SMS Broadcast Reply Mechanism for Network Congestion Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional SMS cell broadcast in mobile devices lacks efficient two-way communication capabilities, leading to network congestion and unnecessary message delivery to all devices within a cell, as it does not allow for selective replies to broadcast messages.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a service identification field and a reply field within the SMS Cell Broadcast message structure to enable devices to identify and respond to broadcast messages by embedding a reply-to address, allowing users to send targeted replies through a communication system that includes a message queue, SMS engine, user interface, and broadcast message engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If point-to-point SMS messaging is used to send promotional offers to subscribed users, then users can easily reply to messages with embedded origination addresses, but network resources are inefficiently used generating more traffic and congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reply handling process by introducing a broadcast message service that separates the promotional message distribution from individual reply handling. Multiple users can subscribe to receive the same broadcast message, and replies are collected through a centralized broadcast service rather than individual point-to-point channels, thus reducing network traffic while maintaining ease of reply through the embedded origination address.
2Productivity
If SMS cell broadcast service is used to propagate information to multiple users in a specified area, then network bandwidth is efficiently utilized, but all mobile devices within the cell receive the message regardless of user preference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where users can indicate their subscription preferences for broadcast messages. The system collects and processes user responses to determine which users wish to receive specific broadcast messages, enabling selective delivery while maintaining the efficiency of broadcast service. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt message distribution to user preferences.
Solution Approach 2:
The broadcast message service is designed to handle multiple functions: distributing promotional messages efficiently to multiple users simultaneously, collecting user preferences and subscriptions, managing reply routing, and providing both broadcast and point-to-point communication capabilities through a unified service framework.
3Productivity
If conventional SMS cell broadcast is used for one-to-many geographic-focused service, then messages can be communicated to multiple mobile phone customers in a given area, but two-way communication capabilities are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a broadcast message service as an intermediary between the network and mobile devices that enables two-way communication. This service acts as a mediator that not only distributes broadcast messages efficiently to multiple users but also collects and routes replies from users back to the originating system, thus enabling bidirectional communication while preserving the efficiency of broadcast message distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes receiving a broadcast message at a receiver device. The message includes identification information identifying a message-type associated with the message, reply-to information, and user information. The method further includes determining the received message is a broadcast message based on the message-type of the message and determining the message includes the reply-to information describing a reply-to address. The method additionally includes passing the user information contained within the message to a user interface when the message is a broadcast message including reply-to information and receiving an instruction from the user interface. The instruction is based on the user information and user input responsive to the user information. The method further includes producing and sending a reply message addressed to the reply-to address responsive to the instruction.