Method of providing information to a telephony subscriber

• US 7,813,716 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2004
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SITO Mobile R&D IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Single Touch Interactive Incorporated (SITO Mobile, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Stathis, Kristi L., Malackowski, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard, Patrick N
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JUSTIN YE
• Application Number:
  US10/989,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20050245242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,156 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/414.2, 455/412.1, 455/414.3, 455/415, 455/404.1, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/50 for cross-charging network operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/00 Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/52 Interconnection, inter-exchange, reseller billing, billing agreements between different operators, e.g. billing identifier added on the CDR in order to cross charge the other operator, inter-operator accounting, reconciliation, bill directly resellers customers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0435 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 : Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 : Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13333 : Earth satellites
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

An information fulfillment system and method for providing information to a caller having a wireless communication device. Upon receipt of sensory prompting and manual or automatic input of access codes to the wireless communication device, the caller'"'"'s identity and the input access code are verified. Thereafter, the call is connected through the PWN and along the PSTN to the system messaging or fulfillment center for automatic or live-operator delivery of the requested information. Automatic verification, connection, and billing modification processes are provided for implementation of the system and method.

Claims

1. A method for providing information from a fulfillment center through a wireless network to a wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device comprising the steps of:

receiving a communication from the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device, said communication comprising a specialized access code and initiated through inputting by a customer of said specialized access code into the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device wherein the specialized access code has fewer characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprises a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character, and wherein the communication further includes information regarding the customer including both customer identification and information beyond customer identification;

directing the communication via the wireless network to the fulfillment center based upon the specialized access code;

providing relevant information from the fulfillment center as a function, at least in part, of the customer identification and information beyond customer identification and further as designated by the specialized access code; and

delivering the relevant information, retrieved based upon, at least in part, the customer identification and information beyond customer identification and the specialized access code, from the fulfillment center to the customer through the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information regarding the customer comprises a customer geographic location.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving speech from the customer;

automatically recognizing the speech to provide recognized speech;

automatically taking a customer information-providing action as a function, at least in part, of the recognized speech.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises downloadable information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the downloadable information comprises data.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the data comprises audio information.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the data is displayable on said telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

8. A method for providing information from a fulfillment center through a wireless telecommunications network to a customer having a wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device comprising the steps of:

receiving a communication from wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device, the communication comprising an access code and initiated through inputting by the customer of the access code into the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device wherein the access code has a fewer number of characters than an ordinary telephone number and wherein the communication comprises, at least in part, information regarding the customer, the information regarding the customer including customer identification and information beyond customer identification;

directing the communication via the public wireless telecommunications network to the fulfillment center based upon the access code;

providing targeted information from the fulfillment center based at least in part upon the customer identification, the information beyond customer identification and the access code; and

delivering the targeted information, retrieved based upon, at least in part, the customer identification and information beyond customer identification and the specialized access code, from the fulfillment center to the customer through the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the information regarding the customer comprises a customer geographic location.

10. A method for providing information from a fulfillment center through a wireless telecommunications network to a customer having a wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device comprising the steps of:

receiving a communication from wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device, said communication comprising a specialized access code and initiated through inputting by said customer of said specialized access code into the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device, wherein the specialized access code has a fewer number of characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprising a non-alphabetic/non-numeric character as a first character, and wherein the communication comprises, at least in part, information regarding the customer, including both customer identification and information other than customer identification;

directing the communication via the wireless telecommunications network toward the fulfillment center based upon the specialized access code;

providing relevant information from the fulfillment center, the relevance of the information being determined as a function, at least in part, of the customer identification, information other than customer identification, the specialized access code; and

delivering the relevant information, retrieved based upon, at least in part, the customer identification and information beyond customer identification and the specialized access code, from the fulfillment center to the customer through the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of directing the communication via the wireless telecommunications network toward the fulfillment center based upon the specialized access code further comprises routing the communication to the fulfillment center only through the wireless telecommunications network.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless telecommunications network operates on a platform compatible with at least one of the group of technologies comprising:

GSM;

TDMA;

CDMA; and

PCS.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of delivering the information from the fulfillment center further comprises accessing stored information and providing at least a portion of the stored information to the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the specialized access code comprises indicia of at least one of the fulfillment center and the relevant information from the fulfillment center.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising verifying a right to access the fulfillment center.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of verifying a right to access the fulfillment center further comprises verifying the customer.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein verifying the customer comprises verifying the customer using identification as corresponds to the customer.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of verifying a right to access the fulfillment center further comprises requesting a required code from the customer after directing the communication to the fulfillment center.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising determining billing procedures for the communication when the access is verified.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of delivering the information from the fulfillment center further comprises automatically prompting the customer to select information.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising, in response to said prompting, receiving at least one customer entered information source code to select information.

