WO2003019921A1

WO2003019921A1 - A method and system of phone messaging

Info

Publication number: WO2003019921A1
Application number: PCT/IE2001/000110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shane Joseph Buckley
Original assignee: Fournir Limited
Priority date: 2001-08-31
Filing date: 2001-08-31
Publication date: 2003-03-06

Abstract

A system and method of obtaining information in a telecommunications system where the telephone can transmit it's caller line identifier (CLI) and is capable of sending and receiving text messages. There is provided a server and an associated server database for the storage of information as items of data. Each item is given a unique structured query language (SQL) identifier. Then, when a trigger event occurs such as, for example, the closure of the stock exchange, the termination of a sporting event of simply the elapse of item, the server computer which had stored in an associated server database and if the information should be transmitted to the querist, then the information is automatically transmitted using the CLI of the phone. The trigger event could, for example, be the downloading an SQL to the server.

Description

"A method and system of phone messaging"

Introduction

The present invention relates to a method and system of phone messaging and in particular to a phone messaging service for those operating mobile phones.

While all phones have a caller line identifier (CLI), the difference between mobile phones and land based phones is that, generally speaking, the mobile phone is operated by one person and therefore, the CLI of the phone is effectively the identifier of the caller as well as of the line. This is not the case generally with land lines, although in some cases, it will be, particularly a dedicated line of one worker or one person within an organisation or indeed in some domestic situations.

People are using text messaging, particularly text messaging with mobile phones, more and more. Further, people are continuously requiring the same information. For example, people require a weather forecast, the results of sporting events, the prices of various stocks on the stock exchange, currency conversions, and so on. Essentially, the information resolves itself into two types of information. The first type is where the phone user requests such information, effectively a pull operation, in the sense that what the mobile phone user is doing is using the mob ile phone to query some piece of information he or she requires such as, for example, the closing prices on the stock exchange. A push situation, on the other hand, would be where the querist has arranged, for example, with a call centre, to download to the querist phone, the closing prices on the stock exchange for certain stocks each day when the stock exchange closes. In other words, what the querist requires is to have this information available to him or her each day when the event happens.

The present invention is directed towards providing a method and system for achieving this aim.

Statements of Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a method of obtaining information in a telecommunications system using a telephone having means to transmit its caller line identifier (CLI) and to send and receive a text message from a server connected to the telecommunications system and having a server database associated with the server for the storage of information as items of data each item having a unique structured query language (SQL) identifier, the method comprising on a trigger event occurring: -

the server computer using the appropriate SQL to produce a database command querying the database;

obtaining the information as an item of data; and

transmitting the information as a text message answer to the telephone by using the telephone CLI.

This allows the server to store a large amount of information and to make sure that only that information appropriate to a particular querist is downloaded to that querist. Since most mobile phones are operated by the one person, the effect of using the CLI of the mobile phone is to identify the querist. This may also be the case for certain other phones which are generally operated by only one person. Obviously, where a phone is in a busy domestic situation, then unless the people using that phone have among themselves agreed on the information required, in many, but not all situations, the present invention will be of little advantage. However, in most households, there is usually a limited amount of information that everybody requires since the people in the household usually have similar tastes, hobbies and requirements and thus the invention will be useful.

In accordance with the invention, the method further comprises:

obtaining from a querist the information the querist requires;

preparing an agreed SQL with the querist for each text message query in relation to the information required;

arranging a procedure to obtain the information; obtaining the information in accordance with the procedure; and

storing the information in the server database.

This is an extremely important features of the invention since what the server does is effectively obtains the information for the querist and ideally obtains that information and transmits it to the querist in a required format based on the querists requirements. This, for example, can be very important since a querist needs to receive the information in the format they require and also wants to receive specific information. Therefore, it requires the server to obtain that information. The advantage is that the server may be obtaining that same information for a large number of parties or querists, therefore, there are considerable advantages to both parties in that, for example, suppose a querist requires three separate items of information everyday at a particular time, then the querist has to simply make the one text message request to the server instead of having to try to obtain the information from three separate sources with three separate systems for giving that information.

