Abstract:
An electronic platform ( 10 ) for facilitating mobile commerce transactions includes: a user interface ( 20 ) that is provided to a user ( 60 ), the user interface ( 20 ) being operable to retrieve from the user ( 60 ) a plurality of settings for different parameters that regulate a manner in which the platform ( 10 ) operates for a given entity that is being served by the platform ( 10 ); a conversation tracking engine ( 40 ) that monitors messages exchanged between the platform ( 10 ) and mobile device users ( 72 ) accessing the platform ( 10 ), the conversation tracking engine ( 40 ) being operative to recognize which ones of selected monitored messages together form a common conversation and keep track of a current state of that conversation; and, a mobile content rendering engine ( 30 ) that is operable to dynamically render mobile content in response to the platform ( 10 ) receiving a request from a mobile device ( 74 ) for mobile content, the mobile content being rendered in accordance with the parameter settings entered via the user interface ( 20 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/928,587, filed May 10, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The presently disclosed subject matter relates to the art of mobile electronic commerce. It finds particular application in conjunction with purchase transactions initiated via mobile devices (e.g., such as a mobile telephone, a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile “smart-phone” or other wireless telecommunications device) employing Short Message Service (SMS) and/or Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), and accordingly, one or more embodiments will be described with particular reference thereto. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosed subject matter is also amenable to other like applications. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Mobile electronic commerce, or m-commerce as it is otherwise known, relates to the buying and selling of products and services between consumers and merchants over wireless networks or other like transactional exchanges of information over similar telecommunication networks. The convenience of shopping over wireless telecommunication networks has sparked considerable interest in m-commerce on behalf of both consumers and merchants. M-commerce sales, or like transactions, have been typically carried out using standard credit cards such as Visa®, MasterCard®, Discover®, American Express®, or the like, or standard debit cards, i.e., check cards or automated teller machine (ATM) cards which directly access funds from an associated deposit account or other bank account, and more recently, alternative payment methods, such as PayPal®, Google Checkout®, eBillMe, Bill Me Later, NACHA and others. 
         [0004]    Shopping and payment using these standard cards and alternative payment methods, however, in connection with m-commerce presents certain difficulties, particularly for merchants, including difficulties concerning the integration of product catalogs, pricing, payment acceptance and payment receipt over this new distribution channel, as well as difficulties regarding the authentication or positive identification of the proper holder of the payment account used if such a transaction were easily able to be carried out. For example, merchants often outsource development and maintenance of their Internet web-stores, including shopping cart, payment gateway and authentication service integration, to third parties, as much of the technical know-how to accomplish such an endeavor is far beyond the average merchant. The addition of integrating an additional emerging transaction channel, such as m-commerce is generally a prohibitive task for many merchants, both technically and financially. As well, as with Internet-based e-commerce, maintaining consumer confidence in security with respect to m-commerce has become difficult with increased reports of fraud. The resulting apprehension is also fueled by consumer uncertainty of the reputation or integrity of a merchant with whom the consumer is dealing. Questionable security of the consumer&#39;s card information or other personal information typically submitted along with a traditional e-commerce and/or m-commerce transaction (e.g., address, card number, phone number, etc.) serves to increase apprehension even more. Additionally, cardholders, merchants and financial institutions are all concerned about safeguarding against fraudulent or otherwise unauthorized transactions. These factors may also influence a merchant&#39;s decision whether to pursue delving into the m-commerce channel. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a new and improved apparatus and/or method for enabling merchants to create, manage and deliver product content, as well as to accept m-commerce transactions initiated via a wireless mobile device is disclosed that overcomes the above-referenced problems and others. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, an electronic platform for facilitating mobile commerce transactions includes: a user interface that is provided to a user, the user interface being operable to retrieve from the user a plurality of settings for different parameters that regulate a manner in which the platform operates for a given entity that is being served by the platform; a conversation tracking engine that monitors messages exchanged between the platform and mobile device users accessing the platform, the conversation tracking engine being operative to recognize which ones of selected monitored messages together form a common conversation and keep track of a current state of that conversation; and, a mobile content rendering engine that is operable to dynamically render mobile content in response to the platform receiving a request from a mobile device for mobile content, the mobile content being rendered in accordance with the parameter settings entered via the user interface. