Communications network system and methods for using same

• US 8,019,818 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2007
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knapp Investment Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Zlango Ltd.
• Inventors: Weinstein, Andrew, Fenster, Yaacov, Ilkanaev, Yossef, Spiegel, Ehud, Lorch, Yoav
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US12/087,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20090013087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 709245-250, 709217-218, 709203-205, 709227-229, 345/418
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

A communications network system, comprising: a first user device, wherein the first user device uses a first communications protocol; a second user device, wherein the second user device uses a second communications protocol, different from the first communications protocol; and, a server, in operative communication with the first user device and the second user device, and wherein the server comprises a processor for translating the first communications protocol into the second communications protocol.

Claims

1. A method of providing at least one icon of an iconic language to users of a server-based communications network system, comprising:

providing an iconic language converting software to user devices of the users in said communications network system;

identifying the users of said communications network system according to user information stored in a user information database;

creating a group of users comprised of at least one user, but less than all users, of said communications network system based on the user information;

providing said at least one icon to said group of users by uploading the at least one icon from an iconic language database into the devices of the group and storing the icon therein;

encoding an iconic language message into bits for uploading by a user in said group wherein the message comprises a plurality of icons including said at least one icon;

transmitting the encoded message to at least one other user in said communications network; and

converting the encoded message from bits into an iconic language message including said at least one icon by at least one other user in said communications network.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting at least one iconic language message;

storing the at least one iconic language message on a database;

analyzing said at least one iconic language message; and

, compiling statistics based on said analyzing.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said analyzing comprises determining the context of at least one icon within said iconic language message.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein analyzing comprises determining the frequency of usage of at least one icon within said iconic language message.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

composing a message comprised of at least one message element;

placing the at least one message element in an acceptable format in use by said communications network system;

analyzing the at least one message element for the applicability of at least one more efficient format in use by said communications network system; and

,

substituting said at least one more efficient format for said acceptable format to optimize the message size.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said acceptable format in use by said communications network system is icon-16 or text-16.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein said at least one more efficient format is less than 16 bits but greater than 1 bit per character or icon.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein providing said at least one icon to said group of users comprises retrieving the at least one icon from a content exchange location in the communications network system.

9. A method according to claim 1 comprising extending the iconic language by (a) populating the content exchange location system with at least one additional icon;

(b) establishing communications between a user communications device and the content exchange location; and

(c) downloading the at least one additional icon from the content exchange location to the user device.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein populating the content exchange location system comprises uploading the at least one additional icon from a user communications device to the content exchange location.

11. A method according to claim 9 further comprising downloading the at least one additional icon from the context exchange location by using a pull mode of communication.

12. A method according to claim 9 comprising organizing the at least one additional icon into one or more categories of related content.

13. A method according to claim 1 comprising assigning a special meaning to the at least one icon by said group of users.

14. A method according to claim 13 comprising assigning a different meaning to the at least one icon by other users of said communication network different from said group of users.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein converting the encoded message from bits into an iconic language message including said at least one icon includes visually affecting said at least one icon by said uploading.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein providing said at least one icon to other user in said communications network includes transmitting the encoded message over said communications network system via short message service (SMS).

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein providing said at least one icon to other user in said communications network includes said server converting a text-based message into the encoded message.