Platform for managing mobile domains and keyword-activated applications

• US 8,175,623 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slack Technologies LLC (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhat, Shailesh, Mukherjee, Shouvick, Sharma, Subramanya, Doshi, Navin, Maheshwari, Mekin, Jain, Anoop
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUA, QUAN M
• Application Number:
  US11/468,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20070293247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,078 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/406, 455/410, 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/418, 455/405, 455/412.1, 455/556.1, 705/34, 705/45
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A mobile domain platform for subscribers (e.g. businesses, institutions, advertising agencies, partners, providers, individuals, and enterprises) to offer a text message based campaign to new or potential customers (users). A subscriber can create a mobile domain by selecting and registering at least one available keyword with a mobile domain platform for the subsequent processing of text messages sent to the platform which include one or more of the registered keywords. Also, the subscriber can register one or more keywords as a root for a mobile domain such that subsequent text messages sent to the mobile domain platform that include additional alphanumeric strings of text (root keyword plus one or more combinations of other predetermined keywords) can be automatically processed to enable one or more different actions. A mobile domain keyword is generally composed of one or more alphanumeric characters, and can be any one of a word, phrase, abbreviation, or character.

Claims

1. A method for managing text messages communicated between a user of a mobile device and a corresponding subscriber to a platform, comprising:

receiving, by the platform, each text message sent by the user to a mobile number that is registered at the platform,

wherein the user is distinct from the corresponding subscriber;

extracting keywords included in each text message and

determining whether at least one of the extracted keywords is registered as a root to the corresponding subscriber in the platform'"'"'s database and corresponds to the mobile number and

identifying extracted keywords that are recognized by the platform but unregistered to the corresponding subscriber;

processing, by the platform, content included in each text message that includes the registered keyword sent by the user to the corresponding mobile number;

recognizing at least one combination of the registered keyword and an other keyword that is unregistered to the corresponding subscriber;

separately processing the content included in each text message with the at least one combination of the registered keyword and the other keyword that is unregistered to the corresponding subscriber in accordance with rules predetermined by the corresponding subscriber; and

delivering, in accordance with delivery rules predetermined by the corresponding subscriber, to the corresponding subscriber at least one result from processing the content included in each text message that includes the at least one combination of the registered keyword and the other keyword,

wherein the delivering includes defining, by the corresponding subscriber, one or more delivery mechanisms configured to deliver the at least one result to the corresponding subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

enabling the corresponding subscriber to search for at least one available keyword and register the at least one available keyword with the platform;

enabling the corresponding subscriber to define at least one application for processing each received text message that includes at least one keyword registered to the corresponding subscriber; and

enabling the corresponding subscriber to define at least one rule for processing each received text message that includes at least one keyword registered to the corresponding subscriber.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the corresponding subscriber to create at least one custom application for processing each received text message that includes at least one keyword registered to the corresponding subscriber; and

enabling the corresponding subscriber to create at least one custom rule for processing each received text message that includes at least one keyword registered to the corresponding subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the other keyword that is unregistered to the corresponding subscriber is predetermined by the corresponding subscriber.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the corresponding subscriber to customize the one or more delivery mechanisms for delivering the result from processing content included in at least one text message; and

enabling the corresponding subscriber to customize the one or more delivery rules for the delivery mechanism, wherein the delivery mechanism includes at least one of a telephone call, email, alert, Instant Messaging (IM), Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), chat, or web page update.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending another text message as a response to the user from at least one of the corresponding subscriber and the platform, wherein content of the response text message is based at least in part on the result of processing the received text message from the user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the corresponding subscriber to define a domain based on at least one keyword registered to the corresponding subscriber, wherein the corresponding subscriber identifies the registered keyword as a root for the domain;

enabling the corresponding subscriber to define a hierarchy of at least one sub-domain based on at least one other keyword arranged in a combination with the root keyword; and

enabling the corresponding subscriber to separately define the processing of each sub-domain based on text message content that includes at least the sub-domain defined by the combination of the root registered keyword and the at least one other keyword.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising

enabling the corresponding subscriber to define at least one application for processing each received text message that includes the sub-domain defined by at least the combination of the root registered keyword and the at least one other keyword;

and

enabling the corresponding subscriber to define at least one rule for processing each received text message that includes the sub-domain defined by at least the combination of the root registered keyword and the at least one other keyword.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

aggregating each result of the processing with a previous result of other text messages that include the registered keyword; and

