Telephone initiated text message response system

• US 8,296,241 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: StarPound Corporation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: StarPound Corporation Incorporated
• Inventors: Rosenhaft, Matthew, Brager, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Application Number:
  US13/299,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20120077474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705 16- 18, 705 26- 27, 705/42, 705 64- 79, 707/999, 709201-203, 709217-219, 455/3, 455413-415
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/62 based on trigger specification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking

Abstract

A system for providing text messages in response to telephone initiated service requests that includes a multi-function code, such as “*#” (star, pound), followed by an item code associated with a particular text message. Different item codes correspond to different text messages. The telecommunications switch recognizes the multi-function code as a trigger and responds by sending a data message containing the item code and identification information pertaining to the initiating telephone device to a data fulfillment center, which responds to the data message by sending the text message associated with the item code to the initiating telephone device over a wireless data network. The data fulfillment center may also send an Internet link to the initiating telephone device. A charge for this service may be automatically charged to an account associated with the originating telecommunications device.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a telecommunications initiated text message response service comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of item codes, wherein each item code is associated with one or more text messages;

at a data fulfillment platform, receiving a data message from a telecommunications switch comprising an item code and identification information pertaining to a telecommunications device in response to the telecommunications switch receiving a communication from the telecommunications device on a voice communication channel including a multifunction code and the item code; and

in response to the data message, transmitting the text message associated with the item code to the telecommunications device for display on the telecommunications device via a wireless data network without occupying the voice communication channel with the data message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving location information pertaining to the telecommunications device in the data message;

customizing the text message based on the location information; and

delivering the customized text message to the telecommunications device via the wireless data channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the text message to the telecommunications device comprises the step of transmitting a short messaging system message to the telecommunications device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the item code is associated with a product or service offered for sale and the text message is related to the offer for sale.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting an Internet link to the telecommunications device in response to the data message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data fulfillment center performs the additional step of validating that a user of the telecommunications device is a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service prior to delivering the text message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data fulfillment center performs the additional steps of:

determining that a user of the telecommunications device is not a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated text message response service; and

registering the user as a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated text message response service prior to delivering the text message to the telecommunication device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of registering the user of the telecommunications device as a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated text message response service further comprises the step of conducting a voice communication session with the telecommunications device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications switch delivers an audio or data response to the telecommunications device prior to discontinuing the communication with the telecommunications device.

10. A method for implementing a telecommunications initiated text message response service comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of item codes, wherein each item code is associated with one or more products or services;

at a data fulfillment platform, receiving a data message from a telecommunications switch on a voice communication channel comprising an item code and identification information pertaining to a telecommunications device in response to the telecommunications switch receiving a communication from the telecommunications device including a multifunction code and the selected item code;

in response to the data message, obtaining profile data corresponding to the identification information pertaining to the telecommunications device comprising a response address and delivering the text message associated with the item code to the response address for display on the telecommunications device via a wireless data channel without occupying the voice communication channel with the data message.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting an Internet link to the telecommunications device in response to the data message.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the item code is associated with a product or service offered for sale and the text message is related to the offer for sale.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of receiving user input to define the response address within a user-editable customer profile associated with the data fulfillment platform or the telecommunications device.

14. A method for implementing a telecommunications initiated product or service delivery system comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of item codes, wherein each item code is associated with products or services;

at a data fulfillment platform, receiving a data message from a telecommunications switch comprising an item code and identification information pertaining to a telecommunications device in response to the telecommunications switch receiving a communication from the telecommunications device on a voice communication channel including a multifunction code and the selected item code;

in response to the data message, transmitting an activation message for activating delivery of the product or service identified by the item code for display on the telecommunications device via a wireless data network without occupying the voice communication channel with the data message.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of charging a cost associated with the selected product or service to an account associated with the user or the telecommunications device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing an Internet link to the telecommunications device in response to the data message.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the data fulfillment center performs the additional step of validating that a user of the telecommunications device is a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated product or service delivery service prior to transmitting the activation message.

18. The method of claims 14, wherein the data fulfillment center performs the additional steps of:

determining that a user of the telecommunications is not a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated to the product or service delivery service; and

registering the user as a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated to the product or service delivery service prior to transmitting the activation message.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of registering the user of the telecommunications device as a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated to the product or service delivery service further comprises the step of conducting a voice communication session with the telecommunications device.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the telecommunications switch delivers an audio or data response to the telecommunications device prior to discontinuing the communication.