Method and system for combining text and voice messages in a communications dialogue
View Patent ↗This publication discloses a method and system for delivering messages in a telecommunications network ( 1, 2, 6, 11, 12 ). In the method a voice-message call attempt is received ( 43 ), or a connection is formed to a potential user of a service, on the basis of a voice-message call attempt. According to the invention, as a response to the voice-message connection formed or to the call attempt, to the second part ( 41 ) of the connection is sent a text-form message, which initiates a long, logically continuous, temporally discontinuous session N, in such a way that the sender address (e.g., the A number) is converted to correspond to the session number N and the session stage J at the time, and in the message there is at least one selection query.
1. A method for sending messages in a telecommunications network, the method comprising:
receiving a voice-message call from a potential user of a service, or forming a connection to a potential user of a service, on the basis of a voice-message call attempt;
sending, in the telecommunications network, a text-form message to the potential user of the service as a response to the formed connection or voice-message, the text-form message relating to a current message session and to a current stage of the message session, wherein the current message session is logically continuous, temporally discontinuous, and has a number of stages;
wherein the sending comprises altering a sender address of the text-form message, wherein the altered sender address is determined based on a combination of the current session and the current stage of the current session; and
including at least one selection query in each message in the session.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the altered sender address is in an address format that enables roaming across inter-operator boundaries.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the altered sender address comprises an Internet Protocol Address.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sending comprises utilizing a message bulk-delivery system within the telecommunications network.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the text-form message comprises a Short Message Service [“SMS”] message.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the text-form message comprises a Multimedia Message Service [“MMS”] message.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the text-form message comprises an e-mail message.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selection query relates to purchasing of a service subject to payment.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the service subject to payment comprises a service delivered via the telecommunications network.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the service subject to payment comprises a service delivered externally to the telecommunications network.
11. An apparatus comprising:
a network server system for sending messages in a telecommunications network;
wherein the network server system comprises a memory system for storing program instructions and data, and processor system for executing the program instructions;
wherein the program instructions comprise:
a first logic routine for receiving a voice-message call from a potential user of a service, or forming a connection to a potential user of a service, on the basis of a voice-message call attempt;
a second logic routine for sending, in the telecommunications network, a text-form message to the potential user of the service as a response to the formed connection or voice-message, the text-form message relating to a current message session and to a current stage of the message session, wherein the current message session is logically continuous, temporally discontinuous, and has a number of stages;
a third logic routine for altering a sender address of the text-form message, wherein the altered sender address is determined based on a combination of the current session and the current stage of the current session; and
a fourth logic routine for including at least one selection query in each message in the session.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the altered sender address is in an address format that enables roaming across inter-operator boundaries.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the altered sender address comprises an Internet Protocol Address.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the sending comprises utilizing a message bulk-delivery system within the telecommunications network.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the text-form message comprises a Short Message Service [“SMS”] message.
16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the text-form message comprises a Multimedia Message Service [“MMS”] message.
17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the text-form message comprises an e-mail message.
18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the selection query relates to purchasing of a service subject to payment.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the service subject to payment comprises a service delivered via the telecommunications network.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the service subject to payment comprises a service delivered externally to the telecommunications network.