SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INITIATING A TEXT MESSAGE COMMUNICATION SESSION BETWEEN A MERCHANT AND A CONSUMER

• US 20140046768A1
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Contact At Once
• Original Assignee: Contact At Once
• Inventors: Hayes, Marc F.
• Application Number:
  US13/754,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20140046768A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation

Abstract

A system and method are provided for initiating a text message communication session between a merchant and a consumer. A two-way communication session may be facilitated between the consumer and the merchant, a mobile telephone number disclosed by the consumer during the two-way communication session may be detected, and a text message communication session between the consumer and the merchant may be initiated if a mobile telephone number was detected.

Claims

1. A method for initiating a text message communication session between a merchant and a consumer, comprising:

facilitating a two-way communication session between the consumer and the merchant;

detecting whether the consumer disclosed a mobile telephone number during the two-way communication session; and

if a mobile telephone number is detected, initiating a text message communication session between the consumer and the merchant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the two-way communication session comprises an instant messaging session.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step may be performed using pattern recognition.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile telephone number is identified as a mobile number by transmitting the mobile telephone number to an information services provider, and receiving a response from the information services provider indicating whether the mobile telephone number is associated with a mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an alert window to the merchant with a transcript of the two-way communication session.

6. A system for initiating a text message communication session between a merchant and a consumer, comprising:

a communication device for communicating with the consumer; and

a processor for;

facilitating a two-way communication session between the consumer and the merchant;

detecting whether the consumer disclosed a mobile telephone number during the two-way communication session; and

if a mobile telephone number is detected, initiating a text message communication session between the consumer and the merchant.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the two-way communication session comprises an instant messaging session.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the detecting step may be performed using pattern recognition.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the mobile telephone number is identified as a mobile number by transmitting the mobile telephone number to an information services provider, and receiving a response from the information services provider indicating whether the mobile telephone number is associated with a mobile device.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising the step of providing an alert window to the merchant with a transcript of the two-way communication session.

11. A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for initiating a text message communication session between a merchant and a consumer, wherein execution of the program instructions by one or more processors performs the steps of:

facilitating a two-way communication session between the consumer and the merchant;

detecting whether the consumer disclosed a mobile telephone number during the two-way communication session; and

if a mobile telephone number is detected, initiating a text message communication session between the consumer and the merchant.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the two-way communication session comprises an instant messaging session.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the detecting step may be performed using pattern recognition.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the mobile telephone number is identified as a mobile number by transmitting the mobile telephone number to an information services provider, and receiving a response from the information services provider indicating whether the mobile telephone number is associated with a mobile device.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing an alert window to the merchant with a transcript of the two-way communication session.