Method and system for messaging across cellular networks and a public data network

• US 20040171396A1
• Filed: 03/08/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Robinson, Bruce A., Carey, Charles A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,324,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for instant message communication in a wireless and non-wireless environment. A message is sent from a mobile unit device over a wireless communication network. The message includes a destination address, information associated with the mobile unit device'"'"'s user, message content and message address. If, according to information previously stored for the mobile unit device'"'"'s user at the instant message system, the destination address is associated with an instant message function, the associated instant message function is executed at the instant message system using the information contained in the message content, if required as determined by the associated instant message function. If, according to information previously stored for the mobile unit device'"'"'s user at the instant message system, the destination address is associated with an instant message name, an instant message is created according to the message content and is sent to the user with the associated instant message name. For instant messages sent or received by a mobile unit device with known buddies, the instant message is optimized by tagging the instant message with a routing phone number that is unique to the mobile unit device and buddy combination, whose identity is stored both in the mobile unit device address book and in the instant message routing server.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a user of a cellular communications device to communicate with other users using instant messages, the method comprising:

enabling a user of a cellular communications device to receive, at the cellular communications device, availability information for a user-defined group of other users, wherein the other users within the user-defined group are included in an instant message name list maintained for the user and the availability information includes an indication of an availability of the other users to communicate using instant messages;

receiving the availability information at the cellular communications device; and

displaying the availability information in a user interface on the cellular communications device.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the user to compose a text message at the cellular communications device to be sent to at least one of the other users as an instant message; and

enabling the user to communicate the text message to the one of the other users as the instant message.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein enabling the user to communicate the text message includes enabling the user to communicate the text message to the one of the other users as the instant message, wherein the one of the other users is communicating using another cellular communications device.

4. The method as in claim 2, wherein enabling the user to communicate the text message includes enabling the user to communicate the text message to the one of the other users as the instant message, wherein the one of the other users is communicating using a personal computer.

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising sending a sign on function from the cellular communications device to initiate an instant message session, wherein receiving the availability information includes receiving the availability information in response to sending the sign on function.

6. The method as in claim 1, further comprising sending a check status function from the cellular communications device, wherein receiving the availability information includes receiving the availability information in response to sending the check status function.

7. The method as in claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the cellular communications device, a message that was generated by one of the other users as an instant message.

8. A cellular communications device that is configured and arranged to enable a user to communicate with other users using instant messages, comprising:

an availability module that is configured and arranged to enable a user of the cellular communications device to receive, at the cellular communications device, availability information for a user-defined group of other users, wherein the other users within the user-defined group are included in an instant message name list maintained for the user and the availability information includes an indication of an availability of the other users to communicate using instant messages;

a receive module that is configured and arranged to receive the availability information at the cellular communications device; and

a display module that is configured and arranged to display the availability information in a user interface on the cellular communications device.

9. The cellular communications device of claim 8, further comprising:

a compose module that is configured and arranged to enable the user to compose a text message at the cellular communications device to be sent to at least one of the other users as an instant message; and

a communications module that is configured and arranged to enable the user to communicate the text message to the one of the other users as the instant message.

10. The cellular communications device of claim 9, wherein the communications module is configured and arranged to enable the user to communicate the text message to the one of the other users as the instant message, wherein the one of the other users is communicating using another cellular communications device.

11. The cellular communications device of claim 9, wherein the communications module is configured and arranged to enable the user to communicate the text message to the one of the other users as the instant message, wherein the one of the other users is communicating using a personal computer.

12. The cellular communications device of claim 8, further comprising:

a sign-on module that is configured and arranged to send a sign on function from the cellular communications device to initiate an instant message session, wherein the receive module is configured and arranged to receive the availability information in response to sending the sign on function.

13. The cellular communications device of claim 8, further comprising:

a check status module that is configured and arranged to send a check status function from the cellular communications device, wherein the receive module is configured and arranged to receive the availability information in response to sending the check status function.

14. The cellular communications device of claim 8, wherein the receive module is configured and arranged to receive a message that was generated by one of the other users as an instant message.

