WO2015004326A1

WO2015004326A1 - Smart short message service

Info

Publication number: WO2015004326A1
Application number: PCT/FI2014/050565
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sujit Wings; Vesa Jaakkola
Original assignee: Elisa Oyj
Priority date: 2013-07-10
Filing date: 2014-07-08
Publication date: 2015-01-15
Also published as: FI20135761A; FI125137B

Abstract

A method for implementing an interactive short message service in a computer in which a dialogue tree is stored, which dialog tree comprises a plurality of questions and answer alternatives relating to the questions, in which dialog tree there is one initial question (501) and in which dialog tree the questions link to following questions based on different answer alternatives. The method comprises sending questions of the dialogue tree (501 -511) to mobile subscriber numbers of people who belong to a target group, using same sending number for sending of all questions of the dialogue tree, and mapping received answers to the questions (501 -511) based on time stamps of earlier messages (520-522) and on a predetermined session control process.

Description

SMART SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE

The present invention generally relates to services of a communication network. The invention relates in particular, though not exclusively, to smart or interactive short message services.

Short message service based interactive service should somehow enable connecting a query sent to a given subscriber and the reply to query from the subscriber. Due to the properties of short messages, the outgoing and incoming messages are independent of each other. Thus, it is not necessarily possible to deduce on the basis of content of the reply which query is intended to be replied to, if there are plural queries.

In prior art solutions, the replies and questions are mapped to each other e.g. based on the reply address (each question is sent from different addresses and the subscriber replies to the sending address) or based on the content of the reply (each question has a different reply format).

FIEP1546938 presents a solution based on changing reply addresses. A mediator application server sends to a subscriber terminal a series of SMS messages, each of which is sent from a different address, to which messages the subscriber replies. The application server receives replies to different addresses and stores the information relating to the replies into a matrix in which a first axis corresponds to the subscriber address, a second axis to the reply address and a third axis to the answer. The application server can deduce based on the matrix whether the subscriber has answered a given question and what the answer was independent of the receiving order of the reply messages.

FI20002299 presents a method for performing a simple query in a telecommunication network. The query is sent as short message to a selected group of recipients and replies are received thereto for a set period of time. Each reply is interpreted using a set criterion and a question set to be the next one is sent to the same person. FI1 19168B1 presents a method, in which the reply address or the reply content is used. The replies are mapped to the correct question based on the replier's mobile telephone number and the reply address and / or based on a selection symbol of the reply.

The present invention provides some alternate ways in which questions and answers of a short message service are mapped to each other. A first aspect of the invention provides a method for implementing an interactive short message service. The method is performed in a computer in which a dialogue tree is stored, which dialog tree comprises a plurality of questions and answer alternatives relating to the questions, in which dialog tree there is one initial question and in which dialog tree the questions link to following questions based on different answer alternatives. The method comprises:

sending questions of the dialogue tree to mobile subscriber numbers of people who belong to a target group, using same sending number for sending of all questions of the dialogue tree,

receiving reply messages to said sending number,

storing the received reply messages by storing for each reply message content of the reply message, a mobile subscriber number of the sender of the reply message and a time stamp of the reply message, and

responsive to receiving a given reply message from a given mobile subscriber number, mapping the received answer to some question of the dialogue tree using said stored time stamps and a predetermined session control process.

In an embodiment, the session control process comprises searching an active question from the dialogue tree using said stored time stamps. The searching may be performed by processing the dialogue tree using the time stamps starting from the initial question.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of, searching earlier received reply messages from a given mobile subscriber number,

arranging said earlier received reply messages in time order based on the time stamps of said earlier received reply messages,

going through the dialogue tree using said reply messages that are arranged in time order by starting from said initial question and proceeding based on the content of the first reply message to a next question and mapping the next reply in time order as an answer to said next question, and proceeding in this way until the replies arranged in time order have been processed, thereby ending up with the last questions based on the content of the last reply message in the time order,

setting said last question as an active question,

searching from the dialogue tree a next active question based on the content of said given received reply message, and

sending said next active question to said given mobile subscriber number.

