the time/day information.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the control system is further operable to process the text message information to identify a language of the text message, and to select the reply message based on the sender of the text message and the language of the text message.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the control system is further operable to identify an on/off status of a mobile device of the recipient, and to select the reply message based on the sender of the text message and the on/off status of the mobile device of the recipient.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user interface operable to allow the recipient to enter sender identities and a reply message that is predefined for each of the sender identities; and

a storage system operable to store entries that associate the sender identities with the reply messages;

wherein the control system is further operable to access the entries in the storage system to select the reply message based on the sender of the text message.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the control system is further operable to store an indication that the selected reply message was delivered to the sender of the text message.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the control system is further operable to determine whether a prior reply message was sent to the sender during a time period, and to halt the selected text message from being sent to the sender responsive to a determination that the prior reply message was sent.

10. A method comprising:

receiving information on a text message sent to a recipient that has activated an automatic reply feature;

processing the text message information to identify a sender of the text message;

selecting a reply message predefined by the recipient based on the sender of the text message; and

sending the selected reply message to the sender of the text message.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

identifying a location of the sender of the text message;

wherein selecting the reply message comprises selecting the reply message based on the sender of the text message and the location of the sender.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

identifying a location of the recipient;

wherein selecting the reply message comprises selecting the reply message based on the sender of the text message and the location of the recipient.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

processing the text message information to determine information on a time/day that the text message was sent;

wherein selecting the reply message comprises selecting the reply message based on the sender of the text message and the time/day information.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

processing the text message information to identify a language of the text message;

wherein selecting the reply message comprises selecting the reply message based on the sender of the text message and the language of the text message.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

identifying an on/off status of a mobile device of the recipient;

wherein selecting the reply message comprises selecting the reply message based on the sender of the text message and the on/off status of the mobile device of the recipient.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing a user interface that allows the recipient to enter sender identities and a reply message that is predefined for each of the sender identities;

storing entries that associate the sender identities with the reply messages; and

accessing the entries to select the reply message based on the sender of the text message.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

storing an indication that the selected reply message was delivered to the sender of the text message.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

determining whether a prior reply message was sent to the sender during a time period; and

halting the selected text message from being sent to the sender responsive to a determination that the prior reply message was sent.

19. A mobile network comprising:

a message center operable to receive a text message sent to a recipient that has activated an automatic reply feature; and

an automatic reply system operable to receive information on the text message from the message center, to process the text message information to identify a sender of the text message, to select a reply message predefined by the recipient based on the sender of the text message, and to send the selected reply message to the sender of the text message through the message center.

20. The mobile network of claim 19 wherein:

the automatic reply system is further operable to provide a user interface that allows the recipient to enter sender identities and a reply message that is predefined for each of the sender identities, to store entries that associate the sender identities with the reply messages, and to access the entries to select the reply message based on the sender of the text message.