Apparatus and method of selecting a recipient of a message on the basis of data identifying access to previously transmitted messages

• US 7,702,738 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: CVON
• Inventors: Friman, Kai, Peppers, Donald, Ahopelto, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): Avellino, Joseph E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zuniga, Jackie
• Application Number:
  US12/075,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20080235341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207, 709/217, 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

A method of selecting a recipient of a message on the basis of data identifying access to previously transmitted messages, wherein each said message includes content data for display within a display area of a receiving terminal and control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area. The method includes receiving content data having one of a plurality of different types for use in creating said message, accessing tracking data corresponding to a previously transmitted message containing content data of a given type, the tracking data being indicative of selection of said user selectable portion upon display thereof at said receiving terminal, and selecting a recipient of the message on the basis of the received content data and the tracking data.

Claims

1. A method for controlling messages being directed to a wireless terminal via a communications network, the method comprising:

providing an application to the terminal to cause the terminal to generate and send an outgoing message after a user of the terminal selects a user selectable object being displayed on the terminal based on a first incoming message, the first incoming message comprising content data for display within a display area of a display on the terminal, control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting the user selectable object, and response information associated with the user selectable object, the response information including data identifying a network location to which an outgoing message is sent such that the terminal derives the outgoing message from the first incoming message;

monitoring at a server, receipt of outgoing messages sent from the terminal;

storing, in a database associated with the server, data relating to receipt of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to the first incoming message and information about the content data in the first incoming message;

modifying access status of the first incoming message after the server receives the outgoing message derived from the first incoming message to thereby provide an indication of access by the user to the user selectable object associated with the first incoming message; and

sending to the terminal, a second incoming message having content data selected based on the information about the content data in the first incoming message and the sending of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to the first incoming message,

wherein the first incoming message further includes a content identifier corresponding to the content data,

wherein the data stored in the database includes an indication of the sending of the outgoing message in response to the first incoming message in association with the content identifier, and

wherein the method further comprises selecting, via a processor, the second incoming message by comparing content data of a potential second incoming message to the content identifier to determine a similarity rank between the content data of the first and second incoming messages.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a database of information about receipt of outgoing messages from the terminal; and

directing the server to update the database to include a time of receipt of each outgoing message from the terminal in association with a content identifier from the first incoming message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the first incoming messages being sent to the terminal to include the server as a destination address.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying at the server, each terminal from which an outgoing message has been received.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising formulating via the software application, the outgoing message including the content identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message to the network location comprises sending the formulated outgoing message to the network location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selectable object includes a URL or similar link.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the content identifier and network location are embedded in the link.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising extracting, via the software application, the content identifier and network location from the link after selection of the user selectable object by the recipient.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising formulating via the software application, the outgoing message including the content identifier.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the network location is embedded in the link.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising extracting, via the software application, the network location from the link after selection of the user selectable object by the recipient.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising formulating via the software application, the outgoing message.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying on a display at the terminal, the content data and user selectable object in accordance with the control data in the first incoming message.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising formulating via the software application at the terminal, the outgoing message to include at least a portion of the content data.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying on a display at the terminal, the content data;

and

formulating via the software application at the terminal, the outgoing message including the network location.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message comprises sending the outgoing message as one of an SMS, MMS and WAP message.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading at the terminal upon receipt of the first incoming message, the response information for the outgoing message, the response information being encapsulated within the first incoming message.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the response information includes a response message comprising a content identifier corresponding to the content data and the network location.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising extracting via the software application, the response message from the first incoming message at the terminal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message comprises sending the extracted response message to the network location.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the response message comprises data identifying the terminal.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message comprises formulating via the software application, the outgoing message to include identification information about the terminal.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the first incoming message includes image data and the user selectable object is an integral part of the image data.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising displaying on the display at the terminal, the image data including the user selectable object.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the first incoming message at a recipient terminal comprises receiving the first incoming message as one of an SMS, MMS and WAP message.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying at least one attribute of a potential second incoming message to be directed to the terminal;

determining whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and if so determining whether the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message via access to the data stored in the database; and

sending the potential second incoming message to the terminal as the second incoming message only when the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising storing, in the database, indications of which attribute(s) the first incoming message matches, the step of determining whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute comprising accessing the database.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising formulating the second incoming message to include control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising formulating the second incoming message to exclude control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the content data includes an advertisement.

