Device based telecommunications initiated data fulfillment system

• US 8,260,267 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VHT Starstar LLC
• Original Assignee: Zoove Corporation (Medallia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Han, Wen Khang
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US11/999,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20090149159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,735 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/418, 455/518, 455/519, 455/521, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 418/406, 418/407, 418/414.1, 418/414.2, 418/418, 418/550.1, 418/552.1, 418/553.1, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A system and method for service fulfillment is based on service invocation with a preprogrammed communication device. The communication device recognizes special multi-function code digit sequences to cause service invocation. The preprogrammed communication device, upon recognition of a multi-function code, selects a communication channel or messaging protocol and forwards information related to the service invocation to a service fulfillment platform. The communication channel or messaging protocol may be selected based on availability, optimization, preprogrammed logic associated with the multi-function code, or other parameters related to the service invocation, such as user, subscription, registration, location or device ID. The preprogrammed communication device permits service invocation without reconfiguration of a communication network to which the communication device is coupled. The communication device can be reconfigured or reprogrammed to recognize and respond to different multi-function codes.

Claims

1. A system operable to permit a user to initiate a service invocation with a communication device coupled to a communication network, comprising:

a function identifier that includes a non-numeric code prefix provided to the communication device for identifying a service invocation;

an interface in the communication device configured to receive an input sequence that includes an input function code that identifies a service invocation;

a processing engine in the communication device being communicatively coupled to the interface and being operative to determine if the input function code identifies the service invocation in accordance with the function identifier;

one or more of a communication channel or a messaging protocol available to the communication device to permit transmission of information related to the service invocation via the communication network;

a selection criterion provided to the communication device to permit selection of one or more of the communication channel or the messaging protocol for the information transmission; and

the processing engine being operable, in response to determining that the input function code identifies the service invocation, to evaluate the selection criterion to permit selection of one or more of the communication channel or the messaging protocol for the information transmission.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the input sequence further comprises an input service code for identifying a service to be invoked with the service invocation.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

another communication channel or another messaging protocol available to the communication device for the information transmission in response to evaluation of the selection criterion.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic input in the interface configured to supply the input sequence to the processing engine when the automatic input is actuated.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the selection criterion is formulated in accordance with a process logic using parameters related to the communication device.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the parameters comprise one or more of a user identifier, a user subscription, a registration, a location or device ID.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the selection criterion relates to availability of the one or more of the communication channel or the messaging protocol.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the selection criterion relates to a determination of an optimal one of the one or more of the communication channel or the messaging protocol.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an information criterion provided to the communication device to permit selection of a content for the information transmission.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the non-numeric code prefix included in the function identifier comprises one or more of “

*”

, “

#”

, “

**”

, “

##”

, “

#”

or “

#*”

.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel is one or more of a signal channel or a voice channel.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel is a data channel.

13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a service center operable to communicate with the communication device to modify the function identifier or provide another function identifier to the communication device.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information transmission further comprises one or more of the function identifier, the input sequence, a mobile directory number (MDN), communication device brand, model type, electronic serial number (ESN), international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), screen size, location, owner or user subscription profile or user subscriptions.

15. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a service fulfillment platform operable to provide service fulfillment upon receiving a notification from the communication device, the service fulfillment being provided through one or more of email, voice, data, postal mail or fax.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the service fulfillment platform further comprises a proxy for private data available in relation to the service invocation from the communication device.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the service fulfillment platform provides predetermined private data to a service provider in accordance with settings provided by the communication device, user or owner.

18. A method for permitting a user to invoke a service with a communication device in a communication network, comprising:

receiving an input sequence at the communication device to identify a service invocation;

determining that a function identifier in the input sequence that includes a non-numeric code prefix identifies the service invocation;

in response to determining that the function identifier identifies the service invocation, evaluating a selection criterion for selecting one or more of a communication channel or messaging protocol to permit transmission of information related to the service invocation; and

sending a message associated with the identified service invocation using the selected one or more communication channel or messaging protocol.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein receiving the input sequence further comprises receiving an input service code for identifying a service to be invoked with the service invocation.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising selecting another communication channel or another messaging protocol for sending the message.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising providing an automatic input configured to provide the input sequence when the automatic input is actuated.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising formulating the selection criterion with process logic using parameters related to the communication device.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the parameters include one or more of a user identifier, a user subscription, a registration, a location or device ID.

24. The method according to claim 18, wherein the selection criterion relates to availability of the one or more of the communication channel or the messaging protocol.

25. The method according to claim 18, wherein the selection criterion relates to a determination of an optimal one of the one or more of the communication channel or the messaging protocol.

26. The method according to claim 18, further comprising applying an information criterion to permit selection of a content for the information transmission.

27. The method according to claim 18, wherein the non-numeric code prefix included in the function identifier comprises one or more of “

*”

, “

#”

, “

**”

, “

##”

, “

#”

or “

#*”

.

28. The method according to claim 18, wherein the communication channel is one or more of a signal channel or a voice channel.

29. The method according to claim 18, wherein the communication channel is a data channel.

30. The method according to claim 18, further comprising reprogramming the communication device to modify or provide another function identifier, a recipient or a selection criterion.

31. The method according to claim 18, wherein sending the message further comprises sending one or more of the input sequence, the function identifier, a mobile directory number (MDN), communication device brand, model type, electronic serial number (ESN), international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), screen size, location, owner or user subscription profile or user subscriptions.

32. The method according to claim 18, further comprising sending the message to a service fulfillment platform operable to provide service fulfillment through one or more of email, voice, data, postal mail or fax.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the service fulfillment platform further comprises a proxy for private data available in relation to the service invocation from the communication device.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the service fulfillment platform provides preprogrammed private data to a service provider in accordance with settings provided by the communication device, user or owner.

35. A method for operating an end user communication device in a communication network, comprising:

configuring the communication device to recognize a non-numeric function identifier and a service code in an input sequence, the non-numeric function identifier identifying a service invocation to permit the communication device to determine when the input sequence identifies the service invocation, and the service code identifying a service to be invoked with the service invocation;

in response to determining that an input sequence includes the non-numeric function identifier, evaluating the input sequence to identify the service code that identifies the service to be invoked with the service invocation;

sending a message associated with the indicated service via the communication network.

36. A communication device coupled to a communication network, comprising:

a non-numeric function identifier for identifying a service invocation;

a service code for identifying a service to be invoked with the service invocation;

an interface in the communication device configured to permit receipt of an input sequence that includes an input function identifier and an input service code;

a processing engine in the communication device being communicatively coupled to the interface and being operative to determine if the input function identifier matches the non-numeric function identifier; and

the processing engine being operable, in response to determining that the input function identifier matches the non-numeric function identifier, to evaluate the input sequence to identify the input service code and determine the service to be invoked with the service invocation, based on the input service code matching the service code.