delivering the aggregate to the corresponding subscriber in a batch delivery.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile number is at least one of a short code mobile number or a full length mobile number that corresponds to the platform, wherein at least one gateway is enabled to communicate received text messages to the platform based at least in part on the mobile number.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling at least one state machine to manage each response to each subsequent text message received from the user if the processing is defined as interactive.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling each subscriber to dynamically bid for each instance of the received text message that includes a particular keyword that is available for registration for a campaign.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the dynamic bidding is further defined by each subscriber for at least one of a period of time or an amount of funds.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling each subscriber to bid for registering at least one available keyword for a campaign for a period of time.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the registered keyword to be included in a result for an online search, wherein the online search result includes at least one instruction to obtain further information by sending at least one text message with the registered keyword to the mobile number that corresponds to the platform.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling each subscriber that is identified to the platform as an owner of a trademark for an available keyword to be only enabled to register that keyword for a campaign.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the processed content includes a representation of at least one coupon that is redeemable with the corresponding subscriber.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the platform to simultaneously enable actions for at least one of a plurality of subscribers or a plurality of users.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing at least one report to the corresponding subscriber regarding the processing of the content included in each text message with at least one keyword registered to the corresponding subscriber; and

enabling the corresponding subscriber to modify the processing of the text message content during a campaign based at least in part on content of a report, wherein each report is provided to the corresponding subscriber in at least of one of real time, periodic, or batch.

20. A system for managing text messages communicated between a user of a client device and a corresponding subscriber, comprising:

a network;

the client device configured to the user to send a text message to a mobile number that is registered at a server,

wherein the user is distinct from the corresponding subscriber; and

the server configured to perform;

extracting keywords included in each text message and

determining whether at least one of the extracted keywords is registered to the corresponding subscriber as a root in the server'"'"'s database and corresponds to the mobile number and

identifying extracted keywords that are recognized by the platform but unregistered to the corresponding subscriber;

processing content included in each text message that includes the registered keyword sent by the user to the corresponding mobile number;

recognizing at least one combination of the registered keyword and an other keyword that is unregistered to the corresponding subscriber;

separately processing the content included in each text message with the at least one combination of the registered keyword and the other keyword that is unregistered to the corresponding subscriber in accordance with rules predetermined by the corresponding subscriber; and

delivering, in accordance with delivery rules predetermined by the corresponding subscriber, to the corresponding subscriber at least one result from processing the content included in each text message that includes the at least one combination of the registered keyword and the other keyword,

wherein the delivering includes defining, by the corresponding subscriber, one or more delivery mechanisms configured to deliver the at least one result to the corresponding subscriber.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the client device is at least one of a mobile device and a network device.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured for:

enabling the corresponding subscriber to search for at least one available keyword and register the at least one available keyword;

enabling the corresponding subscriber to define at least one application for processing each received text message that includes at least one keyword registered to the corresponding subscriber; and

enabling the corresponding subscriber to define at least one rule for processing each received text message that includes at least one keyword registered to the corresponding subscriber.

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

enabling the corresponding subscriber to create at least one custom application for processing each received text message that includes at least one keyword registered to the corresponding subscriber; and

enabling the corresponding subscriber to create at least one custom rule for processing each received text message that includes at least one keyword registered to the corresponding subscriber.

24. The system of claim 20, further comprising enabling the corresponding subscriber to define one or more provided delivery rules for delivering the result from processing content included in at least one text message, wherein the delivery mechanism includes at least one of a telephone call, email, alert, Instant Messaging (IM), Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), chat, or web page update.

25. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

enabling the corresponding subscriber to customize the one or more delivery mechanisms for delivering the result from processing content included in at least one text message; and

enabling the corresponding subscriber to customize the one or more delivery rules for the delivery mechanism, wherein the delivery mechanism includes at least one of a telephone call, email, alert, Instant Messaging (IM), Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), chat, or web page update.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the server is further configured for enabling the corresponding subscriber to define the one or more delivery mechanism for delivering the result from processing content included in at least one text message as at least one of a telephone call, email, alert, Instant Messaging (IM), Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), chat, or web page update.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured further for:

enabling the corresponding subscriber to define a domain based on at least one keyword registered to the corresponding subscriber, wherein the corresponding subscriber identifies the registered keyword as a root for the domain;

enabling the corresponding subscriber to define a hierarchy of at least one sub-domain based on at least one other keyword arranged in a combination with the root keyword; and