A second aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for implementing an interactive short message service in a mobile communication network. The apparatus is configured to perform the method of the first aspect or of an embodiment relating thereto.

A third aspect provides a computer program that comprises computer executable program code which when executed controls an apparatus to perform the method of the first aspect or of an embodiment relating thereto.

The computer program of the third aspect may comprise computer program code that is executable by any of the following: generic processor, micro processor, application specific integrated circuit and digital signal processor. The computer program according to the third aspect may be stored on a computer readable medium. Such a medium may be, for example, CD-ROM, DVD, memory stick or other magnetic or optical memory medium. Different embodiments are described in connection with some aspects. Corresponding embodiments may yet be applicable to other aspects and embodiments related to them. The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a system according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 shows a messaging chart according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a dialogue tree according to an embodiment of the invention; Figs. 6A and 6B show a process chart according to an embodiment of the

invention.

Fig. 1 shows a system according to an embodiment of the invention. It should be noticed that in the drawing, there may be plural devices with identical operation in parallel e.g. for load balancing. Additionally, only few devices are shown in the drawing in sake of simplicity. In practical implementation, there may be significantly more devices.

The system comprises a telecommunication network 1 14, two terminal devices 120 and 121 and a smart short message system 1 10, that comprises at least one database element 1 12. The terminals 120 and 121 may be e.g. mobile communication devices, e.g. GSM/GPRS, CDMA, WCDMA or LTE -devices, or other electronic devices capable of processing short message traffic. The smart short message system 1 10 is in connection with the telecommunication network 1 14 and 1 14 with the terminal devices 120 and 121 through the telecommunication network. The telecommunication network may comprise plural different wireless and / or wired data transmission networks, such as one or more of the following networks: Ethernet, ADSL/VDSL, WLAN, Bluetooth, GSM/GPRS, CDMA, WCDMA or LTE -network.

Fig. 2 shows an example of an apparatus 20 that is suited for implementing some embodiments of the invention. The apparatus may be, for example, a general- purpose computer or server and it may be configured to provide e.g. the functionality of the smart short message system 1 10 of Fig. 1 or some portion thereof. The apparatus 20 comprises a processor 21 for controlling operation of the apparatus and memory 22 that comprises a computer program/software 23 and a database 24. The computer program 23 may comprise instructions for the processor for controlling the apparatus 20, such as operating system and different applications. Additionally, the computer program 23 may comprise an application that comprises instructions for controlling the apparatus 20 to provide functionality according to some embodiment of the invention.

The processor 21 may be, for example a processor of a computer (central processing unit, CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, DSP, a graphics processor or the like. The drawing shows one processor, but the apparatus may have plural processors.

The memory 22 may be, for example, a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory, a random-access memory, RAM, a flash-memory, optical or magnetic memory or the like. The apparatus may have plural memories. The memory may be a part of the apparatus 20 or separate module that is attachable to the apparatus 20. The memory may be designated for solely storing data or it can also be used for data processing.

Additionally, the apparatus 20 comprises a communication unit 25. The communication unit provides an interface for communicating with other devices. The interface may be, for example, a fixed, wired connection such as an Ethernet connection or an ADSL/VDSL-connection, or a wireless connection, such as a WLAN, Bluetooth, GSM/GPRS, CDMA, WCDMA or LTE -connection. A communication interface module may be integrated with the apparatus 20 or it may be part of an adapter, card or the like that is attachable to the apparatus 20. The communication unit may support one or more communication technologies or the apparatus may comprise plural data communication units.

For receiving input from and for providing output to a user, the apparatus 20 may further comprise a user interface unit (not shown in the drawing) that may comprise e.g. a display and a keyboard (not shown in the drawing) that may be an integrated part of the apparatus 20 or independent parts that are attachable to the apparatus 20. The user interface is not, however, necessarily needed or the user interface may be implemented as a remote connection via the data communication unit 25.

