# US 7,613,449 B2 · Messaging system for managing communications resources > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,613,449 B2 - Document ID: US7613449B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/075,856 - Filed: 2008-03-14 - Published: 2008-12-25 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-25 - Assignees: CVON Innovations Limited - Inventors: Timo Romppanen; Ismo Antikainen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613449B2 ## CPC - H04W 4/12: Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements - H04L 12/14: Charging, metering or billing arrangements specially adapted for data communications, e.g. authentication, authorisation and accounting [AAA] framework - H04M 15/08: Metering calls to called party {, i.e. B-party charged for the communication} - H04M 2215/62: Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900 - H04W 76/10: Connection setup - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Embodiments of the present invention relate to a messaging system for managing communications resources and are particularly suitable for providing a means for subscribers of a telecommunications network to continue participating in a communications service that would otherwise be ended due to the calling party having a low or zero balance. Embodiments of the invention are generally applicable to users of a mobile network. Embodiments of the invention provide a messaging system for use by the telecommunications network to transmit a message to a remote party, where the remote party is identified by means of a telephone calling identifier associated with a call setup request for a telecommunications session received from a user of the telecommunications network. The messaging system comprises a storage system for storing data providing a predetermined definition of message content to be sent to the remote party. In response to trigger event such as determining that the account balance available for said user participating in the requested communications session is below a predetermined threshold, the messaging system is arranged to initiate the transmission of a message to said remote party. The transmitted message contains message content that is defined at least in part by said definition of message content and can comprise a “call me message”. This thereby ensures that a “call me” message reaches the remote party. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A messaging system for use in a telecommunications network, said messaging system being for use by the telecommunications network to transmit a message to a remote device of a second user of the telecommunications network, the remote device of the second user being identified by means of a telephone calling identifier associated with a call setup request for a call session received from a device of a first user of the telecommunications network, said messaging system comprising: a storage system for storing data providing a predetermined definition of message content to be sent to a remote device of the second user of the telecommunications network; means for, in response to occurrence of a trigger event received during said call session, requesting authorization from the first user for transmission of a message to said remote device of the second user, when authorization is provided from a device of the first user for transmission of a message to the second user, invoking transmission of a message to said remote device of the second user after the call set-up request in view of authorization provided by a device of the first user during the call session, said transmitted message containing message content defined at least in part by said definition of message, wherein said trigger event comprises determining that an account balance available for said device of the first user participating in the requested call session is below a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the storage system is further arranged to store data providing a predetermined definition of message associated information to be provided to said device of the first user, and the messaging system is arranged to transmit message associated information to a device associated with the device of the first user, said message associated information including notification of the remote device of the second user to whom the message is transmitted in response to said trigger event. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A messaging system according to claim 2, wherein the trigger event further comprises receiving a response message from the device of the first user in response to receipt of the message associated information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A messaging system according to claim 3, wherein the means for initiating transmission of the message to the remote device of the second user is arranged to identify a message body from said response message received from the device of the first user, the message transmitted to said remote device of the second user further containing said message body received from the device of the first user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined definition of message content to be sent to the remote device of the second user includes content specified by an information provider. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) A messaging system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined definition of message content to be sent to the remote device of the second user includes content specified by an information provider. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A messaging system according to claim 5, wherein use of network resources in respect of a subsequently received request for call set up from the remote device of the second user to the device of the first user are offset by resources allocated to the information provider. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A messaging system according to claim 7, wherein use of network resources for transmission of said message to said remote device of the second user and/or said message associated information to the device of the first user are offset by resources allocated to the information provider. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) A messaging system according to claim 5, wherein use of network resources for transmission of said message to said remote device of the second user and/or said message associated information to the device of the first user are offset by resources allocated to the information provider. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A messaging system according to claim 1, the telecommunications network including an interactive voice recognition device arranged to receive speech input from the device of the first user, whereby to provide said predetermined definition of message content to be sent to the remote device of the second user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A messaging system according to claim 10, wherein the interactive voice recognition device is arranged to analyse said speech input against a predetermined size of message content and to notify the device of the first user in the event that the received speech input exceeds the predetermined size of message content. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A messaging system according to claim 11, wherein the interactive voice recognition device is responsive to a modification instruction received from the device of the first user so as to modify the received speech input with speech input subsequently specified by the user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A messaging system according to claim 11, wherein the interactive voice recognition device is responsive to a cancellation instruction received from the device of the first user so as to replace the received speech input with speech input subsequently specified by the device of the first user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A messaging system according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined definition of message content is stored in association with user records corresponding to said device of the first user and with said telephone calling identifier corresponding to a given remote device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) A messaging system according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined definition of message content is stored in association with user records corresponding to said device of the first user and with said telephone calling identifier corresponding to a given remote device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 5) A messaging system according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined definition of message content is stored in association with user records corresponding to said device of the first user and with said telephone calling identifier corresponding to a given remote device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A messaging system according to claim 1, including means arranged to invoke termination of the telecommunications session in response to the trigger event. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) A messaging system according to claim 2, including means arranged to invoke termination of the telecommunications session in response to the trigger event. ### Claim 19 (depends on 5) A messaging system according to claim 5, including means arranged to invoke termination of the telecommunications session in response to the trigger event. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) A messaging system according to claim 14, including means arranged to invoke termination of the telecommunications session in response to the trigger event. