Messaging system for managing communications resources

• US 7,613,449 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: CVON
• Inventors: Antikainen, Ismo, Romppanen, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US12/075,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20080318554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 455406-409, 455/412.12, 455/413, 455/466
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a messaging system for managing communications resources and are particularly suitable for providing a means for subscribers of a telecommunications network to continue participating in a communications service that would otherwise be ended due to the calling party having a low or zero balance. Embodiments of the invention are generally applicable to users of a mobile network.

Embodiments of the invention provide a messaging system for use by the telecommunications network to transmit a message to a remote party, where the remote party is identified by means of a telephone calling identifier associated with a call setup request for a telecommunications session received from a user of the telecommunications network. The messaging system comprises a storage system for storing data providing a predetermined definition of message content to be sent to the remote party. In response to trigger event such as determining that the account balance available for said user participating in the requested communications session is below a predetermined threshold, the messaging system is arranged to initiate the transmission of a message to said remote party. The transmitted message contains message content that is defined at least in part by said definition of message content and can comprise a “call me message”. This thereby ensures that a “call me” message reaches the remote party.

Claims

1. A messaging system for use in a telecommunications network, said messaging system being for use by the telecommunications network to transmit a message to a remote device of a second user of the telecommunications network, the remote device of the second user being identified by means of a telephone calling identifier associated with a call setup request for a call session received from a device of a first user of the telecommunications network, said messaging system comprising:

a storage system for storing data providing a predetermined definition of message content to be sent to a remote device of the second user of the telecommunications network;

means for, in response to occurrence of a trigger event received during said call session, requesting authorization from the first user for transmission of a message to said remote device of the second user, when authorization is provided from a device of the first user for transmission of a message to the second user, invoking transmission of a message to said remote device of the second user after the call set-up request in view of authorization provided by a device of the first user during the call session, said transmitted message containing message content defined at least in part by said definition of message,

wherein said trigger event comprises determining that an account balance available for said device of the first user participating in the requested call session is below a predetermined threshold.

2. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the storage system is further arranged to store data providing a predetermined definition of message associated information to be provided to said device of the first user, and the messaging system is arranged to transmit message associated information to a device associated with the device of the first user, said message associated information including notification of the remote device of the second user to whom the message is transmitted in response to said trigger event.

3. A messaging system according to claim 2, wherein the trigger event further comprises receiving a response message from the device of the first user in response to receipt of the message associated information.

4. A messaging system according to claim 3, wherein the means for initiating transmission of the message to the remote device of the second user is arranged to identify a message body from said response message received from the device of the first user, the message transmitted to said remote device of the second user further containing said message body received from the device of the first user.

5. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined definition of message content to be sent to the remote device of the second user includes content specified by an information provider.

6. A messaging system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined definition of message content to be sent to the remote device of the second user includes content specified by an information provider.

7. A messaging system according to claim 5, wherein use of network resources in respect of a subsequently received request for call set up from the remote device of the second user to the device of the first user are offset by resources allocated to the information provider.

8. A messaging system according to claim 7, wherein use of network resources for transmission of said message to said remote device of the second user and/or said message associated information to the device of the first user are offset by resources allocated to the information provider.

9. A messaging system according to claim 5, wherein use of network resources for transmission of said message to said remote device of the second user and/or said message associated information to the device of the first user are offset by resources allocated to the information provider.

10. A messaging system according to claim 1, the telecommunications network including an interactive voice recognition device arranged to receive speech input from the device of the first user, whereby to provide said predetermined definition of message content to be sent to the remote device of the second user.

11. A messaging system according to claim 10, wherein the interactive voice recognition device is arranged to analyse said speech input against a predetermined size of message content and to notify the device of the first user in the event that the received speech input exceeds the predetermined size of message content.

12. A messaging system according to claim 11, wherein the interactive voice recognition device is responsive to a modification instruction received from the device of the first user so as to modify the received speech input with speech input subsequently specified by the user.

13. A messaging system according to claim 11, wherein the interactive voice recognition device is responsive to a cancellation instruction received from the device of the first user so as to replace the received speech input with speech input subsequently specified by the device of the first user.

14. A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined definition of message content is stored in association with user records corresponding to said device of the first user and with said telephone calling identifier corresponding to a given remote device.

15. A messaging system according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined definition of message content is stored in association with user records corresponding to said device of the first user and with said telephone calling identifier corresponding to a given remote device.

16. A messaging system according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined definition of message content is stored in association with user records corresponding to said device of the first user and with said telephone calling identifier corresponding to a given remote device.

17. A messaging system according to claim 1, including means arranged to invoke termination of the telecommunications session in response to the trigger event.

18. A messaging system according to claim 2, including means arranged to invoke termination of the telecommunications session in response to the trigger event.

19. A messaging system according to claim 5, including means arranged to invoke termination of the telecommunications session in response to the trigger event.

20. A messaging system according to claim 14, including means arranged to invoke termination of the telecommunications session in response to the trigger event.

