U.S. patent application number 14/100037 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-03 for activating an application.
This patent application is currently assigned to Zlango Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Zlango Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yossef ILKANAEV, Yoav LORCH, Ehud SPIEGEL.
Application Number | 20140094155 14/100037 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40230071 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140094155 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ILKANAEV; Yossef ; et
al. |
April 3, 2014 |
ACTIVATING AN APPLICATION
Abstract
The application discloses a method for establishing a connection
between a first communication device capable of receiving an
activating message and a mobile communication device, the method
comprising: (a) determining that the mobile communication device is
seeking communication with a communication device; (b) checking the
status of a first communication device; (c) choosing an action
required for establishing the connection in view of the status of
the first communication device; and (d) taking the action chosen in
(c), wherein taking the action comprises sending to the first
communication device an activating message, having at least a
portion which activates an application residing on the first
communication device.
Inventors: |
ILKANAEV; Yossef; (Pardes
Chana - Karkur, IL) ; SPIEGEL; Ehud; (Petach-Tikva,
IL) ; LORCH; Yoav; (Herzlia, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Zlango Ltd. |
Tel-Aviv |
|
IL |
|
|
Assignee: |
Zlango Ltd.
Tel-Aviv
IL
|
Family ID: |
40230071 |
Appl. No.: |
14/100037 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12087776 |
Jul 15, 2008 |
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PCT/IB2007/050141 |
Jan 16, 2007 |
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14100037 |
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PCT/IL2006/000061 |
Jan 16, 2006 |
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12087776 |
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PCT/IL2006/000062 |
Jan 16, 2006 |
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PCT/IB2007/050141 |
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60644021 |
Jan 18, 2005 |
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60807855 |
Jul 20, 2006 |
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60807863 |
Jul 20, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/414.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 84/18 20130101;
H04M 1/7253 20130101; H04W 88/06 20130101; H04M 1/72552 20130101;
H04W 76/10 20180201; H04W 4/50 20180201; H04W 4/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/414.1 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/00 20060101
H04W004/00; H04W 4/14 20060101 H04W004/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 16, 2006 |
IL |
173169 |
Claims
1. A method for activating a non-active application residing on a
first communication device configured to receive activating
messages, the method comprising: (a) operating an application
residing on a mobile communication device to generate an activating
message; (b) sending the activating message from the mobile
communication device to the first communication device; (c)
receiving the activating message by the first communication device;
and (d) responding to the activating message, wherein responding
comprises activating the non-active application and opening an IP
connection.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a message
indicating to the mobile communication device that sending said
activating message is desirable; wherein upon receipt of the
message, the mobile communication device generates the activating
message and sends it.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the IP connection is between the
first communication device and the mobile communication device.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first communication device is
mobile.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating message is sent
over a cellular network.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating message is a
cellular specific message.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating message is an
SMS.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the IP connection between the
first communication device and the mobile communication device is
by uploading at least one message to a server by the mobile
communication device and downloading the at least message from a
server by the first communication device.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-active application
comprises a messaging enabling application.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the messaging enabling
application is an instant messaging application.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication device
comprises a mobile device.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein a mobile device comprises a
cellular phone.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein activating an application
residing on the first communication device comprises requesting
permission from a user of the first communication device to
activate.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising requiring from the
user of the first communication device only to express consent to
communicate with the mobile device.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein said activating message is a a
Short Message Service (SMS) activating message sent over a cellular
network.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein said IP connection is used for
conducting an instant messaging (IM) session between said mobile
communication device and said first communication device and said
mobile communication device.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said mobile communication
device establishes said IM session with a plurality of
communication devices including said first communication
device.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said IM session enables playing
multi user games using said plurality of communication devices.
19. A mobile communication device device which activates a
non-active application residing on a remote mobile communication
device which receives activating messages, the mobile communication
device comprising: a processor; an application executed by the
processor and generates an activating message; a network interface
which sends the activating message to the remote mobile
communication device; wherein said remote mobile communication
device receives the activating message, activates a non-active
application and opens an IP connection in response to the reception
of said activating message; wherein said application uses said IP
connection for communication with said remote mobile communication
device.