32. A method for controlling messages being directed to a wireless terminal via a communications network, the method comprising:

providing an application to the terminal to cause the terminal to generate and send an outgoing message after a user of the terminal selects a user selectable object being displayed on the terminal based on a first incoming message, the first incoming message comprising content data for display within a display area of a display on the terminal, control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting the user selectable object, and response information associated with the user selectable object, the response information including data identifying a network location to which an outgoing message is sent such that the terminal derives the outgoing message from the first incoming message;

monitoring at a server, receipt of outgoing messages sent from the terminal;

storing, in a database associated with the server, data relating to receipt of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to the first incoming message and information about the content data in the first incoming message;

modifying access status of the first incoming message after the server receives the outgoing message derived from the first incoming message to thereby provide an indication of access by the user to the user selectable object associated with the first incoming message; and

sending to the terminal, a second incoming message having content data selected based on the information about the content data in the first incoming message and the sending of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to the first incoming message,

wherein the first incoming message further includes a content identifier corresponding to the content data,

wherein the data stored in the database includes an indication of the sending of the outgoing message in response to the first incoming message in association with at least one attribute of the content data, and

wherein the method further comprises selecting, via a processor, the second incoming message by comparing content data of a potential second incoming message to the at least one attribute to determine a similarity rank between the content data of the first and second incoming messages.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

maintaining a database of information about receipt of outgoing messages from the terminal;

directing the server to update the database to include a time of receipt of each outgoing message from the terminal in association with a content identifier from the first incoming message.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising generating the first incoming messages being sent to the terminal to include the server as a destination address.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising identifying at the server, each terminal from which an outgoing message has been received.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising formulating via the software application, the outgoing message including the content identifier.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message to the network location comprises sending the formulated outgoing message to the network location.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the user selectable object includes a URL or similar link.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the content identifier and network location are embedded in the link.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising extracting, via the software application, the content identifier and network location from the link after selection of the user selectable object by the recipient.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising formulating via the software application, the outgoing message including the content identifier.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein the network location is embedded in the link.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising extracting, via the software application, the network location from the link after selection of the user selectable object by the recipient.

44. The method of claim 32, further comprising formulating via the software application, the outgoing message.

45. The method of claim 32, further comprising displaying on a display at the terminal, the content data and user selectable object in accordance with the control data in the first incoming message.

46. The method of claim 32, further comprising formulating via the software application at the terminal, the outgoing message to include at least a portion of the content data.

47. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

displaying on a display at the terminal, the content data;

and

formulating via the software application at the terminal, the outgoing message including the network location.

48. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message comprises sending the outgoing message as one of an SMS, MMS and WAP message.

49. The method of claim 32, further comprising reading at the terminal upon receipt of the first incoming message, the response information for the outgoing message, the response information being encapsulated within the first incoming message.

50. The method of claim 32, wherein the response information includes a response message comprising a content identifier corresponding to the content data and the network location.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising extracting via the software application, the response message from the first incoming message at the terminal.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message comprises sending the extracted response message to the network location.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein the response message comprises data identifying the terminal.

54. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message comprises formulating via the software application, the outgoing message to include identification information about the terminal.

55. The method of claim 32, wherein the first incoming message includes image data and the user selectable object is an integral part of the image data.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising displaying on the display at the terminal, the image data including the user selectable object.

57. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of receiving the first incoming message at a recipient terminal comprises receiving the first incoming message as one of an SMS, MMS and WAP message.

58. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

identifying at least one attribute of a potential second incoming message to be directed to the terminal;

determining whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and if so determining whether the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message via access to the data stored in the database; and

sending the potential second incoming message to the terminal as the second incoming message only when the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising storing, in the database, indications of which attribute(s) the first incoming message matches, the step of determining whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute comprising accessing the database.

