Push Delivery System for Roaming Content via SMS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing push delivery systems fail to provide location-based and up-to-date content to users when a packet network is unavailable, such as during roaming abroad, and cannot handle situations like store closures or changes in regular operating days, as they rely on internet connectivity and do not account for data roaming restrictions.
Innovation Solution
A push delivery system that uses a combination of SMS messages to deliver content through a telephone network, including a first message indicating which content to receive and a second, simplified message if the content is not acquired within a predetermined time, utilizing a content selecting part, SMS sending part, Web server, and display controller to manage content delivery and display on mobile terminals without relying on packet networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system uses packet network for content delivery, then up-to-date location-based content can be delivered, but the system cannot operate when packet network is unavailable (e.g., during roaming)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces SMS as an intermediary communication channel between the server and mobile terminal. When packet network is unavailable, the server sends content information via SMS, and the terminal retrieves content through circuit-switched data communication. This intermediary mechanism ensures content delivery reliability across different network environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between packet network and circuit-switched network based on availability. The terminal detects network status and adapts its content acquisition method: using packet network when available for efficient content delivery, and switching to SMS-based circuit-switched communication when packet network is unavailable, thus achieving network environment adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system stores content locally on mobile terminal beforehand, then content can be accessed without packet network, but the content cannot be updated when store information changes (e.g., store closure)
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads content information (such as store hours, location, and promotions) into the mobile terminal's content database during periods when packet network is available. This preliminary action enables offline access to content while the system periodically updates the database when connected, balancing offline accessibility with information freshness.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal periodically checks for content updates by communicating with the server when packet network becomes available. This feedback mechanism ensures that locally stored content is refreshed with updated information (such as store closure notices or changed operating hours), maintaining content freshness while preserving offline access capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system sends full content via SMS, then content can be delivered without packet network, but the message size exceeds SMS capacity and increases transmission time
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments content delivery into two phases: first, sending a compact SMS message containing content identification information (content ID, title, and retrieval instructions); second, the terminal autonomously retrieves the actual content data through circuit-switched data communication. This segmentation reduces SMS message size to fit within capacity limits while minimizing transmission time, achieving packet network independence without excessive delays.
4Productivity
If the system waits for terminal to request content, then packet network can be used efficiently, but no content can be delivered when terminal cannot connect to packet network
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of waiting for the terminal to request content (client-initiated model), the server actively pushes content information to the terminal via SMS when the terminal is in roaming mode or packet network is unavailable (server-initiated model). This inversion ensures content delivery availability by proactively reaching the terminal through the more reliable SMS channel, while maintaining efficiency by only pushing when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
A push delivery apparatus according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a portion for sending information indicating which of contents kept in the delivery apparatus is to be received by a mobile terminal through a packet network to the mobile terminal in a first text message through a telephone network and for delivering a second text message which is a simplified version of the content to the mobile terminal through the telephone network if the mobile terminal does not acquire the content to be received by the mobile terminal within a predetermined period of time after sending the first text message.