Systems and methods for a wireless messaging information service

• US 7,558,559 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alston, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/272,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20060063515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/466, 455/445, 455/412.1, 455/226.1, 455/566, 340/573.1, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and system for sending information in the form of a wireless message to a wireless device subscriber requesting advertising, product, or service information is described. The method includes assigning an information request code by a service provider to the information provided by an advertiser, presenting or displaying the information request code along with an advertisement to potential consumers, receiving the information request code from the wireless device, and sending a wireless message to the potential consumer'"'"'s wireless communication device. The system includes an advertisement comprising an information request code, a wireless communication device operable for sending the information request code and receiving a wireless data message, a wireless communication center in communication with a wireless network and operable for relaying, storing, and forwarding the wireless data message to the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A system for providing product and service information, comprising:

a wireless communication device for sending an information request code via a short messaging service (SMS) message and receiving a data message comprising a data element stored in association with the information request code;

a wireless communication center in communication with the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication center comprises;

a database for storing a data element in association with the information request code; and

a processor in communication with the database for receiving the information request code, searching the database for the data element, generating a data message comprising the data element, sending the data message to the wireless communication device, determining if the data message has been received at the wireless communication device and if not, storing the data message in the database until an expiration time is met, wherein the expiration time comprises a date, after which, the data element in the data message needs to be updated, wherein the expiration time is set by a party associated with the data element sent in the data message, and wherein the party associated with the data element comprises an advertiser.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication center comprises a mobile switching center (MSC).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a programmable function key which when pressed operates to transmit the information request code.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a pre-programmed function key which when pressed operates to transmit the information request code via a short data message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system operates using out-of-band packet delivery and low-bandwidth message transfer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the information request code comprises between 3 and 5 alphanumeric characters.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the information request code comprises between 3 and 10 alphanumeric characters.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a message server.

9. A method of providing product and service information, comprising:

receiving a plurality of information requests via a plurality of short messaging service (SMS) messages from a wireless communication device in a wireless communication center, each of the plurality of information requests associated with a different information request code; and

sending requested information associated with the plurality of information requests to a web server for display on a web page and for later viewing by a sender of the plurality of information requests, wherein the requested information includes links to at least one website to facilitate further information gathering by the sender;

determining if the data message has been received at the wireless communication device and if not, storing the data message in the database until an expiration time is met, wherein the expiration time comprises a date, after which, the data element in the data message needs to be updated, wherein the expiration time is set by a party associated with the data element sent in the data message, and wherein the party associated with the data element comprises an advertiser.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving a plurality of information requests via a plurality of short messaging service (SMS) messages from a wireless communication device in a wireless communication center comprises receiving the plurality of information requests in a mobile switching center (MSC).