KEYWORD-BASED SERVICES FOR MOBILE DEVICE MESSAGES

• US 20100279667A1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Bargen, Bradley L., Wehrs, Michael E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,838,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services

Abstract

A software and/or hardware facility that identifies keywords in a message received by a mobile device and provides advertising and contextual services to the mobile device based on a keyword selection by a user. The facility analyzes a received message to identify keywords in the message. The keywords are identified based on user-specific information that is maintained on the mobile device. The message is displayed to the user with the identified keywords highlighted to the user. When the user selects a keyword, the facility identifies one or more advertisements that are targeted to a user in a manner that takes into account user-specific information. The facility also identifies one or more contexts that are related to the keyword. The facility displays the identified advertisements and contexts to the user. If the user selects an advertisement or context, relevant services are called to deliver responsive content to the user.

Claims

1. A method on a mobile device of providing keyword-based services to message recipients, the method comprising:

receiving a text message at a mobile device;

identifying a plurality of keywords in the received text message, wherein at least some of the plurality of keywords are identified by comparing words in the text message with a keyword inventory that is maintained on the mobile device;

selecting a subset of the identified keywords based on user-specific information stored on the mobile device;

displaying the received text message to a user of the mobile device, wherein the text of the displayed message is formatted to distinguish the subset of identified keywords in the text from non-identified keyword text in the displayed message;

associating each of the subset of identified keywords with at least one service;

receiving a selection of an identified keyword in the displayed message by the user;

displaying to the user at least one service associated with the selected keyword;

receiving a selection of a displayed service from the user;

invoking the selected service to request additional information associated with the keyword; and

receiving information associated with the keyword from the selected service and presenting the received information to the user.

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

3. The method of claim 1, wherein invoking the selected service comprises requesting information from a remote service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein invoking the selected service comprises initiating a call from the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein invoking the selected service comprises requesting information from a service on the device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a record describing the invocation of the selected service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the record comprises an identification of the selected service and the selected keyword.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of identified words is selected based in part on a frequency of use of the identified words by the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-specific information is a market segment of the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein invoking the selected service comprises transmitting the identified keyword and user-specific information to the selected service.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user-specific information is a market segment of the user.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising requesting approval of the user before transmitting the user-specific information to the selected service.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information is an advertisement.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information is a map.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information is search results.

16. A system for providing keyword-based services to recipients of messages on a mobile device, the system comprising:

an identification component configured to identify a plurality of keywords in a received text message by comparing text in the text message with the contents of a keyword inventory that is maintained on the mobile device;

a filtering component configured to select a subset of keywords from the identified plurality of keywords, the filtering component selecting the subset of keywords based at least in part on user-specific information that is maintained on the mobile device, each of the subset of keywords having an associated one or more services;

a display component configured to display the received text message to the user and to display one or more services associated with a keyword when a user selects one of the subset of keywords in the received text message; and

a communication component configured to receive a selection of a keyword and an associated remote service by a user, the communication component invoking the service to obtain additional information associated with the selected keyword for display to the user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the user-specific information is a user location.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the user-specific information is a date and time.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the user-specific information is user interests.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the user-specific information is user behavior.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the user-specific information is user preferences and settings.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the user-specific information is a market segment of the user.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the communication component transmits the selected keyword and user-specific information of the user to the remote service when invoking the selected service.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the communication component further requests approval of the user before transmitting the user-specific information to the selected service.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the user-specific information is a market segment of the user.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the market segment of the user is generated from information received from the user.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the market segment of the user is generated from information received from a service provider of the user.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the market segment of the user is generated from profiling messages received by the user.

29. The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.

30. The system of claim 16, wherein the additional information is an advertisement.

31. The system of claim 16, wherein the additional information is a map.

32. The system of claim 16, wherein the additional information is search results.

33. The system of claim 16, wherein the subset of keywords is a proper subset.

34. The system of claim 16, wherein the invoked service is a remote service.

35. The system of claim 16, wherein the display component further formats the text of the subset of keywords in the received text message differently than other text in the text message.

36. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a mobile device, cause the mobile device to:

receive a message at the mobile device;

identify at least one keyword in the received message, wherein the at least one keyword is identified by comparing words in the message with a keyword inventory;

select a subset of the at least one identified keyword based on user-specific information stored on the mobile device;

display the received message to a user of the mobile device, wherein the message is formatted to distinguish the selected subset from non-identified keywords in the displayed message;

receive from the user a selection of an identified keyword in the displayed message;

display to the user at least one service associated with the selected keyword;

receive from the user a selection of a displayed service; and

invoke the selected service.

37. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the subset of the at least one identified keyword is selected based in part on a frequency of use of the identified words by the user.

38. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein invoking the selected service comprises transmitting the selected keyword and user-specific information to the selected service.

39. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the user-specific information is a market segment of the user.

40. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to request approval of the user before transmitting the user-specific information to the selected service.

41. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to receive an advertisement associated with the selected keyword.