Abstract:
An infrastructure that supports, facilitates, etc., in new and creative ways, the enhanced distribution of the myriad forms of content (which might include, possibly inter alia, news items, traffic alerts, weather notices, travel advisories, stock quotations, advertisements, coupons, educational factoids, etc.) within established wireless messaging paradigms such as, possibly inter alia, Multimedia Message Service, Wireless Application Protocol, IP Multimedia Subsystem, etc. The service may optionally leverage the capabilities of a centrally-located Messaging Inter-Carrier Vendor.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/878,394, filed on Jan. 4, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to telecommunications services. More particularly, the present invention relates to capabilities that enhance substantially the value and usefulness of various messaging paradigms including, inter alia, Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), etc. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    As the ‘wireless revolution’ continues to march forward the importance to a Mobile Subscriber (MS)—for example a user of a Wireless Device (WD) such as, inter alia, a mobile telephone, a BlackBerry, etc. that is serviced by a Wireless Carrier (WC)—of their WD grows substantially. One consequence of such a growing importance is the resulting ubiquitous nature of WDs—i.e., MSs carry them at almost all times and use them for an ever-increasing range of activities. 
         [0006]    As MSs employ their WDs for ever more activities their WDs become, among other things, increasingly more valuable to Content Providers (CPs) as a vehicle to enhance the distribution of their content (which might include, possibly inter alia, news items, traffic alerts, weather notices, travel advisories, stock quotations, advertisements, coupons, educational factoids, etc.). 
         [0007]    Consequently the need exists for an infrastructure that can seamlessly leverage the full universe of WDs to support, facilitate, etc., in new and creative ways, the enhanced distribution of the myriad forms of content. 
         [0008]    The present invention provides such enhanced content distribution capabilities and addresses various of the (not insubstantial) challenges that are associated with same. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for distributing content within a wireless ecosystem. The method involves receiving an incoming message from a mobile subscriber, where the incoming message is responsive to content viewed by the mobile subscriber. The location of the mobile subscriber is ascertained (by, e.g., global positioning, cell tower proximity, etc.) and one or more processing steps are performed on the incoming message using, at least in part, information previously supplied by the mobile subscriber and the location of the mobile subscriber. Thereafter, the method provides for generating and dispatching to the mobile subscriber one or more outgoing messages based, at least in part, on the location of the mobile subscriber and content associated with the location of said mobile subscriber. 
         [0010]    The incoming or outgoing message may be one or more of (a) a short message service message, (b) a multimedia message service message, and/or (c) an IP multimedia subsystem message. The outgoing message may contain one or more of (a) informational text, (b) an advertisement, (c) a coupon, and/or (d) content 
         [0011]    One feature of embodiments of the invention is that the viewed content is dynamically changing content, and that the dynamically changing content may be changed based, at least in part, on characteristics of other mobile subscribers at the same location as the location of said mobile subscriber. 
         [0012]    Still further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the method includes receiving confirmation that the mobile subscriber acted upon contents of the outgoing message, performing one or more processing steps on the received confirmation, including at least updating a tracking repository, and generating and dispatching to the mobile subscriber one or more update messages. The tracking repository may maintain, for each mobile subscriber, counts of one or more of accumulated (a) points, (b) credits, and/or (c) money, and the update message may be one or more of (a) a short message service message, (b) a multimedia message service message, and/or (c) an IP multimedia subsystem message. 
         [0013]    Other features of a method of the present invention include receiving a redemption request from the mobile subscriber, performing one or more processing steps on the received redemption request including at least the updating of the tracking repository, and redeeming some portion of accumulated value to the mobile subscriber based at least in part on counts belonging to the mobile subscriber in said tracking repository. Redemption may take place through one or more of (a) a wireless carrier, (b) a world wide web site, (c) electronic mail, and/or (d) postal mail. 
         [0014]    The previously supplied information may be defined by a mobile subscriber during a registration process, and may include one or more of Identifying Information, Notification Information, Billing Information, and Preference Information. This information may be preserved through a User Profile. In one possible implementation, the registration process is Web-based, and may include a billing component. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for interacting with wireless mobile subscribers is provided. The method includes receiving a first message from a first mobile subscriber, determining that the first mobile subscriber is present at a predetermined venue, delivering first content from a content provider to the first mobile subscriber, wherein the first content is associated with the predetermined venue, receiving a reply message from the first mobile subscriber in response to the first content, receiving a second message from a second mobile subscriber, determining that the second mobile subscriber is also present at the predetermined venue, delivering second content from the content provider to the second mobile subscriber, wherein the second content is different from the first content and is selected based, at least in part, on contents of the reply message from the first mobile subscriber. 
         [0016]    Further in accordance with this embodiment, content may be selected based on information previously received during a registration process from both the first and the second mobile subscribers. 
         [0017]    The content provider may further be contacted as a result of the reply message and the second message from the second mobile subscriber. 
         [0018]    Also, the first and the second content may be delivered at a moment in time that coincides with a time of a predetermined event at the predetermined venue. 
         [0019]    These and other features of the embodiments of the present invention, along with their attendant advantages, will be more fully appreciated upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the associated drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic presentation of an exemplary Messaging Inter-Carrier Vendor (MICV). 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates one particular arrangement that is possible through aspects of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates various of the exchanges or interactions that are possible during the optional registration portion of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates various of the exchanges or interactions that are supported by aspects of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic presentation of aspects of an exemplary Service Provider (SP) Application Server (AS). 
       
