GB2443861A

GB2443861A - Information Storage and Distribution via Text Message (SMS, MMS etc)

Info

Publication number: GB2443861A
Application number: GB0621252A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Nicolle
Original assignee: WORLDWIDE ELECTRONIC CONSULTAN
Current assignee: WORLDWIDE ELECTRONIC CONSULTAN
Priority date: 2006-10-25
Filing date: 2006-10-25
Publication date: 2008-05-21
Also published as: GB0621252D0

Abstract

The system comprises: a database having stored therein a plurality of Keywords and a plurality of Reply Messages each associated with at least one of the Keywords; a text message receiver for receiving an incoming text message and the telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent; a text message transmitter; and a processor which receives an incoming text message from the receiver, compares the incoming text message with Keywords stored in the database and upon a successful comparison retrieves the associated Reply Message and forwards the Reply Message to the text message transmitter which sends the Reply Message back to the telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent. Preferably the owner of the Keyword can be provided with a list of the telephone numbers of the incoming text messages. Reply messages may only be sent to approved telephone numbers. The Cell identifier from which the incoming text message was sent may be logged and a reply based upon the location may be sent. The database of Keywords and Reply Messages may be updated by text message or via the internet.

Description

1 2443861 Information Storage and Distribution System and Method The

present invention relates to an information storage and distribution method and system and seeks to provide a simple, easy to use method and system which has a wide appeal across a very broad cross-section of modern day society.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an information storage and distribution system comprising: a database having stored therein a plurality of Keywords and a plurality of Reply Messages each associated with at least one of the Keywords; a text message receiver for receiving an incoming text message and the telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent; a text message transmitter; and a processor which receives an incoming text message from the receiver, compares the incoming text message with Keywords stored in the database and upon a successful comparison retrieves the associated Reply Message and forwards the Reply Message to the text message transmitter which sends the Reply Message back to the telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an information storage and distribution method comprising the steps of: providing a database; storing in the database a plurality of Keywords; storing in the database plurality of Reply Messages each associated with at least one of the Keywords; receiving from a text message receiver an incoming text message and the telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent; comparing the said incoming text message with Keywords stored in the database; upon a successful comparison retrieving the associated Reply Message; and sending the Reply Message back to the telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail and by way of further example only.

An embodiment of the present invention can be implemented using existing technology, for example SMS and MMS Text services, a Database and the Internet.

This technology is used in combination effectively to provide an electronic Keyword messaging system where messages may be left by one person for collection by others at a later date using the TXT facility on their mobile telephone. That is, the embodiment provides an SMS based message board / bulletin board whereby users can interrogate a keyword by sending the keyword to a common text number and receiving the current response (Reply Message) for that keyword.

The system includes a database having stored therein a plurality of Keywords and a plurality of Reply Messages each associated with at least one of the Keywords. The database is conveniently made available over the Internet. Users of the system log-on to the relevant web-site, register their chosen Keyword and store the current Reply Text to be sent when ever someone sends a text message to interrogate that Keyword.

Use of the system will be better understood from the following examples. In the following examples use is made of a dummy company name (m2i2m) and text number (62126) for ease of explanation. It is preferred that there should only be one central text number so that that number quickly becomes recognised by the public as "the" text Reply Message system number. However, any number of companies could use the system and register their own primary (different) text numbers.

Example 1 -The text message "SHARE BF" sent to telephone number 62126 receives a reply reading "The BF share price at 10:30 on 27 September 2006 was 5.37".

Example 2 -The text message "FRED SMITH" sent to telephone number 62126 receives a reply reading "Fred will be at Heaven Scent nightclub all evening".

Example 3 -The text message "HOME HUNTERS 123" sent to telephone number 62126 receives a reply reading "Thank you for contacting Home Hunters about property reference 123. This is a 3 bed semi with Garage GCH and Double Glazing 189,500". The enquirer may, for example, have seen an advertising poster which gave the reference number 123 against a photograph of the property. Of course, the text message "HOME HUNTERS 124" would receive a reply giving details of property 124, etc. 9 3 The system can be extended to provide the Keyword Owner with the mobile numbers of the people making the enquiry. Thus, using Example 3, on Monday morning the estate agent could have a list of telephone numbers of people who have enquired about the property over the weekend.

For Secure Applications; only registered mobile numbers would be allowed to receive the Reply Message, others would be asked to provide their details for approval by the Keyword Owner which would then generate an approvedlunapproved text message.

The system is also capable of providing location based services. That is, with the mobile telephone network operators able to provide the location that the text message enquiry (Keyword) is sent from, based on the mobile Cell Site identifier, then location based services can be offered.

Example 4 -The text message "Hifly Hotels" sent to telephone number 62126 receives a reply reading "The nearest Hifly Hotel to your location is 2 miles North of Watford, telephone 023 7865 7665".

Further, the system can be extended so that, using Example 4, an email or TXT message is immediately forwarded to the hotel staff giving the mobile telephone number with which they can contact the enquirer.

