Multi-function code activated product and service delivery

• US 8,073,784 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2011
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: StarPound Corporation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: StarPound Corporation Incorporated
• Inventors: Rosenhaft, Matthew, Brager, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Application Number:
  US12/983,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20110098850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705 16- 18, 705 26- 27, 705/42, 705 64- 79, 707/999, 709201-203, 709217-219, 455/3, 455413-415
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/62 based on trigger specification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking

Abstract

A system for providing a wide range of telecommunications initiated data fulfillment services in which a multi-function code, such as “*#” (star, pound), input into an originating telecommunications device, such as a conventional land-line or wireless telephone, triggers the treatment of the input sequence as a multi-function code service request rather than a dialed directory number. The multi-function code is followed by an input data string to complete the multi-function code service request, which the user typically enters into the telecommunications device just like a conventional telephone call, except that the input string begins with the multi-function code. The telecommunications system recognizes the multi-function code as a trigger, and in response takes one or more actions, such as automatically terminating the call to an announcement and routing a data message to a data fulfillment center, which responds to the message by implementing a response action indicated by the multi-function code service request. For example, the data fulfillment center may respond by transmitting a message over a wireless data network or the Internet to implement a service, such as activation of a vending machine, remote control of device, delivery of a message over the Internet or wireless data network, initiation of an interactive Internet session with the originating device, or a wide range of other services. In addition, a charge for this service may be automatically charged to an account associated with the originating telecommunications device, which may be billed separately or incorporated on the user'"'"'s conventional monthly telecommunications invoice.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service comprising the steps of:

at a data fulfillment platform, receiving a data message from a telecommunications switch comprising an item code and identification information pertaining to a telecommunications device in response to the telecommunications switch receiving a communication from the telecommunications device including the item code and a multifunction code;

delivering a response message associated with the item code to the telecommunications device without occupying a communication channel between the telecommunications switch and the telecommunications device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving location information pertaining to the telecommunications device in the data message;

customizing the response message based on the location information;

delivering the customized response message to the telecommunications device without occupying a communication channel between the telecommunications switch and the telecommunications device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the response message to the telecommunications device comprises the step of transmitting a text message to the telecommunications device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the item code is associated with a product or service offered for sale and the response message is related to the offer for sale.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the response message causes activation of a browser page on the telecommunications device to initiate an Internet session.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data fulfillment center performs the additional step of validating that a user of the telecommunications device is a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service prior to delivering the response message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data fulfillment center performs the additional steps of:

determining that a user of the telecommunications device is not a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service; and

registering the user as a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service prior to delivering the response message to the telecommunication device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of registering the user of the telecommunications device as a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service further comprises the step of conducting a communication session with the telecommunications device without occupying a communication channel between the telecommunications switch and the telecommunications device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications switch delivers an audio or data response to the telecommunications device prior to discontinuing the communication to free the first communication channel.

10. A method for implementing a telecommunications initiated data fulfillment service comprising the steps of:

at a data fulfillment platform, receiving a data message from a telecommunications switch comprising an item code and identification information pertaining to a telecommunications device in response to the telecommunications switch receiving a communication from the telecommunications device including the item code and a multifunction code;

obtaining profile data corresponding to the identification information pertaining to the telecommunications device comprising a response address;

delivering a response message associated with the item code to the response address without occupying a communication channel between the telecommunications switch and the telecommunications device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the response message to the response address comprises the step of transmitting a text message to the response address over a wireless data network or the Internet.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the item code is associated with a product or service offered for sale and the response message is related to the offer for sale.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of receiving user input to define the response address within a user-editable customer profile associated with the data fulfillment platform or the telecommunications device.

14. A method for implementing a telecommunications initiated product or service delivery system comprising the steps of:

providing an item code for use with a product or service delivery device;

at a data fulfillment platform, receiving a data message from a telecommunications switch comprising the item code and identification information pertaining to a telecommunications device in response to the telecommunications switch receiving a communication from the telecommunications device including the item code and a multifunction code;

transmitting an activation message for activating the product or service delivery device to provide a selected product or service identified by the item code without occupying a communication channel between the telecommunications switch and the telecommunications device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of charging a cost associated with the selected product or service to an account associated with the user or the telecommunications device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of transmitting the activation message comprises the step of transmitting the activation message over a wireless data network or the Internet.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the data fulfillment center performs the additional step of validating that a user of the telecommunications device is a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated product or service delivery service prior to delivering the activation message to the product or service delivery machine.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the data fulfillment center performs the additional steps of:

determining that a user of the telecommunications is not a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated to the product or service delivery service; and

registering the user as a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated to the product or service delivery service prior to delivering the activation message to the to the product or service delivery machine.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of registering the user of the telecommunications device as a subscriber of the telecommunications initiated to the product or service delivery service further comprises the step of conducting a communication session with the telecommunications device without occupying a communication channel between the telecommunications switch and the telecommunications device.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the telecommunications switch delivers an audio or data response to the telecommunications device prior to discontinuing the communication.