In addition to the elements shown in Fig. 2, the apparatus 20 may comprise also other elements.

In an embodiment of the invention the questions and answers of short message queries are mapped to each other using a session control process and time stamps instead of using changing reply addresses or changing answer symbols for the mapping as is done in prior art solutions.

According to an embodiment, questions of a dialogue tree are sent to mobile subscriber numbers of persons who belong to a target group by using for all the questions of the dialogue tree the same sending number, and the received answers are mapped to the questions of the dialogue tree using the time stamps of the earlier messages and the predefined session control process. In an embodiment, the mapping is performed by searching the active question from the dialogue tree by going through the dialogue tree using the stored time stamps and starting from the initial question. In some embodiments, no more than one A-subscriber number needs to be used, whereby all the queries and replies arrive to the user always from the same number. In this case, the user can store a given service to her terminal device with a name of her liking and thus easily see, from which service a given message is received without having to wonder about many messages arriving from different numbers. Moreover, when a given A-subscriber number is tied to a given service / service provider, also the user can open a dialogue towards the service. The first query message need not thus arrive from the service, but the user can send e.g. a fixed form service request to the service without receiving a query concerning the service. This implementation example will be dealt with subsequently in greater detail.

The following introduces some terms that are used in more detailed describing of some implementation examples of the invention.

- Campaign: A campaign has a given start time and end time. During the campaign a short message dialogue is being held with target persons of the campaign, which the dialogue consists of one or more question and answer pairs.

- Sending number: One sending number is associated with each campaign. The sending number is reserved for the campaign for the duration of the campaign. The sending number may also be permanently reserved for a given purpose, for example for a given service or service provider. A given message can be mapped as belonging to a given campaign based on the sending number and the moment of time.

- Target person: The target person is the person whom the campaign is aimed at. The mobile subscriber number, for example GSM number, of the target person is found from a target list of the campaign. If the mobile subscriber number of a person is not in the target list, she is not a target person and cannot take part in the campaign even if she sent a reply message of a correct form to the correct reply number. It is also possible that the campaign is open for anyone in which case it is not necessary to verify the target person.

- Dialogue tree: the dialogue tree manages the dialogue session that is active during the campaign. The dialogue tree consists of chained pairs of questions and answers. Using the dialogue tree the session control process can determine which question-answer pair is presently active in case of the target person.

- Question-answer pair: part of the dialogue tree. Each question-answer pair leads in the dialogue tree to a next question-answer pair until the dialogue is finished. For one questions, there may be one or more answers that lead to different questions in the dialogue tree.

- Active question-answer pair: The active question-answer pair is the pair that is presently active in case of the target person, i.e. the question to which the target person just answered to. The session control process determines which question-answer pair is active so that the answers of the target person can be mapped to the correct question-answer pair.

Fig. 3 shows a messaging chart according to an embodiment of the invention, which messaging chart is applicable to the system of Fig. 1 .

1 . The smart short message system sends to the target person a first message of a short message campaign, which message contains the initial question of the dialogue tree.

2. The target person answers to the message with a determined key word such as Y or N or YES or NO. The keyword can be also some number or other symbol.

3. The smart short message system receives the answer and controls subsequent operation using the session control process.

4. The session control process verifies the answer by conducting the following operations:

a. The session control process verifies the mobile subscriber number of the target person (originating number of the reply message) and the sending number of the campaign (address of the recipient of the reply number i.e. the number to which the target person replied to). If no active campaign can be mapped to the sending number, the answer is rejected as it does not relate to any active campaign.

If the mobile subscriber number of the person is not found from the target list of the campaign, the answer is rejected, as the person does not belong to the target persons of the campaign. If the campaign is open for any one, this phase can be ignored.

