U.S. patent number RE48,933 [Application Number 16/292,118] was granted by the patent office on 2022-02-15 for method and system for sending messages.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bookit OY. The grantee listed for this patent is BOOKIT OY. Invention is credited to Jukka Kalevi Salonen.
United States Patent |
RE48,933 |
Salonen |
February 15, 2022 |
Method and system for sending messages
Abstract
The present publication discloses a method and system for
sending messages in a telecommunications network. In the method, a
first text-form message is sent to a user of the service, a reply
to the first text-form message is received from the user of the
service to an address defined in the previous message, if the reply
is of the correct form and content, the desired service is sent to
the user of the service. According to the invention, the user of
the message service is offered a second service by a message, the
information (such as the sending number is text-message traffic)
defining the reply address of which differs from that of the first
message, and the second offer message is sent with a sending delay,
which depends of the content or type of the first service.
Inventors: |
Salonen; Jukka Kalevi
(Luhtijoki, FI) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BOOKIT OY |
Helsinki |
N/A |
FI |
|
|
Assignee: |
Bookit OY (N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
39677583 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/292,118 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2019 |
PCT
Filed: |
July 03, 2009 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/FI2009/050611 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
February 09, 2011 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2010/000949 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
January 07, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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15373531 |
Mar 5, 2019 |
RE47279 |
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14519655 |
Dec 26, 2017 |
RE46653 |
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14519655 |
Oct 21, 2014 |
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Reissue of: |
13002512 |
Jul 3, 2009 |
8825774 |
Sep 2, 2014 |
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Reissue of: |
13002512 |
Jul 3, 2009 |
8825774 |
Aug 13, 2014 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 4, 2008 [FI] |
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20085701 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W
4/14 (20130101); H04W 4/24 (20130101); H04M
3/42382 (20130101); H04M 3/42059 (20130101); H04L
51/38 (20130101); H04M 15/61 (20130101); G06Q
10/02 (20130101); H04M 2203/1058 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
15/16 (20060101); H04W 4/24 (20180101); H04W
4/14 (20090101); H04M 3/42 (20060101); G06Q
10/02 (20120101); H04M 15/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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Other References
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Primary Examiner: Escalante; Ovidio
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS.Iaddend.
.Iadd.This patent application is a continuation reissue application
of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/373,531, filed 9
Dec. 2016 which is a continuation reissue application of co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/519,655, filed 21 Oct. 2014,
which is a reissue of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/002,512,
filed 9 Feb. 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,825,774, which is a National
Phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/FI2009/050611,
filed 3 Jul. 2009, which claims priority to Finnish Patent
Application No. 20085701, filed 4 Jul. 2008, the disclosures of
which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/373,531 and Ser. No. 14/519,655 and
the instant application are reissue and continuation reissue
applications, respectively, of U.S. Pat. No. 8,825,774..Iaddend.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
.[.1. A method comprising: sending, in a telecommunications
network, to a mobile terminal, a text-form message, wherein the
text-form message relates to a current session and a current stage
of the current session within a predefined dialog including a
plurality of stages in which the current stage of the predefined
dialog determines a sender address of the text-form message,
wherein the sending comprises altering the sender address of the
text-form message, and wherein the altered sender address is
determined based on a combination of a session number of the
current session and the current stage of the current session; and
receiving, at the altered sender address or at an address contained
in the sent text-form message, a reply message from the mobile
terminal, wherein the predefined dialog proceeds based on contents
of the reply message, wherein the reply message is a service order
message, which is associated with at least one order for a
supplementary service, and which is subject to payment, and wherein
the method further comprises initiating delivery of the
supplementary service over a communications channel that is not
used to send or receive the text-form messages..].
.[.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the
sending and receiving for at least one subsequent current stage of
the session, wherein the repeating comprises further altering the
sender address of the text-form message based on the at least one
subsequent current stage and sending the text-form message with the
further altered sender address..].
.[.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the text-form message
comprises a Short Message Service message..].
.[.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the text-form message
comprises a Multimedia Message Service message..].