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a method of facilitating mobile commerce transactions includes: providing a user interface to a user; receiving from the user via the user interface a plurality of settings for different parameters that regulate a manner in which an electronic platform performs operations for a given entity; monitoring messages exchanged between the platform and mobile device users accessing the platform over a wireless telecommunications network via respective mobile devices; recognizing which ones of selected monitored messages together form a common conversation; keeping track of a current state of the conversation; dynamically rendering mobile content in response to receiving a request from a mobile device for mobile content, the mobile content being rendered in accordance with the parameter settings entered via the user interface; and, sending the mobile content to the mobile device from which the request was received. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]    The presently disclosed subject matter may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting. Further, it is to be appreciated that the drawings are not to scale. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration showing the mobile e-commerce system embodying aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    For clarity and simplicity, the present specification shall refer to structural and/or functional elements, entities and/or facilities, relevant standards, protocols and/or services, and other components that are commonly known in the art without further detailed explanation as to their configuration or operation except to the extent they have been modified or altered in accordance with and/or to accommodate the preferred embodiment(s) presented herein. 
         [0011]    With reference now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a platform  10  for supporting m-commerce that includes three subsystems or components, namely, a user interface (UI)  20 , a content rendering engine (CRE)  30 , and a conversation tracking engine (CTE)  40 . Suitably, the platform  10  is implemented as an application server running appropriate software to achieve the various functions described herein. 
         [0012]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the platform  10  is operatively connected in any conventional fashion to a public packet-switched or other suitable data network such as, e.g., the Internet  50 . Also shown in  FIG. 1 , is a user  60  (e.g., a merchant or other suitable proxy) that is also operatively connected to the Internet  50 , e.g., via an appropriate computer  62  or other like client device. While only one user  60  and/or one merchant are referenced herein for purposes of simplicity and/or clarity, it is to be appreciated that in practice there are generally a plurality of such users and/or merchants that are similarly arranged and/or served by the platform  10 . 
         [0013]    Suitably, the merchant or user  60  employs the computer  62  to access the UI  20  of the platform  10  over the Internet  50 . For example, the UI  20  is optionally implemented as a web server that provides an interactive web-based interface with which the user  60  may selectively interact via a web or other appropriate browser running on their computer  62 . In practice, the user  60  employs the UI  20  to set any one or more of a variety of parameters that ultimately regulate the m-commerce experience supported by the platform  10  for a particular merchant. That is to say, the UI  20  acts as a tool that the merchant or user  60  may selectively employ to dynamically customize the behavior of the platform  10  (including the CRE  30  and the CTE  40 ) for a particular merchant. 
         [0014]    In practice, the information and/or data entered or otherwise submitted by the merchant or user  60  via the UI  20  is ultimately parsed and/or stored in a suitable location that is accessible by the platform  10 , e.g., such as the merchant/product information database (DB)  12  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, the information and/or data can be selectively recalled and/or otherwise used by the platform  10  and/or the relevant components thereof to achieve the desired customized output or other results. 
         [0015]    In a suitable embodiment, the UI  20  provides an initial set-up screen or webpage into which selected merchant information can be entered and/or modified, e.g., by the user  60 . Suitably, pertinent merchant information optionally includes: the merchant&#39;s name, address and/or other contact information, logo, etc. The merchant information may also optionally include relevant information (e.g., account numbers or other identifiers, etc.) about one or more various accounts which the merchant owns or which are otherwise maintained for the merchant to accept payment and/or receive funds from a variety of different payment brands. Suitably, this merchant account information allows the platform  10  to interact with payment processors for the various payment brands on behalf of the merchant to initiate the authorization and/or settlement of funds for a given transaction. 
