Methods and systems for single number text messaging

• US 20050148351A1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Neelakantan, Shashi, Reding, Craig L., Majid, Ziauddin
• Granted Patent: US 8,761,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4933 with operator assistance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 : Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing a SMS message sent to a particular phone number or address to a preferred device. A sender may send a SMS message to a phone number address of a user. The SMS message is then routed to a preferred device selected by the user and displayed in an appropriate format on the preferred device.

Claims

1. A method for providing SMS messages to a user having a plurality of devices including a preferred device, the method comprising:

receiving a SMS message for one of the plurality of devices;

determining the preferred device for receiving messages;

formatting the SMS message according to characteristics of the preferred device; and

sending the formatted message to the preferred device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the formatted message comprises sending the formatted message to a SMS-capable device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the formatted message comprises sending the formatted message to an e-mail address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the formatted message comprises sending the formatted message to an instant messenger client.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the formatted message comprises sending the formatted message to a phone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the formatted message comprises sending the formatted message to digital companion client software.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising:

storing messages in a database when the user'"'"'s preferred device is not available to receive messages.

8. A system for providing SMS messages to a user having a plurality of devices including a preferred device, comprising:

a database for storing a specification of a preferred device;

a gateway server for receiving a SMS message sent to one of the user'"'"'s devices;

a server function for determining the preferred device; and

a SMS server for sending the SMS message to the preferred device.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the SMS server comprises a server that formats the SMS message in accordance with characteristics of the preferred device before sending the message to the preferred device.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for sending the SMS message comprises means for formatting the SMS message in accordance with characteristics of the preferred device before sending the message to the preferred device.

9. An apparatus for providing SMS messages to a user having a plurality of devices including a preferred device, comprising:

a database for storing a specification of a preferred device;

a gateway server for receiving a SMS message sent to one of the user'"'"'s devices;

a server function for determining the preferred device; and

a SMS server for sending the SMS message to the preferred device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the SMS server comprises a server that stores messages to a database when the user'"'"'s preferred device is not available to receive messages.

12. An apparatus for providing SMS messages to a user having a plurality of devices including a preferred device, comprising:

means for storing a specification of a preferred device;

means for receiving a SMS message sent to one of the user'"'"'s devices;

means for determining the preferred device; and

means for sending the SMS message to the preferred device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for sending the SMS message comprises means for storing messages to a database when the user'"'"'s preferred device is not available to receive messages.