Wireless device hub system and method

• US 20030139193A1
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voltari Operating Corp.
• Original Assignee: Motricity
• Inventors: Buckley, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,283,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• 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 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/12 Application layer protocols, e.g. WAP [Wireless Application Protocol]

Abstract

A system and method for transferring a data file to a wireless device where the system generates a Short Message Service (“SMS”) message including a URL address at which the data file is stored and transmits the SMS message to the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method of transferring a data file to a wireless device, comprising the steps of:

a) generating a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message including a URL address that corresponds to a location at which the data file is stored; and

b) transmitting the SMS message to the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the SMS message further includes an application identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the application identifier indicates an application to be invoked by the wireless device upon receipt of the SMS message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless device has a BREW operating system.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

c) receiving a request message from the wireless device requesting the data file;

d) generating a responsive message including the data file for the wireless device; and

e) transmitting the responsive message to the wireless device.

7. A method of transferring data files to wireless devices, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving an incoming message including a data file and wireless device identifier;

b) storing the data file thereby creating a stored data file;

c) creating a URL address for the stored data file;

d) generating an outgoing message for a wireless device identified by the wireless device identifier and including the URL address; and

e) transmitting the outgoing message to the identified wireless device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the outgoing message further includes an application identifier.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the outgoing message further includes an application identifier based on the identified wireless device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the application identifier indicates an application to be invoked by the wireless device upon receipt of the outgoing message.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless device has a BREW operating system.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

f) receiving a request message from the identified wireless device requesting the stored data file;

g) generating a responsive message including the data file; and

h) transmitting the responsive message to the wireless device.

14. A method of transferring a data file from a electronic device to a wireless device via a hub, comprising the steps of:

a) the electronic device performing the steps of;

a. generating a data transmit request message including the data file and an identifier corresponding to the wireless device; and

b. sending the data transmit request message to the hub;

b) the hub performing the steps of;

a. receiving the data transmit request message;

b. storing the data file, thereby creating a stored data file;

c. creating a URL address for the stored data file;

d. generating a data waiting message for the wireless device including the URL address; and

e. transmitting the data waiting message to the identified wireless device; and

c) the wireless device performing the step of receiving the data waiting message.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the data waiting message further includes an application identifier.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the data waiting message further includes an application identifier based on the wireless device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless device further performs the step of invoking an application identified by the application identifier.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless device has a BREW operating system.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless device further performs the steps of:

a. generating a request data message requesting the stored data file; and

b. transmitting the request data message to the hub.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the hub further performs the steps of:

f. receiving the request data message from the wireless device;

g. generating a data transmit message including the stored data file; and

h. transmitting the data transmit message to the wireless device.

22. An article of manufacture for use in transferring a data file to a wireless device, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including program logic embedded therein that causes control circuitry to perform the steps of:

a) generating a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message including a URL address that corresponds to a location at which the data file is stored; and

b) transmitting the SMS message to the wireless device.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the SMS message further includes an application identifier.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the application identifier indicates an application to be invoked by the wireless device upon receipt of the SMS message.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 24, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 24, wherein the wireless device has a BREW operating system.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 24, further performing the steps of:

c) receiving a request message from the wireless device requesting the data file;

d) generating a responsive message including the data file for the wireless device; and

e) transmitting the responsive message to the wireless device.

28. An article of manufacture for use in transferring data files to wireless devices, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including program logic embedded therein that causes control circuitry to perform the steps of:

a) receiving an incoming message including a data file and wireless device identifier;

b) storing the data file, thereby creating a stored data file;

c) creating a URL address for the stored data file;

d) generating an outgoing message for a wireless device identified by the wireless device identifier and including the URL address; and

e) transmitting the outgoing message to the wireless device.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the outgoing message further includes an application identifier.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 28, wherein the outgoing message further includes an application identifier based on the wireless device.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 30, wherein the application identifier indicates an application to be invoked by the wireless device upon receipt of the outgoing message.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 31, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 31, wherein the wireless device has a BREW operating system.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

f) receiving a request message from the identified wireless device requesting the stored data file;

g) generating a responsive message including the data file; and

h) transmitting the responsive message to the wireless device.

