System and method of providing advertising information to a subscriber through a wireless device

• US 6,397,057 B1
• Filed: 12/24/1997
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Single Touch Interactive Incorporated (SITO Mobile, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: EWireless Inc.
• Inventors: Malackowski, James E., Stathis, Kristi L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGREE, TRACY MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US08/998,183
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26,27 455/414,406-408,422,550,426,405,517 379/114,118,121,122,123,126,124,130,133,134
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/50 for cross-charging network operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/00 Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/52 Interconnection, inter-exchange, reseller billing, billing agreements between different operators, e.g. billing identifier added on the CDR in order to cross charge the other operator, inter-operator accounting, reconciliation, bill directly resellers customers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0435 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 : Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 : Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13333 : Earth satellites
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A information fulfillment system and method for providing information to a caller having a wireless communication device. Upon receipt of sensory prompting and manual or automatic input of access codes to the wireless communication device, the caller'"'"'s identity and the input access code are verified. Thereafter, the call is connected through the PWN and along the PSTN to the system messaging or fulfillment center for automatic or live-operator delivery of the requested information. Automatic verification, connection, and billing modification processes are provided for implementation of the system and method.

Claims

1. A method for providing requested information from an informational fulfillment center to a caller through a public wireless telecommunications network having a wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device consisting of the steps of:

prompting a caller through advertising media to access an informational fulfillment center by providing a non-numeric character-based access code to said caller;

initiating a call to said informational fulfillment center through dialing of said non-numeric character-based access code into said wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device;

switching said call from said public wireless telecommunications network to a public switch telephone network by directly translating said non-numeric character-based access code to a public switch telephone network number to direct said call to said informational fulfillment center, wherein said step of switching further comprises the step of directly reversing the billing charges for said public wireless telecommunications network from the caller to said informational fulfillment center; and

delivering said requested information as designated by said non-numeric character-based access code to said caller from said informational fulfillment center through said wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said non-numeric character-based access code consists of a series of alphabetical characters preceded by a pound character or an asterisk character.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said series of alphabetical characters consists of ten characters.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said series of alphabetical characters consists of seven characters.

6. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said non-numeric character-based access code consists of a series of alpha-numerical characters followed by a pound character or an asterisk character.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said series of alphabetical characters consists of ten characters.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said series of alphabetical characters consists of seven characters.

2. A method for providing requested information from an informational fulfillment center to a caller through a public wireless telecommunications network having a wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device consisting of the steps of:

initiating a call to an informational fulfillment center through dialing of a non-numeric character-based access code into said wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device;

switching said call from said public wireless telecommunications network to a public switch telephone network by directly translating said non-numeric character-based access code to a public switch telephone network number to direct said call to said informational fulfillment center, wherein said step of switching further comprises the step of directly reversing the billing charges for said public wireless telecommunications network from the caller to said informational fulfillment center; and

delivering said requested information as designated by said non-numeric character-based access code to said caller from said informational fulfillment center through said wireless telecommunications transmitting and receiving device.

9. An informational fulfillment system for providing information to a caller having a first wireless telecommunications transmission and reception means including means for generating a first wireless transmission comprising a non-numeric character-based access code, said informational fulfillment system consisting of the steps of:

means for supplying a non-numeric character-based access code to said caller through advertising media;

an informational fulfillment center for delivery of stored information designated by said non-numeric character-based access code;

a second wireless telecommunications transmission and reception means for receiving said first wireless transmission from said first wireless telecommunications transmission and reception means and for delivering a second wireless transmission comprised of said stored information; and

means for transferring said first wireless transmission to said informational fulfillment center by switching said caller from said public wireless telecommunications network to a public switch telephone network by directly translating said non-numeric character-based access code to a public switch telephone network number and for transferring said stored information to said second wireless telecommunications transmission and reception means from said informational fulfillment center, wherein said means for transferring further comprises means for directly reversing the billing charges for said first wireless transmission from the caller to said informational fulfillment center.

10. An informational fulfillment system for providing information to a caller having a first wireless telecommunications transmission and reception means including means for generating a first wireless transmission comprising a non-numeric character-based access code, said informational fulfillment system consisting of the steps of:

an informational fulfillment center for delivery of stored information designated by a non-numeric character-based access code;

a second wireless telecommunications transmission and reception means for receiving said first wireless transmission from said first wireless telecommunications transmission and reception means and for delivering a second wireless transmission comprised of said stored information; and

means for transferring said first wireless transmission to said informational fulfillment center by switching said caller from said public wireless telecommunications network to a public switch telephone network by directly translating said non-numeric character-based access code to a public switch telephone network number and for transferring said stored information to said second wireless telecommunications transmission and reception means from said informational fulfillment center, wherein said means for transferring further comprises means for directly reversing the billing charges for said first wireless transmission from the caller to said informational fulfillment center.

11. The system of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said non-numeric character-based access code consists of a series of alphabetical characters preceded by a pound character or an asterisk character.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said series of alphabetical characters consists of ten characters.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said series of alphabetical characters consists of seven characters.

14. The system of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said non-numeric character-based access code consists of a series of alphabetical characters followed by a pound character or an asterisk character.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said series of alphabetical characters consists of ten characters.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said series of alphabetical characters consists of seven characters.