There will be many trigger events that will cause the method of the invention to be activated such as, for example, the telephone sending a text message query, including the SQL, to the server. In certain cases, if the text message query could require the delivery of sensitive information, then the text message query may only be accepted on the querist's CLI being verified or on the text message query being accompanied by a PIN number. The latter could be advantageous with a large number of querists using the one land line. Other trigger events could, for example, be time based such as giving the information at regular time intervals or when a particular time has arrived when, for example, the stock market is closed, the election result has been declared and so on. Other trigger events could occur when the information is changed in the server database. This could relate to any information change but to avoid, in certain circumstances, being downloaded useless information, the trigger event might mean that the information of the database be changed, for example, outside certain limits such as with a share price, that it exceeds or falls below a certain predetermined price. It is envisaged that the procedure to obtain the information comprises the server at prearranged times querying separate databases for the information using an appropriate SQL for that other database. Again, this takes the work involved in such tasks outside the querist hands.

Ideally, for each item of data stored as information, an appropriate text message answer is stored so that on retrieving the information for onward transmission, the server automatically populates the text message answer with the item of data.

It is also envisaged that the server database stores information as general items of data for downloading by any querist operating a telephone and on receiving a text message requiring such general information, the server downloads SQLs for this general information to the telephone for subsequent use and in this latter embodiment, it is envisaged that the SQLs will be grouped together as sets of SQL, each set having its own master SQL whereby the method comprises: -

a text message query for general information is sent to the server;

the server sends a list of master SQLs to the telephone as a text message answer;

the querist sends one of the master SQLs to the server as a text message query; and

the server sends the SQLs associated with that master SQL to the telephone as a further text message answer for subsequent use.

Further, the invention envisages that, for a querist operating a telephone in a telecommunications system having means for transmitting its CLI and for sending and receiving text messages to and form a server, storing and delivering text messages as laid out above, the method comprising operating the phone to enable the phone to send and receive the text messages. This invention relates to a text message produced by the method as laid out above.

Further, the invention provides a system for delivering of information in a telecommunications network to a telephone having means to transmit its caller line identifier (CLI) and to send and receive text messages of the type comprising a server computer connected to the network characterised in that the server computer comprises:-

means for entering information into an associated server database;

means to allocate an SQL identifier to the information in the server database;

means to identify a trigger event;

means to produce a database command querying the database on the trigger event occurring;

means to obtain the information as an item of data; and

means for transmitting the information as a text message to the telephone by using the telephone CLI.

In one system according to the invention, the server comprises:

means for obtaining from a querist the information the querist requires;

means for preparing an agreed SQL with the querist for each text message query in relation to the information required;

means for arranging a procedure to obtain the information;

means for obtaining the information in accordance with the procedu re; and means for storing the information in the server database .

In this latter system, ideally the means for storing information is stored in the server database includes means for storing the information as an item of data having a required format based on the querists requirements.

Further, in the system, the means for identifying the trigger event comprises means for receiving a text message query including to SQL in the server may be a time recorder or may be means for identifying information changed in the server database.

It is envisaged that the method according to the present invention can be carried out by a computer program and that a computer program can comprise the processing means of the system according to the invention and that further, that computer program can be embodied on a record medium, stored in a computer memory, embodied on a read only memory and carried out on an electrical signal carrier.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the use of a computer program will be one of the main ways of carrying out the invention.

What is also important with the present invention is that, it is envisaged that the invention can be carried out in more than one jurisdiction and it is important to appreciate that this means that in certain instances, certain features of the invention will be carried out outside the jurisdiction and then will be delivered into a jurisdiction via the telephone system.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

Fig. 1 is a view of the layout of the system according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a simplified flow diagram of one way of carrying out the invention; and

Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of another way of carrying out the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a system, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 comprising a server computer 2 with an associated server database 3 connected or incorporated therein. The server computer 2 is in turn connected to a telecommunications network 4. The telecommunications network 4 has connected to it a plurality of mobile phones 5 each having a text messaging capability, that is to say, the ability to send and receive text messages, whether they be short SMS's or any package base data. These mobile phones also have a capability of transmitting their CLI. There is also connected to the telecommunications system land based telephones 6. Further, the system includes other computer servers 7 and databases 8, all of which are capable of communicating through the telecommunications network. Such a computer 7 and databases 8 are capable of providing information as are the mobile phones 5 and the other phones 6. As will be seen hereinafter, the use is predominantly for mobile phones, although not exclusive therefor.