    
    
       [0025]    It should be understood that these figures depict embodiments of the invention. Variations of these embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    The present invention may leverage the capabilities of a centrally-located, full-featured MICV facility. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 7,154,901 entitled “INTERMEDIARY NETWORK SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING MESSAGE EXCHANGE BETWEEN WIRELESS NETWORKS,” and its associated continuations, for a description of a MICV, a summary of various of the services/functions/etc. that are performed by a MICV, and a discussion of the numerous advantages that arise from same. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 7,154,901, along with its associated continuations, is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0027]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and reference numeral  100  a MICV  120  is disposed between, possibly inter alia, multiple WCs (WC 1    114 →WC x    118 ) on one side and multiple SPs (SP 1    122 →SP y    124 ) on the other side and thus ‘bridges’ all of the connected entities. A MICV  120  thus, as one simple example, may offer various routing, formatting, delivery, value-add, etc. capabilities that provide, possibly inter alia: 
         [0028]    1) A WC  114 → 118  (and, by extension, all of the MSs  102 → 104 ,  106 → 108 , and  110 → 112  that are serviced by the WC  114 → 118 ) with ubiquitous access to a broad universe of SPs  122 → 124  and 
         [0029]    2) A SP  122 → 124  with ubiquitous access to a broad universe of WCs  114  → 118  (and, by extension, all of the MSs  102 → 104 ,  106 → 108 , and  110 → 112  that are serviced by the WC  114 → 118 ). 
         [0030]    Generally speaking a MICV may have varying degrees of visibility (e.g., access, etc.) to the (MS←→MS, MS←→SP, etc.) messaging traffic: 
         [0031]    1) A WC may elect to route just their out-of-network messaging traffic to a MICV. Under this approach the MICV would have visibility (e.g., access, etc.) to just the portion of the WC&#39;s messaging traffic that was directed to the MICV by the WC. 
         [0032]    2) A WC may elect to route all of their messaging traffic to a MICV. The MICV may, possibly among other things, subsequently return to the WC that portion of the messaging traffic that belongs to (i.e., that is destined for a MS of) the WC. Under this approach the MICV would have visibility (e.g., access, etc.) to all of the WC&#39;s messaging traffic. 
         [0033]    While the discussion below will include a MICV it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that other arrangements are equally applicable and indeed are fully within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0034]    In the discussion below the present invention is described and illustrated as being offered by a SP. A SP may, for example, be realized as a third-party service bureau, an element of a WC or a landline carrier, an element of a MICV, multiple third-party entities working together, etc. 
         [0035]    To help explain key aspects of the present invention consider the illustrative example that is depicted through  FIG. 2  and the narrative below. 
         [0036]    As indicated in  FIG. 2  and reference numeral  200  all of the messaging traffic of numerous WCs (WC 1    210 →WC n    212 ) is exchanged with a MICV  214  and the MICV  214  is connected with SP x    216  (a SP that offers, possibly inter alia, the present invention). Additionally SP x    216  is connected with numerous CPs (CP 1    218  →CP m    220 ) such that, possibly inter alia and as described in detail below, a CP (e.g., CP 1    218 →CP m    220 ) may provide content/information/etc. to SP x    216  and SP x    216  may provide data/information/etc. to a CP (e.g., CP 1    218 →CP m    220 ). 
         [0037]    Within the framework that is illustrated by  FIG. 2  SP x    216  may offer an optional registration process. During such a process a party, for example (possibly inter alia) a MS or a representative of a CP, that is interested in using aspects of the present invention may identify themselves and provide some range of information. A registration process may be tailored (e.g., the range of information gathered, the scope of access subsequently granted, etc.) to the class of user—e.g., a MS may complete one type of registration process, a representative of a CP may complete another type of registration process, etc. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  and reference numeral  300  illustrate various of the exchanges or interactions that might occur during an illustrative registration process (involving a hypothetical MS  302 , Mary, and a our hypothetical SP  304 , SP x ). Of interest and note in the diagram are the following entities: 
         [0039]    MS  302  WD  306 . For example, Mary&#39;s  302  WD such as a cellular telephone, BlackBerry, PalmPilot, etc. 
         [0040]    MS  302  Personal Computer (PC)  308 . For example, one of Mary&#39;s  302  work, home, etc. PCs. 
         [0041]    WC  310 . The provider of service for Mary&#39;s  302  WD  306 . 
         [0042]    MICV  312 . As noted above the use of a MICV, although not required, provides significant advantages. 
         [0043]    SP  304  Web Server (WS)  314 . A publicly-available World Wide Web (WWW) site that is optionally provided by SP x    304 . 
         [0044]    SP  304  Billing Interface (BI)  316 . A single, consolidated interface that SP x    304  may use to easily reach, inter alia, one or more external entities such as a credit card or debit card clearinghouse, a carrier billing system, a service bureau that provides access to multiple carrier billing systems, etc. 
         [0045]    SP  304  AS  318 . Facilities that provide key elements of the instant invention (which will be further described below). 
         [0046]    It is important to note that while in  FIG. 3  the MS  302  WD  306  and MS  302  PC  308  entities are illustrated as being adjacent or otherwise near each other in actual practice the entities may, for example, be physically located anywhere. 
