WO2005034479A2

WO2005034479A2 - Procedure for placing centrally-organized services for mobile telephone users

Info

Publication number: WO2005034479A2
Application number: PCT/IB2004/051860
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vivianne Bernardes De Cibils; John Robert Sievens; Laura Wilson-Smith; Cristian Cibils
Original assignee: Vivianne Bernardes De Cibils; John Robert Sievens; Laura Wilson-Smith; Cristian Cibils
Priority date: 2003-10-03
Filing date: 2004-09-25
Publication date: 2005-04-14
Also published as: WO2005034479A3; AR041526A1

Abstract

Procedure for placing centrally organized services for mobile telephone users. This procedure comprises a series of stages through which some services are established so that the users (1) can access selectable functions assigned to individual services and router means are made available in order to communicate the user to the service providers. The procedure allows the arrangement of services in an centralized organization way, in order to make them available to users of mobile telephony from a communications network integrated by a number of mobile telephones and the central system of a mobile telephony network.

Description

Description PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS Technical Field

[1] The present invention refers to the field of the telecommunications and the procedures that allow users to select options offered by the central system to which they are integrated, in order to transfer the communications towards these options.

[2] Particularly, this invention consists of a procedure that allows mobile telephony users integrated in a system, to access a number of available services, from different service providers (ESME, or the like). A list of the available services is kept organized and indexed on a remote database. The access is produced through a central system that, at the user's request, searches in the remote database for the option the user is looking for, presents the user with a list of related services, and routes the user's call or message to the service chosen by the user, establishing a direct communication link between the user and the service provider. Background Art

[3] Presently, telephone users, and especially cellular phone users, have access to an enormous number of mobile information services (referred to as "services" in this document) available, some of them involve additional costs.

[4] These services are available always (such as internet instant messengers, interactive games, information services, etc.) or for certain periods of time (promotions, events, sweepstakes, e.g. 'call xxx and take part of the contest ...', 'send a message to xxx with your bet on who will win the match and take part of the drawing of xxx').

[5] GSM telephones equipped with a SIM Card can hold menus, structured in several levels, which can handle the access to some of the available services.

[6] Cellular telephone operators tend to outsource the development of value added services for users to service providers like External Short Message Entities (ESME) or the like.

[7] In other known systems, such as the documents of patents US 19990344407 and WO2000SE01564, users can access information stored in menu structures on remote databases. Particularly, US 19990344407 requires the user to access a web site in order to preselect or customize the information he desires to receive. In WO2000SE01564, the user makes his selection by placing a call. Both inventions lack capabilities for searching services directly from the mobile phone. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem [8] TDMA and GSM Mobile telephone operators and carriers provide useful value added services to their users, in order to make additional revenue.

[9] Even though the SIM Cards continue to grow in storage capabilities, they still lack service search capabilities, forcing the user to navigate through several menu levels until he finds the service he is looking for.

[10] Whenever a new service becomes available to the user, or an existing one cease to be available, the menus stored on SIM Cards have to be updated. Otherwise, the users can require the use of a service which is no longer available, even though it still appears on his telephone's menu. On the other hand, users might be willing to access a new available service, but will not be able to do so if his telephone's menu has not been updated. The process of updating the menu on SIM Cards can be annoying for the user. Updating the menus on SIM cards in order to include seasonal services or promotions is not worth the effort.

[11] Most mobile telephone users do not know about the services available on mobile telephone, or are unaware of their existence. Also, when a user wants to play an interactive game on his mobile telephone, he has no idea about what games are available.

[12] Currently, the user does not know what options are available to him, unless he gets in touch with an operator in a call center or visits the internet web page of his cellular operator. The user is bound to forget all this information before the next time he desires to play another (or the same) interactive game.

[13] Users who know about the existence of services might not know how to access or use them.

[14] The mobile telephone user is target of a lot of service advertising, but he has to remember where to call and what to say or do with the call or message to be sent in order to use the advertised service.

[15] Mobile telephone operators and carriers have to make big marketing and promotional efforts in order to let their users know about the services available to them. In spite of these marketing and promotional efforts, most users will still remain unaware of the available services, and of their corresponding usage.

[16] Generally, the user is willing to take part of these campaigns, but seldom remembers the telephone number he has to call in order to do so.

[17] In order to use current services or promotions, the user must:

[18] - remember the number he has to call to, or where he has to send a message to

[19] - know how the service works and create the correct message

[20] - be in full knowledge that the service is available, in order to ask for it.

[21] For example, a weather forecast service might require the user to send a message with the text "weather" to the short number 932, while a stock information service might require the user to send a message with the stock identity letters of the company he wishes to inquire about to the short number 78625.

[22] The service providers, developers, or 'partners', are eager to get the 'best numbers' (those easily remembered) for their services, and cellular operators run out of these numbers very quickly. This generates a situation of conflict between the mobile telephony operators and their partners. Technical Solution

[23] The present invention consists of a means by which the Mobile Telephony Users can get to know about and access all the information services available on their mobile devices in a much easier way. This is done by establishing a remote database, on a central system, which holds all the services available to users. Each service is located in a menu tree structure and is related to several keywords.

