Patents by Inventor Ali Barekat

Ali Barekat has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8195509
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for enabling 2-way mobile interactions between merchants and consumers using text messaging (short message service (SMS) messaging). The system supports an SMS text keyword (or keywords) per merchant, which consumers can text to an SMS short code expressing a particular intent. The merchant's account on the system can then respond with specific information back to consumers depending on rules defined on the system for each word or sequence of words being sent in the SMS message. Consumers can be sent subscription text messages based on the intent of the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventors: Pankaj Mhatre, Ali Barekat
  • Patent number: 8112309
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for providing rewards to consumers using short message service (SMS). The system receives a text message from a consumer containing a reward keyword and a reward code and determines whether the message is a qualifying message. After receiving a certain number of qualifying messages, the system sends a reward message to the consumer enabling the consumer to receive a reward. Rewards can be based on customer referrals or merchant loyalty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventors: Pankaj Mhatre, Ali Barekat
  • Patent number: 8108252
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for aggregating demand for a merchant using short message service (SMS). The system receives a text message from a consumer containing a merchant code and a request for a discount, the merchant code being associated with a merchant. The system determines whether the merchant has an available discount. If a discount is available, information about the discount is sent to the consumer. If a discount is not available, a text message is sent to the consumer indicating a level of demand for discounts from the merchant, the text message to be shown to the merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventors: Pankaj Mhatre, Ali Barekat