         [0016]    Optionally, on another screen or webpage, the UI  20  provides an interface that is selectively accessed by the merchant or user  60  to define one or more products or services that may be sold in connection with or are otherwise the objects of transactions supported by the platform  10 . In practice, the UI  20  permits the merchant or user  60  to specify any one or more parameters for each product or service, nominally referred to herein as product parameters. For example, suitable product parameters optionally include: a product name, a price for the product, a SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) number or the like, an image of the product, a product description, a product category or other designation used to selectively sort multiple products into particular lists, category headings or menus, etc. Additionally, the merchant or user  60  may also optionally employ the interface to specify a particular URL (Uniform Resource Locator) address or the like for particular products, and/or specify particular keywords which are to be associated with a particular product. In addition to specifying product parameters, the merchant or user  60  can also optionally employ the UI  20  to set-up catalog headers and/or menus under which various products can be categorized or otherwise listed. Finally, with respect to particular products, the merchant or user  60  may also specify via the UI  20  how the platform  10  will respond to specific product requests. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the platform  10  (or at least the components  30  and  40  thereof) are also operatively connected in the usual manner to a wireless telecommunications network  70 , e.g., a cellular or other like mobile telecommunications network. Suitably, a consumer or other mobile device user  72  employs a wireless and/or mobile device  74  (e.g., such as a mobile telephone, a wireless PDA, a wireless or mobile smart-phone, a laptop computer equipped with a wireless adapter card, etc.) that is also operatively connected to the network  70  to selectively access and/or otherwise communicate with the platform  10  and/or the components  30  and/or  40  thereof. Moreover specifically, in response to particular requests received from the user  72  and/or other suitable triggers, the CRE  30  dynamically generates or otherwise renders content, e.g., such as WAP pages, that are delivered over the network  70  to a mobile browser running on the mobile device  74 . Suitably, the layouts of respective pages are controlled in accordance with preferences and/or parameters, e.g., that are optionally selected or otherwise set via the UI  20  and/or stored in the DB  12 . Optionally, a user (e.g., such as the user  60 ) may select from a variety of predefined templates or may design customized page layouts to meet their particular specifications. Specific page layouts, e.g., determine background color and/or characteristics, the size and/or location of text and/or images, the placement of buttons and/or link (such as payment options, etc.), the placement and/or size of text boxes for the inputting additional information by the user  72 , etc. 
         [0018]    Suitably, via the network  70 , the platform  10  and the wireless or mobile device  74  of the user  72  selective exchange text or other like messages with one another, e.g., employing SMS, Multimedia Message Service (MMS), Enhanced Media Service (EMS), and/or other like messaging services. The CTE  40  is employed by the platform  10  to track related messages and provide a conversational context for the communications exchanged between the platform  10  and the device  74 . Accordingly, depending upon the conversational context as tracked by the CTE  40 , the platform  10  optionally responds differently to receipt of otherwise identical messages from the user  74 . In effect, the CTE  40  provides a “state-full” interpretation upon which to base future responses to received messages obtained via an otherwise stateless protocol. That is to say, the CTE  40  tracks the state of a particular conversation carried out by the exchange of messages using essentially stateless protocols such as, e.g., SMS, MMS, EMS, etc., and based upon the current state of the conversation, the CTE  40  allows the platform  10  to automatically response in different ways to otherwise identical messages received from the user  72 . 
         [0019]    In practice, the CTE  40  identifies which messages are from the same user (such as user  74 ), e.g., by monitoring or otherwise detecting the MSID (Mobile Station ID) or telephone number of the mobile device sending the message (e.g., the mobile device  74 ). In this way, a particular conversational context can be limited to and/or built-up around only those communications or messages exchanged between the respective parties to a particular conversation. Additionally, only those subsequent messages received within a set or otherwise determined time period (e.g., as measured from a preceding sent message) are considered by the CTE  40  as part of the same conversation. Finally, the CTE  40  monitors the current state of the conversation along with the content of any received message in the same conversation to allow the platform  10  to determine the appropriate response. 
