System for routing text messages (SMS) to allow for two-way mobile to computer communication

• US 9,247,400 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Text 2 Them Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alvin Butler Sr
• Inventors: Butler, Alvin Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nealon, William
• Application Number:
  US12/928,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20120282953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,876 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/412.1, 455/11.1, 455/514, 455/518, 709/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• 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: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A process and system allowing mobile users to initiate a two-way text message (SMS) conversation with a subscriber'"'"'s computer. The steps consist of using a mobile user'"'"'s mobile device to send a SMS containing a keyword and short code to a Short Message Service Center (SMSC), receiving an SMS reply containing an Individual Identification Code Numbers (IICN) which establishes two-way SMS communication between mobile user and business/subscriber. The invention further establishes IICN network which allows businesses to create-a SMS network, previously only available with voice phone networks, providing the Mobile User with the options of auto SMS replay, SMS conversation transfer, or interactive two-way SMS communication with a live SMS operator.

Claims

1. A method of allowing a mobile user to initiate a two-way communication conversation with a subscriber computer, the method comprising:

using a mobile device to send a text message containing a keyword and a short code, to a Short Message Service Center (SMSC);

responsive to receiving the text message, the SMSC scans the text message for a keyword and a short code, provides a programmed automatic reply text message to the mobile user and sends mobile device information to the subscriber computer;

responsive to receiving the mobile device information, the subscriber computer utilizes the mobile device information to establish a two-way text conversation, via email, between the mobile user and the subscriber computer, wherein once the two-way text conversation is established between the mobile user and the subscriber computer, the communication through the SMSC is by-passed, the use of an email based connection eliminating the need for the SMSC;

displaying one or more two-way text conversations wherein the conversations may be established simultaneously.

2. The method of, in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mobile device information is stored and the information can be used for future SMS communications with the mobile user by-passing the SMSC.