System, method, and apparatus for storing, transmitting, receiving, and using structured data using un-structured text message bodies

• US 9,680,779 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2014
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jack L. Marovets
• Original Assignee: Jack L. Marovets
• Inventors: Marovets, Jack L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US14/551,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20150106458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 455466, 455418, 4555501, 705 141
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• 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 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of unstructured and untagged text message protocols to form a text message body that can be used to transmit and receive semi-structured, or structured text message bodies, which optionally may also use various, widely used Markup Languages. The semi-structure, or structure used within the text message body can be a format, such as, but not limited to, partitioning and/or comma delimited values, etc. The tagging for use with the text message body can be a protocol, such as, but not limited to, Extensible Markup Language (XML).

Claims

1. A method of using a human readable unstructured text message body to store and communicate a data set, the method comprising:

storing the human readable unstructured text message body in a machine readable memory of a first device, wherein the human readable unstructured text message body comprises plain text data elements of the data set representing a unique coupon identifier for an instance of a mobile coupon, a value for the mobile coupon, and a retailer for redeeming the mobile coupon;

communicating a text message comprising the human readable unstructured text message body from the first device to a mobile device configured to receive the text message, wherein the communicating is performed over a communications network;

using at least one of the data elements received from the text message from the mobile device to transfer the mobile coupon.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the text message is an SMS text message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the text message is an MMS text message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plain text data elements are tagged within the text unstructured text message body.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the tags are XML tags.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device is a mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the mobile device is a cellular phone.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a bar code encoding the data elements of the text message body.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the data elements identify a user associated with the first device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the data elements include a purchase associated with a user of the first device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the transfer of the mobile coupon is to a retailer for redemption.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the plain text data elements of the data set further include an expiration date for the mobile coupon.