60. The method of claim 58, further comprising formulating the second incoming message to include control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

61. The method of claim 58, further comprising formulating the second incoming message to exclude control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

62. The method of claim 32, wherein the content data includes an advertisement.

63. A method for controlling messages being directed to a wireless terminal via a communications network, the method comprising:

providing an application to the terminal to cause the terminal to generate and send an outgoing message after a user of the terminal selects a user selectable object being displayed on the terminal based on a first incoming message, the first incoming message comprising content data for display within a display area of a display on the terminal, control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting the user selectable object, and response information associated with the user selectable object, the response information including data identifying a network location to which an outgoing message is sent such that the terminal derives the outgoing message from the first incoming message;

monitoring at a server, receipt of outgoing messages sent from the terminal;

storing, in a database associated with the server, data relating to receipt of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to the first incoming message and information about the content data in the first incoming message;

modifying access status of the first incoming message after the server receives the outgoing message derived from the first incoming message to thereby provide an indication of access by the user to the user selectable object associated with the first incoming message; and

sending to the terminal, a second incoming message having content data selected based on the information about the content data in the first incoming message and the sending of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to the first incoming message,

wherein the data stored in the database includes an indication of the sending of the outgoing message in response to the first incoming message in association with at least a portion of the content data, and

wherein the method further comprises selecting, via a processor, the second incoming message by comparing content data of a potential second incoming message to the content data to determine a similarity rank between the content data of the first and second incoming messages.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

maintaining a database of information about receipt of outgoing messages from the terminal;

directing the server to update the database to include a time of receipt of each outgoing message from the terminal in association with a content identifier from the first incoming message.

65. The method of claim 63, further comprising generating the first incoming messages being sent to the terminal to include the server as a destination address.

66. The method of claim 63, further comprising identifying at the server, each terminal from which an outgoing message has been received.

67. The method of claim 63, further comprising formulating via the software application, the outgoing message including the content identifier.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message to the network location comprises sending the formulated outgoing message to the network location.

69. The method of claim 63, wherein the user selectable object includes a URL or similar link.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the content identifier and network location are embedded in the link.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising extracting, via the software application, the content identifier and network location from the link after selection of the user selectable object by the recipient.

72. The method of claim 71, further comprising formulating via the software application, the outgoing message including the content identifier.

73. The method of claim 63, wherein the network location is embedded in the link.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising extracting, via the software application, the network location from the link after selection of the user selectable object by the recipient.

75. The method of claim 63, further comprising formulating via the software application, the outgoing message.

76. The method of claim 63, further comprising displaying on a display at the terminal, the content data and user selectable object in accordance with the control data in the first incoming message.

77. The method of claim 63, further comprising formulating via the software application at the terminal, the outgoing message to include at least a portion of the content data.

78. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

displaying on a display at the terminal, the content data;

and

formulating via the software application at the terminal, the outgoing message including the network location.

79. The method of claim 63, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message comprises sending the outgoing message as one of an SMS, MMS and WAP message.

80. The method of claim 63, further comprising reading at the terminal upon receipt of the first incoming message, the response information for the outgoing message, the response information being encapsulated within the first incoming message.

81. The method of claim 63, wherein the response information includes a response message comprising a content identifier corresponding to the content data and the network location.

82. The method of claim 81, further comprising extracting via the software application, the response message from the first incoming message at the terminal.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message comprises sending the extracted response message to the network location.

84. The method of claim 81, wherein the response message comprises data identifying the terminal.

85. The method of claim 63, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message comprises formulating via the software application, the outgoing message to include identification information about the terminal.

86. The method of claim 63, wherein the first incoming message includes image data and the user selectable object is an integral part of the image data.

87. The method of claim 86, further comprising displaying on the display at the terminal, the image data including the user selectable object.

88. The method of claim 63, wherein the step of receiving the first incoming message at a recipient terminal comprises receiving the first incoming message as one of an SMS, MMS and WAP message.

89. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

identifying at least one attribute of a potential second incoming message to be directed to the terminal;

determining whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and if so determining whether the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message via access to the data stored in the database; and

sending the potential second incoming message to the terminal as the second incoming message only when the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message.

