U.S. patent application number 14/195257 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-26 for systems and methods for establishing a telecommunications bridge between a user device and a node.
The applicant listed for this patent is Scott Neil Beck, Marc Andrew Pickren, David Stephen Toback, Gerardo Ettore Tonini. Invention is credited to Scott Neil Beck, Marc Andrew Pickren, David Stephen Toback, Gerardo Ettore Tonini.
Application Number | 20140177579 14/195257 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43732734 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140177579 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Beck; Scott Neil ; et
al. |
June 26, 2014 |
Systems and Methods for Establishing a Telecommunications Bridge
Between a User Device and a Node
Abstract
Systems and methods for establishing a telecommunications bridge
between a user device and a node are provided herein. In some
embodiments a method for establishing a telecommunications bridge
between a user device and a node includes receiving a request to
establish a telecommunications bridge, the request including
information indicative of a user device, and a campaign identifier
corresponding to at least one node, comparing the campaign
identifier to a campaign database, the campaign database including
information indicative of campaign identifiers associated with at
least one node, and establishing the telecommunications bridge
between a user device and at least one node.
Inventors: |
Beck; Scott Neil; (Dallas,
TX) ; Pickren; Marc Andrew; (Rockwall, TX) ;
Tonini; Gerardo Ettore; (Holland, MI) ; Toback; David
Stephen; (Dallas, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Beck; Scott Neil
Pickren; Marc Andrew
Tonini; Gerardo Ettore
Toback; David Stephen |
Dallas
Rockwall
Holland
Dallas |
TX
TX
MI
TX |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
43732734 |
Appl. No.: |
14/195257 |
Filed: |
March 3, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12807716 |
Sep 13, 2010 |
8665785 |
|
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14195257 |
|
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61311403 |
Mar 8, 2010 |
|
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61241498 |
Sep 11, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 3/42119 20130101;
H04M 3/527 20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101; H04M 2201/38 20130101;
H04M 2242/22 20130101; H04M 3/42102 20130101; H04W 76/11 20180201;
H04M 3/493 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/329 |
International
Class: |
H04W 76/02 20060101
H04W076/02 |
Claims
1. A method for establishing a telecommunications bridge between a
node and a user device, the method comprising: receiving a request
to establish a telecommunications bridge, the request including
information indicative of a user device, and a campaign identifier
corresponding to at least one node; comparing the campaign
identifier to a campaign database, the campaign database including
information indicative of campaign identifiers associated with at
least one node; and establishing the telecommunications bridge
between a user device and at least one node via a campaign
management module based upon at least a portion of the information
included in the request.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein information indicative
of the user device includes at least one of an IP address, a
wireless ANI, SIM card data, temporal data, location data, and
carrier information.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the campaign identifier
includes any of a bar code, a URI, a URL, a vanity dialing code, an
image, an SMS message, an audio recording, a video recording, input
provided by means of a touch-screen interface or motion detection
sensor, end user device Global Positioning System (GPS) data,
end-user device compass coordinates.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein if the campaign
identifier includes a vanity dialing code, the vanity dialing code
includes a multi-character string associated with at least one
node.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunications
bridge is adapted to utilize one or more communication protocols
including any of an end-to-end telecommunications voice channel,
telecommunications signaling channel, TCP/IP, POP3, SMTP, FTP, SMS,
IP-based network socket, or combinations thereof.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving a request
includes: selecting a toll free phone number based upon information
indicative of the user device included in the request; and
establishing an end-to-end telecommunications channel between the
user device and a campaign management module utilizing the selected
toll free phone number, the end-to-end telecommunications channel
including a signaling band having at least a portion of the
information included in the request.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein establishing the
telecommunications bridge includes: locating one or more servicer
providers corresponding to the campaign identifier by searching the
campaign database; and establishing an end-to-end
telecommunications channel between the located node and the user
device.
8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising delivering
an error message to the user device when received the campaign
identifier is not included in the campaign database.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the end-to-end
telecommunications channel between user device and the node is
adapted to be held open after the node has terminated communication
to allow one or more informational campaigns to be delivered to the
user device.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the one or more
informational campaigns includes any of an advertisement, a video,
a discount, an audio message, a public service announcement, an
emergency alert message, an SMS message, a location, directions, a
menu, an email message, a ringtone, a coupon, a hyperlink, a web
page, an interactive voice response (IVR) application, an
information collection system, a sweepstakes or raffle entry, a
program enrollment, form, questionnaire, or combinations
thereof.
11. The method according to claim 2, wherein the temporal data
associated with the user device is utilized to determine one or
more informational campaigns selected for delivery to the user
device.
12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the location data of
the user device is utilized to determine one or more informational
campaigns selected for delivery to the user device.