         [0047]    In the discussion to follow reference is made to messages that are sent, for example, between a MS  302  and an SP  304 . As set forth below, a given “message” sent between a MS  302  and a SP  304  may actually comprise a series of steps in which the message is received, forwarded and routed between different entities, including a WD  306  associated with a MS  302 , a WC  310 , a MICV  312 , and a SP  304 . Thus, unless otherwise indicated, it will be understood that reference to a particular message generally includes that particular message as conveyed at any stage between an origination source, such as a WD  306  of a MS  302 , and an end receiver, such as a SP  304 . As such, reference to a particular message generally includes a series of related communications between, for example, a MS  302  and a WC  310 , the WC  310  and a MICV  312 , and the MICV  312  and a SP  304 . The series of related communications may, in general, contain substantially the same information, or information may be added or subtracted in different communications that nevertheless may be generally referred to as a same message. To aid in clarity, a particular message, whether undergoing changes or not, is referred to by different reference numbers at different stages between a source and an endpoint of the message. 
         [0048]    In  FIG. 3  the exchanges that are collected under the designation Set  1  represent the activities that might take place as Mary  302  begins an optional registration process with SP x    304 . For example: 
         [0049]    A) Mary  302  uses one of her PCs  308  to visit a WS  314  of SP x    304  to, possibly among other things, complete a service registration process (see  320 → 322 ). 
         [0050]    B) The WS  314  of SP x    304  interacts with an AS  318  of SP x    304  to, possibly among other things, commit some or all of the information that Mary  302  provided to a data repository (e.g., a database), optionally complete a billing transaction, etc. (see  324 ). 
         [0051]    C) As appropriate and as required a BI  316  completes a billing transaction in conjunction with AS  318  (see  326 → 328 ). 
         [0052]    D) The WS  314  responds appropriately (e.g., with the presentation of a confirmation message, etc.) (see  332 → 334 ) upon, e.g., an indication ( 320 ) from AS  318 . 
         [0053]    The specific exchanges that were described above (as residing under the designation Set  1 ) are illustrative only and it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other exchanges are easily possible and indeed are fully within the scope of the present invention. For example, the collected information may be reviewed, confirmed, etc. through one or more manual and/or automatic mechanisms. For example, the registration process may be completed through any combination of one or more channels including, inter alia, the indicated WWW facility, wireless messaging (SMS, MMS, IMS, etc.), E-mail messages, Instant Messaging (IM) exchanges, conventional mail, telephone, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) facilities, etc. 
         [0054]    During the registration process that was described above a range of information may be captured from a candidate user including, inter alia: 
         [0055]    1) Identifying Information (e.g., general information about Mary). For example, possibly among other things, a unique identifier and a password, optionally a pseudonym or handle, name, classification (e.g., such as, inter alia, representative of a corporation, etc.), age, sex, etc. 
         [0056]    2) Notification Information. For example, optional contact information (such as, inter alia, landline and/or wireless Telephone Numbers [TNs], E-mail addresses, IM addresses, physical addresses, etc.). 
         [0057]    3) Billing Information. Different service billing models may be offered by SP x  including, possibly inter alia, free (e.g., possibly advertising-based), a fixed one-time charge, a recurring (hourly, daily, monthly, etc.) fixed charge, a recurring (hourly, daily, monthly, etc.) variable charge, a per-use charge, etc. Different payment mechanisms may be supported by SP x  including, possibly among other things, credit or debit card information, authorization to place a charge on a MS&#39;s phone bill, etc. 
         [0058]    4) Preference Information. Any number of optional items including, as simple examples, likes and dislikes (e.g., colors, foods, religion, politics, movies, music, books, TV shows, clothing, automobiles, etc.); census-like data (e.g., household makeup, salary, recent purchases, planned purchases, family history, etc.); etc. 
         [0059]    5) Other Information. Additional, possibly optional, information. 
         [0060]    The specific pieces of information that were described above are illustrative only and it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other pieces of information (e.g., additional Preference Information, scheduled daily/weekly/etc. reporting that may be desired, etc.) are easily possible and indeed are fully within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0061]    As noted above the information that Mary provided during the registration process may be preserved in a data repository (e.g., a database) and may optionally be organized as a MS Profile. 
         [0062]    The content of Mary&#39;s profile may optionally be augmented by SP x . For example, one or more internal or external sources of consumer, demographic, geographic, psychographic, corporate, etc. information may be leveraged to selectively enhance or augment elements of Mary&#39;s profile. 
         [0063]    As noted above, a SP&#39;s BI may optionally complete one or more billing transactions. A billing transaction may take any number of forms and may involve different external entities (e.g., a WC&#39;s billing system, a carrier billing system service bureau, a credit or debit card clearinghouse, etc.). A billing transaction may include, inter alia: 
         [0064]    1) The appearance of a line item charge on the bill or statement that a MS receives from her WC. Exemplary mechanics and logistics associated with this approach are described in, for example, pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/837,695 entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BILLING AUGMENTATION.” Other ways of completing or performing line item billing are easily implemented by those skilled in the art. 
         [0065]    2) The charging of a credit card or the debiting of a debit card. 
         [0066]    3) The (electronic, etc.) transfer of funds. 
         [0067]    4) The generation of an invoice, statement, etc. 
