Methods and apparatus for delivering a message to two or more associated wireless communication devices

• US 20050176409A1
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Carpenter, Paul M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• 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 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for use in delivering a message, such as a Short Message Service (SMS) message, simultaneously to two or more associated wireless communication devices are described. In one illustrative example, a request to deliver an SMS message to a first wireless communication device identified by a first address is received. In response to the request, the SMS message is delivered to the first wireless communication device as well as to a second wireless communication device identified by a second address different from the first address. In one preferred scenario, the first and the second wireless devices are possessed by the same end user so that SMS messages can be received regardless of which device is being used at any given moment. The method may be executed by a server in the wireless network or, alternatively, by the wireless communication device itself.

Claims

1. A method for use in delivering a message through a wireless communication network comprising the acts of:

receiving a request to deliver the message to a first wireless communication device identified by a first address; and

in response to the request;

causing the message to be delivered to the first wireless communication device; and

causing the message to be delivered to a second wireless communication device identified by a second address different from the first address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is employed by a message-originating wireless communication device and the request comprises a user request received through a user interface of the message-originating wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is employed in one or more servers of the wireless communication network and the request comprises a request received from a message-originating wireless communication device operating in the wireless communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is employed by a Short Message Service Center (SM-SC) in the wireless communication network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the second address through an association with the first address.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the request;

requesting and receiving routing information for the first and the second communication devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of causing the message to be delivered to the second wireless communication device comprises causing the message to be delivered to the second wireless communication device contemporaneously with the delivery to the first wireless communication device.

10. A method for use in delivering a message through a wireless communication network comprising the acts of:

receiving a request to deliver a message from a first wireless communication device identified by a first address to a second wireless communication device identified by a second address; and

in response to the request;

providing a message-originating address with the message that comprises a third address which identifies a third wireless communication device; and

causing the message to be delivered to the second wireless communication device with the message-originating address.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method is employed by the first wireless communication device and the request comprises a user request received through a user interface of the first wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the method is employed in one or more servers of the wireless communication network and the request comprises a request received from the first wireless communication device operating in the wireless communication network.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the method is employed by a Short Message Service Center (SM-SC) in the wireless communication network.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the message comprises a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the message comprises a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying the third address through an association with the first address.

17. A mobile station, comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter;

a user interface;

one or more processors coupled to the receiver, the transmitter, and the user interface; and

the one or more processors for use in;

receiving, from the user interface, a request to deliver a message to a wireless communication device; and

in response to the request;

providing a message-originating address with the message that identifies a different mobile station; and

causing the message to be delivered to the wireless communication device with the message-originating address.

18. The mobile station of claim 17, wherein the message comprises a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

19. The mobile station of claim 17, wherein the message comprises a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message.