20. A mobile communication device of claim 19, further comprising a
receiver which receives a message indicating that sending said
activating message is desirable; wherein upon receipt of the
message, the application generates the activating message and sends
it.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/087,776 filed on Jul. 15, 2008, which is a
National Phase of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IB2007/050141
having International filing date of Jan. 16, 2007, which is a
continuation-in-part of PCT Patent Application No.
PCT/IL2006/000061, having International filing date of Jan. 16,
2006 and entitled "Iconic Communication", which claims the benefit
of priority under 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
60/644,021 filed on Jan. 18, 2005.
[0002] PCT/IB2007/050141 is also a continuation-in-part of PCT
Patent Application No. PCT/IL2006/000062 having International
filing date of Jan. 16, 2006 and entitled "Communications Network
System and Methods for Using Same".
[0003] PCT/IB2007/050141 also claims the benefit of priority of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/807,855 filed on Jul.
20, 2006 entitled "Communication Network System and Methods for
Using Same" and 60/807,863 filed on Jul. 20, 2006 entitled "Iconic
Communication" and Israel Patent Application No. 173169 filed on
Jan. 16, 2006.
[0004] PCT/IB2007/050141 is related to Israel Patent Application
No. 166322 filed on Jan. 16, 2005, entitled "Method and System for
Iconic Language Communication" and Israel Patent Application No.
173169 filed on Jan. 16, 2006 and entitled "Communications Network
System and Methods for Using Same".
[0005] Ser. No. 12/087,776 is also related to PCT Patent
Application Nos. PCT/IB2007/050143 and PCT/IB2007/050142 both filed
on Jan. 16, 2007. The contents of the above applications are all
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein in their
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0006] This application relates to methods for establishing a
connection between communication devices and to methods for
activating non-active programs residing on a communication
device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 7,113,803 assigned to Microsoft Corporation,
the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference,
describes a method and system for enabling instant messaging on
mobile devices, according to which a customized SMS message is sent
to awaken the mobile device so that instant messaging may be
initiated. In one of the described embodiments, the recipient
responds to the customized SMS message by creating an Internet
connection and establishing a chat session over the Internet
connection.
[0008] The customized SMS is generated and sent by the server,
which translates a regular SMS it receives. The patent does not
appear to describe any status check made by the server.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An aspect of some embodiments of the invention relates to
enabling a communication device (hereinafter sender) to launch a
communication session with another communication device
(hereinafter recipient), where launching the session requires a
change in the behavior of an application residing on the recipient.
Optionally, the application is a communication application. In an
exemplary embodiment of the invention, the sender is a mobile
device, and optionally the recipient is also mobile. Optionally, a
mobile device is a cellular device, for instance, a cellular
phone.
[0010] A change in behavior of an application may be required, for
example, when an IP connection has to be established, and the
recipient is off-line or idle. If the device is off-line, change of
a behavior of an IP-connecting application (from non-active to
active) is typically required. If the recipient is idle, for
instance, connected to the internet but not polling the server,
there is a need to change a behavior of the polling application to
poll the server earlier than set by the recipient's polling
schedule. Another example of an activating message is an invocation
message, which, for example awakens a sleeping communication
program. A program is considered sleeping if it has a main
application and a listening application, and the listening
application activates the main application upon detecting
appropriate events.
[0011] Optionally, the activating message activates an email client
to poll messages from the email server, and the email message has a
link for opening by the recipient. Opening of the link establishes
the IP connection between the sender and the recipient.
[0012] In exemplary embodiments of the invention, changing the
behavior is achieved with the aid of an activating message, which
is a message having at least a portion (hereinafter an activating
portion) configured to be interpreted by a recipient as a command
for changing a behavior of an application residing on the
recipient.
[0013] Optionally, the activating message is sent via SMS and/or
MMS. Optionally, the activating message is sent by other
communication means, such as BlueTooth, WiFi, WiMax, etc.