.[.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the text-form message
comprises an electronic mail message..].
.[.6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the sender addresses
comprises an Internet Protocol Address..].
.[.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the altering of the sender
address of the text-form message comprises altering the sender
address to an address operative in the mobile terminal's home
network or country..].
.[.8. A telecommunications apparatus comprising: a processor
coupled to a memory executing: a transmission system for sending,
in a telecommunications network to a mobile terminal, a text-form
message, wherein the text-form message relates to a current session
and a current stage of the current session within a predefined
dialog including a plurality of stages in which the current stage
of the predefined dialog determines a sender address of the
text-form message, wherein the telecommunication apparatus further
comprises a sender-address altering system for altering the sender
address of the text-form message, wherein the altered sender
address is determined based on a combination of a session number of
the current session and the current stage of the current session;
and a reception system for receiving, at the altered sender address
or at an address contained in the sent text-form message, a reply
message from the mobile terminal, wherein the predefined dialog
proceeds based on contents of the reply message, wherein the reply
message is a service order message, which is associated with at
least one order for a supplementary service that is subject to
payment, and wherein the telecommunication apparatus further
initiates delivery of the supplementary service over a
communications channel which is not used to send or receive the
text-form messages..].
.[.9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus repeating the
sending and receiving for at least one subsequent current stage of
the session, wherein the repeating comprises further altering the
sender address of the text-form message based on at least one
subsequent current stage and sending the text-form message with the
further altered sender address..].
.[.10. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
text-form message comprises a Short Message Service message..].
.[.11. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
text-form message comprises a Multimedia Message Service
message..].
.[.12. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
text-form message comprises an electronic mail message..].
.[.13. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
sending alters the sender address of the text-form message to an
address operative in the mobile terminal's home network or
country..].
.[.14. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of
the sender addresses comprises an Internet Protocol Address..].
.[.15. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
telecommunication apparatus comprises an SMS bulk-delivery
system..].
.[.16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending comprises
altering the sender address of the text-form message based on the
current stage of the session for each of several mobile
terminals..].
.[.17. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
sender-address altering system alters the sender address of the
text-form message based on the current stage of the session for
each of several mobile terminals..].
.Iadd.18. A method comprising: sending, in a telecommunications
network, to a mobile terminal, a first text-form query message that
relates to a current session and a current stage of the current
session within a predefined dialog, which includes a plurality of
stages, wherein the current stage of the predefined dialog
determines a sender address of the first text-form query message,
wherein the sending comprises altering the sender address of the
first text-form query message, and wherein the altered sender
address is determined based on a combination of a session number of
the current session and the current stage of the current session;
and receiving, at the altered sender address or at an address
contained in the sent first text-form query message, a first reply
message from the mobile terminal, wherein the predefined dialog
proceeds based on contents of the first reply message, wherein the
first reply message is a service order message, which is associated
with at least one order for a supplementary service, and which is
subject to payment, and wherein the method further comprises
initiating delivery of the supplementary service over a
communications channel that is not used to send or receive the
text-form query messages, wherein, in response to the receipt of
the first reply to the first text-form query message indicating
acceptance of terms in the first text-form query message, both
delivery of a first service event is initiated to the user and a
second text-form query message is sent to the mobile terminal of
the user, wherein the second text-form query message indicates a
second reply address, which is distinct from the first reply
address..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. The method of claim 18, further comprising repeating the
sending and receiving for at least one subsequent current stage of
the session, wherein the repeating comprises further altering the
sender address of a second text-form query message based on the at
least one subsequent current stage and sending the second text-form
query message with the further altered sender address..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The method of claim 18, wherein the text-form query
message comprises a Short Message Service message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. The method of claim 18, wherein the text-form query
message comprises a Multimedia Message Service
message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The method of claim 18, wherein the text-form query
message comprises an electronic mail message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the sender
addresses comprises an Internet Protocol Address..Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the sender
addresses comprises a telephone number..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. The method of claim 18, wherein the altering of the
