System and method for providing mobile device services using SMS communications

• US 8,412,169 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2011
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Inventors: McGary, Faith, Bacon, Ian, Bates, Michael, Baumeister, Christine
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehrpour, Melody
• Application Number:
  US13/198,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20110294477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/422.1, 455/440, 455/432.2, 455/435.1, 455/403, 455/414.1, 455/412, 455/552.1, 455/465, 455/414.3, 370/352, 370/353, 370/395.2, 370/349, 370/310, 370/466, 370/465, 370/490, 709/219, 709/206, 701/201, 702/3, 379/88.17, 379/67.1
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• 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: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

An enhanced services platform has an interface for receiving a communication from a user requesting a desired data. An automated response module parses the communication and retrieves the desired data. The enhanced services platform arranges the desired data into a response message that is sent to the user, where the response message includes an embedded code corresponding to a link allowing the user to re-contact the enhanced services platform. An operator assistance module receives communications from the user initiated via the link to provide further assistance regarding the user'"'"'s request.

Claims

1. An enhanced services platform said platform comprising:

an interface for receiving a communication including an image from a user requesting a desired data;

an object recognition module configured to receive an image from said user;

an automated response module for parsing said communication and retrieving said desired data, said enhanced services platform configured to arrange said desired data. into a response message that is sent to said user,

wherein said response message includes an embedded code corresponding to a link allowing said user to re-contact said enhanced services platform; and

an operator assistance module configured to receive communications from said user initiated via said link to provide further assistance regarding said user'"'"'s request.

2. The enhanced services platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein said parsing said communication includes recognizing text from said image and converting said text to a search.

3. The enhanced services platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein said parsing said communication includes searching for matching images to the image received from said user text from said image and converting said text to a search.

4. The enhanced services platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein said desired data provided in response to said communication including an image from said user provides an automatic connection to an web site connected with said image.

5. The enhanced services platform as claimed in claim 4, wherein said image is an official logo of a commercial entity and wherein said web site is a web site of said commercial entity.

6. The enhanced services platform as claimed in claim 4, wherein said image is an official logo of a commercial entity and wherein said web site is a web site of said commercial entity.

7. The enhanced services platform as claimed in claim 1, wherein if said automated response module, when parsing said communication including an image from said user, recognizes said image as a landmark, said automated response module includes in said response message information and about said landmark.

8. The enhanced services platform as claimed in claim 7, wherein said automated response module includes in said response message information and about historical attraction and commercial entities geographically proximate said landmark.

9. The enhanced services platform as claimed in claim 7, wherein said images received from said users are tagged using time, location and social meta data of said user.

10. The enhanced services platform as claimed in claim 9, wherein said response message related to said image provided by said user includes information from prior users via tagged data.

11. The enhanced services platform as claimed in claim 10, wherein said tagged images from received from said users include an image of a landmark.

12. The enhanced services platform as claimed in claim 11, wherein said response message related to said image provided by said user includes information related to said landmark provided to said system from prior users images and comments about said same landmark.