Mixed-mode interaction

Abstract

A user of a wireless device, such as a mobile phone, can make purchases or obtain information via a network, such as the Internet, using both voice and non-verbal methods. Users can submit voice queries and receive non-verbal replies, submit non-verbal queries and receive voice replies, or perform similar operations that marry the voice and data capabilities of modern mobile communication devices. The user may provide notification criteria indicating under what conditions a notification should be sent to the user's wireless device. When purchasing opportunities matching the selected notification criteria become available, the user is notified. The user can respond to the notification, and immediately take advantage of the purchasing opportunity if he so desires. Mixed-mode interactions can also be used by sellers to more advantageously control the marketing of distressed, time sensitive, or other merchandise/services.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A system comprising a server configurable to: 
 receive input from a wireless communication device, said input including purchase notification criteria which is not price-related, and which includes a location of a user of said device;    retrieve purchase opportunity information associated with said input, based at least in part on said purchase notification criteria; and    deliver, to said wireless communication device, a response to said input, said response based on said retrieved information.    
   
   
       9 . The system as in  claim 8 , further including a Wireless Applications Protocol gateway, said server configurable to deliver said response via said Wireless Applications Protocol gateway.  
   
   
       10 . The system as in  claim 8 , further including a Short Messaging Service gateway, said server configurable to deliver said response via said Short Messaging Service gateway.  
   
   
       11 . The system as in  claim 8 , further including a Simple Mail Transport Protocol gateway, said server configurable to deliver said response via said Simple Mail Transport Protocol gateway.  
   
   
       12 . The system as in  claim 8 , wherein said response includes said retrieved information.  
   
   
       13 . The system as in  claim 8 , wherein said response includes a Uniform Resource Locator.  
   
   
       14 . The system as in  claim 8 , wherein said response includes a Handheld Device Markup Language link.  
   
   
       15 . A method comprising: 
 obtaining, from a wireless communication device user, purchase notification criteria;    obtaining information associated with purchasing opportunities;    selecting purchasing opportunities based, at least in part, on the purchase notification criteria;    notifying the user of selected purchasing opportunities via a wireless communication device;    receiving spoken input from the wireless communication device in response to the notification; and    delivering, to the user's wireless communication device, a non-verbal response to the spoken input.    
   
   
       16 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the step of delivering includes using a Wireless Markup Language to deliver the non-verbal response.  
   
   
       17 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the step of delivering includes using a Short Messaging Service message to deliver the non-verbal response.  
   
   
       18 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the step of delivering includes using Simple Mail Transport Protocol to deliver the non-verbal response.  
   
   
       19 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the non-verbal response includes information associated with the selected purchasing opportunities.  
   
   
       20 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the non-verbal response includes a Uniform Resource Locator.  
   
   
       21 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the non-verbal response includes a Handheld Device Markup Language link.  
   
   
       22 - 28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . A method comprising: 
 obtaining, from a wireless communication device user, purchase notification criteria;    obtaining information associated with purchasing opportunities;    selecting purchasing opportunities based, at least in part, on the purchase notification criteria;    notifying the user of selected purchasing opportunities via a wireless communication device;    receiving non-verbal input from the wireless communication device in response to the notification; and    delivering, to the user's wireless communication device, a verbal response to the spoken input.    
   
   
       30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . A computer-implemented method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving input from a wireless communication device, said input including purchase notification criteria which is not price-related, and which includes a location of a user of said device;    retrieving purchase opportunity information associated with said input, based at least in part on said purchase notification criteria; and    delivering, to said wireless communication device, a response to said input, said response based on said retrieved information.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , further including a Wireless Applications Protocol gateway, said server configurable to deliver said response via said Wireless Applications Protocol gateway.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , further including a Short Messaging Service gateway, said server configurable to deliver said response via said Short Messaging Service gateway.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , further including a Simple Mail Transport Protocol gateway, said server configurable to deliver said response via said Simple Mail Transport Protocol gateway.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said response includes said retrieved information.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said response includes a Uniform Resource Locator.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said response includes a Handheld Device Markup Language link.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31 , further including the step of receiving input to initiate a purchase transaction.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 31 , further including the step of receiving input to initiate a reservation for a product or service.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said server is further configurable to receive input to initiate a purchase transaction.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said server is further configurable to receive input to initiate a reservation for a product or service.