sender address of the first text-form query message comprises
altering the sender address to an address operative in the mobile
terminal's home network or country..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 18, wherein the
telecommunication apparatus comprises an SMS bulk-delivery
system..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. The method of claim 18, wherein the sending comprises
altering the sender address of the text-form query message based on
the current stage of the session for each of several mobile
terminals..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. A telecommunications apparatus comprising: a processor
coupled to a memory for executing: a transmission system for
sending, in a telecommunications network to a mobile terminal, a
first text-form query message that relates to a current session and
a current stage of the current session within a predefined dialog
that includes a plurality of stages, wherein the current stage of
the predefined dialog determines a sender address of the first
text-form query message, a sender-address altering system for
altering the sender address of the first text-form query message,
wherein the altered sender address is determined based on a
combination of a session number of the current session and the
current stage of the current session; and a reception system for
receiving, at the altered sender address or at an address contained
in the sent first text-form query message, a reply message from the
mobile terminal, wherein the predefined dialog proceeds based on
contents of the reply message, wherein the reply message is a
service order message, which is associated with at least one order
for a supplementary service that is subject to payment, and wherein
the telecommunication apparatus further initiates delivery of the
supplementary service over a communications channel which is not
used to send or receive the text-form query messages wherein, in
response to the receipt of the first reply to the first text-form
query message indicating acceptance of terms in the first text-form
query message, the processor both initiates delivery of a first
service event to the user and sends a second text-form query
message to the mobile terminal of the user, wherein the second
text-form query message indicates a second reply address, which is
distinct from the first reply address..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the apparatus
repeating the sending and receiving for at least one subsequent
current stage of the session, wherein the repeating comprises
further altering the sender address of a second text-form query
message based on the at least one subsequent current stage and
sending the second text-form query message with the further altered
sender address..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 28, wherein the
text-form query message comprises a Short Message Service
message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 28, wherein the
text-form query message comprises a Multimedia Message Service
message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 28, wherein the
text-form query message comprises an electronic mail
message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 28, wherein the
sending alters the sender address of the text-form query message to
an address operative in the mobile terminal's home network or
country..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 28, wherein each
of the sender addresses comprises an Internet Protocol
Address..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 28, wherein the
telecommunication apparatus comprises an SMS bulk-delivery
system..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. The telecommunication apparatus of claim 28, wherein the
sender-address altering system alters the sender address of the
text-form query message based on the current stage of the session
for each of several mobile terminals..Iaddend.
Description
The present invention relates to a method, according to the
preamble of claim 1, for sending messages.
The invention also relates to a system according to claim 26.
Methods and systems of this kind are used, for example, in the
implementation of text-message-based ordering or booking
services.
The prior art is described in, among others, the applicant=s own
patents FI-117663, FI-118586, and FI-118585, and in EP patent
application 03792441.
These patents disclose solutions, in which, in connection with
services requiring many pairs of queries and replies, the
management of the dialogue can be most advantageously resolved
using simple text-message technology, which is available to all
mobile telephone users.
In these solutions, a so-called DDM matrix is used, in which the
intelligence of the service dialogue has been transferred to the
service system, in such a way that the service provider always
changes the reply address (typically a telephone number) according
to the stage of the dialogue, so that, even in a discontinuous
dialogue of long duration, the service provider knows both who has
responded to a question in the dialogue and at which stage in the
dialogue.
In these, as such highly developed solutions, it has not been
simple to implement all services.
The invention is intended to eliminate the defects of the state of
the art described above and for this purpose create an entirely new
type of method and system for the sending, particularly the bulk
delivery of messages, as well as to preferably provide a service
for international use.
The invention is also intended to provide methods and means, with
the aid of which it is possible to achieve a simple and clear way
of providing services in multi-channel communications.
In addition, the invention is intended to create methods and means,
by means of which a query and service can be sent to a customer
through different communications networks.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, messages, such as text
messages are used in a dialogue, in which content services are
delivered to the customer. The services are provided typically
using the service provider's means of payment, such a bonus points.
If the customer and service provider have a mutual agreement
concerning other means of payment, these can also be used to bill
the customer.