15. A system for enabling a user of a cellular communications device to communicate with other users using instant messages, comprising:

means for enabling a user of a cellular communications device to receive, at the cellular communications device, availability information for a user-defined group of other users, wherein the other users within the user-defined group are included in an instant message name list maintained for the user and the availability information includes an indication of an availability of the other users to communicate using instant messages;

means for receiving the availability information at the cellular communications device; and

means for displaying the availability information in a user interface on the cellular communications device.

16. A method of enabling a user of a cellular communications device to communicate with online identities using instant messages, the method comprising:

accessing a group of several online identities that have been identified by the user for presence monitoring;

in a visual display provided at the cellular communications device, visually distinguishing online identities within the group that are presently available to communicate using instant messaging from online identities that are not presently available to communicate using instant messaging;

receiving user selection of an identity from among the visually distinguished identities;

enabling the user to compose a text message to be sent to the selected identity as an instant message; and

communicating the text message to the selected identity as the instant message.

17. The method as in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving, from the online identity, a responsive message that was generated as an instant message; and

in the visual display provided at the cellular communication device of the user, visually displaying the responsive message received from the online identity and an indication of the online identity.

18. The method as in claim 16, further comprising communicating from the user an indication of online identities to be included within the group of online identities for whom presence is to be monitored.

19. The method as in claim 18, wherein accessing the group of several online identities includes accessing, at an instant message host, the group of several online identities that have been identified by the user for presence monitoring.

20. The method as in claim 19, wherein the group accessed from the instant message host is used for presence monitoring on other non-cellular devices.

21. The method as in claim 16, wherein communicating the text message includes communicating the text message to an instant message host for delivery to the selected identity as the instant message.

22. A cellular communications device that is configured and arranged to enable a user of a cellular communications device to communicate with online identities using instant messages, comprising:

an access module that is configured and arranged to access a group of several online identities that have been identified by the user for presence monitoring;

a display module that is configured and arranged in a visual display provided at the cellular communications device, to visually distinguish online identities within the group that are presently available to communicate using instant messaging from online identities that are not presently available to communicate using instant messaging;

a receive module that is configured and arranged to receive user selection of an identity from among the visually distinguished identities;

a compose module that is configured and arranged to enable the user to compose a text message to be sent to the selected identity as an instant message; and

a communication module that is configured and arranged to communicate the text message to the selected identity as the instant message.

23. The cellular communications device of claim 22, wherein:

the receive module is configured and arranged to receive, from the online identity, a responsive message that was generated as an instant message; and

the display module is configured and arranged in the visual display provided at the cellular communication device of the user, to visually display the responsive message received from the online identity and an indication of the online identity.

24. The cellular communications device of claim 22, wherein the communication module is configured and arranged to communicate from the user an indication of online identities to be included within the group of online identities for whom presence is to be monitored.

25. The cellular communications device of claim 24, wherein the access module is configured and arranged to access, at an instant message host, the group of several online identities that have been identified by the user for presence monitoring.

26. The cellular communications device of claim 25, wherein the group accessed from the instant message host is used for presence monitoring on other non-cellular devices.

27. The cellular communications device of claim 22, wherein the communication module is configured and arranged to communicate the text message to an instant message host for delivery to the selected identity as the instant message.

28. A system for enabling a user of a cellular communications device to communicate with online identities using instant messages, comprising:

means for accessing a group of several online identities that have been identified by the user for presence monitoring;

in a visual display provided at the cellular communications device, means for visually distinguishing online identities within the group that are presently available to communicate using instant messaging from online identities that are not presently available to communicate using instant messaging;

means for receiving user selection of an identity from among the visually distinguished identities;

means for enabling the user to compose a text message to be sent to the selected identity as an instant message; and

means for communicating the text message to the selected identity as an instant message.

29. A computer program product implemented on a computer-based server, said computer program product comprising:

a first component for storing one or more functions or instant message names, each of the one or more functions or instant message names being assigned to an address in a list of addresses assigned to a subscribing user;

a second component for receiving an instant message request with an address, wherein instant message request being received from a cellular device;

a third component for identifying one of the stored instant message names or functions associated with the address of the received instant message request; and

a fourth component for generating an instant message if the address is identified to be associated with an instant message name.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, further comprising a fifth component for executing a function if the address is associated with a stored function.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the fifth component uses information included in the instant message request when executing the function.

32. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the function is an instant message function.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, further comprising a fifth component for executing an instant message function if the address is associated with an instant message function.