Reusable Stream Model for SMS User Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current SMS implementations are limited in functionality due to complex command line syntax requirements and the stateless nature of SMS, which complicates user interaction with interactive systems and results in issues with message delivery and tracking context.
Innovation Solution
A reusable stream model is introduced, utilizing an SMS front-end server that manages a sequence of phone numbers to assign and manage user sessions, allowing for complex interactions by changing phone number statuses (free, busy, stale) to handle multiple user sessions and ensure message delivery, while converting SMS messages to compatible formats for interactive systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single phone number is used for SMS communication, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot support multiple user sessions in parallel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single phone number resource into multiple virtual phone numbers, each capable of handling independent user sessions. This allows the system to support multiple concurrent users while maintaining the simplicity of SMS-based communication. Each virtual number acts as an isolated channel that can be independently managed and tracked.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal phone number pool that serves multiple functions simultaneously - each number can be assigned to different user sessions dynamically. The same pool of numbers handles various interactive systems, user contexts, and message streams, making the system versatile without requiring dedicated numbers for each function.
2Reliability
If phone numbers are continuously assigned to user sessions, then message delivery tracking is improved, but the system cannot efficiently reuse numbers for new sessions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by establishing a structured phone number pool with predefined status states (free, busy, stale) before sessions begin. This pre-organization allows the system to quickly determine number availability and transition numbers between states without delay, ensuring both reliable tracking and efficient reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the phone number assignment dynamic by allowing numbers to transition between different states (free ↔ busy ↔ stale) based on session activity. Numbers that become inactive after a period are automatically marked as stale and then returned to the free pool, enabling continuous adaptation and efficient resource turnover without compromising tracking reliability.
3Measurement precision
If the system monitors phone number activity continuously, then session management accuracy is improved, but the computational overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring by checking phone number activity at defined intervals rather than continuously. The system monitors for inactivity over a specified period, then transitions numbers to stale status. This periodic approach maintains sufficient session management accuracy while significantly reducing computational overhead compared to continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
Configurations providing a reusable stream model for a user interface over SMS for interacting with one or more interactive systems in a parallel manner are described. An SMS server can implement the reusable stream model in which an available number from a sequence of numbers (e.g., a block of numbers) is assigned to a user session upon receiving an SMS message to initiate the user session from a communication device. The user session corresponds with a message stream for the interactive system. In one aspect, the SMS server places each number from the sequence of numbers in a respective status to indicate whether the number is currently assigned to a user session. When a subsequent SMS message is received that requests to initiate an additional user session for another interactive system, the SMS can assign the next available number from the sequence to the additional user session.