35. An article of manufacture for use in transferring a data file from a electronic device to a wireless device via a hub, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including program logic embedded therein that causes:

a) the electronic device to perform the steps of;

a. generating a data transmit request message including the data file and an identifier corresponding to the wireless device; and

b. sending the data transmit request message to the hub;

b) the hub to perform the steps of;

a. receiving the data transmit request message;

b. storing the data file, thereby creating a stored data file;

c. creating a URL address for the stored data file;

d. generating a data waiting message for the wireless device including the URL address; and

e. transmitting the data waiting message to the wireless device; and

c) the wireless device to perform the step of receiving the data waiting message.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 35, wherein the data waiting message includes an application identifier.

37. The article of manufacture of claim 35, wherein the data waiting message includes an application identifier based on the wireless device.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein the wireless device further performs the step of invoking an application identified by the application identifier.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 38, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 38, wherein the wireless device has a BREW operating system.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 38, wherein the wireless device further performs the steps of:

f. generating a request data message requesting the stored data file; and

g. transmitting the request data message to the hub.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 41, wherein the hub further performs the steps of:

i. receiving the request data message from the wireless device;

j. generating a data transmit message including the stored data file; and

k. transmitting the data transmit message to the wireless device.

43. An apparatus for transferring a data file to a wireless device, comprising:

a) means for generating a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message including a URL address that corresponds to a location at which the data file is stored; and

b) means for transmitting the SMS message to the wireless device.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the SMS message includes an application identifier.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the application identifier indicates an application to be invoked by the wireless device upon receipt of the SMS message.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the wireless device has a BREW operating system.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

c) means for receiving a request message from the wireless device requesting the data file;

d) means for generating a responsive message including the data file for the wireless device; and

e) means for transmitting the responsive message to the wireless device.

49. An apparatus for transferring data files to wireless devices, comprising:

a) means for receiving an incoming message including a data file and wireless device identifier;

b) means for storing the data file, thereby creating a stored data file;

c) means for creating a URL address for the stored data file;

d) means for generating an outgoing message for a wireless device identified by the wireless device identifier and including the URL address; and

e) means for transmitting the outgoing message to the wireless device.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the outgoing message further includes an application identifier.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the outgoing message further includes an application identifier based on the wireless device.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the application identifier indicates an application to be invoked by the wireless device upon receipt of the outgoing message.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

54. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the wireless device has a BREW operating system.

55. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising:

f) means for receiving a request message from the identified wireless device requesting the stored data file;

g) means for generating a responsive message including the data file; and

h) means for transmitting the responsive message to the wireless device.

56. A data file transfer system, comprising:

a) an electronic device comprising;

a. means for generating a data transmit request message including the data file and an identifier corresponding to a wireless device; and

b. means for sending the data transmit request message to the hub;

b) a hub comprising;

a. means for receiving the data transmit request message;

b. means for storing the data file, thereby creating a stored data file;

c. means for creating a URL address for the stored data file;

d. means for generating a data waiting message for the wireless device including the URL address; and

e. means for transmitting the data waiting message to the wireless device; and

c) the wireless device, the wireless device including means for receiving the data waiting message.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the data waiting message further includes an application identifier.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the data waiting message further includes an application identifier based on the wireless device.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the wireless device further includes means for invoking an application identified by the application identifier.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

61. The system of claim 59, wherein the wireless device has a BREW operating system.

62. The system of claim 59, wherein the wireless device further includes:

f. means for generating a request data message requesting the stored data file; and

g. means for transmitting the request data message to the hub.

63. The system of claim 60, wherein the hub further performs includes:

l. means for receiving the request data message from the wireless device;

m. means for generating a data transmit message including the stored data file; and

n. means for transmitting the data transmit message to the wireless device.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the application identifier indicates an application to be invoked by the plurality of wireless devices upon receipt of the SMS message.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless devices is a cellular phone.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless devices has a BREW operating system.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising the step of receiving a message including the text message and an identifier corresponding to each of the plurality of wireless devices.

69. The method of claim 68, further comprising the steps of:

c) receiving a message including the text message and a group identifier corresponding to the plurality of wireless devices; and

d) converting the group identifier into a plurality of identifiers corresponding to each of the plurality of wireless devices.

64. A method of transferring a text message to a plurality of wireless devices, comprising the steps of:

a) generating a Short Messaging Service (“

SMS”

) message including the text message and an application identifier; and

b) transmitting the SMS message to the plurality of wireless devices.