Optionally, the activating message is a cellular specific message,
namely, a message that cellular phones are configured for receiving
commands on. Optionally, the activating message is sent over a
cellular network, such as GSM, CDMA, or the like.
[0014] An aspect of some embodiments of the invention relates to a
server choosing for its client an appropriate connection path in
response to a connection request presented by the client, referred
herein as the sender. Choosing may improve the suitability of the
connection path for connecting the specific sender with the
specific recipient. Additionally or alternatively, choosing may
comprise finding an appropriate recipient, suitable for
requirements set up by the sender.
[0015] In an embodiment of the invention, in response to a
connection request from a sender, the server runs a status check
for checking the status of the recipient, and decides on the action
to be taken, taking into consideration the status of the recipient.
For instance, a recipient that does not have an application that is
required for establishing a connection with the sender may be sent
a message offering download of a suitable application. Optionally,
it is the sender that takes the action of the action item. In an
embodiment of the invention, the server sends the sender the result
of the status check, and the recipient decides on the next action
item.
[0016] In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the actions taken
by the devices for establishing a connection between them are
transparent to the users of the devices, in the sense that other
than requesting the connection by one of the users, the users are
not required to any further action for establishing the connection
between their devices. Alternatively or additionally, actions taken
by the devices do require input from the users, for instance, when
a user is requested to download an application or to manually
activate a program.
[0017] A feature of some embodiments of the invention is that the
number of expansive communication transmissions is reduced, for
instance, information is sent over IP instead of over SMS.
[0018] A feature of some embodiments of the invention is that the
communicating users, and in some embodiments only the user
initiating the communication, create the expansive transmissions.
For instance, that SMSs are sent from users under the control of
the user, and not by the server and not by the user device without
the user knowing about the expansive transmission being made on its
account.
[0019] There is thus provided by an exemplary embodiment of the
invention a method for establishing a connection between a first
communication device capable of receiving an activating message and
a mobile communication device, the method comprising: [0020] (a)
determining that the mobile communication device is seeking
communication with a communication device; [0021] (b) checking the
status of a first communication device; [0022] (c) choosing an
action required for establishing the connection in view of the
status of the first communication device; and [0023] (d) taking the
action chosen in (c), wherein taking the action comprises sending
to the first communication device an activating message, having at
least a portion which activates an application residing on the
first communication device.
[0024] In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the chosen action
comprises opening an IP connection.
[0025] Optionally, the first communication device is mobile.
[0026] Optionally, the activating message is sent over a cellular
network.
[0027] Optionally, the activating message is a cellular specific
message, for instance, SMS.
[0028] In exemplary embodiments of the invention, receiving a
request to communicate with a first communication device from a
mobile communication device comprises uploading a server with a
first message addressed to the recipient, and wherein activating an
application residing on the first communication device comprising
causing the first communication device to download the first
message.
[0029] Optionally, sending to the first communication device an
activating message comprises sending a message to the mobile
communication device, the message indicating to the mobile
communication device that sending an activating SMS to the first
communication device is desirable.
[0030] Optionally, upon receipt of the message, the mobile device
generates the activating message and sends it.
[0031] Optionally sending to the first communication device an
activating message comprises sending an activating message from a
server to the first communication device.
[0032] There is also provided in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the invention a method for activating a non-active
application residing on a first communication device configured to
receive activating messages, the method comprising: [0033] (a)
operating an application residing on a mobile communication device
to generate an activating message; [0034] (b) sending the
activating message from the mobile communication device to the
first communication device; [0035] (c) receiving the activating
message by the first communication device; and [0036] (d)
responding to the activating message, wherein responding comprises
activating the non-active application and opening an IP
connection.
[0037] In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the IP connection
is between the first communication device and the mobile
communication device.
[0038] Optionally, the first communication device is mobile.
[0039] Optionally, the activating message is sent over a cellular
network.
[0040] Optionally, the activating message is a cellular specific
message.
[0041] Optionally, the activating message is an SMS.
