MESSAGING CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20130217360A1
• Filed: 08/03/2011
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clifton Cowley Ventures Limited
• Original Assignee: Clifton Cowley Ventures Limited
• Inventors: Dakin, Stephen, Day, James
• Application Number:
  US13/814,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20130217360A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A messaging control system is described that is arranged to control the transmission of mobile messages—such as SMS messages—originating from third party content providers to user mobile devices. The messaging control system comprises a database for storing user preference data, a user interface to receive preference data from a user and a rules engine. The rules engine is arranged to receive a transmission request originating from a third party content provider to transmit a mobile message to the mobile device of the user. The rules engine is further arranged to transmit a response to the transmission request based on the outcome of a rules processing step identifying how the mobile message is to be handled.

Claims

1. A messaging control system arranged to control the transmission of mobile messages such as SMS messages originating from third party content providers to user mobile devices, the messaging control system comprising:

a database arranged to store user preference data comprising;

identity data, such as an MSISDN, uniquely identifying a mobile device of the user; and

subscription information defining a user selected preference in relation to subscription by the identified mobile device to at least one of a plurality of subscription categories;

a user interface arranged to receive the preference data from a user; and

a rules engine arranged for;

receiving a transmission request originating from a third party content provider to transmit a mobile message to the mobile device of the user;

categorising the mobile message as belonging to one of the plurality of subscription categories;

processing a set of rules to determine how the mobile message is to be handled based on its assigned subscription category and the user preference data of the user for which the mobile message is intended; and

transmitting a response to the transmission request based on the outcome of the rules processing step identifying how the mobile message is to be handled.

2. A messaging control system as claimed in claim 1, arranged to handle mobile messages having the intended recipient of the message identified by identity data, such as an MSISDN, uniquely identifying a mobile device and hence it'"'"'s associated user.

3. A messaging control system, as claimed in claim 1 arranged to interface with one or more authorised message intermediaries, such as Aggregators and/or Mobile Network Operators, the rules engine being arranged to receive a transmission request originating from a third party via the one or more intermediaries and transmit a response to the respective intermediary identifying how the mobile message is to be handled.

4. A messaging control system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface.

5. A messaging control system according to claim 4, wherein the graphical user interface is presented to a user via a web portal.

6. A messaging control system according to claim 1, arranged to receive user preference data from a user via a mobile message sent from the mobile device of the user.

7. A messaging control system according to claim 1, further comprising a mobile message traffic logger for providing a log in the database containing information about transmission requests received by the rules engine and associated responses to the transmission requests.

8. A messaging control system according to claim 7, wherein the traffic logger logs data including times and dates when the rules engine receives transmission requests and when associated responses to the transmission requests are sent.

9. A messaging control system according to claim 7, wherein the traffic logger logs information identifying parties such as message originators, intermediaries and intended recipients, involved in the transmission of a mobile message.

10. A messaging control system according to claim 7, wherein the traffic logger is arranged to receive queries from authorised users and in response return selected information contained within the log.

11. A messaging control system according to claim 10, wherein the returned selected information is restricted in accordance with an authorisation level of the authorised user.

12. A messaging control system according to claim 1, arranged to generate default user preference data in response to receiving a transmission request to transmit a mobile message to a mobile device with which there is no user preference data already associated.

13. A messaging control system according to claim 1, arranged to send a message containing message control information to a mobile device for which a transmission request has been received and with which there is no user preference data already associated.

14. A messaging control system according to claim 13, wherein the messaging control information comprises a user-interactable link to allow authorised access by a user of the mobile device to the user interface, thereby allowing user control of the user preference data stored in the database.

15. A messaging control system according to claim 1, arranged to transmit a message to an originator of a mobile message, and/or an intermediary, that the mobile message is to be denied onward transmission to a mobile device for which the message is intended as a result of determining that the mobile message is categorised in a subscription category for which the mobile device is registered as having a subscription against.