Mobile originated interactive menus via short messaging services

• US 7,640,031 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Titus, Mark, Weichselbaumer, Walter, Hronek, Daniel, Pike, Orville, Wallace, Erik, Geil, Phillip, McCormick, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming; William D
• Application Number:
  US11/472,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20070298819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 370/352, 379/207.11
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Two-way interactive short message system with personalized messaging menus that provide WAP like services at less cost than CSD. Mobile Originated Interactive Menus are implemented as a feature of a Short Message Service Center (SMSC). Each option guides either to the next menu level, or to a final action to be executed according to the path followed by the subscriber. Importantly, the mobile originated interactive menus use SMS communications instead of circuit switched data (CSD) (e.g., instead of WAP communications), thus leaving traffic channels available for voice calls. Users may define the content and frequency they want. Replacement of messages in TDMA and GSM mobile devices allow for heavy usage without filling up the user'"'"'s phone buffer, i.e., prior messages may be overwritten, to assure that only the latest information is all that is being displayed and read.

Claims

1. An interactive short messaging system menu selection process, comprising:

receiving a second short messaging service (SMS) short message from a mobile device including an identification of a main menu requested to be transmitted to said mobile device, said identification of said requested main menu being a user presented option in a first SMS short message; and

transmitting a third SMS short message to said mobile device including said requested main menu;

wherein said first SMS short message, said second SMS short message, and said third SMS short message provide for interactive menu driven SMS short message communications in both directions between said mobile device and said destination device.

2. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a replacement menu to said mobile device to replace text of a previous menu.

3. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 1, wherein:

said choice is a single digit choice.

4. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 3, wherein:

said single digit choice is non-zero.

5. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 1, wherein:

said SMS short of said main menu is unformatted for transmission to said mobile device.

6. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 1, wherein:

said mobile device is a cellular telephone.

7. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 6, wherein:

said cellular telephone is IS-41 compliant.

8. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 6, wherein:

said cellular telephone is GSM compliant.

9. Apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu, comprising:

means for receiving a second short messaging service (SMS) short message from a mobile device including an identification of a main menu requested to be transmitted to said mobile device, said identification of said requested main menu being a user presented option in a first SMS short message; and

transmitting a third SMS short message to said mobile device including said requested main menu;

wherein said first SMS short message, said second SMS short message, and said third SMS short message provide for interactive menu driven SMS short message communications in both directions between said mobile device and said destination device.

10. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu according to claim 9, further comprising:

means for transmitting a replacement menu to said mobile device to replace text of a previous menu in response to receipt of said choice corresponding to a selected further menu.

11. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu according to claim 9, wherein:

said choice is a single digit choice.

12. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu according to claim 11, wherein:

said single digit choice is non-zero.

13. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu according to claim 9, wherein:

said means for transmitting a text message and said means for transmitting a text message each transmit unformatted text.

14. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu according to claim 9, wherein:

said mobile device is a cellular telephone.

15. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu according to claim 14, wherein:

said cellular telephone is IS-41 compliant.

16. The apparatus for selecting an interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 14, wherein:

said cellular telephone is GSM compliant.

17. An interactive menu selection short messaging system, comprising:

a receiver to receive a second short messaging service (SMS) short message from a mobile device including an identification of a main menu requested to be transmitted to said mobile device, said identification of said requested main menu being a user presented option in a first SMS short message; and

a transmitter to transmit a third SMS short message to said mobile device including said requested main menu;

wherein said first SMS short message, said second SMS short message, and said third SMS short message provide for interactive menu driven SMS short message communications in both directions between said mobile device and said destination device.

18. The interactive menu selection short messaging system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a transmitter to transmit a replacement menu to said mobile device, said replacement menu to replace text of a previous menu.

19. An interactive short messaging system menu selection process, comprising:

transmitting a second short messaging service (SMS) short message from a mobile device, said second SMS short message including an identification of a main menu requested to be transmitted to said mobile device, and said identification of said requested main menu being a user presented option in a first SMS short message; and

receiving a third SMS short message to said mobile device including said requested main menu;

wherein said first SMS short message, said second SMS short message, and said third SMS short message provide for interactive menu driven SMS short message communications in both directions between said mobile device and said destination device.

20. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a replacement menu at said mobile device to replace text of a previous menu.

21. The interactive short messaging system menu selection process according to claim 19, wherein:

said text of said main menu is unformatted for receipt at said mobile device.