Interactive messaging system

• US 7,321,920 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imageware Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vocel, Inc.
• Inventors: Washburn, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne; Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osman; Ramy M
• Application Number:
  US10/395,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20040186889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/203, 709/204, 455/414, 455/406, 705/14
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0218 based on score
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

The interactive messaging system of the present invention provides for an interactive communication process between users, both senders and recipients. The sender composes a message by filling in a template stored in data services. Once completed, the sender pushes the message to a recipient'"'"'s wireless device if the wireless device contains a WAP browser which is capable of receiving pushed messages. Typically the message includes a question along with answers for the recipient to choose from. Each answer corresponds with a pre-assigned response key and the recipient answers the question by selecting one of the pre-assigned response keys. The recipient'"'"'s response is available to the sender in the form of an e-mail, WAP Push, on-line access or interactive message that is shown to the sender on an on-line status screen.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging interactive messages with wireless devices comprising the steps of:

selecting a brokering template from a group of brokering templates, wherein the group of templates include an event brokering template for negotiating an event based interactive workflow and collaboration between a sender of an interactive message and at least one recipient of the interactive message, the event based interactive workflow includes response triggered events and non-response triggered events;

composing the interactive message by filling in the template and transmitting the interactive message to an application server, the message having at least one pre-assigned instant event key, the at least one pre-assigned instant event key defining actions of the workflow, and the sender assigning a response triggered event to correspond to the at least one pre-assigned instant event response key;

sending the message, using any enabling push technology, from the application server to an at least one wireless device of the at least one recipient, the at least one recipient communicating with the sender of the message via the at least one wireless device and a sender'"'"'s wireless device;

communicating a response to the message through the application server to the sender, the response triggered by the at least one recipient selecting the at least one pre-assigned instant event key;

the application server managing the event based interactive workflow and collaboration between the at least one recipient and the sender of the interactive message;

wherein the response triggered events trigger the application server to initiate an event; and

wherein the event includes purchasing an item, participating in a game, playing a video, or making a call.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining if the at least one wireless device of the at least one recipient is capable of receiving the message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

selecting pre-defined choices from drop down menus located on the template; and

entering a mode for delivery of the response to the sender or others of the message in the template.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predefined choices are selected from a group consisting of the at least one recipient of the message and a priority of the message.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of entering responses in the template;

and corresponding the responses to the at least one pre-assigned instant event key.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the mode is selected from a group consisting of electronic data exchange, e-mail, instant messaging, on-line response and WAP Push.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein responses to the message correspond to the at least one pre-assigned instant event key.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the application server provides an open architecture for third party applications to access core services available in the application server for sending and managing an interactive message process.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting a mode of delivery of a status and the response from the at least one recipient to the sender.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the status and the response are delivered to the sender by email.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the status and the response are delivered to the sender by WAP push.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the status and the response are delivered to the sender by instant messaging.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the status and the response are delivered to the sender by on-line response.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one recipient maintains a priority list on the application server, the priority list contains a level of intrusion of the message by the sender.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of templates further includes an event invitation template;

wherein the template selected is the event invitation template and wherein the interactive message is an invitation to participate in a telephone call and wherein if the at least one recipient is available, the at least one recipient automatically calls the sender by selecting the pre-assigned instant event key corresponding to a call button.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive message is sent to the at least one recipient for participating in the event;

and wherein each of the at least one recipient responds with the availability of participating in the event by selecting a ready key if available and selecting a snooze key if unavailable.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting the snooze key communicates to the application server to resend the message after a predetermined period of time indicated by the snooze key.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the application server resends the message to the at least one recipient after a predetermined period of time to check availability of each of the at least one recipient.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of templates further includes an event invitation template;

and wherein the interactive message is an invitation to participate in a turn based interactive game.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the sender and the at least one recipient initiate the start of the turn based interactive game.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the actions of the pre-assigned instant event key include a move by the at least one recipient to the turn based interactive game and selecting the pre-assigned instant event key pushes the move to the sender.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the actions of the pre-assigned instant event key include a move by the sender to the turn based interactive game and selecting the pre-assigned instant event key pushes the move to the at least one recipient.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the actions of the pre-assigned instant event key include a next move by the sender and selecting the pre-assigned instant event key pushes the move to the at least one recipient.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the pre-assigned instant event key is a next move by the at least one recipient and selecting the pre-assigned instant event key pushes the move to the sender.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of templates further includes a learning curriculum template.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein learning curriculum entered in the learning curriculum template is selected from a group consisting of trivia, foreign language, vocabulary, history, science, math and social science.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the template can include text, sound, graphics, WML, MIME, video or a turn based interactive game.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of purchasing an item upon selecting the at least one pre-assigned instant event key.

29. A method for exchanging interactive messages with wireless devices comprising the steps of:

selecting a brokering template from a group brokering templates, wherein the group of templates include an event brokering template for negotiating an event based interactive workflow and collaboration between a sender of an interactive message and at least one recipient of the interactive message, the event based interactive workflow includes response triggered events and non-response triggered events;

composing an interactive message by filling in the template and transmitting the interactive message to an application server, the message having at least one pre-assigned instant event key, the at least one pre-assigned instant event key defining actions of the workflow, and the sender assigning a response triggered event to correspond to the at least one pre-assigned instant event response key;

sending the message, using any enabling push technology, from the application server to an at least one wireless device of the at least one recipient, the at least one recipient communicating with the sender of the message via the at least one wireless device and a sender'"'"'s wireless device;

communicating a response to the message through the application server to the sender, the response triggered by the at least one recipient selecting the at least one pre-assigned instant event key;

purchasing an item upon selecting the at least one pre-assigned instant event key;

the application server managing an event based interactive workflow and collaboration between the at least one recipient and the sender of the interactive message;

wherein the response triggered events trigger the application server to initiate an event; and

wherein the event includes purchasing an item, participating in a game, playing a video, or making a call.