70. A method of sending a text message from a electronic device to a plurality of wireless devices via a hub, comprising the steps of:

a) the electronic device performing the steps of;

a. generating a text message transmit request message including the text message and an identifier corresponding to each of the plurality of wireless devices; and

b. sending the text message transmit request message to the hub;

b) the hub performing the steps of;

a. receiving the text message transmit request message;

b. generating a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) text incoming message including the text message and an application identifier; and

c. transmitting the SMS text incoming message to the plurality of wireless devices; and

c) each of the plurality of identified wireless devices performing the step of receiving the SMS text incoming message.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the application identifier indicates an application to be invoked by at least one of the plurality of wireless devices upon receipt of the SMS text incoming message.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless devices is a cellular phone.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless devices has a BREW operating system.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein step a) a. includes generating a text message transmit request message including the text message and a group identifier corresponding to the plurality of wireless devices step b) a. includes receiving a text message transmit request message including the text message and the group identifier for the plurality of wireless devices, the hub further performs the step of converting the group identifier into a plurality of identifiers corresponding to each of the plurality of wireless devices.

75. A system for transferring a text message to a plurality of wireless devices, comprising:

a) means for generating a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message including the text message and an application identifier; and

b) means for transmitting the SMS message to the plurality of wireless devices.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein the application identifier indicates an application to be invoked by at least one of the plurality of wireless devices upon receipt of the SMS message.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless devices is a cellular phone.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless devices has a BREW operating system.

79. The system of claim 78, further comprising means for receiving a message including the text message and an identifier corresponding to each of the plurality of wireless devices.

80. The system of claim 79, further comprising:

c) means for receiving a message including the text message and a group identifier corresponding to for the plurality of wireless devices; and

d) means for converting the group identifier into a plurality of identifiers corresponding to each of the plurality of wireless devices.

81. A text messaging system for sending a text message from a electronic device to a plurality of wireless devices via a hub, comprising:

a) an electronic device, comprising;

a. means for generating a text message transmit request message including the text message and an identifier for each of the plurality of wireless devices; and

b. means for sending the text message transmit request message to the hub; and

b) a hub, comprising;

a. means for receiving the text message transmit request message;

b. means for generating a Short Message Serve (“

SMS”

) text incoming message including the text message and an application identifier; and

c. means for transmitting the SMS text incoming message to the plurality of wireless devices.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the application identifier indicates an application to be invoked by at least one of the plurality of wireless devices upon receipt of the SMS text incoming message.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless devices is a cellular phone.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless devices has a BREW operating system.

85. The system of claim 84, wherein the hub means for receiving includes means for receiving a text message transmit request message including the text message and a group identifier corresponding to the plurality of wireless devices and the hub further includes means for converting the group identifier into plurality of identifiers corresponding to each of the plurality of wireless devices.

86. A method of maintaining a high score database for a game application executed on a wireless device, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a high score message from a wireless device, the message including a game application identifier and high score; and

b) storing the high score in the high score database based on the game application identifier.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the high score message includes an identifier corresponding to the wireless device and the high score database further includes the wireless device identifier.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein the high score message further includes chronological information and the high score database further includes the chronological information.

89. The method of claim 86, further comprising the steps of:

c) retrieving at least one top score from the high score database based on the game application identifier;

d) generating a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) top score message including the at least one top score; and

e) transmitting the SMS top score message to the wireless device.

90. The method of claim 89, further comprising the steps of:

f) receiving a game information request message from a requestor, the message including a game application identifier;

g) retrieving information from the high score database based on the game application identifier;

h) generating a game request response message including the retrieved information; and

i) transmitting the game request response message to the requestor.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

92. The method of claim 90, wherein the wireless device has a BREW operating system.

93. A system for maintaining a high score database for a game application executed on a wireless device, comprising:

a) means for receiving a high score message from a wireless device, the message including a game application identifier and high score; and

b) means for storing the high score in the high score database based on the game application identifier.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein the high score message includes an identifier corresponding to the wireless device and further comprising means for storing the wireless device identifier in the high score database.

95. The system of claim 94, wherein the high score message further includes chronological information and further comprising means for storing the chronological information in the high score database.

96. The system of claim 95, further comprising:

c) means for retrieving at least one top score from the high score database based on the game application identifier;

d) means for generating a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) top score message including the at least one top score; and

e) means for transmitting the SMS top score message to the wireless device.