The server 2 is capable of delivering and receiving text messages as hereinbefore defined, and also comprises various processing means which, in many instances, will be provided by software, namely, computer programs, which will be program instructions for causing the server to operate the method according to the invention or effectively to comprise the processing means as hereinafter defined. Such a computer program, it will be appreciated, can be embodied on a record medium, stored on a computer memory, embodied on a read only memory or carried on an electrical signal carrier. Indeed, all the programs do not have to be carried in the server itself but can be remote therefrom. Further, the various computers 7 are essentially externally operated computers which produce information, which information is available over the telecommunications network 4. Similarly, externally operated databases may contain information such as stock exchange prices, the results of football matches and other sporting events, and indeed, many other pieces of information, which pieces of information are often required by querists having mobile phones 5 or phones 6. Essentially, the server 2 has means to obtain information from the external databases 8, computers 7, and other sources of information which information it can store as a text message whether it be an SMS or simply data as a package based data. The information can be stored as an item of data and further, the server 2 has means to allocate using a structured query language (SQL), a unique SQL to each piece of information which is an item of data. The SQL can be used for querying, updating and managing the server database 3 which is effectively a relational database for the temporary storage of information. Further, the server 2 has means to identify various trigger events. A trigger event can be simply a request for information from a querist operating a particular mobile phone. It may, for example, be a time based trigger event. In other words, certain information is required by certain querists at midday everyday, the time may, for example, be the termination of an event, whether it be a sporting event, the closing of an exchange, or the like. Further, the trigger event could, for example, be the passing or the elapsing of a preset time limit within which information should be updated in the server database 3 or when some querist requires information to be delivered to them.

Further, the server is provided with means to identify when information is changed in the server database which change in information could itself be the trigger event. For example, the database 3 could be regularly updated with share prices but the trigger event would not be the simple change in the share prices but when the share price rose or fell below a predetermined limit about a mean share price. This could then be the trigger event. Further, the server computer 2 is provided with means for preparing standard text messages for onward transmission.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is illustrated one method according to the invention, namely, what is referred to as the pull process, whereby a querist or user operating a mobile phone or other phone contacts the server computer requesting some information. This will be done by the user sending a text message to the server computer. Thus, in step 100, the querist or user sends an SMS command to the mobile phone which in turn is transmitted to the server and in step 101 , the server identifies as to whether the CLI is the CLI of a querist. Strictly speaking, it is the phone not the querist which is part of the system. If the CLI is recognised, then in step 102, the command is examined to identify whether the command does exist or not. Presuming it does, then in step 103, the appropriate SQL is used to query the relational database 3 and in step 104, the necessary information is retrieved from the database 3 and the server retrieves a suitable text message into which the item of information is entered so as to produce a text message. Then, in step 105, the text message is delivered to the mobile phone 5 or phone 6 having the appropriate CLI and in step 106, the session ends. If, however, in step 101 , the CLI number did not exist, then an appropriate message is sent to the phone in step 1 05. However, it must be appreciated that this will be a different message than that sent if the CLI is recognised and the information is dispatched. Similarly, if, in step 102, the command does not exist, that is to say, the mobile phone has sent a comma nd to the server that the server cannot recognise, either because it is not in the correct SQL language or it is not in a language that the server is able to parse to produce a suitable SQL, the command cannot be accepted. Then again, in step 105, a diffe rent message is sent to the CLI.

The above system presumes that probably various commands or SQLs have been given to a querist who then uses those commands as he or she deems fit. In many instances, a querist will have already agreed certain commands and have agreed a procedure with the server such that, on certain trigger events occurring, a text message will be downloaded automatically to the mobile phone or other phone having the correct CLI. The process is a continuous process and will be carried out at relatively short time intervals because the server has to continually monitor the various events that can trigger the necessity to retrieve a text message from the database 3 and transmit that text message to the appropriate phone having the necessary CLI. Thus, while start is illustrated in Fig. 3 as a step 110, it will be effectively a continuous step.