The invention is based on the desired reply address, typically the
sender data of each message sent, typically by bulk delivery, is
changed to correspond to a predefined dialogue, in which the stage
of the dialogue determines unequivocally the sender data, in which
case the sending and reception of the messages are implemented in
different parts of the telecommunications network and the user is
permitted to respond in only one way, so that the service is
delivered in response to the billing of the means of payment used
by the service provider.
One preferred embodiment of the invention is based on the
reception, at the sender address defined in the in the previous
stage of the dialogue, or an address contained in the message, in
the message dialogue, of a message from the user over a second
telecommunications channel (data connection, VOIP connection, WAP
connection, or internet connection) and on proceeding according to
the contents of the message. If necessary, the next text-format
message of the session is sent to the user of the message service,
in such a way that the sender address (e.g., the A number) is
changed to correspond to the session number and a new session
stage.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the
interval in time between the first offer message and the following
message depends of the content, size, or temporal duration of the
repetition of the service delivered.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the service is
delivered using a communications channel differing from the
telephone connection.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the service is
delivered to some other terminal device of the user.
More specifically, the method according to the invention is
characterized by what is stated in the characterizing portion of
claim 1.
The system according to the invention is characterized, for its
part by what is stated in the characterizing portion of claim
26.
Considerable advantages are gained with the aid of the
invention.
The solution is operator-independent and will operate in the
networks of all operators. The most typical applications of the
invention will operate in any GSM customer telephone whatever, in
any network whatever. The invention offers a cost advantage thanks
to the bulk delivery while reception, however, operates entirely
country-independently, i.e. completely in a roaming mode from the
network of each operator. In addition, the system permits the
service provider to provide paid services to existing customers,
without risk.
The adjustment of the interval between messages permits both
optimization of the technical capacity of the telecommunications
network and the optimization of the delivery and acceptance of the
messages.
The service can be delivered flexibly to many different terminal
devices.
In the following, the invention is examined with the aid of
examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows schematically a solution according to the prior
art.
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the solution according to the prior
art
FIG. 3 shows schematically the data field in a message according to
the invention.
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the solution according to the
invention.
FIG. 5 shows schematically the system according to the
invention.
In the prior art according to FIG. 1, telephone operators A and B
have in their own networks text-message bulk-delivery means 3, by
means of which each operator can efficiently send large numbers of
text messages. In the solution shown, each operator has a common
service number 20, which is arranged by agreement, and circuit
technology relating to the message service, which is not available
to operators not party to the agreement. According to the prior
art, the service number 20 is a non-roaming short number.
In the system according to FIG. 2, there are typically two parties,
which, in exceptional cases, can be the same company.
The service company or association 1 provides a service, which
provides subscribers 8 with, for example, a registration service
for buying tickets, changing tyres, etc. The service company or
association 1 operates in a radio network, the home network 13 of
some operator.
In the present application, the term service company or association
1 refers to an association or company, which operates in either its
own or an extraneous network, producing services for customers
either directly or indirectly. Typically, such a company or
association is a sub-contractor of an actual telephone operator,
nor does a user of the service necessarily even know of the
existence of the service company or association 1. In a preferred
embodiment of the invention, the service company or association
produces either directly or indirectly many kinds of registration
and booking services for telephone subscribers.
The system also includes a telephone operator 2, in whose network
14 there are means and equipment for the bulk delivery of digital
messages (such as SMS messages) containing sender data. Such a
practical network element is, for example, SMS bulk-delivery logic
3, which can be implemented using, for example, Content Gateway
technology.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the first stage the service
company or association 1 uses connection logic 9 and number
adaptation 4 to form a large number of messages 40, each of which
contains recipient data 30, the actual message content 31, and
information 32 on either the send or, in practice, the address to
which a reply to the message 40 is desired. In an SMS (short
message system) application, the recipient data 30 is the telephone
number of a mobile station while the sender data 32 is the sender
data in the sender field of the SMS-message sender field 32
converted by a number converter 4.
