Http trigger for out-of-protocol action

Abstract

A hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request is used to actuate a secondary communications protocol (e.g., Short Message Service). A server receiving the request may be configured to take actions not specified by the URL associated with the request in response to the characters encoded in the request, such as accessing a secondary communications protocol. The server parses the request to identify action codes and/or content in the request itself, and takes action based on the code or content value. A token code representing a value or fixed number of uses may be utilized in connection with the techniques disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, implemented on a computer, comprising:
 receiving, by a computer at a network address, a request comprising a resource locator encoded according a communication protocol and an out-of-protocol action definition encoded together with the resource locator in the request; and   performing an out-of-protocol action based on the out-of-protocol action definition, using an electrical component coupled to the computer, wherein the out-of-protocol action is not a resource defined by the communication protocol.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request comprises a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and the communication protocol comprises hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing the out-of-protocol action comprises debiting a payment account defined at least in part by the out-of-protocol action definition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing the out-of-protocol action comprises transferring funds to one of an online store, a vending machine, a parking meter, and a cellular phone account. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing the out-of-protocol action comprises sending a text message via a Short Messaging Service (SMS) communications protocol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , sending the text message comprises identifying a recipient address for the text message based on the out-of-protocol action definition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 appending the text message with advertising; and   applying a credit to an account.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the out-of-protocol action definition represents at least one of a fixed number of uses and a value in a payment account. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the out-of-protocol action definition is configured for a single use. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a confirmation message to a designated address reporting completion of the out-of-protocol action. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium, holding encoded instructions that when executed by a processor, cause a computer to perform:
 receiving a request comprising a resource locator encoded according a communication protocol and an out-of-protocol action definition encoded together with the resource locator in the request; and   performing an out-of-protocol action based on the out-of-protocol action definition, wherein the out-of-protocol action is not a resource defined by the communication protocol.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions specify that the request comprises a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and the communication protocol comprises hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) protocol. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions specify that performing the out-of-protocol action comprises debiting a payment account defined at least in part by the out-of-protocol action definition. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions specify that performing the out-of-protocol action comprises transferring funds to one of an online store, a vending machine, a parking meter, and a cellular phone account. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions specify that performing the out-of-protocol action comprises sending a text message via a Short Messaging Service (SMS) communications protocol. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions specify that sending the text message comprises identifying a recipient address for the text message based on the out-of-protocol action definition. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further specify appending the text message with advertising, and applying a credit to an account. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions specify that the out-of-protocol action definition represents at least one of a fixed number of uses and a value in a payment account. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions specify that the out-of-protocol action definition is configured for a single use. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions further specify transmitting a message to a designated address reporting completion of the out-of-protocol action. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the memory holding encoded instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform:
 receiving a request comprising a resource locator encoded according a communication protocol and an out-of-protocol action definition encoded together with the resource locator in the request; and   performing an out-of-protocol action based on the out-of-protocol action definition, wherein the out-of-protocol action is not a resource defined by the communication protocol.