System and method for sending SMS and text messages

• US 20040082348A1
• Filed: 10/16/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leandro Manimtim Gabriel, Manny Manimtim Gabriel
• Original Assignee: Leandro Manimtim Gabriel, Manny Manimtim Gabriel
• Inventors: Gabriel, Manny Manimtim, Gabriel, Leandro Manimtim
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• 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 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A system and method for sending SMS messages between wireless communications networks. SMS messages are sent to a hardware device in the originating wireless network, which then forwards the message to a management server via the Internet. The management server forwards the message to the appropriate device in the receiving wireless network, which then sends the message to the intended recipient. Replies can then be sent to the originator of the message. Users can also send messages from a computer to a cellular telephone and receive messages sent from a cellular telephone on a computer via email or an HTML based interface. The system can also be used to send and receive messages from a wireless carrier'"'"'s SMSC.

Claims

1. A system for sending and receiving SMS messages, comprising:

at least one hardware device located in a first wireless communication network;

the hardware device being connected to the Internet;

the hardware device being programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via the Internet and via wireless communication;

at least one other hardware device located in at least one other wireless communication network;

the hardware device being connected to the Internet;

the hardware device being programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via the Internet and via wireless communication;

at least one server device that is connected to the Internet;

the server device being programmed to receive SMS messages from the hardware devices via the Internet, verify that the messages are SMS messages from authorized users of the system, determine which hardware device to forward the SMS messages to, forward the SMS messages to the appropriate hardware devices via the Internet and maintain account information for debiting users of the system;

whereby a user located in one wireless communication network, who desires to send an SMS message to a recipient in a different wireless communication network, can access the system via wireless communications to a hardware device in his or her wireless communication network and forward the SMS message to the hardware device, the hardware device will then forward the SMS message to the server device via the internet;

the server device will then verify that the message is an SMS message from an authorized user, determine which other hardware device to forward the SMS message to and then forward the SMS message, via the internet, to the other hardware device in the desired recipients network;

the hardware device in the desired recipient'"'"'s network will forward the SMS message to the desired recipient via wireless communications, the hardware device in the desired recipient'"'"'s network will send a confirmation message to the server device once the desired recipient has received the SMS message; and

,

the server device will then debit the user'"'"'s account.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one hardware device in a first wireless communications network comprises a plurality of hardware devices;

said at least one other hardware device in at least one other wireless communications network comprises a plurality of hardware devices; and

said at least one other wireless communications network comprises a plurality of wireless communications networks.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the hardware devices are cellular telephones connected to a computer.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the hardware device is further programmed to assist the server device in determining which other hardware device to forward the SMS messages to, when such messages are received and forwarded by the system via wireless communication.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the server device is a computer.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of user devices, the user devices being computers that are programmed to communicate with the server device via the internet;

and

the server device is further programmed to communicate with the user devices via the Internet.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the server device is further programmed to allow authorized users of the system to send SMS messages from a user device to the server device, determine if the SMS message is to be forwarded to a hardware device via the internet, and forward the SMS message to the appropriate hardware device, which will then forward the SMS message to the intended recipient via wireless communication.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the server device is further programmed to forward SMS messages for authorized users of the system to the user'"'"'s email account.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the server device is further programmed to store SMS messages and allow authorized users of the system to send and retrieve SMS messages via an HTML based interface on the Internet.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the server device is further programmed to forward SMS messages to wireless communications carriers and to receive SMS messages from wireless communications carriers, and forward the SMS messages received from the wireless communications carriers to the desired recipient.

