Mobile Device Notification with Options

• US 20070298764A1
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clayton, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,657,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Notifying users of mobile communication devices, which may include providing options for response to notifications. A component of a communication service provider system receives an indication of a notification for a user of a mobile communication device. The notification may be received from a source internal or external to the communication service provider system. A component of the mobile communication service provider formats the notification so that it is compatible with the mobile communication device of the user and sends the notification to the mobile communication device of the user. The notification may include one or more options to respond to the notification using the mobile communication device. The notification may, for example, pertain to minutes-of-use in a mobile communication service plan, or to other information, including notifications from outside service providers such as airlines, banks, restaurants, hotels, libraries, credit card companies, etc.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system, a method of notifying a user of usage of units of a service plan having a predetermined number of allocated units, the method comprising:

receiving an indication that a user has completed a communication on a mobile device of the user;

based on receiving the indication that the user has completed the communication on the mobile device, determining whether a next predetermined threshold has been exceeded as a result of the completed communication, wherein the determination is made in a system external to the device, and wherein the next predetermined threshold is based, at least in part, on the predetermined number of allocated units; and

upon determining that the user has exceeded the next predetermined threshold, sending a notification indicating that the threshold has been exceeded.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes an option to respond to the notification using the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes options to respond to the notification using the mobile device, and wherein one of the included options allows the user to automatically subscribe to a new communication service plan having an increased number of allocated units.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is a text message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the text message is sent using short message service (SMS).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is an electronic mail.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes an option to respond to the notification using the device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is a telephone call.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is initiated by the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is initiated by someone other than the user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification formatting is based, at least in part, on preferences of the user.

12. In a wireless communication system, a method of notifying a user of usage of units of a communication service plan having a predetermined number of allocated units, the method comprising:

receiving a request to place a call on a mobile device associated with the user;

based on the received request, determining whether a predetermined threshold has been exceeded as a result of a previous call made by the user; and

upon determining that the user has exceeded the next predetermined threshold, sending a notification indicating that the threshold has been exceeded.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification includes an option to respond to the notification using the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification includes options to respond to the notification using the mobile device, and wherein one of the included options allows the user to automatically subscribe to a new communication service plan having an increased number of allocated units.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification is a text message.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the text message is sent using short message service (SMS).

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification is an electronic mail.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification includes an option to respond to the notification using the device.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification is a telephone call.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification is initiated by the user.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification is initiated by someone other than the user.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification formatting is based, at least in part, on preferences of the user.