When it is possible to direct the answer to a campaign and the mobile subscriber number of the target person is found from the target list of the campaign, it is checked if messages have arrived earlier from the person in question relating to the same campaign. The search criterion here can be, for example, messages received after the starting time of the campaign from the mobile subscriber number of the target person.

If earlier messages are not found, the session control process sets the initial question-pair of the dialogue tree as the "active question- answer pair".

If earlier messages are found, the session control process lists them in time order based on time stamps associated with them.

The session control process next goes through the dialogue tree using the content of the earlier messages listed in the time order until it finds the "active question-answer pair".

The session control process compares the content of the reply to the allowable "active question-answer pair" key words / allowable answer alternatives. The allowable keywords may be e.g. Y, N, 1 , 2 or any other words or symbols. If the answer is not an allowable keyword, the answer is rejected and a failure message is sent, in which failure message the user is for example urged to answer using an allowable code word.

If the answer is an allowable keyword, the next question-answer pair is selected from the dialogue tree based on the answer. j. The session control process relays to a message relay process a next question for sending to the target person (new active question- answer pair).

5. Next question is sent to the target person.

6. The target person replies.

7. The system repeats steps 2-6 until the dialogue tree is processed through and no next questions exist or the campaign expires.

Fig. 4 shows as a flow chart illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the invention, which method can be performed e.g. in the smart short message system 1 10 of Fig. 1 or in the apparatus 20 of Fig. 20.

In step 41 , questions of the dialogue tree are sent to the target persons. All questions of one dialogue tree or dialogue campaign are sent from the same sending number.

In step 42, reply messages are received from the target persons. The target persons answer to the sent questions by replying to the sending number of the query message i.e. the reply messages are received in the same sending number independent of the phase of the dialogue. It should be noticed here that in some embodiments it is possible to receive a "reply message" already before sending of the query message, if the target person opens the dialogue session.

In step 43, the content of the reply message, the sender information (e.g. sender's mobile subscriber number or other identifier that can be obtained directly from the reply message or indirectly based on the information contained in the reply message) and the time stamp are stored.

In step 44, the reply message is mapped to some question of the dialogue tree based on the previously stored time stamp and predetermined session control process. A session control process according to one embodiment is presented in the foregoing in connection with Fig. 3. The time stamp mentioned in the foregoing may correspond to the time of receiving the reply message to the session control process or to a computer running the session control process or to other element of the system that provides the smart short message system. Alternatively, the time stamp may correspond to the sending time of the reply message. The sending time may be contained in the reply message.

Fig. 5 shows a dialogue tree according to an embodiment of the invention. The dialogue tree comprises questions 501 -51 1 that link to each other based on the answer alternatives. Question 501 links to question 502 by answer Y and to question 503 by answer N. Question 502 links to question 504 by answer Y and to question 505 by answer N. Question 504 links to question 506 by answer 1 , to question 507 by answer 2 and to question 508 by answer 3. Question 505 links to question 509 by answer 1 , to question 510 by answer 2 and to question 51 1 by answer 3. Naturally, questions 503 and 506-51 1 may link further to subsequent questions (not shown in Fig. 5). It is also possible that plural routes lead to same question.

Fig. 5 shows an example in which the user replies to question 501 Y in the reply message 530. The session control process stores the time stamp 15:42: 12 of the reply 530, reference sign 520. To question 502 the user answers Y in reply message 531 . The session control process stores the time stamp 15:43:05 of reply

531 , reference sign 521 . To question 504 the user answers 3 in reply message

532. The session control process stores time stamp 15:45: 17 of answer 532, reference sign 522. Based on the time stamps 520-522 and answers K, K, 3 it is possible to later construct the answers of the user to the questions of the campaign.

In an embodiment, the structure of the dialogue tree can depend on the location of the target person. The location of the target person can be determined e.g. based on the cell of the communication network (cell ID:n) and the questions of the dialogue tree can be determined to depend on whether the target person resides within a given area or not. In another embodiment, the content of the dialogue tree may change based on the received reply messages. If, for example, a given number of answers have already been received to some question, that question is not necessarily presented anymore to other users or the answers of other users to such question can be discarded.