13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising associating
at least one node with one or more campaign identifiers.
14. A system for establishing a telecommunications bridge between a
node and a user device, the system comprising: a campaign
management module comprising: an input module adapted to receive a
request to establish a telecommunications bridge, the request
including information indicative of a user device, and a campaign
identifier corresponding to at least one node; an analysis module
adapted to compare the campaign identifier to a campaign database,
the campaign database including information indicative of campaign
identifiers associated with at least one node; and a communications
module adapted to establish a telecommunications bridge between a
user device and at least one node based upon at least a portion of
the information included in the request.
15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the request to
establish a telecommunications bridge is received by at least a
portion of a core network that is adapted to: evaluate the campaign
identifier included in a request; select a toll free phone number
based upon at least a portion of the information included in the
request; and establish an end-to-end telecommunications channel
between the user device and a campaign management module utilizing
the selected toll free phone number the end-to-end
telecommunications channel including a signaling band having at
least a portion of the information included in the request.
16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the campaign
identifier includes any of information indicative of a bar code, a
URI, a URL, a vanity dialing code, an audio recording, a video
recording, input provided by means of a touch-screen interface or
motion detection sensor, end user device Global Positioning System
(GPS) data, end-user device compass coordinates.
17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the request further
includes information indicative of at least one of temporal data,
location data, and carrier information that affect the selection of
one or more informational campaigns delivered to the user
device.
18. The system according to claim 14, wherein if the campaign
identifier includes a vanity dialing code, the vanity dialing code
includes a multi-character string associated with at least one
node.
19. The system according to claim 14, wherein the communications
module is adapted to utilize one or more communication protocols
including any of an end-to-end telecommunications channel, TCP/IP,
POP3, SMTP, FTP, SMS, IP-based network sockets, or combinations
thereof.
20. The system according to claim 14, wherein the communications
module is adapted to deliver an error message to the user device
when the received campaign identifier is not included in a campaign
identifier database.
21-23. (canceled)
Description
[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0002] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/807,716, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ESTABLISHING A
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BRIDGE BETWEEN A USER DEVICE AND A NODE," filed
Sep. 13, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/241,498, entitled "VANITY DIALING CODES AND
ASSOCIATED REGISTRY AND METHODS UTILIZING THE SAME," filed Sep. 11,
2009 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/311,403, entitled
"VANITY DIALING CODES AND ASSOCIATED REGISTRY AND METHODS UTILIZING
THE SAME," filed Mar. 8, 2010--all of which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference in their entirety, including all references
cited therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates in general to systems and
methods for establishing a telecommunications bridge and more
particularly, but not by way of limitation, to systems and methods
that establishing a telecommunications bridge between a user device
and a service provider by implementing vanity dialing code
registries comprising, among other things, multi-character vanity
dialing codes which are translated via a database to connect a user
device to a node via an internet protocol (IP) address, web site,
toll free number, voice over internet protocol (VoIP) address,
wireless automatic number identification (ANI), wire line ANI,
interactive voice response (IVR) application, et cetera.
[0005] 2. Background Art
[0006] Systems and methods for establishing telecommunications
bridges between user devices and nodes are well known in the art.
Generally speaking, to establish a telecommunications bridge
between a user device (e.g., a cellular telephone, a wireline
telephone, and the like) and a node such as a service provider, the
end user enters either a seven or ten digit telephone number
corresponding to the service provider into the user device.
Utilizing the phone number entered into a telecommunications
device, a telecommunications system establishes an end-to-end
telecommunications channel between the user device and the node. It
will be understood that in most instance, service providers
establish ten digit toll free phone numbers that may be utilized to
connect end users to a customer service department the service
provider.
[0007] While these systems and methods exist, they suffer from
numerous drawbacks including, but not limited to, the need for
customers to remember and correctly enter the seven or ten digit
telephone number corresponding to the service provider.
[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention, among
others, to provide systems and methods for establishing a
telecommunications bridge between a user device and a node, and in
some embodiments systems and methods that establish a
telecommunications bridge between an end user and a service
provider by processing vanity dialing codes utilizing a vanity
dialing code database.
[0009] These and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent in light of the present specification, claims, and
drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a
method for establishing a telecommunications bridge between a node
and a user device, the method including: (a) receiving a request to
establish a telecommunications bridge, the request including
information indicative of a user device, and a campaign identifier
corresponding to at least one node; (b) comparing the campaign
identifier to a campaign database, the campaign database including
information indicative of campaign identifiers associated with at
least one node; and (c) establishing the telecommunications bridge
between a user device and at least one node via a campaign
management module based upon at least a portion of the information
included in the request.
[0011] In another embodiment, information indicative of the user
device includes at least one of an IP address, a wireless ANI, SIM
card data, temporal data, location data, user profile information,
and carrier information.
