Permission based text messaging

• US 8,977,306 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Destine Systems Co LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Sweeney, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US14/153,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20140128035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/414.3, 455/419
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• 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 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A user may receive one or more text messages after the user is authorized. The potential user can opt in through a web page in one embodiment. Once the potential user sends an initial request, the user may receive a first text message containing an authorization code on their mobile phone. The user may enter the authorization code back to a web page. Receipt of the authorization code may trigger the phone number of the potential user to be added to a list of authorized text message receivers. One or more text messages may then be sent to authorized phone numbers on the list.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a central processor; and

a memory configured to store data in a data structure, wherein the data includes information indicating permission to cause respective future text messages to be transmitted to each of two or more communication devices;

wherein the computer system is configured to receive subscription preference information for a plurality of particular future text messages to be transmitted to one or more phone numbers that correspond to one or more other communication devices, wherein the other communication devices are not any of the two or more communication devices; and

wherein the computer system is further configured to, in response to receiving input that includes an authorization code, update the data stored in the data structure based on the subscription preference information received, such that the data includes information indicating permission to cause the plurality of particular future text messages to be transmitted to at least one of the other communication devices.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

a web server configured to provide one or more web pages facilitating the receiving of the subscription preference information.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to, in response to receiving the subscription preference information, cause a text message to be sent to the at least one of the other communication devices, wherein the text message includes the authorization code, and wherein the text message is addressed to a phone number corresponding to the at least one of the other communication devices.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is further configured to, in response to the computer system receiving input that includes a second authorization code, update the data stored in the data structure based on the subscription preference information received, such that the data includes information indicating permission to cause the plurality of particular future text messages to be transmitted to two of the other communication devices.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is further configured to receive a selection of at least one of a plurality of subject categories, wherein the plurality of particular future text messages include content that is at least partially based on the selection.

6. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second computer system that is connected to the computer system via a network connection.

7. A method, comprising:

a computer system storing data in a data structure, wherein the data includes permission information indicating permission to cause respective future text messages to be transmitted to each of two or more communication devices;

the computer system receiving subscription preference information for a plurality of particular future text messages to be transmitted to one or more phone numbers that correspond to one or more other communication devices, wherein the other communication devices are not any of the two or more communication devices; and

in response to the computer system receiving input that includes an authorization code, the computer system updating the data stored in the data structure based on the subscription preference information received, such that the data includes permission information indicating permission to cause the plurality of particular future text messages to be transmitted to at least one of the other communication devices.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

in response to receiving the subscription preference information, the computer system causing a text message to be sent to the at least one of the other communication devices, wherein the text message includes the authorization code, and wherein the text message is addressed to a phone number corresponding to the at least one of the other communication devices.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

subsequent to the updating the data stored in the data structure, the computer system receiving specific content for a first one of the plurality of particular future text messages; and

the computer system causing the first text message to be transmitted to at least one of the other communication devices, wherein the first text message includes the specific content.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the subscription preference information indicates a user'"'"'s selection of one or more subject categories for the plurality of particular future text messages.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more subject categories relates to sports.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

the computer system receiving additional subscription preference information, and storing a corresponding list of phone numbers that are authorized to receive individual ones of the plurality of particular future text messages.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein at least a first one of the plurality of particular future text messages is specific to a geographic area associated with a user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the specific geographic area is indicated by a zip code associated with the user.

15. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

the computer system unsubscribing the at least one of the other communication devices from receiving additional future text messages.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by a computer system to cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:

storing data in a data structure, wherein the data includes permission information indicating permission to cause respective future text messages to be transmitted to each of two or more communication devices;

receiving subscription preference information for a plurality of particular future text messages to be transmitted to one or more phone numbers that correspond to one or more other communication devices, wherein the other communication devices are not any of the two or more communication devices; and

in response to receiving input that includes an authorization code, updating the data stored in the data structure based on the subscription preference information received, such that the data includes permission information indicating permission to cause the plurality of particular future text messages to be transmitted to at least one of the other communication devices.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to receiving the subscription preference information, generating the authorization code for inclusion in a text message to be sent to the at least one of the other communication devices.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

modifying the permission information to indicate that a user of the at least one of the other communication devices has consented to receive one or more different future text messages corresponding to a different subject category than a subject category relating to the plurality of particular future text messages; and

updating the data stored in the data structure based on the modifying.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

scheduling at a selected time, a future transmission of at least one of the plurality of particular future text messages to be transmitted to the at least one of the other communication devices.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

unsubscribing the at least one of the other communication devices from receiving additional further text messages.