90. The method of claim 89, further comprising storing, in the database, indications of which attribute(s) the first incoming message matches, the step of determining whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute comprising accessing the database.

91. The method of claim 89, further comprising formulating the second incoming message to include control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

92. The method of claim 89, further comprising formulating the second incoming message to exclude control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

93. The method of claim 63, wherein the content data includes an advertisement.

94. The method of claim 63, wherein the first incoming message further includes a content identifier corresponding to the content data.

96. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

maintaining a database of information about receipt of outgoing messages from the terminal;

directing the server to update the database to include a time of receipt of each outgoing message from the terminal in association with a content identifier from the first incoming message.

95. A method for controlling messages being directed to a wireless terminal via a communications network, the method comprising:

providing an application to the terminal to cause the terminal to generate and send an outgoing message after a user of the terminal selects a user selectable object being displayed on the terminal based on a first incoming message, the first incoming message comprising content data for display within a display area of a display on the terminal, control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting the user selectable object, and response information associated with the user selectable object, the response information including data identifying a network location to which an outgoing message is sent such that the terminal derives the outgoing message from the first incoming message;

monitoring at a server, receipt of outgoing messages sent from the terminal;

storing, in a database associated with the server, data relating to receipt of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to the first incoming message and information about the content data in the first incoming message;

modifying access status of the first incoming message after the server receives the outgoing message derived from the first incoming message to thereby provide an indication of access by the user to the user selectable object associated with the first incoming message; and

sending to the terminal, a second incoming message having content data selected based on the information about the content data in the first incoming message and the sending of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to the first incoming message,

wherein the data stored in the database includes an indication of the sending of the outgoing message in response to the first incoming message in association with at least one attribute of the content data, and

wherein the method further comprises selecting, via a processor, the second incoming message by comparing content data of a potential second incoming message to the at least one attribute to determine a similarity rank between the content data of the first and second incoming messages.

97. The method of claim 95, further comprising generating the first incoming messages being sent to the terminal to include the server as a destination address.

98. The method of claim 95, further comprising identifying at the server, each terminal from which an outgoing message has been received.

99. The method of claim 95, further comprising formulating via the software application, the outgoing message including the content identifier.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message to the network location comprises sending the formulated outgoing message to the network location.

101. The method of claim 95, wherein the user selectable object includes a URL or similar link.

102. The method of claim 101, wherein the content identifier and network location are embedded in the link.

103. The method of claim 102, further comprising extracting, via the software application, the content identifier and network location from the link after selection of the user selectable object by the recipient.

104. The method of claim 103, further comprising formulating via the software application, the outgoing message including the content identifier.

105. The method of claim 95, wherein the network location is embedded in the link.

106. The method of claim 105, further comprising extracting, via the software application, the network location from the link after selection of the user selectable object by the recipient.

107. The method of claim 95, further comprising formulating via the software application, the outgoing message.

108. The method of claim 95, further comprising displaying on a display at the terminal, the content data and user selectable object in accordance with the control data in the first incoming message.

109. The method of claim 95, further comprising formulating via the software application at the terminal, the outgoing message to include at least a portion of the content data.

110. The method of claim 95, further comprising:

displaying on a display at the terminal, the content data;

and

formulating via the software application at the terminal, the outgoing message including the network location.

111. The method of claim 95, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message comprises sending the outgoing message as one of an SMS, MMS and WAP message.

112. The method of claim 95, further comprising reading at the terminal upon receipt of the first incoming message, the response information for the outgoing message, the response information being encapsulated within the first incoming message.

113. The method of claim 95, wherein the response information includes a response message comprising a content identifier corresponding to the content data and the network location.

114. The method of claim 113, further comprising extracting via the software application, the response message from the first incoming message at the terminal.

115. The method of claim 114, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message comprises sending the extracted response message to the network location.

116. The method of claim 113, wherein the response message comprises data identifying the terminal.

117. The method of claim 95, wherein the step of sending the outgoing message comprises formulating via the software application, the outgoing message to include identification information about the terminal.

118. The method of claim 95, wherein the first incoming message includes image data and the user selectable object is an integral part of the image data.

119. The method of claim 118, further comprising displaying on the display at the terminal, the image data including the user selectable object.