[24] The user interfaces with only one short number, in the case of Short Message Service (SMS). This hides from the users all the complexities and operating differences of the several services available. When the users want to access a certain service, the present invention handles the required messages (destination and contents) on behalf of the users, as if the user had placed said messages himself.

[25] Under the present invention, the available services keep their own features and complexities, and are operated by their corresponding service providers. This is because the present invention routes the user's message to the corresponding service provider and initiates a communications link between said user and said service provider. Thus, the present invention is a multi-provider router, meaning that several service providers can profit from the installation of the present invention in a Mobile Telephony Operator's network.

[26] Also, the present invention searches all the available services related to any word the users can send to it, for example: "boring" would answer with a list of games, ring tones etc., "hungry" could answer with a list of food delivery, "cute" would answer with a list of icons, hair dresser's phone numbers etc., "football", would answer with news, games and contests related to that sport. This is done by searching the database by the keywords related to each available service. If, as a result of said search, only one service is found, the user is routed directly to it. If several services are found, the user is presented with a numbered list of all services found, among which he can choose the service he desires.

[27] Another feature of the present invention is that the numbered lists the user can received are organized according to the tree menu structure in which they are stored in the remote database. The user can navigate through these multi-level menus. Advantegeous Effects

[28] Unlike other known systems, the present procedure presents numerous advantages: [29] - the user has to remember only one number where to call or send a message, for all available services. [30] - promotion of services is made easy, given that the users will always call one number and receive all available services [31] - the user can choose the service he desires through the use of interactive menus, or through the use of a search engine, in which case he simply writes or says what he is looking for [32] - the interface between the user and the router can be by means of SMS, MMS, WAP or equivalent messages, by voice, and optionally by using a voice recognition system [33] - while looking for some service, the users will possibly access additional services, when they see them exposed in menus, generating more traffic for the cellular operator [34] - it is possible to position a service without tying it to a particular number

[35] - the users will be able to use a service, even when said service is not generally known, given that it can appear in the options menu [36] - given that this system transfers the user's request to the corresponding service provider, without being responsible of providing it directly, the router's capacity grows enormously, and it can be able to cover all the desired services [37] - the system also makes the use of services easier for the users, guiding them through menus or automatically generating the initial messages for each service [38] - the list of available services is kept up to date in dynamic tables, keeping several keyword related to each service. This makes the updating process easier and the search process possible. [39] - this system allows the cellular operator to be a multi-provider platform, in which the telephone operator can have multiple external service providers united under a router or information portal [40] - the telephony operators can insert their own services and promotions, and these will be instantly available to users [41] - services are easier promote

[42] - produces a menu interface for TDM A networks and devices.

[43] - provides search capabilities for GSM networks and devices.

[44] - the billing systems of Mobile Telephony Operators and Service Providers do not require any changes. [45] - emergency numbers, mobile telephone chat commands, and call center help messages, among others can be included as services, to which connections can be established. [46] The user's profile can be established through a survey, allowing the user to access a personalized menu with the options he wishes to have in them. For example, if the user is a medical doctor, he can have a quick access to the drug index; if he is a housekeeper, he could look up recipes, if he is a sports fan, he could access information on tournaments, etc.

[47] Unlike other known procedures, this system is a router that guides the user's request to the service provider designated to provide said service. In addition, it is not only devised to obtain information, but to become a nexus with other types of services, such as interactive games, contests, etc. that are not considered in the known art. Description of Drawings

[48] List of references in drawings

[49] (1) mobile telephony user

[50] (1 a) land-line telephony user

[51] (2) communications network

[52] (3) central system

[53] (4) routing means

[54] (4a) services portal

[55] (5) database

[56] (6) service providers (ESME, or the like)

[57] (7) service request

[58] (8) database query

[59] (9) menu with selectable functions

[60] (10) call derivation to a service provider

[61] (11) communication between user and service provider

[62] (12) service access number

[63] As seen in figure 1, through the communications network (2), the mobile telephony user (1) communicates with the central system (3). The central system (3) provides access to it's services portal (4b) where the selectable functions appear. Upon selecting a function, a service request (7) is generated. The central system (3) searches the corresponding data by querying (8) it's database (5). If more than one service provider is found (6), the central system returns a menu (9) with selectable options. If the selected function corresponds to a specified service provider (6), the central system (3) uses router means (4a) in order to produce the derivation (10) towards said service provider (6), and a communication (11) is established between the user (1) and said service provider (6). For example, the communication (11) can be a telephone call or a message [SMS in which the sender is the user's telephone (1) and the destination is the service provider (6)].

[64] Figure 2 shows a flow chart corresponding to a service request made from a mobile telephone through SMS, MMS or equivalent messages. The requested service can be outsourced to a provider company, provided by the same telephony company, help on the services, etc. Help on each topic has been anticipated.

[65] Figure 3 shows a flow chart corresponding to a service request made from a mobile telephone or from a fixed phone with voice recognition system. The router means can include a search engine. Also in this case the requested service can be outsourced to a provider company, provided by the same telephony company, help on the services, etc. Help on each topic has been anticipated.

[66] Figure 4 shows a flow chart corresponding to the internal functioning of the central system.