Within the scope of the invention, the message 40 can be any
message whatever that can be sent through a digital data network,
and which comprises recipient data, the actual message, and the
desired reply address, for example, in the form of sender data.
Such messages 40 can be not only SMS messages, but also, for
instance, email messages or multimedia messages (MMS).
A large number of the aforementioned messages are formed
dynamically on the basis of complex dialogues.
When altering the desired reply address, for example, the sender=s
number, the address (or number) from which the contact to the
service company or association 1 has been made can be taken into
account. Thus, the messages of subscriber=s 8 in the USA can be
routed to their own national server while correspondingly the
messages of Finnish users of the same service are routed to their
own national server. From these national servers, the reply
messages can be transferred over suitable telecommunications links
for further measures by the service company or association 1.
The messages created by the service company or association 1 are
sent to the bulk-delivery logic 3, which is located in the network
14 of the operator 2, from which the bulk delivery 5 of the
messages is implemented. From there, the messages 40 disperse
always according to the recipient data 30 and arrive at the
terminal device 7 of the subscriber 8 through the subscriber's 8
radio network 6 at the time. The subscriber 8 replies to the
message using the `reply` function, when the reply message is sent
to the address that determines the value of the sender or
reply-address field 32 of the incoming message. The message 40 goes
to the service company or association 1 over the radio networks 12,
11, and 13. Naturally, if the subscriber 8 is in the area of the
home network 13 of the service company or association 1, the
message will not travel over the networks 11 and 12. From the home
network 13, the message is transferred to the message reception of
the service company or association, where it is combined with a
suitable dialogue with the aid of combination logic 9 and number
conversion.
More concretely, for example in an SMS application, when a message
is sent to the subscriber 8, the sender number (A number) is
altered before bulk delivery in block 4, for example to +35850001,
in the first stage of a predefined session (dialogue). The number
space of the sender number (A number) is defined by the service
provider's own number space, which in the invention is entirely
independent of the operator's 2 number space. In the next stage of
the same session, the A number is guided by the logic 9 of the
service company or association 1 to be, for example +35850002, and
so on. The sending A number is defined strictly from a logically
progressing dialogue created by the service provider 1, in which
the reply to each message sent is expected at a specific telephone
number (digital reply address), which is included in the outgoing
message as the A number.
Thus, the subscriber replies to the SMS message using the reply
function, in which case in the first stage of the dialogue the
reply goes to the number +35850001 and correspondingly in the
second stage of the dialogue to the number +35850002.
Example of a dialogue:
TABLE-US-00001 Message Sender number 1. do you want to download a
piece of music? reply y/n +35850001 2. do you want to download the
video of the piece you +35850002 heard? reply y/n
The subscriber's 8 reply `y` sends the message 2 of the service
provider's 1 system. The dialogue terminates, if the reply to the
first message is `n`.
Thus the messages described above are sent to several recipients at
one time, in which case the A number (=field 32) of the first stage
of the dialogue would always be +35850001 and correspondingly in
the second stage of the dialogue always +35850001, so that the
reply to each message sent will always be assigned to the correct
number. In connection with the reply, the sender's 8 A number
defines to whom the booking will be made.
According to the invention, the preferred embodiment is an SMS
message, but, according to the invention, the message can also be
some other form of digital short message, in which the message can
be replied to, without separately defining the recipient. Thus,
instead of telephone-number data, the sender or reply address field
(field 32 in FIG. 3) of the message can contain the desired reply
address in some other form, for example, as an email address, or as
numerical or alphanumerical sender or reply address data.
Thanks to the number conversion, the reception of the message takes
place typically in an open radio network (or alternatively e.g., in
a wireless local network, such as a WLAN or similar) external to
the network of the operator 2 sending the message and is routed on
the basis of the A number to the system of the service company or
association 1.
Thus, in the invention in the SMS application, prior to bulk
delivery the data in the `sender` field of the text message being
sent is altered, in such a way that the value entered in it is
different to the sender's real number. This value is obtained from
the logic 9, 10 of the service company or association 1, according
to a predefined rule, in such a way that the questions and replies
arriving at the logic can be linked.