[0012] In an additional embodiment, the campaign identifier
includes any of a bar code, a URI, a URL, a vanity dialing code, an
image (a stored image file or live capture from the end user device
camera), an SMS message, an audio recording (pre-recorded audio
file or live voice recording from the end device microphone where
available), a video recording (pre-recorded video file or live
video recording from the end user device video recorder where
available), input provided by means of a touch-screen interface or
motion detection sensor (e.g. gyroscopic motion detection), end
user device Global Positioning System (GPS) data, end-user device
compass coordinates.
[0013] In yet another embodiment, if the campaign identifier
includes a vanity dialing code, the vanity dialing code includes a
multi-number character string associated with at least one of one
or more informational campaigns and a node.
[0014] In accordance with the present invention, the bridge is
adapted to utilize one or more communication protocols including
any of an end-to-end telecommunications voice channel,
telecommunications signaling channel, TCP/IP (Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol), POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3), SMTP
(Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), SMS
(Short Message System), IP-based network socket, or combinations
thereof.
[0015] In another embodiment, receiving a request includes: (i)
selecting a toll free phone number based upon a location of the
user device included in the request or other data retrieved from
the user device such as user profile information; and (ii)
establishing an end-to-end telecommunications channel between the
user device and a campaign management module utilizing the selected
toll free phone number, the end-to-end telecommunications channel
including a signaling band having at least a portion of the
information included in the request.
[0016] In one additional embodiment, establishing the bridge
includes: (i) locating one or more servicer providers corresponding
to the campaign identifier by searching a campaign database; and
(ii) establishing an end-to-end telecommunications channel between
the located node and the user device.
[0017] In accordance with the present invention, the method further
comprises delivering an error message to the user device when
received the campaign identifier is not included in the campaign
database.
[0018] In yet another embodiment, the end-to-end telecommunications
channel between the user device and the node is adapted to be held
open after the node has terminated communication to allow one or
more informational campaigns to be delivered to the user
device.
[0019] In one embodiment, the one or more informational campaigns
includes any of an advertisement, a video, a discount, an audio
message, a public service announcement, an emergency alert message,
an SMS message, a location, directions, a menu, an email message, a
ringtone, a coupon, a hyperlink, a web page, an interactive voice
response (IVR) application, an information collection system, a
sweepstakes or raffle entry, a program enrollment, form,
questionnaire, or combinations thereof.
[0020] In another aspect of the present invention, the temporal
data associated with the user device is utilized to determine the
one or more informational campaigns selected for delivery to the
user device.
[0021] In one other embodiment, the location data of the user
device, user speech input, input via DTMF (Dual-Tone
Multi-Frequency) tones, or combination thereof are utilized to
determine the one or more informational campaigns selected for
delivery to the user device.
[0022] In one additional embodiment, the method further comprises
associating at least one of an informational campaign and a node
with one or more campaign identifiers.
[0023] In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a
system for establishing a telecommunications bridge between a node
and a user device, the system including (a) a campaign management
module that includes: (i) an input module adapted to receive a
request to establish the telecommunications bridge, the request
including information indicative of a user device, and a campaign
identifier corresponding to at least one node; and (ii) a
communications module adapted to establish a bridge between a user
device and at least one node based upon at least a portion of the
information included in the request.
[0024] In another embodiment, the campaign management module
includes an analysis module adapted to compare the campaign
identifier to a campaign database, the campaign database including
information indicative of campaign identifiers associated with at
least one of one or more informational campaigns and information
indicative of at least one node.
[0025] In an additional embodiment, the request to establish a
telecommunications bridge is received by at least a portion of a
core network that is adapted to: (i) evaluate the campaign
identifier included in a request; (ii) select a toll free phone
number; and (iii) establish an end-to-end telecommunications
channel between the user device and a campaign management module
utilizing the selected toll free phone number, the end-to-end
telecommunications channel including a signaling band having at
least a portion of the information included in the request.
[0026] In yet another embodiment, the campaign identifier includes
any of information indicative of a bar code, a URI (Uniform
Resource Indicator), a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), a vanity
dialing code, an image (a stored image file or live capture from
the end user device camera), an SMS message, an audio recording
(pre-recorded audio file or live voice recording from the end
device microphone where available), a video recording (pre-recorded
video file or live video recording from the end user device video
recorder where available), input provided by means of a
touch-screen interface or motion detection sensor (e.g. gyroscopic
motion detection), end user device Global Positioning System (GPS)
data, end-user device compass coordinates.
[0027] In another aspect of the present invention, the system
according to claim 16, wherein the request further includes
information indicative of at least one of temporal data, location
data, and carrier information that affect the selection of the one
or more informational campaigns delivered to the user device.