Even further, a link could be established to the Keyword Owner's own database.

Thus, by searching, for example on room availability the reply sent to the enquirer could provide further information; such as "The nearest Hifly Hotel to your location is 2 miles North of Watford, telephone 023 7865 7665. There are three double rooms available for 70 tonight, text Hifly Hotels 12345 to book a room". An alternative reply might be "The nearest Hifly Hotel to your location is 2 miles North of Watford.

There are three double rooms available for 70 tonight, would you like one of our operators to call you to confirm the booking? Reply to this text with Hifly Hotel Callback". This alternative reply is based on the observation that every text message which is sent generates revenue for the text message service provider.

To set keywords a prospective Keyword Owner simply logs on to a specified web site, say "www.m2i2m.com" and checks the availability of the keyword, if it is available they register it to their name and enter their current Reply Message. Anyone can set up a Keyword and Response at any time. At any time they can go back to "www.m2i2m.com" and change their Reply Message.

Alternatively this could also be managed via SMS whereby a prospective keyword owner sends "Keyword xxxx" to 62126 and receives a reply "your keyword is/is not available". If the keyword is available the Keyword Owner is asked to register basic information (password and Reply Message) now and to update their information on the Internet at a later date. If the keyword is not available, the prospective Keyword Owner is asked to try again. Where a Keyword is registered via SMS and the keyword owner does not log his full details within a certain period of time he is automatically sent a text reminding him to do so.

A Keyword Owner could decide to broadcast the latest Reply Message to anyone registered against the keyword (friends, or even the estate agent example) to keep them, updated with the latest information.

Consider a Keyword "Bath Rugby Team" for use by the rugby team and a Reply Message that reads "practice on Saturday morning, bring ear defenders!" or a broadcast "practice cancelled". The Keyword Owner could elect to broadcast or allow people to request the latest Reply Message.

For commercial and charity applications there is the opportunity for margin sharing.

At the foot of all text messages sent by the system there may be an advertising banner along the lines of "could you use this service for home, club or work see www.m2i2m.com to set up your free Keyword".

Claims

Claims An information storage and distribution system comprising: a

database having stored therein a plurality of Keywords and a plurality of Reply Messages each associated with at least one of the Keywords; a text message receiver for receiving an incoming text message and the telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent; a text message transmitter; and a processor which receives an incoming text message from the receiver, compares the incoming text message with Keywords stored in the database and upon a successful comparison retrieves the associated Reply Message and forwards the Reply Message to the text message transmitter which sends the Reply Message back to the telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent.
2. An information storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the database has a plurality of telephone number storage locations and wherein the processor stores in one of said telephone number storage locations the said telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent together with an identifier which identifies the Keyword which was successfully compared with the incoming text message.
3. An information storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the database has stored therein an owner text message telephone number associated with a Keyword and wherein the processor controls the text message transmitter such that after the Reply Message has been sent back to the telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent the text message transmitter transmits that telephone number to the owner text message telephone number associated with the Keyword, if any.
4. An information storage and distribution system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the database has stored therein a plurality of approved recipient text message telephone numbers associated with a Keyword and wherein the processor compares the telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent with the plurality of approved recipient text message telephone numbers and unless a successful comparison is made the processor prevents the associated Reply Message from being sent.
5. An information storage and distribution system as claimed in any preceding claim; wherein the text message receiver receives the Cell Site identifier of the Cell Site from which the incoming text message was sent; wherein the database has stored therein a plurality of Reply Messages associated with a single one of the Keywords; and wherein the processor selects the Reply Message to be sent from the said plurality of Reply Messages associated with a single one of the Keywords in accordance with the Cell Site identifier from which the relevant Keyword was sent.
6. An information storage and distribution system as claimed in any preceding claim; wherein the database has stored therein the address of an external database associated with a Keyword and wherein the processor uses the said address and external database to add information from the external database to the Reply Message associated with that Keyword before the Reply Message is sent.
7. An information storage and distribution system as claimed in any preceding claim; wherein the database is connected to the Internet.
8. An information storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 7; wherein the processor enables a Reply Message to be updated via the Internet.
9. An information storage and distribution system as claimed in claim 7; wherein the processor enables new Keywords to be stored in the database via the Internet.
10. An information storage and distribution system as claimed in any preceding claim; wherein the processor enables new Keywords to be stored in the database via an SMS system.
II. An information storage and distribution system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the database has stored therein a plurality of broadcast recipient text message telephone numbers associated with a Keyword and wherein the processor enables a text message to be broadcast to the said plurality of broadcast recipient text message telephone numbers associated with a Keyword.
12. An information storage and distribution method comprising the steps of: -providing a database; -storing in the database a plurality of Keywords; -storing in the database plurality of Reply Messages each associated with at least one of the Keywords; -receiving from a text message receiver an incoming text message and the telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent; -comparing the said incoming text message with Keywords stored in the database; -upon a successful comparison retrieving the associated Reply Message; and -sending the Reply Message back to the telephone number from which the incoming text message was sent.