In addition, in the system of the service company or association 1,
there is logic 9 connecting the sending end and the receiving end,
which can link a sent message and its incoming return reply from
the external operator 2, in such a way that a subscriber can reply
(from outside the network) from any subscription at all, but,
however, sending can be done from inside the network at a high
capacity and economically. In other words, the cheapest sending
operator can be selected, but reception can be from any data
network whatever.
According to the invention, at the message-receiving end it is
possible to distribute the reception in such a way that, for
example, in Sweden reception takes place at a local network element
and correspondingly in Finland at a Finnish network element, from
which national network elements the messages received are
transferred over suitable links, for example IP links, to the
system of the service company or association for further
processing. The international roaming of the service will then be
faster and cheaper, as well as more reliable. In addition, it is
more pleasant for a consumer to use the service, because sending
takes place to the number of a local operator and not to the
network of a foreign operator, which is perceived to be expensive.
In some subscriptions, foreign text messages may even be blocked,
i.e. they will not operate without the service according to the
invention.
According to FIG. 4, the solution according to the invention is
implemented as follows.
A logically continuous, but temporally discontinuous session N of
long duration is implemented as follows. The session N is divided
into sub-stages J (43, 41, 42), which are typically temporally
separated from each other. The session N itself is, however,
logically continuous, in other words the queries and replies
proceed logically over the entire session.
The service relating to the session N is initiated in block 43. The
first text-form message of the session N is then sent to a service
user, in such a way that the sender address (e.g., the A number) is
altered to correspond to the session number N and the session stage
J.
Block 42 depicts the stages 2-n of the session N, in which a
text-form message to the sender address defined in the message in
the previous stage is received from the user of the message
service, and which proceeds according to the contents of the
message, in such a way that the sender address (e.g., A number) is
altered to correspond to the session number N and the new session
stage J. Next, the next text-form message of session N is sent to
the user of the message service.
According to block 42, an additional stage according to the
invention is implemented at some stage of the process, in which the
service provider offers a service subject to payment and, in reply
to this offer message, acceptance of the delivery of the service
subject to payment is received from the user of the message
service.
According to FIG. 5, the method and system according to the
invention can be applied in an environment, in which there is a
service provider 52, for example an airline. In addition to this,
there are several users, of which the figure shows one user, who
has two terminal devices, a mobile telephone 50 and a laptop or
palm computer 51. In addition, the figure shows the service
producer 53 and the public internet network 60. Instead of the
internet network, it is also possible to use, for instance, a WLAN
network, or a corresponding telecommunications network.
The method according to the invention proceeds in such a way that
the service provider typically approaches the mobile stations 50 of
several users and sends an offer 54 of a service, for which payment
will be made using the service provider's own means of payment,
such a bonus points (or frequent-flyer miles). The user is given
the chance to reply and the delivery process of the service
typically initiates only if an unequivocal acceptance message is
received from the user 50, for example, `y`, `yes` or some other
corresponding short message, for example in the form of a text
message.
Once the process has been initiated by the unequivocal message, the
service is sent, either directly as a download 56 to the mobile
telephone, or alternatively the message 56 can be a text-message
link to some other telecommunications system, such as the link
address of the service provider 53, from which the actual service
such as music or an image is downloaded by means of a return
message 58. The connection from the mobile station 50 to the system
53 can be based on WAP, WLAN, or some other suitable
technology.
Because the service provider has typically comprehensive
information on the data of its customer, such as the service
profile and the available technology, the service can be delivered
59 directly to the second device 51 of the user, or in parallel to
both the telephone 50 and the computer 51 of the user.
In the solution of FIG. 5, the first offer message 54 is followed
by a second service offer message 62, which is preferably sent
after a delay relative to the first message 54 that corresponds to
the combined time of the delivery and use of the first service to
be delivered. Typically, this transmission delay can be the
duration of the delivered music or video performance, added to the
time taken to send the service. In streaming services, in which the
service is delivered as a bit stream after the acceptance of the
service, the delay is correspondingly the time between the
acceptance and the termination of the bit steam. In the present
application, the term streaming refers to a term generally used in
the field, in which previously ordered material is delivered to the
user or customer as an essentially continuous data stream suitable
for use immediately. The definition thus differs from a file
download service, in which the user or customer of a data network
downloads a file and uses the service contained in the downloaded
file with the aid of their own software, when the need for use
arises, without the transfer services of a data network.