[0028] In another embodiment, if the campaign identifier includes a
vanity dialing code, the vanity dialing code includes a
multi-number character string associated with one or more
informational campaigns.
[0029] In yet another embodiment, the communications module is
adapted to utilize one or more communication protocols including
any of an end-to-end telecommunications channel, TCP/IP, POP3,
SMTP, FTP, SMS, IP-based network socket, or combinations
thereof.
[0030] In one embodiment, the communications module is adapted to
deliver an error message to the user device when received the
campaign identifier is not included in a campaign identifier
database.
[0031] In an additional embodiment, the communications module is
adapted to establish an end-to-end telecommunications channel
between the user device and the node that is configured to be held
open after the node has terminated communication to allow one or
more informational campaigns to be delivered to the user
device.
[0032] In an additional embodiment, the one or more informational
campaigns includes any of an advertisement, a video, a discount, an
audio message, an SMS message, a location, directions, a menu, an
email message, a ringtone, a coupon, a hyperlink, a web page, an
interactive voice response (IVR) application, an information
collection system, a sweepstakes or raffle entry, a program
enrollment, form, questionnaire, or combinations thereof.
[0033] In yet another embodiment, the system further comprises a
campaign database module adapted to associate at least one of an
informational campaign and a node with one or more campaign
identifiers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated
by the accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures
are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an
understanding of the invention or that render other details
difficult to perceive may be omitted. It will be understood that
the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular
embodiments illustrated herein.
[0035] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an exemplary architecture for
establishing a telecommunications bridge in accordance with various
embodiments of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a core network adapted to
connect user devices to a campaign management module;
[0037] FIG. 1C is a block diagram of a campaign management
module;
[0038] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for
establishing a telecommunications bridge between a user device and
a node; and
[0039] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing system
for executing one or more functions of a method for establishing a
telecommunications bridge between a user device and a node in
accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0040] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail several specific embodiments with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
[0041] It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or
components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the
drawings with like reference characters.
[0042] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly, to
FIGS. 1A-C collectively, an exemplary architecture 100 that may be
utilized to implement embodiments of the present invention is
shown. In some embodiments, architecture 100 may be broadly
described as including GSM (global system for mobile
communications) core network 10 having a plurality of mobile
switching centers 12 adapted to facilitate communication between
one or more user devices 14 and campaign management module 16. It
will be understood that campaign management module 16 may be
adapted to establish a telecommunications bridge between user
devices 14 and one or more node 18. It will be understood that the
term node 18 includes for example, service providers (e.g.,
entities that provide goods, products, information, or any
combination thereof), merchants, other user devices, government
entities--just to name a few.
[0043] According to some embodiments, user device 14 may include
any number of telecommunications devices capable of utilizing a
telecommunications bridge between a node and an end user such as
cellular telephones, wireline phones, personal digital assistance,
gaming platform, smart camera, public data entry terminal,
automated teller machine, computing systems, and the like.
[0044] According to some embodiments, core network 10 includes at
least one of a global system for mobile communications (GSM
network), a code division multiple access network (CDMA "Code
Division Multiple Access" network), or other mobile phone standard
networks such as EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution),
UMTS/UTRA (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), HSDPA
(High-Speed Downlink Packet Access), and the like. More
specifically, in some embodiments, core network 10 may include
mobile switching centers 12 that are operatively coupled to gateway
mobile switching center 22, which is in turn operatively coupled to
public switched telephone network 24 (PSTN).
[0045] Mobile switching centers 12 are the primary nodes of core
network 10 and may route communications such as cellular telephone
calls, SMS (often handled by an SMSC "Short Message Service
Center"), and the like received from user devices 14. It will be
understood that mobile switching centers 12 are configured to
establish end-to-end communications between, for example, two or
more user devices 14, user devices 14 and service providers, and
the like. Mobile switching centers 12 may also be adapted to
communicate with visitor location register 26, which includes
information indicative of one or more user devices 14 (e.g., an LAI
or Local Area Identity) in communication with one or more mobile
switching centers 12. Although not shown, mobile switching center
12 may also include a base transceiver adapted to facilitate
signaling between user devices 14 and core network 10.
[0046] Gateway mobile switching center 22 is a particular type of
MSC that may be adapted to determine the location of mobile
switching centers 12 currently communicating with user device 14.
Gateway mobile switching center 22 may be adapted to communicate
with public switched telephone network 24. Public switched
telephone network 24, also known as the plain old telephone
service, is a global circuit-switched telephone network adapted to
allow any type of telecommunications device (e.g., mobile phone,
fixed line telephones, and the like) to communicate with any other
telecommunications device, regardless of the telecommunications
medium utilized by the telecommunications device, such as fiber
optic cables, microwave transmission links, cellular networks,
communications satellites, undersea telephone cables, and the like.