         [0068]    In  FIG. 3  the exchanges that are collected under the designation Set  2  represent the activities that might take place as SP x    304  optionally coordinates, etc. (see  336 → 338 ) with one or more external entities (such as, for example, one or more CPs) to, possibly among other things, secure access, arrange to receive updates, etc. 
         [0069]    The specific exchanges that were described above (as residing under the designation Set  2 ) are illustrative only and it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other exchanges (including, inter alia, updates to various of the information in a MS Profile in a SP&#39;s repository, etc.) are easily possible and indeed are fully within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0070]    In  FIG. 3  the exchanges that are collected under the designation Set  3  represent the activities that might take place as SP x    304  dispatches to Mary  302  one or more confirmation E-mail messages (see  340 → 342 ). 
         [0071]    The specific exchanges that were described above (as residing under the designation Set  3 ) are illustrative only and it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other exchanges (including, inter alia, other types or forms of confirmation messages) are easily possible and indeed are fully within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0072]    In  FIG. 3  the exchanges that are collected under the designation Set  4  represent the activities that might take place as AS  318  of SP x    304  dispatches one or more confirmation SMS, MMS, IMS, etc. messages to Mary&#39;s  302  WD  306  (see  344  → 348 ) and Mary  302  replies or responds to the message(s) (see  350 → 354 ). Of interest and note are: 
         [0073]    1) In the instant example the messages are shown traversing a MICV  312 . 
         [0074]    2) The SP  304  may employ a Short Code (SC) or a regular TN as its source address (and to which it would ask users of its service to direct any reply messages). While the abbreviated length of a SC (e.g., five digits for a SC administered by Neustar under the Common Short Code [CSC] program) incrementally enhances the experience of a MS  302  (e.g., the MS  302  need remember and enter only a few digits as the destination address of a reply message) it also, by definition, constrains the universe of available SCs thereby causing each individual SC to be a limited or scarce resource and raising a number of SC/CSC management, etc. issues. A description of a common (i.e., universal) short code environment may be found in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/742,764 entitled “UNIVERSAL SHORT CODE ADMINISTRATION FACILITY.” 
         [0075]    The specific exchanges that were described above (as residing under the designation Set  4 ) are illustrative only and it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other exchanges are easily possible and indeed are fully within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0076]    The Set  1 , Set  2 , Set  3 , and Set  4  exchanges that were described above are illustrative only and it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other exchanges are easily possible and indeed are fully within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0077]    The registration information that was described above may subsequently be managed (e.g., existing information may be edited or removed, new information may be added, etc.) through any combination of one or more channels including, inter alia, a SP&#39;s WWW facility, wireless messaging (SMS, MMS, IMS, etc.), e-mail messages, IM exchanges, conventional mail, telephone, IVR facilities, etc. 
         [0078]    To continue with the explanation of key aspects of the present invention, consider one possible use or incarnation of aspects of the present invention. In this simple illustrative use Mary, our hypothetical MS, completes a registration process (e.g., as described above), subsequently enters a movie theater, observes content being displayed or presented on the movie screen, and reacts accordingly. 
         [0079]    The simple scenario that was just described (i.e., Mary completes a registration process, enters a movie theater, observes content being displayed or presented on the movie screen, and reacts accordingly) is illustrative only and it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that numerous other alternative scenarios (i.e., arrangements) are easily possibly and indeed are fully within the scope of the present invention. For example: 
         [0080]    A) The content that is displayed on the screen may consist of, possibly inter alia, advertisements, news items, traffic alerts, weather notices, coupons, informational notices, financial alerts, etc. A piece of content may request that a MS dispatch a (SMS, MMS, etc.) message to a destination address (e.g., possibly inter alia, a SC or a TN); optionally include a code, keyword, etc. in the body of the message; etc. 
         [0081]    B) The content may be presented before a movie (such as during ‘The Twenty’ or ‘First Look’ segments at Regal Entertainment Group movie theaters), during a movie, during an intermission period, at the end of a movie, etc. C) The content may be presented on screens at venues other than movie theaters—e.g., at a presentation or symposium or conference, at a concert, in a store, at a hotel, at an airport, etc. 
         [0082]    D) The content may be ‘keyed’ to or otherwise associated with a venue. For example, the content may be specific to the movie that a movie theater is showing, specific to the subject matter of a presentation/symposium/conference, etc. 
         [0083]    E) The content may be static (as one possible example, fully pre-recorded), or partially or fully dynamic (as one possible example, aspects generated real-time), or a combination of both (i.e., static and dynamic). 
         [0084]    F) The generation of dynamic content may be based on, possibly inter alia, the makeup of a venue&#39;s audience. For example: 
         [0085]    i) A SP may become aware of the presence of registered MSs at a specific venue through any number of automatic and/or manual means. Automatic means may include, possibly inter alia, such mechanisms like Global Positioning System (GPS)/Location-Based Services (LBS), Bluetooth, etc. Manual means may include, possibly inter alia, a MS dispatching one or more (SMS, MMS, etc.) messages. 
         [0086]    ii) From the profiles of the identified (registered) MSs a SP may review, aggregate, etc. various Preference Information elements. 