Fig. 6, that is divided into parts A and B, shows a process chart according to an embodiment of the invention. The chart comprises a sending system 600, a target person 610 and a session control system 620. In the session control system 620 there is a session control database and 623 dialogue session is controlled based on the data stored into the database. In the session control database 623 there are stored e.g. dialogue trees relating to different campaigns, the target persons of the different campaigns and the replies that have been received for the different campaigns (e.g. contents of the replies and time stamps).

The sending system 600 starts a dialogue campaign 601 and retrieves an initial message 602 using the session control system 620. The session control system initiates a dialogue session 621 under control of the data of the session control database 623. The sending system 600 sends the initial message 603. The target person 610 receives the initial message 61 1 and sends an answer to it 612. The sending system receives the reply message of the target person and attaches the time stamp 604 thereto. It should be noticed here that the time stamp may be attached to the reply message also in the session control system 620 or the sending time information contained in the reply message may be used as the time stamp.

The session control system 620 analyzes the reply message. First the reply message is mapped to the campaign 624. The mapping is performed e.g. based on the mobile subscriber number, to which the reply message was sent and based on the data stored in the session control database 623. If it is observed that the campaign is not active, the session is terminated 632. If it is observed that the campaign is active, the sending number of the reply message (that identifies the target person/sender of the reply message) is mapped to the target list of the campaign 625. If it is observed that the target person is not in the target list of the campaign the session is terminated 632. If it is observed that the target person is in the target list of the campaign, the content of the reply message is verified 626. If the answer is not valid, the answer is rejected 627 and the sending system 600 sends to the target person 610 an error message 605. The error message may be e.g. a request to correct the content of the reply message to a valid form. The target person 610 may then send a new reply message. If the form of the answer is valid, the earlier answers of the target person (relating to the campaign in question) are checked 628, and an active question-answer pair is searched for in the dialogue tree 629. If it is detected that the dialogue tree does not continue anymore after the question- answer pair that is set active, a termination message 631 relating to the campaign is picked and the process of the session control system terminates 632. The sending system 600 sends the termination message 607 to the target person 610. The target person 610 receives the termination message 613 and the campaign in the sending system 600 terminates 608. If on the other hand the dialogue tree continues even after the question set active, a continuation message is picked 630. The sending system 600 checks if the campaign is still ongoing and if yes, sends the continuation message 606 to the target person 610, who receives the message 61 1 and, if she so desires, replies to the message 612. If the campaign has expired, the campaign in the sending system 600 terminates 608. It should be noticed here that Fig. 6 shows only one implementation example and that also other implementations with different implementation details are possible. For example, some of the verifications or checking events can be omitted (e.g. the verifying of the target list) or for example the terminating message may be omitted or other messages indicating the status of the session may be sent to the target person.

In an embodiment, the user opens a dialogue towards the service. For example, in the process chart of Fig. 6, the initiation of the dialogue session can be triggered by a message sent by the target person. A skilled person in the art understands that in this case, the beginning side of Fig. 6 would deviate from that presented by Fig. 6, but most of the steps of Fig. 6 would be applicable also to this alternative. When the dialogue session initiation is triggered by a message sent by the user, it is not mandatory to check at the first message whether the user belongs to a target group of a campaign. Any user who can send appropriately formed message to the suitable number can be accepted to a given campaign. In this case, the user can be added to the list of target persons of the campaign based on the first message sent by the user and in case of continuation messages it can be checked if the user belongs to the target group of the campaign.

It is possible to only grant a given group of users an opportunity to initiate the dialogue. In this case, already at the first user submitted message it is verified if the user is on the target list of the campaign and the user's initiating message is rejected if the user is not on the target list.

