Interactive messaging system

• US 20060240851A1
• Filed: 07/05/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vocel, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vocel, Inc.
• Inventors: Washburn, Carl
• Application Number:
  US11/175,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20060240851A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

The interactive messaging system of the present invention provides for an interactive communication process between users, both senders and recipients. The sender composes a message by filling in a template stored in data services. Once completed, the sender pushes the message to a recipient'"'"'s wireless device if the wireless device contains a WAP browser, which is capable of receiving pushed messages. Typically the message includes a question along with answers for the recipient to choose from. Each answer corresponds with a pre-assigned response key and the recipient answers the question by selecting one of the pre-assigned response keys. The recipient'"'"'s response is available to the sender in the form of an e-mail, WAP Push, on-line access or interactive message that is shown to the sender on an on-line status screen.

Claims

1. A method of using interactive messaging to send interactive messages to a user'"'"'s wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:

sending an interactive message to a user'"'"'s wireless device informing the user of at least one opportunity that the user can participate in;

requesting a response for participating in the at least one opportunity by the user selecting a pre-assigned message key;

sending an alert invitation to the user requesting instructions on whether to purchase the at least one opportunity; and

deciding whether to purchase the at least one opportunity by selecting a pre-assigned message key from the screen pushed to the user'"'"'s wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one opportunity is selected from the group comprising a ringtone, a wallpaper, application, survey and hardware device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive message is sent to the user using any enabling push technology.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of requesting the user enter personal information if the user agrees to participate in the at least one opportunity.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one opportunity pushed to the user'"'"'s wireless device is determined by the user'"'"'s personal information.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one opportunity pushed to the user'"'"'s wireless device is determined by priorities determined by a dashboard user.

7. A method of customizing an alert invitation to send interactive messages to a user'"'"'s wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:

sending an interactive message to a user'"'"'s wireless device informing the user of at least one opportunity that the user can participate in;

entering information into the interactive message to define characteristics of the user;

creating a set of criteria from information the user has entered into the interactive message; and

sending the alert invitation to the user based upon the set criteria.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information comprises, the user'"'"'s age range, the users, sex, the user'"'"'s type of wireless device and the frequency the user would like to receive the alert message.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the alert invitation is selecting from the group comprising an invitation to purchase a ringtone, an invitation to purchase a wallpaper, an invitation to purchase an application, an invitation to purchase a hardware device and an invitation to participate in a survey.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user receives compensation for participating in the survey.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the compensation is selected from the group consisting of money off a bill, free minutes, free products and free features.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the interactive message is sent to the user using any enabling push technology.

13. A dashboard user creating an invitation based alert system, the method comprising the steps of;

defining a group of dashboard users;

defining a security role for each of the set of dashboard users;

creating a profile for at least one user;

using the profile of the at least one user to determine when to send an alert invitation to the at least one user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the group of dashboard users comprises a carrier, a provider, a publisher and an agreggator.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the group of dashboard users creates a 3^rd party survey to obtain users opinion of specific questions.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the users receive compensation for participating in the 3^rd party survey.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the compensation is selected from the group consisting of money off a bill, free minutes, free products and free features.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the alert invitation is sent to the user using any enabling push technology.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the profile of the at least one user a carrier survey opt-in invitation comprises, the user'"'"'s age range, the user'"'"'s sex, the user'"'"'s wireless device, which alert invitations the user would like to receive and the frequency in which the user would like to receive the alert invitations.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the alert invitations are selected from the group consisting of an invitation to purchase a ringtone, an invitation to purchase a wallpaper, an invitation to purchase an application, an invitation to purchase a hardware device and an invitation to participate in a 3^rd party survey.