         [0087]    iii) From the reviewed, aggregated, etc. Preference Information a SP may develop one or more ranked, rated, etc. lists of common preferences, likes, etc. The developed lists may optionally incorporate information that may be specific to a venue—e.g., attributes of the movie that a movie theater is showing, the subject matter of a presentation/symposium/conference, etc. 
         [0088]    iv) Based on the ranked, rated, etc. lists a SP may dynamically generate content. The dynamically generated content may optionally be based on, include, leverage, be derived from, etc. various CP-supplied materials. 
         [0089]    v) Using any number of means or channels a SP may convey the dynamically generated content to a venue (for, possibly inter alia, subsequent display, showing, etc. to members of the venue audience). 
         [0090]    The simple scenario that was described above (i.e., Mary completes a registration process, enters a movie theater, observes content being displayed or presented on the movie screen, and reacts accordingly) may be examined further through the illustrative interactions that are depicted in  FIG. 4  and reference numeral  400 . Of interest and note are the following entities: 
         [0091]    MS 1    402 →MS a    404  and MS 1    406 →MS z    408 . The WDs (such as a mobile telephones, BlackBerrys, PalmPilots, etc.) of various MS (including Mary). 
         [0092]    WC 1    412 →WC n    414 . Numerous WCs. 
         [0093]    MICV  416 . As noted above the use of a MICV, although not required, provides significant advantages. 
         [0094]    SP  410  AS  418 . Facilities that provide key elements of the instant invention (which will be described below). 
         [0095]    SP  410  Database (DB)  420 . One or more data repositories that are leveraged by SP x &#39;s  410  AS  418 . 
         [0096]    In the discussion to follow reference is made to messages that are sent, for example, between a MS  402 → 404 / 406 → 408  and an SP  410 . As set forth below, a given “message” sent between a MS  402 → 404 / 406 → 408  and a SP  410  may actually comprise a series of steps in which the message is received, forwarded and routed between different entities, including a WD associated with a MS  402 → 404 / 406 → 408 , a WC  412 → 414 , a MICV  416 , and a SP  410 . Thus, unless otherwise indicated, it will be understood that reference to a particular message generally includes that particular message as conveyed at any stage between an origination source, such as a WD of a MS  402 → 404 / 406 → 408 , and an end receiver, such as a SP  410 . As such, reference to a particular message generally includes a series of related communications between, for example, a MS  402 → 404 / 406 → 408  and a WC  412 → 414 , the WC  412 → 414  and a MICV  416 , and the MICV  416  and a SP  410 . The series of related communications may, in general, contain substantially the same information, or information may be added or subtracted in different communications that nevertheless may be generally referred to as a same message. To aid in clarity, a particular message, whether undergoing changes or not, is referred to by different reference numbers at different stages between a source and an endpoint of the message. 
         [0097]    In  FIG. 4  the exchanges that are collected under the designation Set  1  and Set  2  represent the activities that might take place as the (SMS, MMS, etc.) messages that are dispatched by Mary (MS 1    402 →MS a    404  and MS 1    406 →MS z    408 ), in response to content that Mary (MS 1    402 →MS a    404  and MS 1    406 →MS z    408 ) has observed, are routed by the various WCs (WC 1    412 →WC n    414 ) to a MICV  416  (see  424 → 426 ) and then directed, by the MICV  416 , to SP x   410  (see  428 ). 
         [0098]    It is important to note the Set  1  and Set  2  exchanges are illustrative only and it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other exchanges are easily possible and indeed are fully within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0099]    In  FIG. 4  the exchanges that are collected under the designation Set  3 , Set  4 , and Set  5  represent the activities that might take place as the (SMS, MMS, etc.) messages are processed by SP x    410  (specifically, by an AS  418  of SP x    410 ). To provide context for our review of the Set  3 , Set  4 , and Set  5  exchanges we take a brief detour to describe an illustrative SP  410  AS  418 . 
         [0100]      FIG. 5  and reference numeral  500  provide a diagrammatic presentation of aspects of an exemplary SP AS  502 . The illustrated AS  502  contains several key components—Gateways (GW 1    508 →GW a    510  in the diagram), Incoming Queues (IQ 1    512 →IQ b    514  in the diagram), WorkFlows (WorkFlow 1    518 →WorkFlow d    520  in the diagram), Database  522 , Outgoing Queues (OQ 1    524 →OQ c    526  in the diagram), and an Administrator  528 . It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other components are possible within an AS  502 . 
         [0101]    A dynamically updateable set of one or more Gateways (GW 1    508 →GW a    510  in the diagram) handle incoming (SMS/MMS/IMS/etc. messaging, etc.) traffic  504 → 506  and outgoing (SMS/MMS/IMS/etc. messaging, etc.) traffic  504 → 506 . Incoming traffic  504 → 506  is accepted and deposited on an intermediate or temporary Incoming Queue (IQ 1    512 →IQ b    514  in the diagram) for subsequent processing. Processed artifacts are removed from an intermediate or temporary Outgoing Queue (OQ 1    524 →OQ c    526  in the diagram) and then dispatched  504 → 506 . 
         [0102]    A dynamically updateable set of one or more Incoming Queues (IQ 1    512 →IQ b    514  in the diagram) and a dynamically updateable set of one or more Outgoing Queues (OQ 1    524 →OQ c    526  in the diagram) operate as intermediate or temporary buffers for incoming and outgoing traffic  504 → 506 . 
         [0103]    A dynamically updateable set of one or more WorkFlows (WorkFlow 1    518 →WorkFlow d    520  in the diagram) remove incoming traffic  504 → 506  from an intermediate or temporary Incoming Queue (IQ 1    512 →IQ b    514  in the diagram), perform all of the required processing operations (explained below), and deposit processed artifacts on an intermediate or temporary Outgoing Queue (OQ 1    524 →OQ c    526  in the diagram). The WorkFlow component will be described more fully below. 