Generally, it can be said that in the present system existing
technology is mainly used to initiate the dialogue of text
messages. File downloads, on the other hand, are typically
implemented by data communications, for example, by exploiting a
suitable communications channel in multi-channel operation. In the
example of FIG. 5, the data links are typically used in the
messages 57, 58, 59, and 61, whereas the message 54, 55, 56, and 62
are typically text messages.
Particularly when network and terminal-device technology develops,
it will naturally be possible to implement solutions, which may
deviate from the general principles described above.
In terms of practical implementation, a problem is the estimation
of the real amount of the delay, because both the
telecommunications network and the service user too can be loaded
and the time greater than the optimal time permitted by the
telecommunications network.
Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, the
transmission delay between the first 54 and the second 62 offer
messages is defined on the basis of the contents or type of the
service.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the
transmission delay is typically defined as the sum of the typical
reproduction time and the typical transfer time.
According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the
transmission delay is defined as a function of the file size.
According to a third preferred embodiment of the invention, the
transmission delay is defined according to the file type.
In the following is an example of one dialogue:
TABLE-US-00002 Message Sender number 1. Do you want to use your
bonus points to +35850001 download music at a price of 500p/piece?
y/n 2. Reply `y` to number +35850001 3. Delivery of service 4. New
message at a delay proportional to the content to the same customer
number `Do you want to download a new +35850005 piece or video?` 5.
Reply `y` to number +35850005
According to the invention, a service can be implemented as a group
message at an airport as a group message to those going to one
aircraft and, after this, the service dialogue can be tailored in
the aircraft in the area of coverage of the aircraft's base
station, on the basis of the replies and choices of the individual
users.
A single user can naturally have more than two terminal
devices.
The services can be music, image, or video content, or search
services, dictionary services, or similar. Within the scope of the
invention, providing a service against payment can also comprise
the user agreeing to receive advertising material in lieu of
payment for the service.
In the present application, the term sender data refers both to a
telephone number (A number) and to any information whatever of the
desired return address transported with the message.
The method and system according to the invention are implemented
with the aid of at least one computer in telecommunications
networks.
According to the invention, the sender address can also be an IP
address.
Some preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the
following.
Preferred Embodiments of the Invention:
In principle, all preferred embodiments described in the following
are associated with the query and reply addresses (numbers/IP
addresses, etc.) being able to be combined with a specific
question. The timing of the transmission of a new question can be
made in several different ways. Alternative ways include timing
relative to the time taken to transfer the file and the time taken
to download, in which case the timing delay can be directly the sum
of these times or proportional to them. It is also possible to use
a transmission delay, which is the sum of the transfer time and the
reproduction time added to a constant amount of additional time.
The additional time will be necessary, if, for example, the
transfer speed of the data network is not stable. Alternatively,
the timing delay can always be of a constant magnitude according to
the message type. The queries can be also be sent nearly
simultaneously, or alternatively a sign (bit, flag, etc.) can be
attached to the file to sent, and sent back to the service provider
one the download/listening/viewing has taken place. The last
alternative may require a short program to be installed in the
terminal device, so that the notification in question can be send
to the service provider.
The embodiments are described with reference to FIG. 5.
In one embodiment of the invention, the offer message 54 is sent
(as a text message) from the service provider to the customer (do
you want a certain piece or video). Transmission can take place,
for example, over a GSM network.
Customer replies 55 y/n.
The piece or video is sent 56, 58, 61 to the terminal device 50, 51
(cellphone or otherwise defined terminal device, e.g., laptop
computer) of the customer. The piece or video is delivered, e.g.,
over a data connection.