[0042] In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the IP connection
between the first communication device and the mobile communication
device is by uploading at least one message to a server by the
mobile communication device and downloading the at least one
message from a server by the first communication device.
[0043] Optionally, the non-active application comprises a messaging
enabling application.
[0044] Optionally, the messaging enabling application is an instant
messaging application.
[0045] Optionally, the first communication device comprises a
mobile device.
[0046] Optionally, a mobile device comprises a cellular phone.
[0047] Optionally, activating an application residing on the first
communication device comprises requesting permission from a user of
the first communication device to activate.
[0048] Optionally, a method according to the invention requires
from the user of the first communication device only to express
consent to communicate with the mobile device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0049] Some embodiments of the invention are described below in
detail to exemplify how the invention may be carried out in
practice. The detailed description below relates to the drawings,
in which
[0050] FIG. 1 is a flow-chart describing actions taken in
establishing communication with an activating SMS according to an
embodiment of the invention;
[0051] FIG. 2 is a pictorial presentation of sender, recipient, and
communication means that may be used to connect between them
according to an embodiment of the invention; and
[0052] FIG. 3 is a flow-chart describing actions taken by a server
in choosing an appropriate action for establishing a connection
according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Overview
[0053] FIG. 1 is a flow-chart showing actions taken in a method
(100) for establishing a connection according to an embodiment of
the invention. FIG. 2 is an illustration of a network allowing
execution of the method described in FIG. 1 according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0054] The connection is to be created between a first
communication device (202) and a mobile communication device 204.
The first communication device (202) is optionally configured for
receiving an activating SMS, interpreting it, and instructing other
applications residing on the recipient (202) to behave as
instructed by the activating SMS. Examples of mobile communication
devices suitably configured are cellular phones working in GSM
networks and supporting J2ME applications, or cellular phones
working in CDMA networks and supporting BREW applications.
[0055] Method 100 includes receiving (102) by server 206 a message
uploaded by mobile communication device 204 addressed to recipient
202. In response to receiving the message, server 206 checks (104)
the server's records to determine the status of mobile device 204
and chooses (106), in accordance with this status, an action
required for establishing the connection. Examples of actions and
considerations for choosing an action are presented below.
[0056] After the action is decided, the action is taken (108),
establishing a connection. Optionally, the action is taken by
server 206 itself. Alternatively, the server sends the action item
to sender 204, which carries it out.
[0057] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, taking the
action includes sending to recipient 202 an activating SMS, which
activates an application residing on the recipient.
Exemplary Uses
[0058] In an embodiment of the invention, methods of the invention
are used for establishing an instant messaging session between
sender 204 and receiver 202. The actions taken in this embodiment
are indicated in FIG. 2 as arrows referenced by letters. In an
exemplary embodiment, user of sender 204 sends an IM invitation to
the recipient using a user interface of sender device 204. Inviting
recipient 202 to the IM session is carried out by sender device 204
uploading (A) a message to server 206 over HTTP or other protocol,
such as SIP (optionally through an IP gateway, generally presented
as gateway 210). In response to this message, optionally in the
response phase of the HTTP session, sender 204 receives (B) from
server 206 an action item, defining the next step to be taken.
Optionally, the action item is in the form of a suggestion, to be
followed or rejected by the sender device. Optionally, the action
item is in a form of status only, and this status is considered by
the sender device in deciding on the next action. Optionally, the
action item includes an SMS generated by the server and ready for
sending by the sender. If the server found that recipient 202 has
not polled for more than some predetermined period, the action item
is optionally sending an activating SMS to the recipient. Sender
204 sends (C) an activating SMS to recipient 202 (for instance,
through SMS centers 216, 218), and in response, the recipient opens
an IP connection, optionally through IP gateway 112, to communicate
with sender 204. Optionally, communication between sender 204 and
recipient 202 is by uploading and downloading messages, in which
case, after the IP connection of recipient 202 is opened, the
recipient polls server 206. Upon receiving (D) the message uploaded
in (A), the sender recipient can reply to the sender via IP
connection, optionally via IP gateway 214, and no further SMS is
required. When sender 204 uploads its reply to the server, the
server checks the status of the recipient, and this time it finds
that recipient 202 is active, and therefore would send a "do
nothing" action item, as no further action is required for
continuing the IM session.