         [0104]    The Database  522  that is depicted in  FIG. 5  is a logical representation of the possibly multiple physical repositories that may be implemented to support, inter alia, configuration, word catalog, calculation, etc. information. The physical repositories may be implemented through any combination of conventional Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMSs) such as Oracle, through Object Database Management Systems (ODBMSs), through in-memory Database Management Systems (DBMSs), or through any other equivalent facilities. 
         [0105]    An Administrator  528  provides management or administrative control over all of the different components of an AS  502  through, as one example, a WWW-based interface  530 . It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other interfaces (e.g., an Application Programming Interface [API], a data feed, etc.) are easily possible. 
         [0106]    Through flexible, extensible, and dynamically updatable configuration information a WorkFlow component may be quickly and easily realized to support any number of activities. For example, WorkFlows might be configured to support an optional registration process; to support the receipt and processing of incoming (SMS, MMS, IMS, etc.) messages; to support the scanning of the body or content of a received message; to support the generation and dispatch of content; to support the generation and dispatch of outgoing confirmation, update, etc. messages; to support the generation of scheduled and/or on-demand reports; etc. The specific WorkFlows that were just described are exemplary only; it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other WorkFlow arrangements, alternatives, etc. are easily possible. 
         [0107]    A SP may maintain a repository (e.g., a database) into which selected details of all administrative, messaging, processing, etc. activities may be recorded. Among other things, such a repository may be used to support: 
         [0108]    1) Scheduled (e.g., daily, weekly, etc.) and/or on-demand reporting with report results delivered through SMS, MMS, IMS, etc. messages; through E-mail; through a WWW-based facility; through IM; through an IVR facility; etc. 
         [0109]    2) Scheduled and/or on-demand data mining initiatives (possibly leveraging or otherwise incorporating one or more external data sources) with the results of same presented through visualization, Geographic Information System (GIS), etc. facilities and delivered through SMS, MMS, IMS, etc. messages; through E-mail; through a WWW-based facility; trough IM; through an IVR facility; etc. 
         [0110]    Generated reports may contain, possibly inter alia, textual and graphic elements. 
         [0111]    Over time as ever more messages are presented to a SP the SP may continuously expand the depth and/or the breadth of its internal repositories and, possibly inter alia, consequently incrementally refine, improve, etc. the quality, etc. of its message review, reporting, etc. activities. 
         [0112]    Returning to  FIG. 4  . . . the processing activities that are depicted under the designation Set  3 , Set  4 , and Set  5  might include, possibly inter alia (see, for example,  430 → 438 ): 
         [0113]    A) Retrieving an incoming message from an IQ. 
         [0114]    B) Extracting from a received message, and optionally validating/etc., various data elements including, inter alia, the Source Address (SA, such as, for example, the source TN), the Destination Address (such as, for example, the destination TN), the message content or body (that might contain, as just one possible example, a code or keyword), etc. 
         [0115]    C) Preserving various elements of the received message in a Messages database table. 
         [0116]    D) Updating a MS database table, as appropriate and as required, to ensure that an entry exists for the SA (such as, for example, the TN) of the message. 
         [0117]    E) Performing one or more analytical steps. The analytical steps may be realized through a combination of, possibly inter alia: 
         [0118]    i) Flexible, extensible, and dynamically configurable Workflows (as previously described) that implement the rules, logic, etc. for a range of message handling methods (including, inter alia, statistical, pattern matching, stylistic, linguistic, heuristic, etc.). 
         [0119]    ii) Dynamically updateable internal and/or external data sources (including, possibly inter alia, word catalogs, etc.). 
         [0120]    and may, possibly among other things, optionally score, rate, rank, etc. the developed results; optionally augment the developed results with internal and/or external demographic, geographic, etc. data; etc. 
         [0121]    F) Generating one or more indicators. Indicators may capture, inter alia, specific characteristics, patterns, traits, features, MS requests, etc. 
         [0122]    G) Preserving one or more of the generated indicators in an Indicators database table. 
         [0123]    H) Leveraging a flexible, extensible, and dynamically configurable list of defined events (e.g, as maintained in an EventDefinitions database table) to generate one or more events. Events may include, inter alia, alerting one or more parties (such as, for example, a MS, a WC, a MICV, a CP, etc.) through any combination of one or more channels such as SMS/MMS/etc. messages, E-mail messages, IM messages, data feeds; optionally responding to a MS (through, as just one example, a reply SMS/MMS/etc. message); optionally dynamically updating one or more data repositories; etc. 
         [0124]    I) Preserving one or more of the generated events in an Events database table. 
         [0125]    J) Depositing, consistent with the generated indicator(s) and event(s), one or more outgoing messages on an OQ. 
         [0126]    The catalog of processing steps that were described above are illustrative only and it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other processing steps (such as, possibly inter alia, scoring, ranking, rating, etc. one or more of the generated indicators) are easily possible and indeed are fully within the scope of the present invention. For example: 
         [0127]    1) An incoming (SMS, MMS, etc.) message may optionally result in one or more outgoing (SMS, MMS, etc.) confirmation, notification, etc. messages (to, for example, a MS; one or more representatives of a MICV, a WC, a CP; etc.). 
         [0128]    2) Various of the elements that were described above might optionally be made WC-specific, MICV-specific, CP-specific, etc. 