         [0020]    Notably, the platform  10  may optionally be used not only for more traditional m-commerce transactions (e.g., involving the sale of particular goods and/or services), but also for the transactional exchange of information. For example, a given merchant may be a bank employing the platform  10  to provide its customers (e.g., such as the user  72 ) access to their bank account information (e.g., account balance, etc.) from their mobile device  74 . In another example, a merchant may use the platform  10  to provided customers (e.g., such as the customer  72 ) store information regarding the merchant&#39;s “brick-and-mortar” facilities, e.g., store locations, hours of operation, etc. In yet another example, a merchant may use the platform  10  to allow customers (e.g., such as the customer  72 ) to pay bills (e.g., utility bills, rent, etc.) from their mobile device  74 . Accordingly, the CTE  40  is considerably advantageous for distinguishing the particular context of a given conversation. 
         [0021]    To better understand the operation and/or role of the CTE  40 , consider the following example. Assume the user  60  has employed the UI  20  to define a keyword “loc” such that if the platform  10  receives a message (e.g., from the user  72 ) containing the keyword “loc”, then the platform  10  returns a reply message (e.g., also defined by the user  60  via the UI  20 ) containing a partial list of store locations. Also, assume that the user  60  has defined the keyword “m” to mean a request for more information. Additionally, assume that in fact the platform  10  receives a message (e.g., in SMS, MMS, EMS or other like form) from the device  74  of the user  72  over the network  70 , which message contains the keyword “loc”, and accordingly, the platform  10  returns a message in accordance with the defined reply, i.e., including the partial list of store locations. In this case, the CTE  40  will recognize that a conversation has begun between the platform  10  and the device  74  regarding store locations, and will recognize that the current state of the conversation has presently concluded with the platform  10  providing the device  74  a partial list of store locations. As can be appreciate, the CTE  40  has in this manner established a context for the present conversation and maintains or is otherwise monitoring the state of the conversation within that context. Next, assume that the platform  10  receives a message containing the keyword “m” from the device  74 , i.e., after having recently (i.e., within a prescribed time limit) sent the reply message including the partial list of store locations in response to having previously received the message containing the keyword “loc” from the same user (e.g., user  72 ). In this instance, the CTE  40  remembers the current state and context of the present conversation, and accordingly, instructs the platform  10  to sent a second reply message, e.g., containing additional store locations. As can be appreciate, this is a proper reply to the message “m” given the state and context of the current conversation. However, if the CTE  40  were to establish a different context for the conversation and/or recognize that the conversation was in a different state, then suitably the CTE  40  would have instructed the platform  10  to provide a different reply to an otherwise identical request or message (i.e., one containing the keyword “m”). That is to say, even though the message received from the device  74  would otherwise be the same, the response returned from the platform  10  would be a different reply—namely, a reply appropriate for the context and state then established and/or remembered for the given conversation by the CTE  40 . Of course, the forgoing is merely an illustrative example, and those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many other such examples can readily be envisioned in which the CTE  40  is employed by the platform  10  to establish a context and/or monitor the state of a given conversation carried out by exchanging messages transmitted over the network  70  using a stateless protocol such as, e.g., SMS, MMS, EMS, etc. 
         [0022]    As previously stated, the platform  10  supports also supports more traditional m-commerce transactions (i.e., purchase and/or sales transactions). In particular, in response to SMS, MMS, EMS, text, e-mail and/or other like messages received over the network  70  from mobile device  74  of the user  72 , the CRE  30  dynamically generates or otherwise renders content, e.g., such as WAP pages or the like, that are delivered over the network  70  to a mobile browser running on the mobile device  74 . 