A service provider can for example advertise a service provided in a given service number through a suitable advertising medium and the target person can open a dialogue session based on an advertisement she has seen. In an example advertisement of a service provider, the advertisement has an invitation: "Send message Y to number 12345 if you desire to have service x." When the service receives the message Y from some user, the service can continue the short message dialogue with the user e.g. for specifying details of the desired service or for obtaining other additional information from the user who initiated the dialogue. It should be noticed that there are also other ways to inform users of a number that receives messages initiating a dialogue session relating to a given matter.

In the solutions presented herein, the system need not maintain the status of each target person for determining the present active question-answer pair and the system need not store information about which questions the target person has answered. Instead, it suffices to store time stamps of received messages to perform necessary operations. By storing the received message time stamps it is possible also later on to determine based on the dialogue tree and the time order listed answers what answers were received from the target person to which question. The foregoing description provides non-limiting examples of some embodiments. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not however restricted to details of the embodiments presented in the foregoing, but that the invention can be implemented in other embodiments using equivalent ways. For example, it should be understood that the order of individual method steps can be changed and that some steps can be repeated a number of times or be entirely omitted. It should also be understood that in this document, terms comprise and contain are open-ended expressions not intended to be constraining.

Additionally, some features of the presented embodiments can be utilized without using the other features. The foregoing description as such shall be considered solely as illustrating some principles of the invention and not as limiting the invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A method for implementing an interactive short message service in a computer in which a dialogue tree is stored, which dialog tree comprises a plurality of questions (501 -51 1 ) and answer alternatives relating to the questions, in which dialog tree there is one initial question (501 ) and in which dialog tree the questions link to following questions based on different answer alternatives, characterized by

sending (1 , 41 ) questions of the dialogue tree to mobile subscriber numbers of people who belong to a target group, using same sending number for sending of all questions of the dialogue tree,

receiving (2, 3, 42) reply messages to said sending number,

storing (43) the received reply messages by storing for each reply message content of the reply message, a mobile subscriber number of the sender of the reply message and a time stamp (520, 522) of the reply message, and

responsive to receiving a given reply message from a given mobile subscriber number, mapping (4, 44, 628, 629) the received answer to some question of the dialogue tree using said stored time stamps (520-522) and a predetermined session control process

2. The method of claim 1 , characterized in that said session control process comprises searching (628, 629) an active question from the dialogue tree using said stored time stamps.

3. The method of claim 1 , characterized in that said session control process comprises searching (628, 629) an active question from the dialogue tree by going through the dialogue tree using the time stamps starting from the initial question.

4. The method of claim 1 , 2 or 3, characterized in that said session control process comprises the steps of:

- searching (628) earlier received reply messages from a given mobile subscriber number, - arranging said earlier received reply messages in time order based on the time stamps of said earlier received reply messages,

- going through the dialogue tree using said reply messages that are arranged in time order by starting from said initial question and proceeding based on the content of the first reply message to a next question and mapping the next reply in time order as an answer to said next question, and proceeding in this way until the replies arranged in time order have been processed, thereby ending up with the last questions based on the content of the last reply message in the time order,

- setting (629) said last question as an active question,

- searching (630) from the dialogue tree a next active question based on the content of said given received reply message, and

- sending (606) said next active question to said given mobile subscriber number.

5. The method of any of claims 1 -4 characterized by verifying if the mobile subscriber number of the sender of a reply message belongs to said target group.

6. The method of any of claims 1 -5 characterized by adding a person to said target group in response to receiving a predetermined message from said person.

7. The method of any of claims 1 -5 characterized in that said time stamp corresponds to the moment of time of receiving the reply message.

8. The method of any of claims characterized in that said time stamp corresponds to the moment of time of sending the reply message.

9. An apparatus (1 10, 20) for implementing an interactive smart short message service, which apparatus is configured to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 8

10. A computer program comprising computer executable program code which when executed controls an apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 8.