[0059] Another method for establishing connections according to an
embodiment of the invention starts when a user of sender 204
indicates to the sender device its wish to play poker. Sender
device 204 has on it an application, knowing that poker is played
by the user with at least three other devices.
[0060] Optionally, sender 204 sends server 206 a message indicating
the wish to play poker, and server 206 records this wish, and sends
back a list of other devices that in accordance with the server's
records are available and wish to play poker.
[0061] Alternatively, possible poker players, with which the user
of the sender likes playing poker, are listed in a `poker list`.
Optionally, the list includes preference, indicating with which
member the user of the sender prefers playing.
[0062] Sender 204 requests from server 206 status of the members of
the poker list. Server 206 runs a status check on each, and informs
sender 204 of the statuses. If less than three of the list members
are available (either active or may be activated), sender 204
indicates to its user that not enough members are available, and
the method ends.
[0063] If there are three or more available list members, sender
204 uploads messages with poker invitations to the three most
preferred members of the list, and server 206 establishes a
connection with them as described in respect of method 100. In the
framework of the present method, status check 104 of method 100 may
be skipped, as the status has already been checked.
[0064] Optionally, sender 204 reports to server 206 if each
communication has or has not been established in fact. This may be
used by server 206 to run statistics on communication successes and
failures. Optionally, if attempts to establish communication with
one or more of the list members have failed, the server tries
establishing communication with the one or more list member using
another action item.
[0065] Optionally, if an attempt to establish communication with
one or more of the list members has failed, sender device 204
uploads an invitation for the next member in the list.
Server's Records
[0066] In some embodiments of the invention, the server has a
record of each possible recipient, and the times it communicated
lately with the server. Optionally, if a recipient communicated
lately with the server within some predetermined period (say, 30
seconds), the recipient is considered active. Optionally, if the
last time a recipient communicated with the server was before some
longer predetermined period (say an hour), the recipient is
optionally considered off-line. Optionally, if the recipient
communicates with the server on a regular basis at long intervals
(say, once every 10 minutes), it is considered idle.
[0067] In some embodiments of the invention, the server has a
record of devices that have a certain application residing thereon.
Optionally, these include devices that downloaded the application
from the server. Additionally or alternatively, these include
devices that downloaded the application from another server
allowing downloading the application. Additionally or
alternatively, the application supplier provides the server with a
list of the devices, on which the application was installed.
Optionally, as part of the installation process of the application
on a device, the device is recorded with the server.
[0068] In some embodiments of the invention, the server is supplied
with information on the cellular activity of a device by the
cellular operator. Optionally, the operator may inform the server
that at a particular moment a device is busy, on a `do not disturb`
state, or the like.
[0069] In some embodiments of the invention, devices send their
status to the server, for instance, a device may send a server a
status announcement, according to which it is available for
receiving communications only from a certain device, a list of
devices or devices of particular characteristics.
Exemplary Possible Actions and Exemplary Considerations for
Choosing Among Them
[0070] In some embodiments of the invention, the server decides on
an action to be taken responsive to the status of the recipient.
Following are some options for action items, among which the server
may choose, and recipient statuses, in which a server may choose
each of them.
[0071] 1. Sending an activating message to activate a non-active
application. This action item is optionally issued by the server if
the server determined from its records that the application is not
active. If the application is indeed not active, and is configured
to being activated by an activating message, it is activated.
[0072] In some cases, the activating portion of the message is
useless. For instance, in case the application is already active,
the activating portion of the message is unnecessary and
ineffective. Similarly, in case the recipient does not have
installed the application to be activated by the activating portion
of the message, this portion is ineffective.
[0073] Optionally, once the server finds from its records that the
application is activated, the server sends to the sender a
confirmation notice that the recipient's application is now
active.