enabling the corresponding subscriber to separately define the processing of each sub-domain based on text message content that includes at least the sub-domain defined by the combination of the root registered keyword and the at least one other keyword.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the server is configured further for:

enabling the corresponding subscriber to define at least one application for processing each received text message that includes the sub-domain defined by at least the combination of the root registered keyword and the at least one other keyword; and

enabling the corresponding subscriber to define at least one rule for processing each received text message that includes the sub-domain defined by at least the combination of the root registered keyword and the at least one other keyword.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein the mobile number is at least one of a short code mobile number or a full length mobile number that corresponds to the server, wherein at least one gateway is enabled to communicate received text messages to the server based at least in part on the mobile number.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured further for enabling each subscriber to dynamically bid for each instance of the received text message that includes a particular keyword that is available for registration for a campaign.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the dynamic bidding is further defined by each subscriber for at least one of a period of time or an amount of funds.

32. The system of claim 20, further comprising enabling each subscriber to bid for registering at least one available keyword for a campaign for a period of time.

33. The system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured further for enabling the registered keyword to be included in a result for an online search, wherein the online search result includes at least one instruction to obtain further information by sending at least one text message with the registered keyword to the mobile number that corresponds to the server.

34. The system of claim 20, wherein the processed content includes a representation of at least one coupon that is redeemable with the corresponding subscriber.

35. The system of claim 20, the server is configured to simultaneously enable actions for at least one of a plurality of subscribers or a plurality of users.

36. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

providing at least one report to the corresponding subscriber regarding the processing of the content included in each text message with at least one keyword registered to the corresponding subscriber; and

enabling the corresponding subscriber to modify the processing of the text message content during a campaign based at least in part on content of a report, wherein each report is provided to the corresponding subscriber in at least of one of real time, periodic, or batch.

37. A processor executable non-transitory storage media that includes data for managing text messages communicated between a user of a mobile device and a corresponding subscriber to a platform, wherein the execution of the data enables actions, comprising:

receiving, by the platform, each text message sent by the user to a mobile number that is registered at the platform,

wherein the user is distinct from the corresponding subscriber;

extracting keywords included in each text message and determining whether at least one of the extracted keywords is registered as a root to the corresponding subscriber in the platform'"'"'s database and corresponds to the mobile number and

identifying extracted keywords that are recognized by the platform but unregistered to the corresponding subscriber;

processing, by the platform, content included in each text message that includes the registered keyword sent by the user to the corresponding mobile number;

recognizing at least one combination of the registered keyword and an other keyword that is unregistered to the corresponding subscriber;

separately processing the content included in each text message with the at least one combination of the registered keyword and the other keyword that is unregistered as the root to the corresponding subscriber in accordance with rules predetermined by the corresponding subscriber; and

delivering, in accordance with delivery rules predetermined by the corresponding subscriber, to the corresponding subscriber at least one result from processing the content included in each text message that includes the at least one combination of the registered keyword and the other keyword,

wherein the delivering includes defining, by the corresponding subscriber, one or more delivery mechanisms configured to deliver the at least one result to the corresponding subscriber.

38. A server for managing text messages communicated between a user of a mobile device and a corresponding subscriber, comprising:

a processor;

a first component configured to communicate over a network;

a second component configured to receive, by a platform, each text message sent by the user to a mobile number that is registered at a platform, wherein the user is distinct from the corresponding subscriber;

a third component configured to extract keywords included in each text message and determining whether at least one of the extracted keywords is registered as a root to the corresponding subscriber in the platform'"'"'s database and corresponds to the mobile number and identifying extracted keywords that are recognized by the platform but unregistered to the corresponding subscriber;

a fourth component configured to process for, at the platform, content included in each text message that includes the registered keyword sent by the user to the corresponding mobile number;

a fifth component configured to recognize at least one combination of the registered keyword and an other keyword that is unregistered to the corresponding subscriber;

a sixth component configured to separately process the content included in each text message with the at least one combination of the registered keyword and the other keyword that is unregistered as the root to the corresponding subscriber in accordance with rules predetermined by the corresponding subscriber; and

a seventh component configured to deliver, in accordance with delivery rules predetermined by the corresponding subscriber, to the corresponding subscriber at least one result from processing the content included in each text message that includes the at least one combination of the registered keyword and the other keyword,

wherein the delivering includes defining, by the corresponding subscriber, one or more delivery mechanisms configured to deliver the at least one result to the corresponding subscriber.