         [0023]    In practice, the user  72  optionally employs the device  74  to initiate a purchase transaction. For example, the user may see a product advertised on television (e.g., a paid television program or infomercial or advertisement, a product featured in general television programming segment, etc.), a product advertised in radio programming, a catalog or print media and/or other advertising, etc. Suitably, the user  72  is in this manner instructed to send an appropriate message (i.e., containing one or more specified keywords and/or other content) with the mobile device  74  to a designated address, e.g., such an SMS shortcode, e-mail address, telephone number, etc. In accordance with the designated address, the message is accordingly routed over the network to the platform  10 . Recall, in practice, the platform  10  generally serves a plurality of merchants. Accordingly, the platform  10  is optionally provisioned with one or more separate SMS shortcodes or other destination addresses for each merchant served. In this manner, the platform  10  is able to readily differentiate and/or identify which merchant a particular received message relates to based upon the particular SMS shortcode or other like destination address to which the message is addressed. 
         [0024]    Recall that via the UI  20  selected keywords are optionally associated with particular products. In this case, the keyword(s) and/or content within a message itself is suitably used by the platform  10  to determine the product or service to which the message relates. Additionally, the keyword(s) and/or content may also be used to identify the particular merchant to which a received message relates, e.g., assuming different merchants did associate the same keywords with different products. 
         [0025]    In one suitable embodiment, when the platform  10  receives a message from the mobile device  74  requesting to purchase a product or requesting product information (e.g., as indicated by a keyword contained in the message), the platform  10  engages the CRE  30  to supply relevant content over the network  70  to a browser on the mobile device  74 . Alternately, recall that by using the UI  20  a particular URL address or the like may be associated with a particular product page or other page supplied by the CRE  30 . In which case, the user  72  may employ the browser running on their device  74  to directly access the particular page or content of interest from the CRE  30 , e.g., without first submitting an SMS or other like message to the platform  10 . 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, when the user  72  sends an appropriate message requesting a product purchase page or other information to the platform  10 , e.g., such as an SMS or other like message, the platform  10  returns a message to the device  74  containing a URL address or other link which the user  72  may optionally select to request or otherwise trigger delivery of the relevant content from the CRE  30  to the browser running on the device  74 . Suitably, the link sent in the message is a reduced or shortened URL address, e.g., in order to accommodate the limited space available in an SMS or other like message. When the shortened or reduced length link is selected, the platform  10  suitably recognizes the “shorthand notation” and expands the link to its full size in order to direct the CRE  30  to supply the appropriate content. Additionally, the link is optionally tagged with a tracking ID or other like appended or imbedded identifier. In this manner, the platform  10  can track or otherwise monitor traffic accessing a particular URL or other content being supplied, e.g., by the CRE  30 . 
         [0027]    In yet another embodiment, such a message requesting to purchase a product or requesting product information may trigger an interactive voice response (IVR) unit  16  to place a voice call to the mobile device  74  over the network  70 . Suitably, the type response is dictated by the preference and/or parameters stored in the DB  12  and/or previously provided to the platform  10  via the UI  20 . 
         [0028]    Of course, where the response is a return call from the IVR unit  16 , optionally the user  72  may complete the purchase and/or obtain any desired product and/or other information made available by the merchant—i.e., as is conventional for IVR assisted transactions. 
         [0029]    Alternately, when the CRE  30  is invoked, it dynamically generates, renders and/or otherwise supplies the appropriate content in accordance with the preferences and/or parameters obtained from the DB  12 . Suitably, when the device  74  access the content being provided by the CRE  30 , the platform  10  recognizes the type of device  74  accessing the content, e.g., by monitoring the device ID (such as MSID, mobile telephone number, etc.) and/or header or other information received in communications from the device  74 . For example, the device  74  may be a wireless PDA or a mobile telephone, etc. Accordingly, different mobile devices and/or mobile telecommunication services providers support different capabilities, i.e., different screen sizes, different browsers or browser features, etc. Suitably, mobile device profiles are maintained in a device profile DB  14  or other suitable location accessible by the platform  10  and/or CRE  30 . For example, the profiles for each different kind of device and wireless service provider include details about various aspects of the device and/or features supported. Accordingly, in the CRE  30  also checks the device profile in the DB  14  in order to dynamically customize the output content being generated and/or render so as to be optimized for the device  74  receiving the content. 