21. A messaging system according to claim 17, wherein the user records include data indicative of a rate to be applied in respect of a given requested telecommunications session, and the means for invoking termination of the telecommunications session is arranged to perform an evaluation process comprising evaluating the account balance for said device of the first user in relation to a predetermined amount of call time and said rate.

22. A messaging system according to claim 21, wherein the means for invoking termination of the telecommunications session is arranged to perform said evaluation process during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

23. A messaging system according to claim 1, including a user records storage system arranged to store user records including data indicative of said account balance associated with said device of the first user.

24. A messaging system according to claim 2, including a user records storage system arranged to store user records including data indicative of said account balance associated with said device of the first user.

25. A messaging system according to claim 5, including a user records storage system arranged to store user records including data indicative of said account balance associated with said device of the first user.

26. A messaging system according to claim 10, including a user records storage system arranged to store user records including data indicative of said account balance associated with said device of the first user.

27. A messaging system according to claim 14, including a user records storage system arranged to store user records including data indicative of said account balance associated with said device of the first user.

28. A messaging system according to claim 17, including a user records storage system arranged to store user records including data indicative of said account balance associated with said device of the first user.

29. A messaging system according to claim 23, wherein the user records are stored independently of said data providing a predetermined definition of message content to be sent to a remote device.

30. A method of controlling transmission of messages in respect of a call session involving a device of the first user of a communications network and a remote device of a second user, the remote device of the second user being identified by means of a telephone calling identifier associated with a call setup request for the call session received from the device of the first user of the telecommunications network, the telecommunications network comprising a storage system for storing data providing a predetermined definition of message content to be sent to a remote device of the second user, said method comprising:

monitoring, during a call session, an account balance available for said device of the first user participating in the requested call session against a predetermined threshold;

and when the available account balance is determined to be below the predetermined threshold, requesting authorization from the first user for transmission of a message to said remote device of the second user,

when authorization is provided from a device of the first user for transmission of a message to the second user, initiating transmission of a message to said remote device of the second user after the call set-up request in view of authorization provided by the device of the first user, said transmitted message containing message content defined at least in part by said definition of message content.

31. A method according to claim 30, further including transmitting message associated information to a device associated with the device of the first user, said message associated information including notification of the remote device to whom the, message is transmitted in response to said available account balance being determined to be below the predetermined threshold.

32. A method according to claim 31, comprising:

receiving a message from the device of the first user;

identifying a message body from said response from the device of the first user; and

on the basis of said definition of message content, creating a message comprising said message body, whereby to create said message for transmission to the remote device of the second user.

33. A method according to claim 30, comprising:

receiving a message from the device of the first user;

identifying a message body from said response from the device of the first user; and

on the basis of said definition of message content, creating a message comprising said message body, whereby to create said message for transmission to the remote device of the second user.

34. A method according to claim 33, in which the communications network stores user records comprising data identifying an information provider, the method further comprising offsetting use of network resources in respect of a subsequently received request for call set up from the remote device to the device of the first user by resources allocated to the information provider.

35. A method according to claim 32, in which the communications network stores user records comprising data identifying an information provider, the method further comprising offsetting use of network resources in respect of a subsequently received request for call set up from the remote device to the device of the first user by resources allocated to the information provider.

36. A method according to claim 35, the method further comprising offsetting transmission of said message to said remote device of the second user and/or said message associated information to the device of the first user by resources allocated to the information provider.

37. A method according to claim 34, the method further comprising offsetting transmission of said message to said remote device of the second user and/or said message associated information to the device of the first user by resources allocated to the information provider.

38. A method according to claim 30, in which the method is performed in relation to a predetermined amount of call time and a rate for the telecommunications session.

39. A method according to claim 31, in which the method is performed in relation to a predetermined amount of call time and a rate for the telecommunications session.

40. A method according to claim 30, further including terminating the telecommunications session.

41. A method according to claim 31, further including terminating the telecommunications session.

42. A method according to claim 32, further including terminating the telecommunications session.

43. A method according to claim 33, further including terminating the telecommunications session.

44. A method according to claim 30, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

45. A method according to claim 31, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

46. A method according to claim 32, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

47. A method according to claim 33, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

48. A method according to claim 34, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

49. A method according to claim 35, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

50. A method according to claim 36, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

51. A method according to claim 37, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

52. A method according to claim 38, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

53. A method according to claim 39, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

54. A method according to claim 40, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

55. A method according to claim 41, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

56. A method according to claim 42, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

57. A method according to claim 43, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user.

58. A method according to claim 30, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

59. A method according to claim 31, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

60. A method according to claim 32, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

61. A method according to claim 33, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

62. A method according to claim 34, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

63. A method according to claim 35, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

64. A method according to claim 36, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

65. A method according to claim 37, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

66. A method according to claim 38, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

67. A method according to claim 39, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

68. A method according to claim 40, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

69. A method according to claim 41, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

70. A method according to claim 42, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.

71. A method according to claim 43, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.