Location based format selection for information services

• US 8,488,753 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Piercy, Larry, Pfau, Doug, Trinkler, Melissa Dawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US12/971,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20110086624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.17, 379/93.24, 455/517, 455/519, 455/536.1, 455/557, 455/446, 455/445, 455/412.1
• US Class Current: 379/90.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

In a communication system, a wireless transceiver receives a request message from a caller system for an information service. The information service is associated with an Internet address and an image format. A control system determines a location of the caller system. The control system selects a text message format for the information service based on the location of the caller system. The control system transmits a setup message to the information service indicating the selected text message format. In some examples, the control system receives a text message from the information service responsive to the set-up message, and the wireless transceiver transfers the text message to the caller system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communication network, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving a request message from a caller system for an information service that is associated with an Internet address and an image format;

determining a location of the caller system;

selecting a text message format for the information service based on the location of the caller system; and

transmitting a setup message to the information service indicating the selected text message format.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a text message from the information service responsive to the set-up message and transferring the text message to the caller system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the location comprises a wireless sector including the caller system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the location is associated with a crowded event and wherein selecting the text message format for the information service based on the location of the caller system further comprises selecting the text message format during the event but not selecting the text message format before and after the event.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the text message format for the information service based on the location of the caller system comprises querying a database with the location and receiving a response indicating the text message format.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein querying the database with the location further comprises querying the database with the information service.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising, in the database, translating the location and the information service into the text message format indication.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising updating the database to associate the location and the information service with the text message format.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising updating the database in response to an event associated with the location.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the caller system comprises a mobile telephone.

11. A communication system comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly receive a request message from a caller system for an information service that is associated with an Internet address and an image format; and

a control system configured to determine a location of the caller system, select a text message format for the information service based on the location of the caller system, and transmit a setup message to the information service indicating the selected text message format.

12. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the control system is configured to receive a text message from the information service responsive to the set-up message and the wireless transceiver is configured to wirelessly transfer the text message to the caller system.

13. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the location comprises a wireless sector including the caller system.

14. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the location is associated with a crowded event and the control system is configured to select the text message format for the information service based on the location of the caller system during the event but not to select the text message format before and after the event.

15. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the control system comprises a database and the control system is configured to query the database with the location and receive a response indicating the text message format.

16. The communication system of claim 15 wherein the control system is configured to query the database with the information service.

17. The communication system of claim 16 wherein the database is configured to translate the location and the information service into the text message format indication.

18. The communication system of claim 17 further comprising an update system configured to update the database to associate the location and the information service with the text message format.

19. The communication system of claim 18 wherein the update system is configured to update the database in response to an event associated with the location.

20. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the caller system comprises a mobile telephone.