Method to qualify multimedia message content to enable use of a single internet address domain to send messages to both short message service centers and multimedia message service centers

• US 20050250520A1
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Dewey, Mike, Johnson, Carle S. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,991,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A multimedia messaging service (MMS) intelligent content evaluator gateway is provided to allow use of a single address mailbox and Internet domain for receipt of either an MMS or an SMS message. The MMS intelligent content evaluator gateway evaluates the content of a received message, and then forwards the same to the appropriate system for delivery. The MMS intelligent content evaluator gateway makes use of database tables containing subscriber information and message routing tables necessary to derive the MMS and SMS destination addresses for each subscriber or range of subscriber addresses. Tables may also be implemented indicating the capabilities of each subscriber'"'"'s handset, such as whether or not the handset can support MMS messages.

Claims

1. A wireless carrier message gateway, comprising:

a module to detect a message type of a received message addressed to a URL assigned to said wireless carrier message gateway;

a routing module to forward at least a portion of said received message to a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) if a message type of said received message is detected to be a multimedia (MMS) type message; and

a routing module to forward said received message to a short message service center (SMSC) if said message type of said received message is detected to be a short message (SMS) type message.

2. The wireless carrier message gateway according to claim 1, further comprising:

a database table defining a particular subscriber destination routing address to which SMS messages to said particular subscriber are to be forwarded from said wireless carrier message gateway.

3. The wireless carrier message gateway according to claim 1, further comprising:

a database table defining message capabilities of a subscriber'"'"'s wireless device.

4. The wireless carrier message gateway according to claim 3, wherein said defined message capabilities include:

a definition informing that said subscriber'"'"'s wireless device is capable of displaying SMS type messages only.

5. The wireless carrier message gateway according to claim 3, wherein said defined message capabilities include:

a definition informing that said subscriber'"'"'s wireless device is capable of displaying MMS type messages.

6. The wireless carrier message gateway according to claim 1, further comprising:

an anti-spam filtering function within said wireless carrier message gateway operating on multiple message types intended for said destination subscriber.

7. The wireless carrier message gateway according to claim 6, wherein:

said multiple message types include SMS messages and MMS type messages.

8. The wireless carrier message gateway according to claim 1, further comprising:

a store and forward capability that prevents message loss in the event that said MMSC is momentarily out of service.

9. The wireless carrier message gateway according to claim 1, further comprising:

a module located within said wireless carrier message gateway to facilitate, consolidate, and accumulate overall network messaging statistics.

10. A method of providing a single domain name for multiple message types in a wireless network, comprising:

detecting a message type of a received message addressed to a destination subscriber serviced through said single domain name;

if a message type of said received message is detected to be a multimedia (MMS) type message, forwarding at least a portion of said received message to a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) servicing said destination subscriber; and

if said message type of said received message is detected to be a short message (SMS) type message, forwarding said received message to a short message service center (SMSC) servicing said destination subscriber.

11. The method of providing a single domain name for multiple message types in a wireless network according to claim 10, wherein:

said domain name is assigned a unique Universal Resource Locator (URL).

12. The method of providing a single domain name for multiple message types in a wireless network according to claim 10, further comprising:

accessing a table entry to determine a message capability of said destination subscriber.

13. The method of providing a single domain name for multiple message types in a wireless network according to claim 12, wherein:

said message capability for said destination subscriber relates that said subscriber'"'"'s wireless device is capable of displaying SMS type messages only.

14. The method of providing a single domain name for multiple message types in a wireless network according to claim 12, wherein:

said message capability for said destination subscriber relates that said subscriber'"'"'s wireless device is capable of displaying MMS type messages.

15. Apparatus for providing a single domain name for multiple message types in a wireless network, comprising:

means for detecting a message type of a received message addressed to a destination subscriber serviced through said single domain name;

means for forwarding at least a portion of said received message to a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) servicing said destination subscriber, if a message type of said received message is detected to be a multimedia (MMS) type message; and

means for forwarding said received message to a short message service center (SMSC) servicing said destination subscriber, if said message type of said received message is detected to be a short message (SMS) type message.

16. The apparatus for providing a single domain name for multiple message types in a wireless network according to claim 15, wherein:

said domain name is assigned a unique Universal Resource Locator (URL).

17. The apparatus for providing a single domain name for multiple message types in a wireless network according to claim 15, further comprising:

means for accessing a table entry to determine a message capability of said destination subscriber.

18. The apparatus for providing a single domain name for multiple message types in a wireless network according to claim 17, wherein:

said message capability for said destination subscriber relates that said subscriber'"'"'s wireless device is capable of displaying SMS type messages only.

19. The apparatus for providing a single domain name for multiple message types in a wireless network according to claim 17, wherein:

said message capability for said destination subscriber relates that said subscriber'"'"'s wireless device is capable of displaying MMS type messages.