Method and apparatus for simultaneous text and audio for sponsored calls

• US 6,470,181 B1
• Filed: 11/20/1998
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Maxwell, Stewart Hodde
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US09/196,727
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/456, 455/466, 455/517, 455/3.01, 455/3.03, 455/566, 455/412, 455/413-414, 455/556, 455/557, 455/558, 455/461, 379/67.1, 379/80, 379/88.12
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2083 Confirmation by serviced party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A combination of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) capabilities including Short Message Service (SMS), Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and Customized Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) allows an advertiser to pay a portion of the airtime cost of a call originated by a mobile subscriber after that subscriber has listened to a recorded advertisement. The combination delivers a text message that associates with a recorded audio advertisement. The text message, which may be referred to later, is stored by the subscriber'"'"'s handset and may be a transcript of the audio advertisement, provide additional details of the audio advertisement or it may contain an electronic coupon associated with the advertisement.

Claims

1. A method for use within a cellular telephony network for associating a text message with an audio message that is transmitted to a mobile unit, comprising the steps of:

receiving a location update message from said mobile unit at a mobile switching center;

responsive to said receiving a location update message, sending a text message to said mobile unit, wherein said text message includes a correlation identifier corresponding to an audio message, said sending a text message to said mobile unit including;

notifying a Service Control Point of a location update from said mobile unit;

triggering call service logic within said Service Control Point to send said text message; and

sending said text message to a Subscriber Identity Module in said mobile unit, wherein said Subscriber Identity Module includes functions for;

intercepting a dialed number;

attaching a sponsored call feature code prefix to an original dialed number, wherein said prefix includes said correlation identifier;

uploading said dialed number to said mobile unit;

receiving a text message; and

displaying said text message on a display screen of said mobile unit;

receiving a call request from said mobile unit; and

responsive to said receiving a call request from said mobile unit, transmitting said audio message to said mobile unit wherein said text message is delivered to said mobile unit prior to or during transmission of said audio message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting said audio message to said mobile unit further comprises:

triggering Sponsored Call logic at a Service Control Point;

instructing an Intelligent Peripheral to play an audio message associated with said text message; and

sending a message acknowledgment code to said mobile unit for subscriber entry.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

within said mobile unit;

retrieving said text message from a Subscriber Identity Module memory; and

displaying said text message on a mobile unit display screen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile unit receives said text message prior to reception of said audio message or during reception of said audio message, said method further comprising transmitting said text message to said mobile unit in a same data stream with said audio message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile unit receives said text message prior to reception of said audio message or during reception of said audio message, said method further comprising transmitting said text message to said mobile unit in a parallel data stream concurrently with said audio message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing said text message in said Subscriber Identity Module.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said text message is a short text message, said method further comprising displaying said short text message simultaneously with playing said audio message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said displaying said short text message simultaneously with playing said audio message further comprises:

triggering Service Control Point Sponsored Call logic to instruct an Intelligent Peripheral to transmit an audio message to said mobile unit that correlates to a previously received text message;

displaying said text message while playing said audio message; and

transmitting an acknowledgment code that said subscriber must send at the end of said audio message to acknowledge receipt of said audio message.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said text message is a short text message, said method further comprising displaying said short text message simultaneously with playing said audio message.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said displaying said short text message simultaneously with playing said audio message further comprises:

triggering Service Control Point Sponsored Call logic to instruct an Intelligent Peripheral to transmit an audio message to said mobile unit that correlates to a previously received text message;

displaying said text message while playing said audio message; and

transmitting an acknowledgment code that said subscriber must send at the end of said audio message to acknowledge receipt of said audio message.

9. An apparatus for use within a cellular telephony network for associating a text message with an audio message that is transmitted to a mobile unit, comprising:

means for receiving a location update message from said mobile unit at a mobile switching center;

means responsive to receiving a location update message, for sending a text message to said mobile unit, wherein said text message includes a correlation identifier corresponding to an audio message, said means for sending a text message to said mobile unit including;

means for notifying a Service Control Point of a location update message from said mobile unit;

means for triggering call service logic within said Service Control Point to send said text message; and

means for sending said text message to a Subscriber Identity Module in said mobile

means for receiving a call request from said mobile unit, wherein said Subscriber Identity Module includes;

means for intercepting a dialed number;

means for attaching a sponsored call feature code prefix to an original dialed number, wherein said prefix includes said correlation identifier;

means for uploading said dialed number to said mobile unit;

means for receiving a text message; and

means for displaying said text message on a display screen of said mobile unit; and

means responsive to receiving a call request from said mobile unit, for transmitting said audio message to said mobile unit wherein said text message is delivered to said mobile unit prior to or during transmission of said audio message.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for transmitting said audio message to said mobile unit further comprises:

means for triggering Sponsored Call logic at a Service Control Point;

means for instructing in Intelligent Peripheral to play an audio message associated with said text message; and

means for sending a message acknowledgment code to said mobile unit for subscriber entry.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said mobile unit comprises:

means for retrieving said text message from a Subscriber Identity Module memory; and