         [0030]    In one exemplary embodiment, the platform  10  or a suitable adjunct server (not shown) is provisioned or otherwise equipped to complete or facilitate authentication, authorization and/or other processing of m-commerce transaction payments for any one or more of a variety of different payment brands, e.g., including traditional payment brands as well as alternate payment brands. More specifically, mobile content provided by the CRE  30  to the mobile device  74  may optionally include one or more links or other selectable payment options that the user  72  may chose as they see fit to complete a purchase or other like m-commerce transaction. Alternately, an SMS or other like message provided by the platform  10  to the mobile device  74  may similarly include multiple payment options. Depending on the payment brand selected by the user  72 , one or more items of additional payment information (e.g., account ID, card information such as expiration date, card number, etc., password or other authentication credentials, user information such as name, address, etc.) may have to be collected from the user  72  to complete authentication, authorization and/or other processing of the payment. Accordingly, the platform  10  optionally collects or facilitates in collecting from the user  72  over the wireless network  70  the appropriate payment information in accordance with appropriate protocols for the selected payment brand and submits the payment for processing to a suitable payment processor or may optionally process the payment itself. In collecting the payment information, the platform  10  optionally communicates, e.g., over the Internet  50 , with suitable web and/or other like servers that provide requests for particular payment information that has to be obtained to complete processing of the payment. In this manner, the platform  10  optionally determines which payment information to collect and formulates and/or otherwise generates suitable SMS or other like messages or WAP content that is then sent to the mobile device  74  of the user  72  over the wireless network  70  in order to collect the particular payment information. Assuming the user  72  responds, the platform  10  optionally receives the returned message or the like containing the payment information and in turns communicates the information to the requesting servers, e.g., to complete authentication, authorization and/or other payment processing. Optionally, the result of any payment processing (e.g., approved, denied or otherwise) is accordingly returned to the platform  10 , e.g., from the requesting server or otherwise. Suitably, for one or more particular merchants being served by the platform  10 , the payment processing result along with any other appropriate order information may be automatically sent (e.g., via the Internet  50  or otherwise) from the platform  10  directly or otherwise to the merchant&#39;s order management system (OMS) or other like back-end fulfillment processing system. In this manner, the merchant&#39;s OMS or other like back-end fulfillment system may for example treat the order as any other pre-paid or otherwise completed order. 
         [0031]    It is to be appreciated that in connection with the particular exemplary embodiments presented herein certain structural and/or function features are described as being incorporated in defined elements and/or components. However, it is contemplated that these features may, to the same or similar benefit, also likewise be incorporated in other elements and/or components where appropriate. It is also to be appreciated that different aspects of the exemplary embodiments may be selectively employed as appropriate to achieve other alternate embodiments suited for desired applications, the other alternate embodiments thereby realizing the respective advantages of the aspects incorporated therein. 
         [0032]    It is also to be appreciated that particular elements or components described herein may have their functionality suitably implemented via hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. Additionally, it is to be appreciated that certain elements described herein as incorporated together may under suitable circumstances be stand-alone elements or otherwise divided. Similarly, a plurality of particular functions described as being carried out by one particular element may be carried out by a plurality of distinct elements acting independently to carry out individual functions, or certain individual functions may be split-up and carried out by a plurality of distinct elements acting in concert. Alternately, some elements or components otherwise described and/or shown herein as distinct from one another may be physically or functionally combined where appropriate. 
         [0033]    In short, the present specification has been set forth with reference to preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the present specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. 
         [0034]    What is claimed is: