USOO84121.69B2 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8,412,169 B2 McGary et al. (45) Date of Patent: *Apr. 2, 2013 (54) SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR PROVIDING (51) Int. Cl. MOBILE DEVICE SERVICES USING SMS H04L 29/06 (2006.01) COMMUNICATIONS HO4W 4/OO (2009.01) (52) U.S. Cl. ..................................... 455/414.3:455/466 (75) Inventors: Faith McGary, Bethlehem, PA (US); (58) Field of Classification Search .................. 455/466, Ian Bacon, Manassas, VA (US); 455/4.56.1, 456.6, 422.1, 440, 432.2, 435.1, Michael Bates, Bethlehem, PA (US); 455/403, 41.4.1, 412, 552.1, 465, 414.3; 370/352, siteO O Baumeister, Schwenksville,s 709/219,370/353, 206: 395.2, 701/201: 349,310,466,465,490; 702/3: 379/88.17, (US) 379/67.1 (73) Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc., See application file for complete search history. Bethlehem, PA (US) (56) References Cited (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS patent is extended or adjusted under 35 5,625,668 A 4/1997 Loomis et al. U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. 5,764,731. A 6/1998 Yablon This patent is Subject to a terminal dis- (Continued) claimer. FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (21) Appl. No.: 13/198,945 WO O108430 2, 2001 WO 20050532.96 6, 2005 (22) Filed: Aug. 5, 2011 OTHER PUBLICATIONS (65) Prior Publication Data International Search Report dated Jan. 22, 2010. US 2011 FO294477 A1 Dec. 1, 2011 Primary Examiner — Melody Mehrpour (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Sofer & Haroun, LLP Related U.S. Application Data (57) ABSTRACT (63) Continuation of application No. 1 1/485,189, filed on An enhanced services platform has an interface for receiving Jul. 12, 2006, now Pat. No. 7,996, 023. a communication from a user requesting a desired data. An automated response module parses the communication and (60) Provisional application No. 60/699,050, filed on Jul. retrieves the desired data. The enhanced services platform 13, 2005, provisional application No. 60/783,612, arranges the desired data into a response message that is sent filed on Mar. 17, 2006, provisional application No. to the user, where the response message includes an embed 60/757,920, filed on Jan. 9, 2006, provisional ded code corresponding to a link allowing the user to re application No. 60/763,949, filed on Jan. 30, 2006, contact the enhanced services platform. An operator assis provisional application No. 60/772,535, filed on Feb. tance module receives communications from the user 9, 2006, provisional application No. 60/786,834, filed initiated via the link to provide further assistance regarding on Mar. 28, 2006, provisional application No. the user's request. 60/799,413, filed on May 10, 2006, provisional application No. 60/799,719, filed on May 11, 2006. 12 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets US 8,412.169 B2 Page 2 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 6,944.447 B2 9, 2005 Portman et al. 6,076.099 A 6, 2000 Chen et all 7,248,872 B2 7/2007 Bassett et al. 6,317.7186,091.956. B1A 11,7/2000 2001 HollenbergFano 22.5w R: 39 NEinborg et al. 6,442,242 B1 8, 2002 McAllister et all 7.996,023 B2 * 8/2011 McGary et al. ............... 455,466 6.463,055 B1 10/2002 Lupien et al. 2001/0044309 A1 11/2001 Bar et al. 653,063 B1 1/2003 Julia et al. 2002/0090934 A1 7/2002 Mitchellmore 6,560,456 B1 5, 2003 Lohtia 2003.0054844 A1 3/2003 Anvekar et al. 6,560,800 B1 5, 2003 Draves 2003.0193967 A1 10, 2003 Fenton et al. 6,587,547 B1 7/2003 Zirngiblet al. 2003/021 1845 A1 11/2003 Lohtia et al. 6,611,516 B1 8, 2003 Pirkola et al. 2006/0093.120 A1 5/2006 Thorpe et al. 6,687,743 B1 2/2004 Innes 2006, O166655 A1 7/2006 Montemer 6,768,994 B1 7/2004. Howard et al. 2007/O123280 A1 5/2007 McGary et al. 6,836,730 B2 12/2004 Root et al. 2007/02373.18 A1 10/2007 McGary 6,873,858 B1 3/2005 Aguilar et al. 2009/0005966 A1 1/2009 McGray et al. 6,885,872 B2 4/2005 McCann et al. 6,925,307 B1 8, 2005 Mamdani et al. * cited by examiner U.S. Patent Apr. 2, 2013 Sheet 1 of 17 US 8,412,169 B2 trans------------YYYYYYYssassasasaaaaaaaaaa-rrrrras - - - -asssssswarass aws&Y's WWYYYY-Warnasssamasam&M Ysas ~~~~ U.S. Patent Apr. 2, 2013 Sheet 4 of 17 US 8,412,169 B2 Maara&ressssssssssssssssssssssssss •??? Y www.www.www.www.WWWWWWWWWWwww.www.xWax Y Y U.S. Patent Apr. 2, 2013 Sheet 6 of 17 US 8,412,169 B2 N U.S. Patent Apr. 2, 2013 Sheet 7 of 17 US 8,412,169 B2 w''''www.www.www.wwww.www.www.www.www.www.www.www.mmmmammamma-Wa-WWaawaamw 'Y'a'www.www.www.www.'www.w'www.www.YYYYYYYYYYYWwww.www.m-WWWWWWW-man ass '~~~~~~~~ Mar Ras MNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNamammamaaaaaaaaaaaawasawww.wamaaaaaaa ww. ***• aar was www-YYYYYYY. www.www.www. 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