It will be understood that at least a portion of public switched
telephone network 24 may be cloud based and reside on one or more
switching servers (not shown) located remotely from core network
10.
[0047] Both mobile switching centers 12 and gateway mobile
switching center 22 are operatively connected to home location
register 28 or HLR that may include information indicative of all
user devices 14 having access to core network 10. Information
indicative of user device 14 includes SIM card (Subscriber Identity
Module) information for each user device 14. SIM card information
may be authenticated by authentication center 30 or AUC.
Additionally, authentication center 30 may be operatively connected
to equipment identity register 32 that includes information
indicative of the hardware of user device 14.
[0048] Additionally, mobile switching centers 12 may be modified to
include translation tables that include information indicative of
routing information for each of the campaign identifiers. The
routing information instructs one or more components of core
network 10 as to how campaign identifiers received from user
devices 14 should be handled by public switched telephone network
24. For example, each campaign identifier may be associated with
one or more telephone numbers or VoIP addresses that allow user
devices 14 to be operatively connected to campaign management
module 16.
[0049] By way of non-limiting example, according to some
embodiments, the campaign identifiers may include VDCs or (Vanity
Dialing Codes) that include numerical character strings of varying
length. It will be understood that the length of the VDCs may vary
depending on the particular network handing the request. That is,
the VDC may include any number of characters so long as the VDC
character string does not conflict with the default dialing schemes
of the telecommunications network processing the requests. It will
also be understood that the VDC may also include additional
characters such as #, *, & and the like. Campaign identifiers
may also include any of information indicative of a bar code, a
URI, a URL, a vanity dialing code or VDC, an image (a stored image
file or live capture from the end user device camera), an SIMS
message, an audio recording (pre-recorded audio file or live voice
recording from the end device microphone where available), a video
recording (pre-recorded video file or live video recording from the
end user device video recorder where available), input provided by
means of a touch-screen interface or motion detection sensor (e.g.
gyroscopic motion detection), end user device Global Positioning
System (GPS) data, end-user device compass coordinates, that would
be known to one of ordinary skill in the art with the present
disclosure before them. For the sake of brevity, only a discussion
of the establishment and use of short dialing codes also known as
VDCs will be discussed in greater detail infra.
[0050] In some embodiments, a request to establish a
telecommunications bridge includes VDCs received from user devices
14 via one or more mobile switching centers 12. For example, an end
user may enter an VDC such as "TIX" corresponding to a numerical
character string of for example, "849," "#849," "**849," and the
like. In this example, an VDC of "849" corresponds to a particular
company that provides ticketing for events. The VDC may be
evaluated by at least one of mobile switching centers 12 or gateway
mobile switching center 22 and utilized to operatively connect user
devices 14 to campaign management module 16 via public switched
telephone network 24. More specifically, mobile switching centers
12 or gateway mobile switching center 22 may evaluate the VDC of
"849" and append the same to a toll free phone number as an
out-of-band signal. The toll free number is then routed to campaign
management module 16 via public switched telephone network 24.
[0051] In some embodiments, the toll free number may be chosen
based upon the location of user device 14 that is then communicated
to campaign management module 16. It will be understood that the
toll free numbers may be cross-linked to particular VDCs within the
translation tables associated with visitor location registers 26
and home location registers 28.
[0052] Similarly to the campaign identifier, additional information
may be appended to the toll free phone number as an out-of-band
signal such as temporal data indicative of the time a request was
received by mobile switching center 12, carrier information
corresponding to mobile carrier associated with user device 14,
hardware configurations of user device 14 as determined by
equipment identity register 32, and the like. The additional
information may be utilized by campaign management module 16 to
affect the selection of informational campaigns provided to user
devices 14 in addition to establishing the telecommunications
bridge between user device 14 and a node 18.
[0053] In other embodiments, rather than an end-to-end
telecommunications channel, core network 10 may be adapted to
utilize additional types of communication protocols such as TCP/IP
utilizing IP addresses or domain names, POP, FTP, SMTP, SIMS, and
the like.
[0054] Campaign management module 16 may be adapted to receive the
routed requests via public switched telephone network 24 and
evaluate the received information to establish bridge 34
operatively connecting user device 14 to one or more nodes 18 such
as service providers, an IP address, a VoIP channel, an interactive
voice response or IVY application, and the like. In additional
embodiments, bridge 34 may represent any number of communication
mediums that utilize any number of communication protocols (e.g.,
TCP/IP, SIMS, and the like) that would be known to one of ordinary
skill in the art with the present disclosure before them. Moreover,
bridge 34 may also be adapted to create and maintain multiple
channels of communication simultaneously. For example, bridge 34
may be utilized for the establishment of communications between
user devices 14 and service providers.
