System and method for using symbol command language within a communications network via SMS or internet communications protocols

• US 8,364,701 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Message4U Pty. Ltd. (Sinch AB)
• Original Assignee: Bulletin.Net Inc
• Inventors: Macrae, David N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ehichioya, Fred I
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACKES, KRIS E
• Application Number:
  US12/972,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 707/769
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A system and method for generating actions utilizing predefined commands within a communications network comprises predefined commands called symbol commands. These are character strings entered into a platform during an internet or SMS communications protocol session. The method and system can be used via the internet or a GSM network and is well-suited for mobile use. In addition, utilization of keywords and alpha-numeric or other character symbols to form symbol commands allows for complex command structuring. A search process is used in combination with a symbol command and a symbol command directory to identify specific goods and services, or related symbol commands. In addition, a platform performs specific predetermined actions in response to the symbol command such as making product purchases or providing services such as location-based services, coupon delivery or travel ticketing. The symbol command structure and platform will also utilize identification information associated with an individual user. Furthermore, the platform may implement a response using location information associated with the user from the country code, area code or prefix code of a user'"'"'s telephone number, or use GPS location information associated with the user'"'"'s internet device. The symbol command system and method provide an improved form of access to products and services via the internet or SMS.

Claims

1. A symbol command message processing platform connected to a communications network for distributing goods or services, said platform comprising:

a computing device and a computer operations program, module or programming code for processing a symbol command message;

a short message service (SMS) platform to receive the symbol command message as an SMS message from a user, the symbol command message comprising a basic symbol command and at least one of a functional command or a keyword command that modifies the basic symbol command, wherein the functional command defines a quantitative parameter of a good or service associated with the basic symbol command, and the keyword command defines a qualitative parameter of a good or service associated with the basic symbol command;

a symbol command directory comprising a database of basic symbol commands that are associated with one or more goods or services and one or more functional and keyword commands;

a comparison program, module or programming code for comparing the symbol command message with the database of symbol commands in the symbol command directory; and

a distribution program, module or programming code for implementing the distribution of a good or service associated in the symbol command directory with the basic symbol command according to the at least one functional command or keyword command in the SMS message to prevent a direct interfacing between the user and a separate vendor distributing the good or service.

2. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the symbol command directory includes one or more smart symbol commands and a comparison program, module or code for comparing a smart symbol command in the symbol command message with one or more smart symbol commands listed in the database of the symbol command directory.

3. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the symbol command directory includes one or more keyword commands and a comparison program, module or code for comparing a keyword command in the symbol command message with one or more keyword commands listed in the database of the symbol command directory.

4. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the symbol command directory includes one or more function commands and a comparison program, module or code for comparing a function command in the symbol command message with one or more function commands listed in the database of the symbol command directory.

5. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the computer operations program, module or code is associated with a database for maintaining a profile associated with a user, said database including at least one user identification data field for holding user identity data.

6. The platform according to claim 5, wherein the user identity data is associated with a phone number, a fixed IP address, an identifier defined by the user, or another identifier associated with the user.

7. The platform according to claim 5, wherein the user identity data is associated with a MSISDN number, a part of a MSISDN number, a fixed IP address, or an ID defined by or associated with the user.

8. The platform according to claim 5, wherein the computer operations program, module or code includes coding for a process for accepting automated input of data associated with a user'"'"'s identity.

9. The platform according to claim 8, wherein the automated input of data is loadable from a location associated with a communications network connectable with the platform or a user'"'"'s internet device.

10. The platform according to claim 5, wherein a platform database includes at least one data field for user billing information data.

11. The platform according to claim 5, wherein a platform database includes at least one data field for user authentication data for authenticating the identity of a user when a) providing a user access to the platform or b) processing a purchase or distribution of goods or services distributed through the platform.

12. The platform according to claim 11, wherein the user authentication data corresponds with a PIN associated with the user.

13. The platform according to claim 5, wherein a platform database includes at least one data field for holding location information for locating or delivering goods or services distributed using the platform.

14. The platform according to claim 13, wherein the data field for location information is configured to hold data associated with a global positioning system location.

15. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the computer operations program, module or code includes coding for sending a response to a user after a symbol command is processed at the platform.

16. The platform according to claim 15, wherein the coding for a response specifies sending the response to a user interface.

17. The platform according to claim 15, wherein the coding for a response specifies sending the response by IM, SMS, MMS or email message.

18. The platform according to claim 1, further comprising:

an SMS interface for a user device, the SMS interface adapted to receive user input of the SMS message.

19. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the SMS message comprises an addressing text field adapted to contain an address of the SMS platform.

20. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the SMS message comprises an addressing text field adapted to contain an input access code directed to an address of the SMS platform.

21. The platform according to claim 20, wherein the input access code is a reply to a push address including at least one of a short code number, a long code number, or a number proprietary to an SMS service provider.

22. The platform according to claim 1, wherein the SMS message comprises an embedded code including one of an IP address or an email address.

23. The platform according to claim 1, further comprising:

a web page presentable to a user, the web page comprising an embedded reply number, wherein the embedded reply number is selectable by the user to establish an SMS connection though which to transmit the SMS message.

24. A short message service (SMS) symbol command message processing platform connected to a communications network for distributing goods or services, the platform comprising:

a computing device and a computer operations program, module or programming code for receiving, from a user, and processing an SMS message comprising a symbol command message having a basic symbol command and at least one of a functional command or a keyword command that modifies the basic symbol command, wherein the functional command defines a quantitative parameter of a good or service associated with the basic symbol command, and the keyword command defines a qualitative parameter of a good or service associated with the basic symbol command;

a symbol command directory comprising a database of basic symbol commands that are associated with one or more goods or services and one or more functional and keyword commands;

a comparison program, module or programming code for comparing the symbol commands in the SMS message with the database of symbol commands in the symbol command directory; and

a distribution program, module or programming code for implementing the distribution of a good or service associated in the symbol command directory with the basic symbol command according to the at least one functional command or keyword command in the SMS message to prevent a direct interfacing between the user and a separate vendor distributing the good or service.

25. A method for distributing a good or service using a short message service (SMS) platform, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user and at the platform, an SMS message having a basic symbol command and at least one of a functional command or a keyword command that modifies the basic symbol command, wherein the functional command defines a quantitative parameter of a good or service associated with the basic symbol command, and the keyword command defines a qualitative parameter of a good or service associated with the basic symbol command;

comparing at the platform the symbol commands in the SMS message to basic symbol commands and functional and keyword commands listed in a symbol command directory associated with a database; and

implementing a response by the platform based on the symbol command message to prevent a direct interfacing between the user and a separate vendor implementing the response.