System and method for providing USSD-like features in a wireless network

• US 7,603,118 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Link, Charles M. II, Cardina, Donald M., Faulkner, Max G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard; Patrick N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHUONG, DAI
• Application Number:
  US11/099,150
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 455410-4141, 455/415, 455/432.2, 455/433, 379/76, 379/88.19, 379111-113
• US Class Current: 455/432.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• 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 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A system for providing USSD-like features in a wireless network is provided. Furthermore, the system provides for an automated customer service response in a wireless network. The system comprises a mobile switching center configured to analyze a digit string received from a mobile device. In some embodiments, an analysis and translation module converts the digit string into a service request. The service request is sent to a trigger platform which generates and forwards an immediate connection termination response to release the connection. The trigger platform further initiates a customer service response process to obtain the information indicated by the service request. The customer service response containing the service requested information may be validated prior to a short message service center formatting and forwarding the customer service response to the requesting mobile device.

Claims

1. A system for providing Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) features in a wireless network wherein the wireless network does not support USSD, the system comprising:

a mobile switching center (MSC) comprising an analysis and translation module, the MSC being configured to;

analyze, via the analysis and translation module, a digit string received from a mobile device in a call;

translate, via the analysis and translation module, the digit string into a service request; and

send the service request to an SS7 signal transfer point (STP) for routing to a trigger platform;

the trigger platform, in communication with the MSC, configured to;

receive the service request from the STP;

generate an immediate connection termination response to cause the call to be terminated thereby limiting minute use associated with the mobile device;

send the immediate connection termination response to the MSC instructing the MSC to terminate the call so as to allow the mobile device to return to a normal idle condition and await a service request response; and

initiate a service request response process based upon the service request derived from the digit string to provide a service associated with the service request.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the MSC is configured to translate, via the analysis and translation module, the digit string into the service request, wherein the service request is a customer service phone number.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a server and a customer database, wherein the trigger platform is further configured to:

generate and send a query message to the server, the query message being used to instruct the server to query the customer database for information regarding the requested service; and

receive the service request response comprising the information regarding the requested service.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a message application router/open message gateway (MAR/OMG) configured to:

validate the service request response; and

forward the validated service request response to a message center for delivery to the mobile device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the message center is a short message service center (SMSC) configured to format and forward the service request response to the mobile device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the SMSC formats the service request response into an SMS message.

7. A method for providing Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) features in a wireless network wherein the wireless network does not support USSD, the method comprising:

receiving, at a mobile switching center (MSC) comprising an analysis and translation module, a digit string in a call;

the MSC analyzing, via the analysis and translation module, the digit string;

the MSC translating, via the analysis and translation module, the digit string into a service request;

the MSC sending the service request to an SS7 signal transfer point (STP) for routing the service request to a trigger platform;

the trigger platform receiving the service request from the STP;

the trigger platform generating an immediate connection termination response to cause the call to be terminated thereby limiting minute use associated with the mobile device;

the trigger platform sending the immediate connection termination response to the MSC, instructing the MSC to terminate the call so as to allow the mobile device to return to a normal idle condition and await a service request response;

the MSC terminating a connection with the mobile device in response to receiving the immediate termination response; and

the trigger platform performing a service request response process based upon the service request derived from the digit string to provide a service associated with the service request.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein translating the digit string into the service request comprises translating the digit string into a customer service phone number.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein performing the service request response process comprises the trigger platform generating and sending a query message to a server to instruct the server to query a customer database for information regarding the requested service;

and

the trigger platform receiving the service request response comprising the information regarding the requested service.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein performing the request response process further comprises a message application router/open message gateway (MAR/OMG) validating the service request response and forwarding the validated service request response to a message center for delivery to the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein performing the service request response process further comprises the MAR/OMG checking customer preferences for delivery of the service request response.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein forwarding the validated service request response to the message center for delivery to the mobile device comprises forwarding the validated service request response to a short message service center (SMSC) configured to format the service request response into an SMS message.

13. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions capable of being executed by a system to perform a method for providing Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) features in a wireless network wherein the wireless network does not support USSD, the method comprising:

analyzing, via an analysis and translation module of the system, a digit string received in a call from a mobile device;

translating, via the analysis and translation module, the digit string into a service request;

generating an immediate connection termination response to cause the call to be terminated thereby limiting minute use associated with the mobile device;

terminating the call so as to allow the mobile device to return to a normal idle condition and await a service request response; and

performing a service request response process based upon the service request derived from the digit string to provide a service associated with the service request.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein translating the digit string comprises translating the digit string into a customer service phone number.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises forwarding the service request response to the mobile device.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises formatting the customer service response into an SMS message.