Method and system for providing bearer tag identification-based messaging

• US 8,265,669 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Alward, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US12/562,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20110070901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/466, 455/414, 705/14
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

An approach is provided for bearer tag identification-based messaging. A request is received specifying a bearer tag identifier corresponding to a mobile terminal. Addressing information is determined for the mobile terminal based on the bearer tag identifier, wherein the addressing information is used for transmitting a message according to a messaging service to the mobile terminal over a wireless network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request specifying a bearer tag identifier corresponding to a mobile terminal;

determining addressing information for the mobile terminal based on the bearer tag identifier; and

providing an anonymous gateway service to a user of the mobile terminal, wherein the addressing information is used for transmitting a message according to a messaging service to the mobile terminal over a wireless network,

based on user profile information associated with the user of the mobile terminal, determining whether to transmit the message to the mobile terminal, and

determining a service provider associated with the mobile terminal as part of the anonymous gateway service to the user of the mobile terminal.

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

retrieving content from a networked repository of a service provider based on user profile information associated with the user of the mobile terminal; and

generating the message utilizing the content.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein retrieving the content is further based on scheduling information.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the request includes content for generating the message.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the bearer tag identifier includes a radio frequency identification value, and the messaging service is either a short message service (SMS) or a multimedia message service (MMS).

6. An apparatus comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive a request specifying a bearer tag identifier corresponding to a mobile terminal as part of a managed messaging service; and

a processor configured to determine addressing information for the mobile terminal based on the bearer tag identifier and to provide an anonymous gateway service to a user of the mobile terminal, wherein the addressing information is used for transmitting a message according to a messaging service to the mobile terminal over a wireless network, and wherein the processor is further configured to, based on user profile information associated with the user of the mobile terminal, determine whether the message is to be transmitted to the mobile terminal.

wherein the processor is further configured to determine a service provider associated with the mobile terminal as part of the anonymous gateway service to the user of the mobile terminal.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the message utilizing content retrieved from a networked repository of a service provider supporting the managed messaging service based on user profile information associated with the user of the mobile terminal.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the content is also retrieved based on scheduling information.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the request includes content for generating the message.

10. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the bearer tag identifier includes a radio frequency identification value, and the messaging service is either a short message service (SMS) or a multimedia message service (MMS).

11. A method comprising:

receiving a bearer tag identifier corresponding to a mobile terminal;

generating a request for transmitting a message to the mobile terminal, the request specifying the bearer tag identifier;

determining addressing information, based on the bearer tag identifier, for transmitting a message according to a messaging service to the mobile terminal,

providing an anonymous gateway service to a user of the mobile terminal, wherein the messaging service includes either a short message service (SMS) or a multimedia message service (MMS), and

based on user profile information associated with the user of the mobile terminal, determining whether to transmit the message to the mobile terminal, and

determining a service provider associated with the mobile terminal as part of the anonymous gateway service to the user of the mobile terminal.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting, at a premise of a third party, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder coupled to the mobile terminal;

reading the bearer tag identifier from the RFID transponder.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the addressing information is determined by either the third party or the service provider associated with the mobile terminal.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive a bearer tag identifier corresponding to a mobile terminal; and

a processor configured to generate a request for transmitting a message to the mobile terminal, the request specifying the bearer tag identifier, wherein the processor is further configured to determine addressing information, based on the bearer tag identifier, for transmitting a message according to a messaging service to the mobile terminal, and to provide an anonymous gateway service to a user of the mobile terminal, the messaging service including either a short message service (SMS) or a multimedia message service (MMS), and

wherein the processor is further configured to, based on user profile information associated with the user of the mobile terminal, determine whether the message is to be transmitted to the mobile terminal, and

determine a service provider associated with the mobile terminal as part of the anonymous gateway service to the user of the mobile terminal.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the communication interface is further configured to communicate with a bearer tag reader that is configured to detect, at a premise of a third party, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder coupled to the mobile terminal and to read the bearer tag identifier from the RFID transponder.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the addressing information is determined by either the third party or the service provider associated with the mobile terminal.