a mobile unit display screen for displaying said text message.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said mobile unit receives said text message prior to reception of said audio message or during reception of said audio message, said apparatus further comprising means for transmitting said text message to said mobile unit in a same data stream with said audio message.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said mobile unit receives said text message prior to reception of said audio message or during reception of said audio message, said apparatus further comprising means for transmitting said text message to said mobile unit in a parallel data stream concurrently with said audio message.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for storing said text message in said Subscriber Identity Module.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said text message is a short text message, said apparatus further comprising means for displaying said short text message simultaneously with playing said audio message.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for displaying said short text message simultaneously with playing said audio message further comprises:

means for triggering Service Control Point Sponsored Call logic to transmit an audio message to said mobile unit that correlates to a previously received text message;

means for displaying said text message while playing said audio message; and

means for transmitting an acknowledgment code that said subscriber must send at the end of said audio message to acknowledge receipt of said audio message.

17. A method for use within a cellular telephony network for associating a text message with an audio message that is transmitted to a mobile unit, comprising the steps of:

receiving a location update message from said mobile unit at a mobile switching center;

responsive to said receiving a location update message, sending a text message to said mobile unit, wherein said text message includes a correlation identifier corresponding to an audio message;

receiving a call request from said mobile unit; and

responsive to said receiving a call request from said mobile unit, transmitting said audio message to said mobile unit wherein said text message is delivered to said mobile unit prior to or during transmission of said audio message.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of sending a text message to said mobile unit further comprises:

notifying a Service Control Point of a location update from said mobile unit;

triggering call service logic within said Service Control Point to send said text message; and

sending said text message to a Subscriber Identity Module in said mobile unit.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing said text message in said Subscriber Identity Module.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said Subscriber Identity Module includes functions for:

intercepting a dialed number;

attaching a sponsored call feature code prefix to an original dialed number, wherein said prefix includes said correlation identifier;

uploading said dialed number to said mobile unit;

receiving a text message; and

displaying said text message on a display screen of said mobile unit.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein said transmitting said audio message to said mobile unit further comprises:

triggering Sponsored Call logic at a Service Control Point;

instructing an Intelligent Peripheral to play an audio message associated with said text message; and

sending a message acknowledgment code to said mobile unit for subscriber entry.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

within said mobile unit;

retrieving said text message from a Subscriber Identity Module memory; and

displaying said text message on a mobile unit display screen.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein said mobile unit receives said text message prior to reception of said audio message or during reception of said audio message, said method further comprising transmitting said text message to said mobile unit in a same data stream with said audio message.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein said mobile unit receives said text message prior to reception of said audio message or during reception of said audio message, said method further comprising transmitting said text message to said mobile unit in a parallel data stream concurrently with said audio message.

27. An apparatus for use within a cellular telephony network for associating a text message with an audio message that is transmitted to a mobile unit, comprising:

means for receiving a location update message from said mobile unit at a mobile switching center;

means responsive to receiving a location update message, for sending a text message to said mobile unit, wherein said text message includes a correlation identifier corresponding to an audio message;

means for receiving a call request from said mobile unit; and

means responsive to receiving a call request from said mobile unit, for transmitting said audio message to said mobile unit wherein said text message is delivered to said mobile unit prior to or during transmission of said audio message.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for sending a text message to said mobile unit, further comprises:

means for notifying a Service Control Point of a location update message from said mobile unit;

means for triggering call service logic within said Service Control Point to send said text message; and

means for sending said text message to a Subscriber Identity Module in said mobile unit.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising means for storing said text message in said Subscriber Identity Module.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said Subscriber Identity Module includes:

means for intercepting a dialed number;

means for attaching a sponsored call feature code prefix to an original dialed number, wherein said prefix includes said correlation identifier;

means for uploading said dialed number to said mobile unit;

means for receiving a text message; and

means for displaying said text message on a display screen of said mobile unit.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said text message is a short text message, said apparatus further comprising means for displaying said short text message simultaneously with playing said audio message.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said means for displaying said short text message simultaneously with playing said audio message further comprises:

means for triggering Service Control Point Sponsored Call logic to transmit an audio message to said mobile unit that correlates to a previously received text message;

means for displaying said text message while playing said audio message; and

means for transmitting an acknowledgment code that said subscriber must send at the end of said audio message to acknowledge receipt of said audio message.

33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for transmitting said audio message to said mobile unit further comprises:

means for triggering Sponsored Call logic at a Service Control Point;

means for instructing in Intelligent Peripheral to play an audio message associated with said text message; and

means for sending a message acknowledgment code to said mobile unit for subscriber entry.

34. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said mobile unit comprises:

means for retrieving said text message from a Subscriber Identity Module memory; and

a mobile unit display screen for displaying said text message.

35. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said mobile unit receives said text message prior to reception of said audio message or during reception of said audio message, said apparatus further comprising means for transmitting said text message to said mobile unit in a same data stream with said audio message.

36. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said mobile unit receives said text message prior to reception of said audio message or during reception of said audio message, said apparatus further comprising means for transmitting said text message to said mobile unit in a parallel data stream concurrently with said audio message.