Interactive text response system with transfers between text message threads
Methods and systems of managing application-to-person text messages include receiving, by an application running on a computing device and providing access to multiple distinct application-linked phone lines, a first text message from a first communication device having a unique phone number. In response to this text message, a first text message thread is generated that includes the first communication device and a first application-linked phone line having a first phone number. The first text message thread provides a text message transfer option selectable by a user of the first communication device. In response to the user of the first communication device interacting with the text message transfer option, the first communication device is transferred to communicate by text messages with a second application-linked phone line having a second phone number that is different from the phone number of the first application-linked phone line.
1 . A method of managing application-to-person text messages, the method comprising:
receiving, by an application running on a computing device and providing access to application-linked phone lines each having an individual assigned phone number, a first text message from a first communication device having a unique phone number;
generating, in response to the receiving of the first text message, a first text message thread that includes the first communication device and a first application-linked phone line having a first phone number, the first text message thread configured to display a text message transfer option selectable by a user of the first communication device; and
in response to the user of the first communication device interacting with the text message transfer option within the first text message thread, transferring the first communication device to communicate, via at least one text message, with a second application-linked phone line having a second phone number that is different from the phone number of the first application-linked phone line.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning one or more designations to the user of the first communication device to create a record of options selected by the user of the first communication device in response to one or more prompts presented to the user of the first communication device within the first text message thread.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the transferring step further comprises generating a second text message thread that is separate from the first text message thread and that includes the first communication device and the second application-linked phone line but does not include the first application-linked phone line.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the transferring step further comprises permitting an administrator of the application to at least one of: assign consent gathering bots, assign data gathering bots, provide self-service prompt options, set one or more notifications, and set data sharing that would accompany the transferring of the first communication device to communicate with the second application-linked phone line.
5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising including, in the second text message thread, at least one of:
a thread history that displays at least a portion of the application-to-person text messages exchanged between the first communication device and the first application-linked phone line;
an interactive hyperlink which, when interacted with, causes the second text message thread to display at least a portion of the application-to-person text messages exchanged between the first communication device and the first application-linked phone line; and
an attached file which, when opened, causes the second text message thread to display at least a portion of the application-to-person text messages exchanged between the first communication device and the first application-linked phone line.
6 . The method of claim 3 further comprising:
generating within the first text message thread a consents and permissions option which, when interacted with by the user of the first communication device, permits the user of the first communication device to select a level of consent of the user of the first communication device to receive at least one of conversational, informational and promotional text messages, or to indicate a level of consent to share personal information by the user of the first communication device; and
restricting at least some portions of the first text message thread from view within the second text message thread based on at least one of: permissions granted to users of the application-linked phone lines, settings defined by an administrator of the application, and privacy designations reflected by the level of consent of the user of the first communication device to share the personal information.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the restricting step further comprises providing within the second text message a hyperlink which, when interacted with by a user of the second application-linked phone line, opens a secure web page to display, to the user of the second application-linked phone line, the portions of the first text message thread that are not displayed within the second text message thread.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferring step further comprises generating, within the first text message thread, an informational message acknowledging a selection made by the user of the first communication device via the text message transfer option, wherein the informational text message notifies the user of the first communication device to expect a text message from the second application-linked phone line to which the first communication device is being transferred.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferring step further comprises:
presenting two or more application-linked phone lines each having an individual assigned phone number that is different from the first application-linked phone line with an option to claim a transfer of the first communication device from the first application-linked phone line; and
transferring the first communication device to the second text message thread to communicate via at least one text message with the application-linked phone line that was first to claim the transfer of the first communication device.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferring step further comprises adding the second application-linked phone line having the second phone number into the first text message thread or a new group text message thread to permit the second application-linked phone line to communicate with the first communication device and with the first application-linked phone line within the first text message thread or the new group text message thread.
11 . A system for managing application-to-person text messages, the system comprising:
an application executable on a computing device and providing access to application-linked phone lines each being associated with an individual assigned phone number, wherein the computing device is configured, via the application, to:
receive a first text message from a first communication device having a unique phone number;
generate, in response to receipt of the first text message, a first text message thread that includes the first communication device and a first application-linked phone line having a first phone number, the first text message thread configured to display a text message transfer option selectable by a user of the first communication device; and
in response to an interaction by the user of the first communication device with the text message transfer option within the first text message thread, transfer the first communication device to communicate, via at least one text message, with a second application-linked phone line having a second phone number that is different from the phone number of the first application-linked phone line.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is further configured to assign one or more designations to the user of the first communication device to create a record of options selected by the user of the first communication device in response to one or more prompts presented to the user of the first communication device within the first text message thread.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is further configured to cause the application to generate a second text message thread that is separate from the first text message thread and that includes the first communication device and the second application-linked phone line but does not include the first application-linked phone line.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the computing device is further configured to permit an administrator of the application to at least one of: assign consent gathering bots, assign data gathering bots, provide self-service prompt options, set one or more notifications, and set data sharing that would accompany the transferring of the first communication device to communicate with the second application-linked phone line.
15 . The system of claim 13 wherein the computing device is further configured to cause the application to include, in the second text message thread, at least one of:
a thread history that displays at least a portion of the application-to-person text messages exchanged between the first communication device and the first application-linked phone line;
an interactive hyperlink which, when interacted with, causes the second text message thread to display at least a portion of the application-to-person text messages exchanged between the first communication device and the first application-linked phone line; and
an attached file which, when opened, causes the second text message thread to display at least a portion of the application-to-person text messages exchanged between the first communication device and the first application-linked phone line.
16 . The system of claim 13 wherein the computing device is further configured to cause the application to:
generate within the first text message thread a consents and permissions option which, when interacted with by the user of the first communication device, permits the user of the first communication device to select a level of consent of the user of the first communication device to receive at least one of conversational, informational and promotional text messages, or to indicate a level of consent to share personal information by the user of the first communication device; and
restrict at least some portions of the first text message thread from view within the second text message thread based on at least one of: permissions granted to users of the application-linked phone lines, settings defined by an administrator of the application, and privacy designations reflected by the level of consent of the user of the first communication device to share the personal information.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the computing device is further configured to cause the application to within the second text message a hyperlink which, when interacted with by a user of the second application-linked phone line, opens a secure web page to display, to the user of the second application-linked phone line, the portions of the first text message thread that are not displayed within the second text message thread.
18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
cause the application to generate, within the first text message thread, an informational message acknowledging a selection made by the user of the first communication device via the text message transfer option, wherein the informational text message notifies the user of the first communication device to expect a text message from the second application-linked phone line to which the first communication device is being transferred.
19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is further configured to cause the application to:
provide two or more application-linked phone lines each having an individual assigned phone number that is different from the first application-linked phone line with an option to claim a transfer of the first communication device from the first application-linked phone line; and
transfer the first communication device to the second text message thread to communicate via at least one text message with the application-linked phone line that was first to claim the transfer of the first communication device.
20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the computing device is further configured to cause the application to add the second application-linked phone line having the second phone number into the first text message thread or into a new group text message thread to permit the second application-linked phone line to communicate with the first communication device and with the first application-linked phone line within the first text message thread or the new group text message thread.