11. A system for sending and receiving SMS messages, comprising:

a plurality of hardware devices;

the hardware devices being cellular telephones connected to a computer

the hardware devices being connected to the Internet;

the hardware devices being programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via the Internet and via wireless communication;

the hardware devices being located in a plurality of wireless communication networks such that each wireless communications network contains a plurality of hardware devices;

a plurality of server devices that are connected to the Internet;

the server devices being computers;

the server devices being programmed to receive SMS messages from the hardware devices via the Internet, verify that the messages are SMS messages from authorized users of the system, determine which hardware device to forward the SMS messages to, forward the SMS messages to the appropriate hardware devices via the Internet and maintain account information for debiting users of the system;

whereby a user located in one wireless communication network, who desires to send an SMS message to a recipient in a different wireless communication network, can access the system via wireless communications to a hardware device in his or her wireless communication network and forward the SMS message to the hardware device, the hardware device will then forward the SMS message to a server device via the internet;

the server device will then verify that the message is an SMS message from an authorized user, determine which hardware device to forward the SMS message to and then forward the SMS message, via the internet, to the hardware device in the desired recipients network;

the hardware device in the desired recipient'"'"'s network will forward the SMS message to the desired recipient via wireless communications, the hardware device in the desired recipient'"'"'s network will send a confirmation message to the server device once the desired recipient has received the SMS message; and

,

the server device will then debit the user'"'"'s account.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the hardware devices is further programmed to assist the server device in determining which other hardware device to forward the SMS messages to, when such messages are received and forwarded by the system via wireless communication.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of user devices, the user devices being computers that are programmed to communicate with the server device via the internet;

and

the server device is further programmed to communicate with the user devices via the Internet.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the server devices are further programmed to allow authorized users of the system to send SMS messages from a user device to a server device, determine if the SMS message is to be forwarded to a hardware device via the internet, and forward the SMS message to the appropriate hardware device, which will then forward the SMS message to the intended recipient via wireless communication.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the server devices are further programmed to forward SMS messages for authorized users of the system to the user'"'"'s email account.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the server devices are further programmed to store SMS messages and allow authorized users of the system to send and retrieve SMS messages via an HTML based interface on the Internet.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the server devices are further programmed to forward SMS messages to wireless communications carriers and to receive SMS messages from wireless communications carriers, and forward the SMS messages received from the wireless communications carriers to the desired recipient.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the server devices are further programmed to exchange information concerning SMS messages and user accounts via the Internet.

19. A system for sending and receiving SMS messages, comprising:

a plurality of hardware devices;

the hardware devices being cellular telephones connected to a computer the hardware devices being connected to the Internet;

the hardware devices being programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via the Internet and via wireless communication;

the hardware devices being located in a plurality of wireless communication networks such that each wireless communications network contains a plurality of hardware devices;

a plurality of server devices that are connected to the Internet;

the server devices being computers;

the server devices being programmed to receive SMS messages from the hardware devices via the Internet, verify that the messages are SMS messages from authorized users of the system, determine which hardware device to forward the SMS messages to, forward the SMS messages to the appropriate hardware devices via the Internet and maintain account information for debiting users of the system;

the server devices being further programmed to communicate with the user devices via the Internet

the server devices being further programmed to allow authorized users of the system to send SMS messages from a user device to a server device and determine if the SMS message is to be forwarded to a hardware device via the internet;

the server devices being further programmed to forward SMS messages for authorized users of the system to the user'"'"'s email account;

the server devices are further programmed to store SMS messages and allow authorized users of the system to send and retrieve SMS messages via an HTML based interface on the Internet;

a plurality of user devices;

the user devices being computers that are programmed to communicate with the server device via the Internet;

whereby a user located in one wireless communication network, who desires to send an SMS message to a recipient in a different wireless communication network, can access the system via wireless communications or directly through his or her computer;

the server device will verify that the message is an SMS message from an authorized user, determine the appropriate routing to deliver the message and forward or store the message accordingly; and

when the intended recipient receives the message via wireless communication, an email from the server device, or retrieving it from the server device via an HTML based interface, the server device will debit the user'"'"'s account.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the hardware devices is further programmed to assist the server device in determining which other hardware device to forward the SMS messages to, when such messages are received and forwarded by the system via wireless communication.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the server devices are further programmed to forward SMS messages to wireless communications carriers and to receive SMS messages from wireless communications carriers, and forward the SMS messages received from the wireless communications carriers to the desired recipient.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the server devices are further programmed to exchange information concerning SMS messages and user accounts via the Internet.

