Match maker service

• US 8,934,928 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Harju, Teemu, Alakoski, Timo, Vesterinen, Matti I., Varma, Manish, Schwarz, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US12/230,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20100048228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,336 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/403, 4554561-4563, 455/425, 455/422.1, 455/440, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, apparatuses and systems for providing a service, utilizing Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), to a user in a communications network. According to one example of the invention, a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message is received from an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) server or gateway. Relevant content is then retrieved from a database upon receiving the HTTP message. A USSD message content is created based on a set of parameters, the USSD message content is sent to the USSD server, and the relevant content may then be provided to a user terminal in a text message.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message from an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) server;

retrieving content comprising user information from a database upon receiving the HTTP message;

creating a USSD message content based on a set of parameters received in the HTTP message and based on the retrieved content;

sending the USSD message content to the USSD server;

sending a first USSD menu comprising a plurality of selection options to the USSD server based on the user information; and

sending a second USSD menu comprising a plurality of selection options to the USSD server based on the user information and a user answer to the first USSD menu.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of parameters comprises at least one of Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN), type of USSD request, end user answer, USSD session ID, user language, and location.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sending of the message content comprises sending the message content in an HTTP response body.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing user information in the database.

5. The method according to 1, wherein the database is configured to store information in a logical tree structure.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the content to a user terminal in a text message.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the text message comprises a short message service (SMS) message.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the providing comprises providing the content to a user terminal in a text message via an SMS gateway.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises contact information of a supplier.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message from an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) server;

a processor configured to retrieve content comprising user information from a database upon receiving the HTTP message, and to create an USSD message content based on a set of parameters received in the HTTP message and based on the retrieved content; and

a transmitter configured to send the USSD message content to the USSD server, send a first USSD menu comprising a plurality of selection options to the USSD server based on the user information, and send a second USSD menu comprising a plurality of selection options to the USSD server based on the user information and a user answer to the first USSD menu.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the set of parameters comprises at least one of Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN), type of USSD request, end user answer, USSD session ID, user language, and location.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the USSD message content is sent in an HTTP response body.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to store user information in the database.

14. The apparatus according to 10, wherein the database is configured to store information in a logical tree structure.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the transmitter is further configured to provide the content to a user terminal in a text message.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the text message comprises a short message service (SMS) message.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the content is provided to a user terminal in a text message via an SMS gateway.

18. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the content comprises contact information of a supplier.

19. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus comprises a web server.

20. A method comprising:

receiving an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) request for content from a user of a USSD server;

transforming the USSD request to a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request; and

indicating a service menu path the user has taken in a uniform resource identifier (URI) of the HTTP request,

wherein the service menu path comprises a plurality of selections made by the user.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) request for content from a user of a USSD server;

a processor configured to transform the USSD request to a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request; and

an indicating unit configured to indicate a service menu path the user has taken in a uniform resource identifier (URI) of the HTTP request,

wherein the service menu path comprises a plurality of selections made by the user.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the apparatus comprises a USSD-to-HTTP gateway.

23. A computer program, embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message from an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) server;

retrieving content comprising user information from a database upon receiving the HTTP message;

creating a USSD message content based on a set of parameters received in the HTTP message and based on the retrieved content;

sending the USSD message content to the USSD server;

sending a first USSD menu comprising a plurality of selection options to the USSD server based on the user information; and

sending a second USSD menu comprising a plurality of selection options to the USSD server based on the user information and a user answer to the first USSD menu.

24. The computer program according to claim 23, wherein the method further comprises:

providing the content to a user terminal in a text message.

25. A computer program, embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) request for content from a user of a USSD server;

transforming the USSD request to a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request; and

indicating a service menu path the user has taken in a uniform resource identifier (URI) of the HTTP request,

wherein the service menu path comprises a plurality of selections made by the user.

26. An apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message from an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) server;

retrieving means for retrieving content comprising user information from a database upon receiving the HTTP message;

creating means for creating a USSD message content based on a set of parameters received in the HTTP message and based on the retrieved content;

a first sending means for sending the USSD message content to the USSD server;

a second sending means for sending a first USSD menu comprising a plurality of selection options to the USSD server based on the user information; and

a third sending means for sending a second USSD menu comprising a plurality of selection options to the USSD server based on the user information and a user answer to the first USSD menu.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising providing means for providing the content to a user terminal in a text message.

28. An apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) request for content from a user of a USSD server;

transforming means for transforming the USSD request to a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request; and

indicating means for indicating a service menu path the user has taken in a uniform resource identifier (URI) of the HTTP request,

wherein the service menu path comprises a plurality of selections made by the user.