System for routing text messages (SMS) to allow for two-way mobile to computer communication

Abstract

A process and system allowing mobile users to initiate a two-way text message (SMS) conversation with a subscriber's computer. The steps consist of using a mobile user's mobile device to send a SMS containing a keyword and short code to a Short Message Service Center (SMSC), receiving an SMS reply containing an Individual Identification Code Numbers (IICN) which establishes two-way SMS communication between mobile user and business/subscriber. The invention further establishes IICN network which allows businesses to create-a SMS network, previously only available with voice phone networks, providing the Mobile User with the options of auto SMS replay, SMS conversation transfer, or interactive two-way SMS communication with a live SMS operator.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of initiating a two-way communication between a mobile device and a subscriber computer, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the subscriber computer, a message from a Short Message Service Center (SMSC), the message comprising a keyword, a short code, and information associated with the mobile device;
 wherein the keyword and short code are received by the SMSC before the subscriber computer; 
 wherein the message is sent to the subscriber computer by the SMSC in response to the received keyword and short code; and 
 
 establishing a two-way conversation between the mobile device and the subscriber computer in response to receiving the message, the two-way conversation excluding the SMSC. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the text message is received using a multimedia messaging service (MMS). 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the text message comprises any media content supported by the MMS. 
     
     
       4. A method of initiating a two-way communication between a mobile device and a subscriber computer associated with a subscriber, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the subscriber computer, a message from a Short Message Service Center (SMSC), the message comprising a keyword, a code having a defined length of characters, and information associated with the mobile device;
 wherein the keyword and code are received by the SMSC before the subscriber computer; 
 wherein the message is sent to the subscriber computer by the SMSC in response to the received keyword and code; and 
   establishing a two-way conversation between the mobile device and the subscriber computer in response to receiving the message, the two-way conversation excluding the SMSC.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4, wherein the message is received using a multimedia messaging service (MMS). 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 4, wherein the message comprises any media content supported by the MMS. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 4, wherein the code is a short code. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7, wherein the short code has a length of 4 to 6 characters. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 4, wherein the keyword comprises a predefined string of characters and is associated with the subscriber. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9, wherein the message is scanned for the keyword by the SMSC, and the message is directed to the subscriber computer when the keyword is detected by the SMSC. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10, wherein the code is a short code. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11, wherein the short code has a length of 4 to 6 characters.