After a specific time, a second message 56 is sent to the customer
(with a different reply address to the first message), in which the
customer is asked if they want a new piece or video (piece or video
offered can be selected, e.g., on the based of previous selections
by the user, on the basis of the user's profile, etc.).
The customer replies y/n.
If the customer replies y, the aforementioned series of stages can
start from the beginning in the case of a new piece or other
service.
According to another embodiment of the invention, an offer message
is sent (as a text message) 54 from the service provider 52 to the
customer (do you want a specific piece or video). The service can
be implemented, for example, through a GSM network.
The customer replies y/n.
The customer is sent a text message 56, in which an individuated IP
address 57 is given, from where they can fetch the piece or
video.
After a specific time, a new query message 62 is sent with a
different reply number.
The aforementioned process is repeated concerning the delivery of
new queries and products.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a query message
54 is sent, for example over a local network in an aircraft, to
customers who are within the coverage of the network (the message
can be sent either to a cellphone or a computer, etc.).
The customer replies 55 y/n.
A file is sent to the customer 56, 58, 61.
A new query 62 is sent to the customer. In this query, there is a
different reply address to that in the previous sent message.
The process is continued in the manner described above in the case
of the second service (piece of music, or similar).
In all of the above cases, the timing of the transmission of the
next message can be predefined. For example, a new message 62 is
sent at two-hourly intervals, or the message is sent immediately
after the reception of the previous reply. The situation can also
be such that, after the reception of the first reply, new messages
are sent to the customer at short intervals. In that case, in all
of these messages there should be different reply addresses, so
that it is possible to identify the question to which the customer
is replying.
In addition, the cases described above can also be performed using
other messages than text messages.
If the piece of music or video is delivered directly to the
customer's telephone, the service provider must known whether the
customer's telephone supports transmission and performance formats
of the kind used. This can be determined from the service
provider's customer profile, provided these data are maintained
sufficiently actively. The service provider's customer profile can
also contain information on whether the customer has in use several
different types of terminal device, such as palm computers, laptop
computers, or smart telephones.
If the aforementioned services are offered in a single aircraft or
otherwise restricted area, this system should also include a
possibility for several numbers/addresses to be used as reply
addresses. In that case, it is possible, for example, to implement
a number pool in the aircraft's server, which will then act as the
service supplier.
In another embodiment of the invention, if the service provider is,
for example, an airline, which has its `own` subscription and
sufficiently comprehensive information on the customer and
connections to, for example, travel agents and/or hotels and/or
taxi firms, etc., the following kind of embodiment can also be
taken into account.
A customer books a flight from Helsinki to Berlin. If the customer
checks in using their cellphone, the service provider can send them
various kinds of message. The messages can contain, for example,
ordering a taxi to be ready at the airport when the flight lands in
Berlin, booking a hotel, and many other possible functions. When
the customer lands in Berlin, switches on their cellphone and the
cellphone registers on a network, offers can be made to them
concerning, for instance, music, videos, ordering a taxi, hotel
booking, etc.
At a principle level, the process then proceeds as follows:
The customer receives a message(s) from the service provider of the
airline (either the airline itself or a service provider acting as
its agent), by replying to which they can check in using their own
cellphone. The service provider then knows the destination and time
of travel of the customer.
When the customer lands at their destination and switches on their
cellphone (when connection to a network takes place), the service
provider sends a text message 54, in which it offers services to
the customer (taxi, piece of music, video, hotel, map service,
etc.).
The customer replies whether they wish to receive the service.
If the customer replies yes, the service is delivered to the
customer.
The service provider 52 sends the following query from a different
reply number to the first query, so that the system knows the
question to which the reply is made, who has replied, etc.
The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above,
which are only example, of the invention described in the Claims.
Thus, one skilled in the art will be able to made several
alternative solutions, without leaving the scope of protection
described in the Claims.
Thus, for example, the message can be, according to the invention,
also a multimedia message (MMS) instead of an SMS message. The
message type can vary within the invention, in other words it can
start as a multimedia message and use at least one text message as
a further message, or vice versa.
* * * * *
References