Method and system for routing SMS messages

• US 20020116524A1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sherman, Roman, Anson, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,433,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/240
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method and system for routing messages received by a device is described. The router routes messages to applications associated with a provider that recognizes an incoming message type. Providers register with the router to receive messages of a particular type. The providers are prioritized so that the router delivers messages to the providers based on the assigned priority. The router inquires with the providers in their relative assigned priority. The router stops inquiring the providers once an appropriate provider for the message has been found. If the message does not belong to the provider then the next provider is queried. Before delivering the message to the application, the provider formats the message to the specifications provided by the application.

Claims

1. A method for routing messages for a device, comprising:

(a) receiving a message;

(b) associating the message with a provider; and

(c) informing an application associated with the provider that the message is waiting.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) waiting for the application to request the message;

(b) formatting the message to the requirements of the application; and

(c) delivering the message to the application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein associating the message with a provider, further comprises:

(a) providing the message to a provider based on a priority level; and

(b) determining if the prioritized provider is associated with the message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the provider has a unique priority level.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining if the prioritized provider is associated with the message, further comprises:

(a) receiving a response from the prioritized provider indicating if the prioritized provider is associated with the message; and

(b) associating the message with the prioritized provider if the received response indicates that the prioritized provider is associated with the message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein associating the message with the prioritized provider if the received response indicates that the prioritized provider is associated with the message, further comprises storing the message in a location associated with the prioritized provider.

7. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for routing messages, comprising:

(a) receiving a message;

(b) associating the message with a provider from a list of providers; and

(c) informing an application associated with the provider that the message is waiting.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising:

(a) waiting for the application to request the message;

(b) formatting the message to the requirements of the application; and

(c) delivering the message to the application.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein formatting the message to the requirements of the application further comprises:

(a) providing access to the message to the provider associated with the requesting application; and

(b) the provider associated with the requesting application formatting the message to the requirements of the application.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein associating the message with a provider, further comprises:

(a) prioritizing the set of providers based on a priority level; and

(b) providing access to the message to each of the prioritized providers in order of priority until the message has been associated.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein each of the set of providers has a unique priority level.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein providing access to the message to each of the prioritized providers in order of priority until the message has been associated, further comprises:

(a) receiving a response from the highest level prioritized provider indicating if the prioritized provider is associated with the message; and

(b) associating the message with the highest level prioritized provider if the received response indicates that the prioritized provider is associated with the message.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein associating the message with the prioritized provider if the received response indicates that the prioritized provider is associated with the message, further comprises storing the message in a location associated with the prioritized provider.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

(a) waiting for the application to request the message; and

(b) formatting the message for the application.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein associating the message with a provider, further comprises:

(a) providing the message to a provider based on a priority level; and

(b) determining if the prioritized provider is associated with the message.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein determining if the prioritized provider is associated with the message, further comprises:

(a) receiving a response from the prioritized provider indicating if the prioritized provider is associated with the message; and

(b) associating the message with the prioritized provider if the received response indicates that the prioritized provider is associated with the message.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein associating the message with the prioritized provider if the received response indicates that the prioritized provider is associated with the message, further comprises storing the message in a location associated with the prioritized provider.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein formatting the message for the application further comprises:

(a) providing access to the message to the provider associated with the requesting application; and

(b) the provider associated with the requesting application formatting the message to the requirements of the application.

14. A system for routing messages, comprising:

(a) a processor and a computer-readable medium;

(b) an operating environment stored on the computer-readable medium and executing on the processor;

(c) a communication connection device operating under the control of the operating environment; and

(d) a routing device operating under the control of the operating environment and operative to perform actions, including;

(i) receiving a message;

(ii) associating the message with a provider;

(iii) delivering the message to an application associated with the provider.