In step 111 , the necessary trigger event is queried. This trigger event could be, as stated already, some particular time, for example, the closing of the stock exchange or the finish of a sporting event, declaration of an election result, and so on. Alternatively, it could be simply something carried out at regular time intervals, for example, every five hours the weather forecast has to be downloaded. If the necessary trigger event has occurred in step 111 , then, in step 112, whatever is necessary that needs to be carried out, is carried out. For example, if it is required that three hours later, the same process has to be carried out, then this would update the timeout with the next interval in which a query had to be carried out or it might simply be that once the particular event had occurred, the command was no longer appropriate. Then, in step 113, the necessary SQL is used to process the command and the server database 3 is queried. Then, in step 114, the question as to whether there is a result that requires a text message to be transmitted is determined. Obviously, if the trigger event is, for example, the end of a football match or the like, then almost certainly there will be a result from that trigger event but for other trigger events, there might not necessarily be. For example, if the querist required the price of certain shares to be transmitted to the phone using the phone CLI wh en the share price rose or fell below a predetermined price, then it is possible that there may or may not be a result. Presuming there is a result that requires transmission, in other words, that the information required is now available, as before, the necessary information is extracted from the database 3, a suitable text message is provided and the information is introduced into the text message for onward transmission. Then, in step 116, the message is returned to the telephone having the appropriate CLI. Obviously, if, in step 111 or in step 114, there is no need to send a text message, then the message is simply returned.

A further situation may arise where somebody operating a mobile phone who is not connected to the system or at least is not part of the system in the sense that they have not, as it were, signed up for the service, wishes to obtain information. It is envisaged that the server may store certain information for transmission to any phone, which information could be general in nature. However, this poses a different problem for the server in the sense that in the system where the server has already agreed with a querist operating a phone having a particular CLI to send and receive text messages, the server will have been able to previously agree the correct command and the way to download the correct SQL. Even if the correct command is not downloaded, the server will be able to have a sufficient search facility to allow the server send back a text message to a known CLI when the correct command is not given to give to the querist the information it requires. Indeed, these commands can often be stored permanently on the phone having that CLI.

However, a totally different situation arises where the querist is not connected to the system and has not previously agreed the necessary information required. In this case, which can be said to be the general situation, it is envisaged that the server will store a general list of information, for example, under the headings: -

Sport

Stock Exchange Weather

News

Then the querist will choose one of the items and then this will lead to a second text message being sent by the server to that particular CLI which will, for example, for sport, list four or five sporting events, which the querist will then choose one of. By an iterative process, the user can identify the appropriate command which will then be downloaded to the server allowing the querist obtain the information. However, generally it is envisaged that when a new CLI is download ed, the server will try to, in some way, sign up that particular phone having that CLI to the server.

Where a land line and land based telephone is used to obtain information, additionally a PIN number may be sent with the text message query. In this way, many different querists using the same land line may be accommodated. Obviously, with sensitive or restricted information, a PIN number may be obligatory while in many situations, a querist might required it.

Further, it is envisaged that the server will regularly itself obtain information to populate the server database with the relevant information. It is also very important that the server stores information in the required format based on a querist's requirements. Therefore, to obtain information, it would be necessary for the server, at prearranged times, to query these separate databases or separate computers or separate telecommunications devices or indeed, to effectively prearrange the downloading of the information, either at regular interva Is or when a particular trigger event occurs.

It is also envisaged that for each item of data stored as information, an appropriate text message answer will be stored so that on retrieving the information for onward transmission, the server automatically populates that text message answer with the item of data. It will be appreciated that this invention can be carried out in one jurisdiction while certain features of the invention will be carried out in other jurisdictions. Thus, for example, it is important to appreciate that a person having a mobile phone can simply operate the mobile phone to enable the phone to send and receive the text messages and the mobile phone does not have to be in the same jurisdiction as the other portions of the apparatus, for example, the servers carrying out the invention.

It will also be appreciated that the server according to the present invention will have many means, all of which have been laid out above.