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) A messaging system according to claim 17, wherein the user records include data indicative of a rate to be applied in respect of a given requested telecommunications session, and the means for invoking termination of the telecommunications session is arranged to perform an evaluation process comprising evaluating the account balance for said device of the first user in relation to a predetermined amount of call time and said rate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A messaging system according to claim 21, wherein the means for invoking termination of the telecommunications session is arranged to perform said evaluation process during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A messaging system according to claim 1, including a user records storage system arranged to store user records including data indicative of said account balance associated with said device of the first user. ### Claim 24 (depends on 2) A messaging system according to claim 2, including a user records storage system arranged to store user records including data indicative of said account balance associated with said device of the first user. ### Claim 25 (depends on 5) A messaging system according to claim 5, including a user records storage system arranged to store user records including data indicative of said account balance associated with said device of the first user. ### Claim 26 (depends on 10) A messaging system according to claim 10, including a user records storage system arranged to store user records including data indicative of said account balance associated with said device of the first user. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) A messaging system according to claim 14, including a user records storage system arranged to store user records including data indicative of said account balance associated with said device of the first user. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) A messaging system according to claim 17, including a user records storage system arranged to store user records including data indicative of said account balance associated with said device of the first user. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) A messaging system according to claim 23, wherein the user records are stored independently of said data providing a predetermined definition of message content to be sent to a remote device. ### Claim 30 A method of controlling transmission of messages in respect of a call session involving a device of the first user of a communications network and a remote device of a second user, the remote device of the second user being identified by means of a telephone calling identifier associated with a call setup request for the call session received from the device of the first user of the telecommunications network, the telecommunications network comprising a storage system for storing data providing a predetermined definition of message content to be sent to a remote device of the second user, said method comprising: monitoring, during a call session, an account balance available for said device of the first user participating in the requested call session against a predetermined threshold; and when the available account balance is determined to be below the predetermined threshold, requesting authorization from the first user for transmission of a message to said remote device of the second user, when authorization is provided from a device of the first user for transmission of a message to the second user, initiating transmission of a message to said remote device of the second user after the call set-up request in view of authorization provided by the device of the first user, said transmitted message containing message content defined at least in part by said definition of message content. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A method according to claim 30, further including transmitting message associated information to a device associated with the device of the first user, said message associated information including notification of the remote device to whom the, message is transmitted in response to said available account balance being determined to be below the predetermined threshold. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A method according to claim 31, comprising: receiving a message from the device of the first user; identifying a message body from said response from the device of the first user; and on the basis of said definition of message content, creating a message comprising said message body, whereby to create said message for transmission to the remote device of the second user. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) A method according to claim 30, comprising: receiving a message from the device of the first user; identifying a message body from said response from the device of the first user; and on the basis of said definition of message content, creating a message comprising said message body, whereby to create said message for transmission to the remote device of the second user. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A method according to claim 33, in which the communications network stores user records comprising data identifying an information provider, the method further comprising offsetting use of network resources in respect of a subsequently received request for call set up from the remote device to the device of the first user by resources allocated to the information provider. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) A method according to claim 32, in which the communications network stores user records comprising data identifying an information provider, the method further comprising offsetting use of network resources in respect of a subsequently received request for call set up from the remote device to the device of the first user by resources allocated to the information provider. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A method according to claim 35, the method further comprising offsetting transmission of said message to said remote device of the second user and/or said message associated information to the device of the first user by resources allocated to the information provider. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) A method according to claim 34, the method further comprising offsetting transmission of said message to said remote device of the second user and/or said message associated information to the device of the first user by resources allocated to the information provider. ### Claim 38 (depends on 30) A method according to claim 30, in which the method is performed in relation to a predetermined amount of call time and a rate for the telecommunications session. ### Claim 39 (depends on 31) A method according to claim 31, in which the method is performed in relation to a predetermined amount of call time and a rate for the telecommunications session. ### Claim 40 (depends on 30) A method according to claim 30, further including terminating the telecommunications session. ### Claim 41 (depends on 31) A method according to claim 31, further including terminating the telecommunications session. ### Claim 42 (depends on 32) A method according to claim 32, further including terminating the telecommunications session. ### Claim 43 (depends on 33) A method according to claim 33, further including terminating the telecommunications session. ### Claim 44 (depends on 30) A method according to claim 30, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 45 (depends on 31) A method according to claim 31, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 46 (depends on 32) A method according to claim 32, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 47 (depends on 33) A method according to claim 33, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 48 (depends on 34) A method according to claim 34, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 49 (depends on 35) A method according to claim 35, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 50 (depends on 36) A method according to claim 36, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 51 (depends on 37) A method according to claim 37, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 52 (depends on 38) A method according to claim 38, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 53 (depends on 39) A method according to claim 39, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 54 (depends on 40) A method according to claim 40, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 55 (depends on 41) A method according to claim 41, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 56 (depends on 42) A method according to claim 42, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 57 (depends on 43) A method according to claim 43, including performing said monitoring of said account balance during set up of said telecommunications session requested by the device of the first user. ### Claim 58 (depends on 30) A method according to claim 30, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 59 (depends on 31) A method according to claim 31, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 60 (depends on 32) A method according to claim 32, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 61 (depends on 33) A method according to claim 33, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 62 (depends on 34) A method according to claim 34, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 63 (depends on 35) A method according to claim 35, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 64 (depends on 36) A method according to claim 36, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 65 (depends on 37) A method according to claim 37, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 66 (depends on 38) A method according to claim 38, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 67 (depends on 39) A method according to claim 39, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 68 (depends on 40) A method according to claim 40, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 69 (depends on 41) A method according to claim 41, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 70 (depends on 42) A method according to claim 42, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session. ### Claim 71 (depends on 43) A method according to claim 43, including performing the monitoring of said account balance during said telecommunications session.