[67] Figure 5 shows a flow chart corresponding to a service request through a system without voice recognition, in which the user selects the desired function using the telephone keys, for example.

[68] Figure 6 shows the diversity of knowledge the user has to bear in order to use the different available services. Access is given to services by their corresponding destination number. The users have to keep in mind the corresponding destination number of each and every service they use, as well as the format and contents of the corresponding message they have to send.

[69] Figure 7 shows the simplified interface obtained by the use of the present invention. Only one destination number. The complexities of each service are handled by the router, simplifying the user interface .

[70] Undoubtedly, when taken into practice, the present invention can have modifications in certain building details, this not meaning a deviation of the fundamental principles clearly substantiated in the claim clauses. Best Mode

[71] Mode for Invention [72] Industrial Applicability [73] Sequence List Text [74]

Claims

[1] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; which upon a communications network integrated by a number of mobile telephones and a central system for mobile telephony network, is destined to optionally offer multiple services on behalf of their providers, characterized for comprising the following stages: a) Establishing at least one group of services capable of being implemented through the central system of the mobile telephone network; b) On one hand, establishing, at least one single access code by means of which mobile telephone users establish a communications link through which they can access to at least one group of selectable functions; c) On the other hand, assigning each selectable function to it's corresponding service provider; and d) Implementing routing means that, in response to functions selected by the user, enable communication between said user and the service corresponding to the selected function.

[2] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized for comprising the following stages: a) Establishing a group of services capable of being implemented through the central system of the mobile telephone network; b) On one hand, establishing, at least one single access code by means of which mobile telephone users establish a communications link through which they can access to at least one group of selectable functions; c) On the other hand, assigning each selectable function to it's corresponding service provider; and d) Implementing routing means that, in response to functions selected by the user, enable communication between said user and the service corresponding to the selected function.

[3] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized for comprising the following stages: a) Establishing a number of services capable of being implemented through the central system of the mobile telephone network; b) Establishing a single access code by means of which mobile telephone users establish a communications link through which they can access to a number of selectable functions arranged in multi-level menus. c) Assigning each selectable function to it's corresponding service provider; d) Implementing routing means that, in response to functions selected by the user, enable communication between said user and the service corresponding to the selected function.

[4] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized for comprising the following stages: a) Establishing at least one group of services capable of being implemented through the central system of the mobile telephone network; b) On one hand, establishing, at least one single access code by means of which mobile telephone users establish a communications link through which they can access to a group of selectable functions; c) On the other hand, assigning each selectable function to it's corresponding service provider; and d) Implementing routing means that, in response to functions selected by the user, enable communication between said user and the service corresponding to the selected function.

[5] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized by the fact that the available services are provided by different providers.

[6] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized for comprising the following functional stages: a) from a menu of selectively available functions, the user selects one of these functions b) from the user-selected function, the central system uses it's database to identify the service provider corresponding to the user-selected function; c) to direct the communication of the user towards the corresponding service provider for the selected function;

[7] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized by the fact that the functions menu is available to the user on request by means of a specific function;

[8] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized by the fact that the functions menu is normally available to the user;

[9] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized by the fact that the user accesses the functions by means of SMS communications, or equivalent;

[10] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized by the fact that the user accesses the functions by means of MMS communications, or equivalent;

[11] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized by the fact that the user accesses the functions by means of his mobile telephone's keyboard;

[12] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized by the fact that the user accesses the functions by means of a voice recognition system;

[13] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized by the fact that the user accesses the functions by means of a voice messages;

[14] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized by the fact that the user accesses the functions by means of WAP communications, or equivalent;

[15] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 1; characterized by the fact that the selectable functions may be presented to the user as a numbered list;

[16] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claims 9 to 14; characterized by the fact that the user can select a function by transmitting the number corresponding to said desired function;

[17] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claims 9 to 14; characterized by the fact that the user can transmit to the central system a word related with the function he wishes to select;

[18] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 17; characterized by the fact that the central system uses a search engine in order to obtain a list of selectable functions related to the word transmitted by the user, and returns said list to the user;

[19] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claim 6; characterized by the fact that the central system automatically assembles a menu of selectable functions for the user, based on options stored in tables, arranged as parent/child pairs, within a remote database;

[20] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claims 16 and 17; characterized by the fact that in order to establish the communication between the user and the chosen service provider, the central system sends an initial message to the service provider, on behalf of the user, indicating the user's telephone number as sender of said message;

[21] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claims 16 and 17; characterized by the fact that in order to establish the communication between the user and the chosen service provider, the central system generates a telephone call to the service provider, on behalf of the user, indicating the user's telephone number as the caller of said call;

[22] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICES FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claims 16 and 17; characterized by the fact that in order to establish the communication between the user and the chosen service provider, the central system sends an initial message to the user, indicating the service provider's number as sender, so that when the user replies to said initial message, the service provider's number is suggested as destination number of said reply.

[23] PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CENTRALLY-ORGANIZED SERVICE FOR MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS; according to claims 18 and 19; characterized by the fact that the selectable functions have a range of dates between which they are available to the users.