It will be appreciated that various aspects of the invention may be embodied on a computer that is running a program or program segments originating from a computer readable or usable medium, such medium including but not limited to magnetic storage media (e.g. ROMs, floppy disks, hard disks, etc.), optically readable media (e.g. CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc.) and carrier waves (e.g., transmissions over the internet). A functional program, code and code segments, used to implement the present invention can be derived by a skilled computer programmer from the description of the invention contained herein.

It will be appreciated therefore that a computerised program may be provided providing program instructions which, when loaded into a computer, will constitute the means in accordance with the invention and that this computer program may be embodied on a record medium, a computer memory, a read only memory or carried on an electrical carrier signal.

In the specification the terms "comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising" or any variation thereof and the terms "include, includes, included and including" or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining information in a telecommunications system using a telephone having means to transmit its caller line identifier (CLI) and to send and receive a text message from a server connected to the telecommunications system and having a server database associated with the server for the storage of information as items of data each item having a unique structured query language (SQL) identifier, the method comprising on a trigger event occurring:-

obtaining the information as an item of data; and

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising: -

obtaining from a querist the information the querist requires;

arranging a procedure to obtain the information;

obtaining the information in accordance with the procedure; and

storing the information in the server database.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the information is stored in the server database as an item of data having a required format based on the querists requirements.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the trigger event comprises the telephone sending a text message query including the SQL to the server computer.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, in which the text message query is only accepted on the querists CLI being verified.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the text message query is accompanied by a PIN number.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the trigger event is time based.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, in which the trigger event occurs at regular time intervals.

9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the trigger event occurs when information is changed in the server database.

10. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 in which the trigger event occurs when a variable in the information is changed in the server database outside predetermined limits for that variable.

11. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the procedure to obtain the information comprises the server at prearranged times querying separate databases for the information using an appropriate SQL for that other database.

12. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which, for each item of data stored as information, an appropriate text message answer is stored so that on retrieving the information for onward transmission, the server automatically populates the text message answer with the item of data.

13. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the server database stores information as general items of data for downloading by any querist operating a telephone and on receiving a text message req uiring such general information, the server downloads SQLs for this general information to the telephone for subsequent use.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, in which the SQLs are grouped together as sets of SQL, each set having its own master SQL whereby the method comprises:-

a text message query for general information is sent to the server;

15. A method for a querist operating a telephone in a telecommunications system having means for transmitting its CLI and for sending and receiving text messages to and from a server storing and delivery text messages as laid out in any preceding claim, the method comprising operating the phone to enable the phone to send and receive the text messages.

16. A text message produced by the method of any preceding claim.

17. A system (1) for delivering information in a telecommunications network (4) to a telephone (5, 6) having means to transmit its caller line identifier (CLI) and to send and receive text messages of the type comprising a server computer (2) connected to the network characterised in that the server computer comprises:- means for entering information into an associated server database (3);

means to allocate an SQL identifier to the information in the server database (3);

means to identify a trigger event;

means to obtain the information as an item of data; and

18. A system (1 ) as claimed in claim 17, the server (2) comprising:-

means for obtaining from a querist the information the querist requires;

means for arranging a procedure to obtain the information;

means for obtaining the information in accordance with the procedure; and

means for storing the information in the server database (3).

19. A system (1 ) as claimed in claim 18, in which the means for storing information is stored in the server database (3) includes means for storing the infoπmation as an item of data having a required format based on the querists requirements.

20. A system as claimed in any of claims 17 to 19 in which the means for identifying the trigger event comprises means for receiving a text message query including to SQL in the server.

21. A system as claimed in any of claims 17 to 20, in which the means for identifying the trigger event is a time recorder.

22. A system as claimed in any of claims 17 to 21 , in which the means for identifying the trigger event includes means for identifying information changed in the server database.

23. A computer program comprising program instructions for causing a computer to carry out the method of any of claims 1 to 15.

24. A computer program comprising program instructions when loaded into a computer comprise the means of any of claims 17 to 22.

25. A computer program according to claim 23 or 24 embodied on a record medium.

26. A computer program according to claim 23 or 24 stored in a computer memory.

27. A computer program according to claim 23 or 24 embodied in a read only memory.

28. A computer program according to claim 23 or 24 carried on an electrical signal carrier.