23. A method for receiving an SMS message from a sender in one wireless communication network and forwarding the SMS message to a recipient in another wireless communication network comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an SMS message on a hardware device, located in the message sender'"'"'s wireless network that is connected to the Internet and programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via wireless communications and the Internet;

(b) forwarding a message to a server device, via the Internet, that is programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via the Internet;

(c) determining if the message is an SMS message from an authorized user;

(d) determining the SMS message recipient and the recipient'"'"'s wireless communication network;

(e) forwarding the SMS message, via the internet, from the server device to a hardware device, located in the recipient'"'"'s wireless communication network, that is connected to the Internet and programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via wireless communications and the Internet; and

(f) forwarding the SMS message to the desired recipient, via wireless communication, from the hardware device in the desired recipient'"'"'s network.

24. The method of claim 23, comprising the additional step of:

debiting the account of the appropriate user after the message is successfully forwarded.

25. The method of claim 23, comprising the additional step of:

notifying the sender after the message is successfully forwarded.

26. A method for receiving an SMS message from a sender in one wireless communication network and forwarding the SMS message to a recipient in another wireless communication network comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an SMS message on a hardware device, located in the message sender'"'"'s wireless network that is connected to the Internet and programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via wireless communications and the Internet;

(b) forwarding a message to a server device, via the Internet, that is programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via the Internet;

(c) determining if the message is an SMS message from an authorized user;

(d) determining the SMS message recipient;

(e) determining that the recipient is authorized to receive the SMS message via his or her email account; and

(f) forwarding the message from the server device to the recipients email address.

27. The method of claim 26, comprising the additional step of:

debiting the account of the appropriate user after the message is successfully forwarded.

28. The method of claim 26, comprising the additional step of:

notifying the sender after the message is successfully forwarded.

29. A method for receiving an SMS message from a sender in one wireless communication network and forwarding the SMS message to a recipient in another wireless communication network comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an SMS message, via an email, on a server device that is programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via the Internet;

(b) determining if the message is an SMS message from an authorized user;

(c) determining the SMS message recipient and the recipient'"'"'s wireless communication network;

(d) forwarding the SMS message, via the internet, from the server device to a hardware device, located in the recipient'"'"'s wireless communication network, that is connected to the Internet and programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via wireless communications and the Internet; and

(e) forwarding the SMS message to the desired recipient, via wireless communication, from the hardware device in the desired recipient'"'"'s network.

30. The method of claim 29, comprising the additional step of:

debiting the account of the appropriate user after the message is successfully forwarded.

31. The method of claim 29, comprising the additional step of:

notifying the sender after the message is successfully forwarded.

32. A method for receiving an SMS message from a sender in one wireless communication network and forwarding the SMS message to a recipient in another wireless communication network comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an SMS message on a hardware device, located in the message sender'"'"'s wireless network that is connected to the Internet and programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via wireless communications and the Internet;

(b) forwarding a message to a server device, via the Internet, that is programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via the Internet;

(c) determining if the message is an SMS message from an authorized user;

(d) determining the SMS message recipient;

(e) determining that the recipient is authorized to retrieve the SMS message from the server via an HTML based interface; and

(f) storing the SMS message until the recipient retrieves it.

33. The method of claim 32, comprising the additional step of:

debiting the account of the appropriate user after the message is successfully forwarded.

34. The method of claim 32, comprising the additional step of:

notifying the sender after the message is successfully forwarded.

35. A method for receiving an SMS message from a sender in one wireless communication network and forwarding the SMS message to a recipient in another wireless communication network comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an SMS message, via an HTML based interface, on a server device that is programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via the Internet;

(b) determining if the message is an SMS message from an authorized user;

(c) determining the SMS message recipient and the recipient'"'"'s wireless communication network;

(d) forwarding the SMS message, via the internet, from the server device to a hardware device, located in the recipient'"'"'s wireless communication network, that is connected to the Internet and programmed to receive and forward SMS messages via wireless communications and the Internet; and

(e) forwarding the SMS message to the desired recipient, via wireless communication, from the hardware device in the desired recipient'"'"'s network.

36. The method of claim 35, comprising the additional step of:

debiting the account of the appropriate user after the message is successfully forwarded.

37. The method of claim 35, comprising the additional step of:

notifying the sender after the message is successfully forwarded.