[0074] Optionally, the activating message has also a content,
non-activating, portion. This may result in that the recipient,
upon receiving the message, will be able to read the content of the
non-activating portion without any further action to be taken by it
or by the sender. In such a case, if for any reason the application
was not activated by the activating portion of the message, the
receiving user may still know of the message and its content, and
reply to the sender.
[0075] 2. Sending a regular SMS (that is, an SMS not having an
activating portion), requesting the user to open the application.
This action item may be chosen, for instance, if the recipient is
not configured for receiving activating messages, or if the
appropriate message cannot be sent for any reason.
[0076] 3. Sending a regular SMS, suggesting the user to download
the application. This action item may be chosen, for instance, if
the recipient does not have the appropriate application.
[0077] 4. Doing nothing. This action item may be chosen, for
instance, if the recipient's application is already active and
polls periodically, so it does not require activation.
[0078] Another example of a situation where a "doing nothing"
action may be chosen, is when the recipient is not active on any
communication network, so there is no open route for communicating
with it at the moment.
[0079] Optionally, the action item is accompanied with an
explanation as to why it was chosen.
[0080] "Doing nothing" action item optionally saves the costs of
sending an SMS at the expense of creating IP connection, and this
saving may be credited to the sender or to the server operator, as
the business model may be.
Exemplary Options for Sending an Activating SMS
[0081] In some embodiments of the invention, an activating SMS is
sent (for instance, in case the option described above under item 1
is chosen).
[0082] Sending the activating SMS may be carried out in several
ways, all in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
[0083] Optionally, sending the activating SMS includes sending by
server 206 an activating SMS to recipient 202. This option may be
chosen or rejected by the server, based, for instance on commercial
relations between the operator of the server 206, and the recipient
and sender. For instance, if the operator of server 206 can charge
sender 204 or recipient 202 for sending the SMS, the server may
choose sending the activating SMS directly to the recipient; while
if such charging is impossible, server 206 may choose indicating to
the sender that sending an activating SMS is desirable.
[0084] Optionally, upon receipt of a message that sending an
activating SMS is desirable, for instance, in the response phase of
an HTTP session. Optionally, sender 204 generates an activating SMS
and sends it to the recipient. Alternatively, server 206 generates
the activating SMS, sends it to the sender, and the sender sends it
to the recipient.
[0085] Alternatively or additionally, the sender uploads a message
to server 206, and sends an activating SMS to recipient 202. The
activating SMS activates the recipient to poll a server
immediately. Optionally the recipient polls server 206. In this
context, a device is activated to poll immediately if it is
activated to poll earlier than it had if it wasn't activated.
[0086] FIG. 3 is a flow-chart describing actions taken during
carrying out a method 300 for activating a non-active application
residing on the recipient device (202).
[0087] The non-active application is optionally a messaging
application, such as SMS Conversation, IM, Chat, Unified Messaging,
and Groups Messaging, a gaming application, or any other
application allowing two users to communicate back and forth.
[0088] Method 300 includes: operating (302) an application, such as
a J2ME application, residing on the sender to generate an
activating SMS; sending (304) the activating SMS from the sender to
the recipient; receiving (306) the activating SMS by the recipient,
and responding (308) to the activating SMS. Optionally, responding
comprises activating the non-active application. Optionally, the
response includes sending a reply to the sender. In an embodiment
of the invention the server generates the activating SMS, sends it
to the sender, and the sender sends the SMS to the recipient.
[0089] In an exemplary embodiment, responding includes opening an
IP connection, for instance, between the sender and the recipient.
IP connection between the receiver and the recipient may be direct
(for instance, when the two devices are IP enabled), through a
server, or through a plurality of servers. For instance, if the
sender and the recipient are two mobile devices operated by two
different operators, the IP connection may be through two servers,
one of each operator.
[0090] Optionally, server 206 is an IP server. Alternatively,
server 206 is a cellular server.