         [0129]    A SP may optionally offer one or more of the processing steps, reporting capabilities, etc. that were described above as value-add services for which, possibly inter alia, a SP may charge a fee. The processing, capture, etc. of such a fee may be handled by a SP&#39;s BI. 
         [0130]    It is important to note the exchanges that were described above (as residing under the designation Set  3 , Set  4 , and Set  5  in  FIG. 4 ) are illustrative only and it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other exchanges are easily possible and indeed are fully within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0131]    The simple scenario that was described above (i.e., Mary completes a registration process, enters a movie theater, observes content being displayed or presented on the movie screen, and reacts accordingly) is illustrative only and it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous other arrangements are easily possible and indeed are fully within the scope of the present invention. For example: 
         [0132]    1) A MS′ dispatch of a SMS/MMS/etc. message (in response to, and according to the instructions that were contained within, what the MS observed on a screen) may result in a SP interacting, coordinating, etc. with one or more CPs. The interacting, coordinating, etc. may result in, possibly inter alia, a MS receiving (immediately, at some point in the future, etc.) one or more pieces of content from a CP, a MS receiving (immediately, at some point in the future, etc.) one or more (SMS, MMS, etc.) confirmation, informational, etc. messages from a CP, a MS being enrolled for a drawing or a contest, a MS being contacted by a representative of a CP, etc. 
         [0133]    2) A SP may be alerted to the end of a movie through any number of automatic (e.g., by a movie theater, via location changes detected by GPS/LBS, etc.) and/or manual (e.g., via the dispatch of a message by a MS) mechanisms. Once so alerted a SP may dispatch to a MS one or more (SMS, MMS, etc.) content messages containing (as just a few of the many possibilities) coupons, advertisements, directions to a local restaurant, traffic updates (e.g., as retrieved from a Transport Protocol Experts Group (TPEG) compliant mechanism), weather alerts, etc. 
         [0134]    3) Should a MS act on a received message—e.g., redeem a coupon, visit a restaurant, etc. —a SP may optionally, possibly inter alia: 
         [0135]    i) Track that action. 
         [0136]    ii) Receive (solicited and/or unsolicited) feedback, information, etc. from an end vendor (such as, for example, a restaurant, a store, etc.). 
         [0137]    iii) Allocate to a MS some number of points, credits, money, etc. 
         [0138]    iv) Dispatch to the MS one or more (SMS, MMS, etc.) update, etc. messages. 
         [0139]    v) Update one or more data repositories to memorialize aspects of the above. 
         [0140]    4) A SP may optionally allow a MS to redeem, collect, etc. their accumulated points/credits/money/etc. through any number of channels including, possibly inter alia, a MS′ WC (e.g., by communicating, interacting, etc. with the MS′ WC to, possibly inter alia, facilitate the MS receiving their accumulated points/credits/cash/etc. on the MS′ monthly statement), a WWW site, E-mail, postal mail, etc. 
         [0141]    The various confirmation, content, update, report, etc. message(s) that were described above may optionally contain an informational element—e.g., a service announcement, a relevant or applicable factoid, etc. The informational element may be selected statically (e.g., all generated messages are injected with the same informational text), selected randomly (e.g., a generated message is injected with informational text that is randomly selected from a pool of available informational text), or selected based on location (i.e., a generated message is injected with informational text that is selected from a pool of available informational text based on the current physical location of the recipient of the message as derived from, as one example, a LBS/GPS facility). 
         [0142]    A SP may optionally allow advertisers to register and/or provide (e.g., directly, or through links/references to external sources) advertising content. 
         [0143]    The provided advertising content may optionally be included in various of the above described message(s)—e.g., textual material, multimedia (images of brand logos, sound, video snippets, etc.) material, etc. The advertising material may be selected statically (e.g., all generated messages are injected with the same advertising material), selected randomly (e.g., a generated message is injected with advertising material that is randomly selected from a pool of available material), or selected based on location (i.e., a generated message is injected with advertising material that is selected from a pool of available material based on the current physical location of the recipient of the message as derived from, as one example, a LBS/GPS facility). 
         [0144]    The above described message(s) may optionally contain promotional materials, coupons, etc. (via, possibly inter alia, text, still images, video clips, etc.). 
         [0145]    It is important to note that while aspects of the discussion that was presented above focused on the use of SCs and TNs it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that other message address identifiers are equally applicable and, indeed, are fully within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0146]    The discussion that was just presented referenced the specific wireless messaging paradigms SMS and MMS. However, it is to be understood that it would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that other messaging paradigms (IMS, WAP, E-mail, etc.) are fully within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0147]    It is important to note that the hypothetical example that was presented above, which was described in the narrative and which was illustrated in the accompanying figures, is exemplary only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art that numerous alternatives to the presented example are easily possible and, indeed, are fully within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0148]    The following list defines acronyms as used in this disclosure. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Acronym 
                 Meaning 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 API 
                 Application Programming Interface 
               
