Temporary messaging address system and method

• US 20030083045A1
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kammer, David, Blight, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,192,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

A messaging system is disclosed. The system includes a communications network including a wireless access point, a messaging server coupled to the communications network, and a mobile device in communication with the communications network via an access point. The mobile device has a mobile ID associated with the device, and a program running on the mobile device from which a temporary address may be created corresponding to the mobile ID. The temporary address is useable for messaging over the communications network. The temporary address is registered with the messaging server.

Claims

1. A messaging system comprising:

a communications network including a wireless access point;

a messaging server coupled to the communications network;

a mobile device in communication with the communications network via an access point, the mobile device having a mobile ID associated with the device; and

a program running on the mobile device from which a temporary address may be created corresponding to the mobile ID, the temporary address being useable for messaging over the communications network the temporary address being registered with the messaging server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the program enables the deletion of a temporary address that is corresponding to the mobile ID.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the program enables the deletion of a temporary address that is corresponding to the mobile ID.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the program enables the deletion of a temporary address that is corresponding to the mobile ID.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the program enables communication of the temporary address to th e messaging server.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the program enables the forwarding of incoming messages via the temporary address to alternative communications devices.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is associated with a shopping mall environment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is associated with a campus environment.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a handheld computer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications network is a local area network (LAN).

11. A method of providing messaging services to a user of a mobile communications device, comprising:

providing a mobile device having a mobile ID associated therewith;

running a messaging program on the device;

creating, via the program, a temporary messaging address;

communicating the temporary messaging address to a messaging server; and

sending a message via the messaging server using the temporary messaging address.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile communications device via the messaging server, a message addressed to the temporary messaging address.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

creating multiple temporary messaging addresses associated with the mobile ID.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

deleting multiple temporary messaging addresses associated with the mobile ID.

15. The method of claim 11,further comprising:

deleting a temporary messaging address associated with the mobile ID.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

associating the temporary messaging address with multiple mobile communication devices each mobile communication device having a unique mobile ID.

17. A messaging server comprising:

a protocol adapter for receiving messages from mobile communications devices, each mobile communications device having a unique mobile ID associated therewith;

a messaging queue for ordering the delivery of incoming and outgoing messages, sent from the mobile communications devices; and

an address translator enabled to determine the mobile ID associated with the temporary delivery address identified in the incoming message.

18. The server of claim 17, wherein the messaging queue includes a push delivery messaging queue and a pull delivery messaging queue.

19. The server of claim 17, wherein the server is enabled to delete the temporary messaging address under specified conditions.

20. A method of alerting a patron of an available service, comprising:

creating a temporary messaging address associated with a mobile device having a unique mobile ID;

sending a message to the temporary address through a server, the message including a notification of the service availability;

translating the temporary messaging address to the mobile ID, by the server; and

sending the message to the mobile device associated with the mobile ID.

21. A method of communicating between a first mobile communications device and a second mobile communications device, comprising:

creating a first temporary messaging address associated with the first mobile communications device;

creating a second temporary messaging address associated with the second mobile communications device;

providing conditions under which messages may be delivered between the two devices;

sending a message from the first mobile communications device to the second mobile communications device using the second temporary messaging address;

determining if the conditions for sending the message are satisfied; and

delivering the message to the second temporary address if the conditions are satisfied.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

disabling the temporary messaging address.