[0055] In some embodiments, campaign management module 16 may
include input module 36, analysis module 38, communications module
40, and campaign database module 42. It is noteworthy that campaign
management module 16 may be composed of more or fewer modules and
engines (or combinations of the same) and still fall within the
scope of the present technology. Additionally, it will be
understood that the constituent modules described herein may be
executed by a processor of a computing system to effectuate
respective functionalities attributed thereto.
[0056] In some embodiments, campaign management module 16 may
function as a telecommunications switch capable of routing toll
free phone numbers received from public switched telephone network
24 via input module 36 to an appropriate node 18.
[0057] In some embodiments, communications module 40 of campaign
management module 16 may establish bridge 34 that in some
embodiments includes an end-to-end telecommunications channel
between user device 14 and node 18. Communications module 40 may be
adapted to hold open an end-to-end telecommunications channel for a
predetermined amount of time after node 18 has terminated
communication with user device 14 so that campaign management
module 16 may deliver informational campaigns to user device 14. It
will be understood that the selected informational campaigns may
correspond to one or more goods or services provided by service
provider, for example, additional advertisements available from
service provider, or an affiliated service provider.
[0058] Non-limiting examples of informational campaigns include at
least one of an advertisement, a video, a discount, an audio
message, an SIMS message, a location, directions, a menu, an email
message, a ringtone, a coupon, a hyperlink, a web page, an
interactive voice response (IVY) application, an information
collection system, a sweepstakes or raffle entry, a program
enrollment, form, questionnaire, or combinations thereof.
[0059] Generally speaking, analysis module 38 of campaign
management module 16 is adapted to compare information received by
input module 36, such as a VDC appended to the toll free phone
number, to campaign database 44 to determine one or more
informational campaigns that may be provided to user devices 14.
Analysis module 38 may then select one or more of the informational
campaigns based upon the campaign identifier (e.g., VDC) and
deliver the selected informational campaigns to user devices 14
during or after the establishment of communications between user
device 14 and node 18 via communications module 40.
[0060] Returning back to the example, input module 36 of campaign
management module 16 receives a campaign identifier, such as a VDC
of "849," appended to a toll free phone number as an out-of-band
signal. Analysis module 38 evaluates the VDC of "849" appended to
the toll free phone number and compares the VDC of "849" against
campaign database 44 and locates information indicative of a
service provider such as a customer service phone number. It will
be understood that the information indicative of the service
provider may include, a marketing telephone number, a sales
telephone number, a technical support telephone number, any other
telephone number corresponding to a service provider. During or
after communications module 40 establishes an end-to-end
telecommunications channel between the customer service phone
number of the ticketing company and user device 14, communications
module 40 may communicate the coupon to user device 14 on an
additional communications protocol, such as SMS (text message). As
such, the end user is able to utilize the coupon in the instant
transaction conducted during the telephone call between the end
user utilizing user device 14 and the service provider.
[0061] It will be understood that analysis module 38 may also
utilize additional information indicative of user device 14 to
determine the selection of an informational campaign from campaign
database 44. For example, if the service provider maintains several
informational campaigns that vary depending on the day of the week,
analysis module 38 may utilize temporal data indicative of when
user device 14 initiated communications with core network 10. The
temporal data may be included as an out-of-band signal appended to
the end-to-end telecommunications channel established between
public switched telephone network 24 and campaign management module
16. It will be understood that one or more end users may create
user profiles that contain personal information (e.g., preferences)
that may be utilized by the campaign management module 16 to
determine one or more informational campaigns to deliver to user
device 14.
[0062] It will be understood that in some embodiments, rather than
an end-to-end telecommunications channel such as a traditional
wireless or wireline connection, communications module 40 is
adapted to utilize a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) connection
via an Internet protocol address, a wireless ANI, and the like, to
connect user device 14 to node 18.
[0063] Alternatively, if analysis module 38 is unable to locate a
node 18 corresponding to a received campaign identifier, analysis
module 38 may cause prompter 46 to request input of a phone number
corresponding to node 18 with which the end user desires to
establish an end-to-end telecommunications channel. Moreover, if no
node 18 corresponds to the input, an error message may be
communicated to user device 14 before campaign management module 16
clears the telecommunications channel. Prompter 46 may be adapted
to request information indicative of an alternative informational
campaign from the end user, which may be delivered user device
14.
[0064] According to other embodiments, a database may be used by
campaign database module 42 to notify service providers of various
data relative to successful/unsuccessful outcomes relative to the
delivery of an informational campaign. The data collected from and
provided to service providers may include records of specific
instances when end users utilized informational campaigns, such as
coupons. Additionally, campaign management module 16 may record an
aggregate number of times coupons were utilized by end users. The
data collected may be organized into logs that can be stored in a
service provider database and accessed by the service providers.