               
                   
                 AS 
                 Application Server 
               
               
                   
                 BI 
                 Billing Interface 
               
               
                   
                 CP 
                 Content Provider 
               
               
                   
                 CSC 
                 Common Short Code 
               
               
                   
                 DB 
                 Database 
               
               
                   
                 DBMS 
                 Database Management System 
               
               
                   
                 E-mail 
                 Electronic Mail 
               
               
                   
                 GIS 
                 Geographic Information System 
               
               
                   
                 GPS 
                 Global Positioning System 
               
               
                   
                 GW 
                 Gateway 
               
               
                   
                 IM 
                 Instant Messaging 
               
               
                   
                 IMS 
                 IP Multimedia Subsystem 
               
               
                   
                 IP 
                 Internet Protocol 
               
               
                   
                 IQ 
                 Incoming Queue 
               
               
                   
                 IVR 
                 Interactive Voice Response 
               
               
                   
                 LBS 
                 Location Based Services 
               
               
                   
                 MICV 
                 Messaging Inter-Carrier Vendor 
               
               
                   
                 MMS 
                 Multimedia Message Service 
               
               
                   
                 MS 
                 Mobile Subscriber 
               
               
                   
                 ODBMS 
                 Object Database Management System 
               
               
                   
                 OQ 
                 Outgoing Queue 
               
               
                   
                 PC 
                 Personal Computer 
               
               
                   
                 RDBMS 
                 Relational Database Management System 
               
               
                   
                 SA 
                 Source Address 
               
               
                   
                 SC 
                 Short Code 
               
               
                   
                 SMS 
                 Short Message Service 
               
               
                   
                 SP 
                 Service Provider 
               
               
                   
                 TN 
                 Telephone Number 
               
               
                   
                 TPEG 
                 Transport Protocol Experts Group 
               
               
                   
                 WAP 
                 Wireless Application Protocol 
               
               
                   
                 WC 
                 Wireless Carrier 
               
               
                   
                 WD 
                 Wireless Device 
               
               
                   
                 WS 
                 Web Server 
               
               
                   
                 WWW 
                 World Wide Web