Methods for user-interface over SMS messages based on a reusable context model

摘要

Configurations providing a reusable context model for a user interface over SMS for interacting with different levels of a user interface (UI) within an interactive system are described. An SMS server can implement the reusable context model in which an available number from a sequence of numbers (e.g., a block of numbers) is assigned to a first level of the UI. The first level of the UI can include a set of options corresponding to different operations within the interactive system. When an SMS message, which includes a selected option from the set of options from the first level of the UI, is received over the assigned number, the SMS server can determine whether to assign an additional number from the sequence of phone numbers for responding to the received SMS message. The additional assigned number can correspond with a second level of the UI within the interactive system.

主权项

1. A machine-implemented method comprising:
receiving, by a Short Message Service (SMS) server and from a communication device, an initial SMS message to initiate a user session between the communication device and the SMS server; assigning, by the SMS server, a first phone number to the user session, wherein the first phone number is associated with a first menu level of a multi-level user interface (UI) of an interactive system, and wherein the first menu level includes a first set of options; transmitting, from the SMS server and to the communication device, the first set of options from the first menu level of the multi-level UI, wherein the SMS server transmits the first set of options using the first phone number; receiving, by the SMS server and from the communication device, a first SMS message that includes a selected option from the first set of options from the first menu level of the multi-level UI, wherein the first SMS message is sent by the communication device to the first phone number; assigning, by the SMS server, a second phone number to the user session, wherein the second phone number is different than the first phone number, wherein the second phone number is associated with a second menu level of the multi-level UI of the interactive system, and wherein the second menu level is different than the first menu level; and transmitting, from the SMS server and to the communication device, a second SMS message for responding to the first SMS message, wherein the second SMS message includes a response from the interactive system based on the selected option from the first SMS message, and wherein the SMS server transmits the second SMS message using the second phone number.