Interactive messaging system

Abstract

The interactive messaging system of the present invention provides for an interactive communication process between users, both senders and recipients. The sender composes a message by filling in a template stored in data services. Once completed, the sender pushes the message to a recipient's wireless device if the wireless device contains a WAP browser, which is capable of receiving pushed messages. Typically the message includes a question along with answers for the recipient to choose from. Each answer corresponds with a pre-assigned response key and the recipient answers the question by selecting one of the pre-assigned response keys. The recipient's response is available to the sender in the form of an e-mail, WAP Push, on-line access or interactive message that is shown to the sender on an on-line status screen.

1 . A method of using interactive messaging to send interactive messages to a user's wireless device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 sending an interactive message to a user's wireless device informing the user of at least one opportunity that the user can participate in;    requesting a response for participating in the at least one opportunity by the user selecting a pre-assigned message key;    sending an alert invitation to the user requesting instructions on whether to purchase the at least one opportunity; and    deciding whether to purchase the at least one opportunity by selecting a pre-assigned message key from the screen pushed to the user's wireless device.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opportunity is selected from the group comprising a ringtone, a wallpaper, application, survey and hardware device.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive message is sent to the user using any enabling push technology.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of requesting the user enter personal information if the user agrees to participate in the at least one opportunity.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one opportunity pushed to the user's wireless device is determined by the user's personal information.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one opportunity pushed to the user's wireless device is determined by priorities determined by a dashboard user.  
   
   
       7 . A method of customizing an alert invitation to send interactive messages to a user's wireless device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 sending an interactive message to a user's wireless device informing the user of at least one opportunity that the user can participate in;    entering information into the interactive message to define characteristics of the user;    creating a set of criteria from information the user has entered into the interactive message; and    sending the alert invitation to the user based upon the set criteria.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the information comprises, the user's age range, the users, sex, the user's type of wireless device and the frequency the user would like to receive the alert message.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the alert invitation is selecting from the group comprising an invitation to purchase a ringtone, an invitation to purchase a wallpaper, an invitation to purchase an application, an invitation to purchase a hardware device and an invitation to participate in a survey.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user receives compensation for participating in the survey.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the compensation is selected from the group consisting of money off a bill, free minutes, free products and free features.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the interactive message is sent to the user using any enabling push technology.  
   
   
       13 . A dashboard user creating an invitation based alert system, the method comprising the steps of; 
 defining a group of dashboard users;    defining a security role for each of the set of dashboard users;    creating a profile for at least one user;    using the profile of the at least one user to determine when to send an alert invitation to the at least one user.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the group of dashboard users comprises a carrier, a provider, a publisher and an agreggator.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the group of dashboard users creates a 3 rd  party survey to obtain users opinion of specific questions.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the users receive compensation for participating in the 3 rd  party survey.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the compensation is selected from the group consisting of money off a bill, free minutes, free products and free features.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the alert invitation is sent to the user using any enabling push technology.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the profile of the at least one user a carrier survey opt-in invitation comprises, the user's age range, the user's sex, the user's wireless device, which alert invitations the user would like to receive and the frequency in which the user would like to receive the alert invitations.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the alert invitations are selected from the group consisting of an invitation to purchase a ringtone, an invitation to purchase a wallpaper, an invitation to purchase an application, an invitation to purchase a hardware device and an invitation to participate in a 3 rd  party survey.