120. The method of claim 95, wherein the step of receiving the first incoming message at a recipient terminal comprises receiving the first incoming message as one of an SMS, MMS and WAP message.

121. The method of claim 95, further comprising:

identifying at least one attribute of a potential second incoming message to be directed to the terminal;

determining whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and if so determining whether the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message via access to the data stored in the database; and

sending the potential second incoming message to the terminal as the second incoming message only when the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message.

122. The method of claim 121, further comprising storing, in the database, indications of which attribute(s) the first incoming message matches, the step of determining whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute comprising accessing the database.

123. The method of claim 121, further comprising formulating the second incoming message to include control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

124. The method of claim 121, further comprising formulating the second incoming message to exclude control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

125. The method of claim 95, wherein the content data includes an advertisement.

126. The method of claim 95, wherein the first incoming message further includes a content identifier corresponding to the content data.

127. A server system that controls messages being directed to a wireless terminal via a communications network, the terminal including an application that causes generation and sending of an outgoing message after a user of the terminal selects a user selectable object being displayed on the terminal based on a first incoming message, the first incoming message comprising content data for display within a display area of a display on the terminal, control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting the user selectable object, and response information associated with the user selectable object, the response information including data identifying a network location to which an outgoing message is sent such that the terminal derives the outgoing message from the first incoming message, the server system comprising:

a response-capture component that receives outgoing messages sent from the terminal;

a tracking component that evaluates each outgoing message after the response-capture component receives the outgoing message to thereby provide an indication of access by the user to the user selectable object associated with the first incoming message;

a database that stores data relating to receipt of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to access by the user to the user selectable object associated with the first incoming message and information about the content data in the first incoming message; and

a message creating component that selects a second incoming message to be directed to the terminal based on the information about the content data in the first incoming message and the sending of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to the first incoming message,

wherein the data stored in the database includes an indication of the sending of the outgoing message in response to the first incoming message in association with at least one attribute of the content data, and

wherein the message creating component is arranged to select the second incoming message by comparing content data of a potential second incoming message to the at least one attribute to determine a similarity rank between the content data of the first and second incoming messages.

128. The server system of claim 127, wherein the response-capture component is arranged to update the database to include a time of receipt of each outgoing message from the terminal in association with a content identifier from the first incoming message.

129. The server system of claim 127, wherein the response-capture component is arranged to update the database to include a time of receipt of each outgoing message from the terminal.

130. The server system of claim 127, wherein the response-capture component is arranged to identify each terminal from which an outgoing message has been received.

131. The server system of claim 127, wherein the message creating component is arranged to identify at least one attribute of a potential second incoming message to be directed to the terminal, determine whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and if so determine whether the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message via access to the data stored in the database, and send the potential second incoming message to the terminal as the second incoming message only when the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message.

132. The server system of claim 131, wherein the database stores indications of which attribute(s) the first incoming message matches, the message creating component being arranged to determine whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute by accessing the database.

133. The server system of claim 131, wherein the message creating component is arranged to formulate the second incoming message to include control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

134. The server system of claim 131, wherein the message creating component is arranged to formulate the second incoming message to exclude control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

135. The server system of claim 127, wherein the message creating component is resident on a first server and the response-capture component and tracking component are resident on a second server.

136. A server system that controls messages being directed to a wireless terminal via a communications network, the terminal including an application that causes generation and sending of an outgoing message after a user of the terminal selects a user selectable object being displayed on the terminal based on a first incoming message, the first incoming message comprising content data for display within a display area of a display on the terminal, control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting the user selectable object, and response information associated with the user selectable object, the response information including data identifying a network location to which an outgoing message is sent such that the terminal derives the outgoing message from the first incoming message, the server system comprising:

a response-capture component that receives outgoing messages sent from the terminal;

a tracking component that evaluates each outgoing message after the response-capture component receives the outgoing message to thereby provide an indication of access by the user to the user selectable object associated with the first incoming message;

a database that stores data relating to receipt of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to access by the user to the user selectable object associated with the first incoming message and information about the content data in the first incoming message; and

a message creating component that selects a second incoming message to be directed to the terminal based on the information about the content data in the first incoming message and the sending of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to the first incoming message,

wherein the first incoming message further includes a content identifier corresponding to the content data, and the data stored in the database includes an indication of the sending of the outgoing message in response to the first incoming message in association with the content identifier, and

wherein the message creating component is arranged to select the second incoming message by comparing content data of a potential second incoming message to the content identifier to determine a similarity rank between the content data of the first and second incoming messages.