For example, service providers may communicate information
indicative of a successful use of a coupon that may include
information indicative of user device 14 associated with the
successful use of the coupon.
[0065] Additionally, campaign database module 42 may be adapted to
establish and maintain campaign database 44 by communicating with
nodes 18 such as service providers, receiving input indicative of a
particular campaign identifier that service provider desires to
associate with a customer service center. Campaign database module
42 may also be adapted to associate the campaign identifier with
one or more informational campaigns, which are both cross-linked to
a service provider. The associated campaign identifiers are stored
in a campaign database that resides on a server or within a server
cloud (not shown). It will be understood that a service provider
may purchase or lease the selected campaign identifier for a
predetermined amount of time such as one year to five years.
[0066] In some embodiments, campaign management module 16 is
adapted to communicate with a third party vendor (not shown) that
delivers one or more informational campaigns to user devices 14
rather than campaign management module 16 or node 18. In
particular, campaign management module 16 receives requests to
establish a telecommunications bridge as described above and
communicates at least a portion of the request to the third party
vendor who analyzes the request and delivers one or more
informational campaigns to user devices 14 in addition to
establishing the telecommunications bridge between user device 14
and a service provider.
[0067] Referring now to FIG. 2, method 200 for establishing a
telecommunications bridge between a user device and a node is shown
as a flow diagram having a plurality of steps.
[0068] Method 200 begins with step 202 of a user device
broadcasting a request to establish a telecommunications bridge
between the user device and at least one node. One or more of the
mobile switching centers of the core network then receives the
request from the user device. It will be understood that the
request to establish a telecommunications bridge may include
information indicative of the user device (SIM card data) and a
campaign identifier. It will be understood that the node preferably
establishes a campaign identifier according to the above described
methods prior to step 202.
[0069] Step 204 includes the core network mapping the campaign
identifier to a toll free telephone number that is selected based
in part upon the location of the mobile switching center that
received the request from the user device. The campaign identifier
may be mapped to the toll free telephone number by the core network
as an out-of-band signal that is communicated to a campaign
management module via a public switched telephone network of the
core network.
[0070] Step 206 includes the campaign management module selecting
information indicative of one or more nodes by evaluating the
campaign identifier mapped to the toll free telephone number in
step 204. The campaign management module is adapted to compare the
campaign identifier to a campaign database operatively associated
with the campaign management module to select one or more nodes
with which to establish a telecommunications bridge. It will be
understood that the campaign management module may also utilize
other information indicative of the user device such as location
data, temporal data, and carrier data--just to name a few.
[0071] If the campaign management module locates information
indicative of at least one node, the campaign management module may
establish a bridge between the user device and the node via the
campaign management module. More specifically, the campaign
management module may establish an end-to-end telecommunications
bridge between the user device and the node in step 208.
Additionally, the campaign management module may deliver an
informational campaign to the user device during or after the
establishment of the end-to-end telecommunications channel between
the user device and the node in step 210 by holding the
telecommunications bridge open after telecommunications between
node 18 and user device 14 have terminated. It will be understood
that delivery of an informational campaign may occur in tandem with
the establishment of an end-to-end telecommunications bridge
between the user device and the node in step 208.
[0072] If the analysis module is unable to locate information
indicative of a node corresponding to the campaign identifier or a
node with which to establish an end-to-end telecommunications
bridge, the communications module may deliver an error message to
the user device in step 212. In addition to delivering an error
message, the analysis module is adapted to request and receive
input via the user device indicative of an alternative
informational campaign to deliver to the user device in step 214.
It will be understood that the request may be evaluated by the
analysis module according to a user profile previously established
by the end user that may include preferences related to the end
user.
[0073] Once the end-to-end telecommunications channel between the
user device and the node has been cleared the method 200
terminates.
[0074] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary computing system 300 that
may be used to implement various portions of the present invention.
Computing system 300 of FIG. 3 may be implemented in the context of
user devices 14, campaign management module 16, node 18, and the
like. The computing system 300 of FIG. 3 includes one or more
processors 310 and memory 320. Main memory 320 stores, in part,
instructions and data for execution by processor 310. Main memory
320 can store the executable code when computing system 300 is in
operation. Computing system 300 of FIG. 3 may further include mass
storage device 330, portable storage medium drive(s) 340, output
devices 350, user input devices 360, graphics display 370, and
other peripheral devices 380.