97. The system of claim 96, further comprising:

f) means for receiving a game information request message from a requestor, the message including a game application identifier;

g) means for retrieving information from the high score database based on the game application identifier;

h) means for generating a game request response message including the information; and

i) means for transmitting the game request response message to the requestor.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

99. The system of claim 98, wherein the wireless device has a BREW operating system.

100. A method of enabling a user executing a game application on a first wireless device to send messages to another user contemporaneously playing the same game application on another wireless device, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) start game message from the first wireless device, the message including an identifier corresponding to the game application and an identifier corresponding to the first wireless device;

b) storing the first wireless device identifier in a database based on the game application identifier;

c) receiving a SMS start game message from the another wireless device, the message including an identifier corresponding to the game application and an identifier corresponding to the another wireless device;

d) storing the another wireless device identifier in a database based on the game application identifier;

e) receiving a SMS send gamers message from the first wireless device, the SMS send gamers message including a taunt message and the first wireless device identifier;

f) determining another wireless device playing the game application corresponding to the first wireless device identifier based on the database;

g) generating a gamers taunt message including the taunt message; and

h) sending the gamers taunt message to the another wireless device determined to be playing the game application based on the database.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein the garners taunt message includes a user identifier corresponding to the first wireless device and step g) includes generating a garners taunt message including the taunt message and the first wireless device'"'"'s user identifier.

102. The method of claim 101, wherein the taunt message is a SMS message.

103. The method of claim 101, further comprising the steps of:

i) receiving a SMS high score message from a wireless device, the message including the game application identifier corresponding to the game and a wireless device identifier corresponding to the wireless device; and

j) removing the wireless device identifier from the database based on the game application identifier.

104. The method of claim 103, wherein the first wireless device is a cellular phone.

105. The method of claim 103, wherein the first wireless device has a BREW operating system.

106. A system for enabling a user executing a game application on a first wireless device to send messages to another user contemporaneously playing the same game application on another wireless device, comprising:

a) means for receiving a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) start game message from the first wireless device, the message including an identifier corresponding to the game application and an identifier corresponding to the first wireless device;

b) means for storing the first wireless device identifier in a database based on the game application identifier;

c) means for receiving a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) start game message from the another wireless device, the message including an identifier corresponding to the game application and an identifier corresponding to the another wireless device;

d) means for storing the another wireless device identifier in a database based on the game application identifier;

e) means for receiving a send gamers message from the first wireless device, the message including a taunt message and the first wireless device identifier;

f) means for determining another wireless device playing the game application corresponding to the first wireless device identifier based on the database;

g) means for generating a gamers taunt message including the taunt message; and

h) means for sending the gamers taunt message to the another wireless device determined to be playing the game application based on the database.

107. The system of claim 106, wherein the garners taunt message includes a user identifier corresponding to the first wireless device and the means for generating includes means for generating a gamers taunt message including the taunt message and the first wireless device'"'"'s user identifier.

108. The system of claim 107, wherein the taunt message is a SMS message.

109. The system of claim 108, further comprising:

i) means for receiving a SMS high score message from a wireless device, the message including the game application identifier corresponding to the game and a wireless device identifier corresponding to the wireless device; and

j) means for removing the wireless device identifier from the database based on the game application identifier.

110. The system of claim 109, wherein the first wireless device is a cellular phone.

111. The system of claim 109, wherein the first wireless device has a BREW operating system.

112. A method of file transfer, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a data file from a transmitting wireless device and saving the data file at a file server; and

b) creating a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) message identifying a receiving wireless device, an application available for execution of the receiving wireless device and a location at which the data file is stored.

113. The method of claim 112, wherein the SMS message is formatted for a BREW device.

114. The method of claim 112, wherein the SMS message has a text field and wherein the SMS message further includes a URL identifying a stored location of the data file within the text field.

115. A method of transferring a data file to a wireless device, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a Short Message Service (“

SMS”

) over a wireless cellular link, the SMS message identifying a location of a stored data file and a local application; and

b) automatically invoking the local application to retrieve the stored data file from the location.

116. The method of claim 115, wherein the step of receiving the SMS message comprises the step of processing the SMS message using BREW.

117. The method of claim 116, wherein the stored data file location is specified in terms of an URL.