137. The server system of claim 136, wherein the response-capture component is arranged to update the database to include a time of receipt of each outgoing message from the terminal in association with a content identifier from the first incoming message.

138. The server system of claim 136, wherein the response-capture component is arranged to update the database to include a time of receipt of each outgoing message from the terminal.

139. The server system of claim 136, wherein the response-capture component is arranged to identify each terminal from which an outgoing message has been received.

140. The server system of claim 136, wherein the message creating component is arranged to identify at least one attribute of a potential second incoming message to be directed to the terminal, determine whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and if so determine whether the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message via access to the data stored in the database, and send the potential second incoming message to the terminal as the second incoming message only when the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message.

141. The server system of claim 140, wherein the database stores indications of which attribute(s) the first incoming message matches, the message creating component being arranged to determine whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute by accessing the database.

142. The server system of claim 140, wherein the message creating component is arranged to formulate the second incoming message to include control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

143. The server system of claim 140, wherein the message creating component is arranged to formulate the second incoming message to exclude control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

144. The server system of claim 136, wherein the message creating component is resident on a first server and the response-capture component and tracking component:

are resident on a second server.

145. A server system that controls messages being directed to a wireless terminal via a communications network, the terminal including an application that causes generation and sending of an outgoing message after a user of the terminal selects a user selectable object being displayed on the terminal based on a first incoming message, the first incoming message comprising content data for display within a display area of a display on the terminal, control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting the user selectable object, and response information associated with the user selectable object, the response information including data identifying a network location to which an outgoing message is sent such that the terminal derives the outgoing message from the first incoming message, the server system comprising:

a response-capture component that receives outgoing messages sent from the terminal;

a tracking component that evaluates each outgoing message after the response-capture component receives the outgoing message to thereby provide an indication of access by the user to the user selectable object associated with the first incoming message;

a database that stores data relating to receipt of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to access by the user to the user selectable object associated with the first incoming message and information about the content data in the first incoming message; and

a message creating component that selects a second incoming message to be directed to the terminal based on the information about the content data in the first incoming message and the sending of the outgoing message from the terminal in response to the first incoming message;

wherein the data stored in the database includes an indication of the sending of the outgoing message in response to the first incoming message in association with at least a portion of the content data; and

wherein the message creating component is arranged to select the second incoming message by comparing content data of a potential second incoming message to the content data to determine a similarity rank between the content data of the first and second incoming messages.

146. The server system of claim 145, wherein the response-capture component is arranged to update the database to include a time of receipt of each outgoing message from the terminal in association with a content identifier from the first incoming message.

147. The server system of claim 145, wherein the response-capture component is arranged to update the database to include a time of receipt of each outgoing message from the terminal.

148. The server system of claim 145, wherein the response-capture component is arranged to identify each terminal from which an outgoing message has been received.

149. The server system of claim 145, wherein the message creating component is arranged to identify at least one attribute of a potential second incoming message to be directed to the terminal, determine whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and if so determine whether the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message via access to the data stored in the database, and send the potential second incoming message to the terminal as the second incoming message only when the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute and the outgoing message was sent by the terminal in response to the first incoming message.

150. The server system of claim 149, wherein the database stores indications of which attribute(s) the first incoming message matches, the message creating component being arranged to determine whether the first incoming message matches the identified at least one attribute by accessing the database.

151. The server system of claim 149, wherein the message creating component is arranged to formulate the second incoming message to include control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

152. The server system of claim 149, wherein the message creating component is arranged to formulate the second incoming message to exclude control data including data indicative of a user selectable portion within the display area constituting a user selectable object.

153. The server system of claim 145, wherein the message creating component is resident on a first server and the response-capture component and tracking component are resident on a second server.