[0075] The components shown in FIG. 3 are depicted as being
connected via single bus 390. The components may be connected
through one or more data transport means. Processor unit 310 and
main memory 320 may be connected via a local microprocessor bus,
and mass storage device 330, peripheral device(s) 380, portable
storage medium drive 340, and graphics display 370 may be connected
via one or more input/output (I/O) buses.
[0076] Mass storage device 330, which may be implemented with a
magnetic disk drive or an optical disk drive, is a non-volatile
storage device for storing data and instructions for use by
processor 310. Mass storage device 330 can store the system
software for implementing embodiments of the present invention for
purposes of loading that software into main memory 320.
[0077] Portable storage medium drive 340 operates in conjunction
with a portable non-volatile storage medium, such as a floppy disk,
compact disk or Digital video disc, to input and output data and
code to and from computing system 300 of FIG. 3. The system
software for implementing embodiments of the present invention may
be stored on such a portable medium and input into computing system
300 via portable storage medium drive 340.
[0078] Use input devices 360 provide a portion of a user interface.
User input devices 360 may include an alphanumeric keypad, such as
a keyboard, for inputting alphanumeric and other information, or a
pointing device, such as a mouse, a trackball, stylus, or cursor
direction keys. Additionally, computing system 300 as shown in FIG.
3 includes output devices 350. Suitable output devices include
speakers, printers, network interfaces, and monitors.
[0079] Graphics display 370 may include a liquid crystal display
(LCD) or other suitable display device. Graphics display 370
receives textual and graphical information, and processes the
information for output to the display device.
[0080] Peripheral devices 380 may include any type of computer
support device to add additional functionality to the computer
system. Peripheral device(s) 380 may include a modem or a
router.
[0081] The components contained in computing system 300 of FIG. 3
are those typically found in computer systems that may be suitable
for use with embodiments of the present invention and are intended
to represent a broad category of such computer components that are
well known in the art. Thus, computing system 300 of FIG. 3 can be
a personal computer, hand held computing system, telephone,
automated bank teller machine (ATM), mobile computing system,
workstation, server, minicomputer, mainframe computer, or any other
computing system. The computer can also include different bus
configurations, networked platforms, multi-processor platforms,
etc. Various operating systems can be used including UNIX, Linux,
Windows, Macintosh OS, Palm OS, iOs, and other suitable operating
systems.
[0082] Some of the above-described functions may be composed of
instructions that are stored on storage media (e.g.,
computer-readable medium). The instructions may be retrieved and
executed by the processor. Some examples of storage media are
memory devices, tapes, disks, and the like. The instructions are
operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor
to operate in accord with the invention. Those skilled in the art
are familiar with instructions, processor(s), and storage
media.
[0083] It is noteworthy that any hardware platform suitable for
performing the processing described herein is suitable for use with
the invention. The terms "computer-readable storage medium" and
"computer-readable storage media" as used herein refer to any
medium or media that participate in providing instructions to a CPU
for execution. Such media can take many forms, including, but not
limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media and transmission
media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic
disks, such as a fixed disk. Volatile media include dynamic memory,
such as system RAM. Transmission media include coaxial cables,
copper wire and fiber optics, among others, including the wires
that comprise one embodiment of a bus. Transmission media can also
take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated
during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications.
Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a
floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, magnetic tape, any other
magnetic medium, a CD-ROM disk, digital video disk (DVD), any other
optical medium, any other physical medium with patterns of marks or
holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a FLASHEPROM, any other
memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from
which a computer can read.
[0084] Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in
carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a CPU
for execution. A bus carries the data to system RAM, from which a
CPU retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions
received by system RAM can optionally be stored on a fixed disk
either before or after execution by a CPU.
[0085] The above description is illustrative and not restrictive.
Many variations of the invention will become apparent to those of
skill in the art upon review of this disclosure. The scope of the
invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to
the above description, but instead should be determined with
reference to the appended claims along with their full scope of
equivalents.
[0086] While the present invention has been described in connection
with a series of preferred embodiments, these descriptions are not
intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular
forms set forth herein. It will be further understood that the
methods of the invention are not necessarily limited to the
discrete steps or the order of the steps described. To the
contrary, the present descriptions are intended to cover such
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included
within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims and otherwise appreciated by one of ordinary skill
in the art.
[0087] While various embodiments have been described above, it
should be understood that they have been presented by way of
example only, and not limitation. The descriptions are not intended
to limit the scope of the technology to the particular forms set
forth herein. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment
should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary
embodiments. It should be understood that the above description is
illustrative and not restrictive. To the contrary, the present
descriptions are intended to cover such alternatives,
modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit
and scope of the technology as defined by the appended claims and
otherwise appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The
scope of the technology should, therefore, be determined not with
reference to the above description, but instead should be
determined with reference to the appended claims along with their
full scope of equivalents.
* * * * *