General
[0091] It is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily
limited in its application to the particular details set forth in
the description contained herein or illustrated in the drawings.
The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being
practiced and carried out in various ways. Hence, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
necessarily limiting.
[0092] It will also be understood that the invention further
contemplates a machine-readable memory and/or circuitry and/or
firmware tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by
a machine for executing methods of the invention. Also contemplated
is a suitably programmed general purpose machine.
[0093] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that
various modifications and changes can be applied to the embodiments
of the invention as hereinbefore described without departing from
its scope, defined in and by the appended claims.
[0094] In the above detailed description, numerous specific details
are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that the present invention may be practiced without these
specific details. In other instances, well-known methods,
procedures, components and circuits have not necessarily been
described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.
[0095] Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the
above description, it is appreciated that throughout the
specification discussions utilizing terms such as, "processing",
"computing", "calculating", "determining", or the like, refer to
the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or
processor or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate
and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic,
quantities within the computing system's registers and/or memories
into other data, similarly represented as physical quantities
within the computing system's memories, registers or other such
information storage, transmission or display devices. In some
cases, such actions may be carried by a user, for example, deciding
on an icon to insert.
[0096] The term `mobile device` used in this patent specification
should be expansively construed to cover any kind of mobile device
with communications capabilities and includes cellular phones,
two-way pagers, radio telephones, PDA, DECT, and wireless
information devices. The term includes devices able to communicate
using mobile radio such as GSM or UMTS and any other wireless
communications standard, system and/or protocol, e.g. Bluetooth and
WiFi. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
mobile device may communicate with another mobile device or with
other devices (e.g. personal computers) via various networks such
as, e.g. cellular networks, broadband networks, fixed line
networks, data communication networks (such as LAN and WAN) and
Internet networks, and/or within various services (e.g. messaging
services like SMS, MMS, instant messaging, IMS and others, mobile
advertising and mobile-content service).
[0097] Embodiments of the present invention may use terms such as,
processor, computer, apparatus, system, sub-system, module, unit,
device (in single or plural form) for performing the operations
herein. This may be specially constructed for the desired purposes,
or it may comprise a general purpose computer selectively activated
or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such
a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage
medium, such as, but not limited to, any type of disk including
floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, magnetic-optical disks,
read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs),
electrically programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically
erasable and programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or
optical cards, or any other type of media suitable for storing
electronic instructions, and capable of being coupled to a computer
system bus.
[0098] Where a single device is described, multiple devices may be
provided. For example, a server can comprise multiple servers at a
same or distributed locations, and operated by a same or different
operators. Conversely, multiple components may be combined into a
single component.
[0099] The processes/devices (or counterpart terms specified above)
and displays presented herein are not necessarily inherently
related to any particular computer or other apparatus.
[0100] Various general purpose systems may be used with programs in
accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to
construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the desired
method. In addition, embodiments of the present invention are not
described with reference to any particular programming language. It
will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be
used to implement the teachings of the inventions as described
herein. Currently, particular languages are used for cellular
telephones, but this should not be considered an essential
limitation for all embodiments.
[0101] Where software is described as including components, it
should be noted that components can be combined and/or implemented
in various ways and single components may be broken apart, without
leaving the spirit of some embodiments of the invention.
[0102] It should be understood that features and/or steps described
with respect to one embodiment may be used with other embodiments
and that not all embodiments of the invention have all of the
features and/or steps shown in a particular figure or described
with respect to one of the embodiments. Section heads are provided
for ease of navigation and do not necessarily limit the disclosure
therein to the subject of the section title.
[0103] It is noted that some of the above described embodiments may
describe the best mode contemplated by the inventors and therefore
may include structure, acts or details of structures and acts that
may not be essential to the invention and which are described as
examples. Structure and acts described herein are replaceable by
equivalents which perform the same function, even if the structure
or acts are different, as known in the art. Therefore, the scope of
the invention is limited only by the elements and limitations as
used in the claims. When used in the following claims, the terms
"comprise", "include", "have" and their conjugates mean "including
but not limited to".
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