22. The method of claim 10 wherein delivering the information from the fulfillment center further comprises establishing a communication between the customer and a live system operator.

23. The method of claim 10 wherein delivering the information from the fulfillment center further comprises transmitting voice and data.

24. The method of claim 10 wherein delivering the information from the fulfillment center further comprises delivering a video message.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein delivering a video message further comprises displaying at least a portion of the video message.

26. The method of claim 10 wherein delivering the information from the fulfillment center further comprises automatic downloading of data to the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

27. The method of claim 10 wherein delivering the information from the fulfillment center further comprises downloading information as corresponds to the specialized access code to the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein downloading information further comprises downloading data.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein downloading information further comprises downloading audio information.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein said data is displayable on said telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein delivering the information from the fulfillment center further comprises transmitting financial data.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the information from the fulfillment center further comprises information that serves, at least in part, to facilitate at least one of:

a consumer transaction;

a financial transaction; and

a promotional exchange.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein delivering the information from the fulfillment center further comprises delivering the information in visual form to the customer from the fulfillment center through the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein delivering the information from the fulfillment center further comprises providing information in visual form to be viewed by the customer at a subsequent time.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein delivering the information from the fulfillment center further comprises providing coupon information.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein providing coupon information further comprises providing the coupon information such that the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device may print a coupon when the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device is operatively connected to a printing device.

37. The method of claim 30 wherein delivering the information from the fulfillment center further comprises generating printed matter via the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

38. The method of claim 30 further comprising modifying billing procedures in response to the specialized access code.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device is roaming.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein delivering the information comprises delivering the information free of charge to the customer.

41. The method of claim 30 wherein delivering the information comprises delivering the information free of charge to the customer.

42. The method of claim 30 further comprising determining based on the specialized access code that the customer is not to be charged for air time for the communication.

43. The method of claim 30 wherein the delivered information relates to a provider of products or services and wherein the method further comprises generating a record of airtime or other charges associated with providing the information to the customer.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the provider is a third party provider and said step of generating a record comprises generating a billing record according to a preestablished billing arrangement with said third party provider.

45. A method of providing services to a customer comprising:

providing access to a fulfillment center via a telecommunications transmitting and receiving device using a specialized access code wherein the specialized access code has a fewer number of characters than an ordinary telephone number and comprising at least one non-alphabetic/non-numeric character;

receiving a communication from a telecommunications transmitting and receiving device comprising a specialized access code and information regarding the customer, the information regarding the customer including a customer identifier and at least one of an advertiser identifier or a product identifier; and

delivering the services from the fulfillment center to the customer based at least in part on the specialized access code and the information regarding the customer including the customer identifier and the at least one of the advertiser identifier or the product identifier.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein delivering the services further comprises facilitating at least one of:

a consumer transaction;

a financial transaction; and

a promotional exchange.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein delivering the services further comprises at least one of:

connecting the customer to a live system operator;

transmitting voice and data;

delivering a video message;

automatic downloading of data to the telecommunications transmitting and receiving device;

downloading information as corresponds to the specialized access code to the telecommunications transmitting and receiving device;

downloading data;

downloading audio information;

transmitting financial data;

providing coupon information;

generating printed matter via the telecommunications transmitting and receiving device; and

providing information in visual form to be viewed by the customer at a subsequent time.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein delivering a video messages further comprises displaying at least a portion of the video message.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein providing coupon information further comprises printing the coupon information via the telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

50. The method of claim 45 further comprising modifying billing procedures when the customer uses the specialized access code.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein the telecommunications transmitting and receiving device is a wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device that is roaming.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising delivering the services free of charge to the customer.

54. The method of claim 45 further comprising determining based on the specialized access code that the customer is not to be charged for air time for delivery of the services.

55. The method of claim 45 wherein the specialized access code comprises indicia of at least one of the fulfillment center and the services to be delivered from the fulfillment center.

53. The method of claim w45 further comprising delivering the services free of charge to the customer.