Method of an apparatus for handling messages in a mobile communications enviroment

• US 20060089128A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Alan Andrew, Stuart, Julie
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• 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 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A method and system of transferring messages from a message source to a mobile station in a cellular system comprises assigning to each message a priority characteristic before the message is transmitted to mobile station. The message is then transmitted together with the assigned priority characteristic, depending on the priority characteristic. The priority characteristic is examined at the mobile station and the message is processed at the mobile station depending on the priority characteristic.

Claims

15. A system of transferring messages from a message source to a mobile station in a cellular system, the system comprising:

means for assigning to each message a priority characteristic;

means for transmitting the message to mobile station together with the assigned priority characteristic, the transmission of the message being dependent on the priority characteristic;

means for examining the priority characteristic at the mobile station; and

means for processing the message at the mobile station depending on the priority characteristic.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for assigning a priority characteristic comprises means for assigning information identifying the message source.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for assigning a priority characteristic comprises means for assigning time information defining the message as time dependent.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for assigning a priority characteristic comprises means for assigning position information defining the message as position dependent.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for assigning a priority characteristic comprises means for assigning display information defining the message as one for immediate display.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for assigning a priority characteristic comprises means for assigning display information defining the message as one to be stored for subsequent display.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the message is generated at the message source and transmitted to a message service centre for onward transmission to the mobile station.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the priority characteristic is assigned to each message at the message service centre.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the priority characteristic is assigned to each message at the message source.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for assigning of a priority characteristic comprises means for assigning display information defining the message as either one for immediate display or one to be stored for subsequent display, and wherein the system further comprises means for storing the message for display at the mobile station depending on the priority characteristic of the message.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the means for assigning a priority characteristic comprises means for assigning information identifying the message source and the message is stored if the message source is known.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for assigning a priority characteristic comprises means for assigning time information defining the message as time dependent and the message is stored if the time information is current.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for assigning a priority characteristic comprises means for assigning position information defining the message as position dependent and the message is stored if the position information is current.

28. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for deleting a previously stored message of lower priority if a new message of higher priority is received so as to enable storage of the higher priority message.

29. A mobile station for receiving messages, the station comprising:

a receiver for receiving a signal containing a message from a message source, the message having an assigned priority characteristic;

a store for storing message data; and

a controller for examining the priority characteristic of the message and storing the message data in the store depending on the priority characteristic.

1. A method of transferring messages from a message source to a mobile station in a cellular system, the method comprising:

assigning to each message a priority characteristic;

transmitting the message to mobile station together with the assigned priority characteristic, the transmission of the message being dependent on the priority characteristic;

examining the priority characteristic at the mobile station; and

processing the message at the mobile station depending on the priority characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning of a priority characteristic comprises assigning information identifying the message source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning of a priority characteristic comprises assigning time information defining the message as time dependent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning of a priority characteristic comprises assigning position information defining the message as position dependent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning of a priority characteristic comprises assigning display information defining the message as one for immediate display.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the assigning of a priority characteristic comprises assigning display information defining the message as one to be stored for subsequent display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is generated at the message source and transmitted to a message service centre for onward transmission to the mobile station.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the priority characteristic is assigned to each message at the message service centre.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority characteristic is assigned to each message at the message source.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning of a priority characteristic comprises assigning display information defining the message as either one for immediate display or one to be stored for subsequent display, and wherein the method further comprises storing the message for display at the mobile station depending on the priority characteristic of the message.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the assigning of a priority characteristic comprises assigning information identifying the message source and the message is stored if the message source is known.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the assigning of a priority characteristic comprises assigning time information defining the message as time dependent and the message is stored if the time information is current.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the assigning of a priority characteristic comprises assigning position information defining the message as position dependent and the message is stored if the position information is current.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising deleting a previously stored message of lower priority if a new message of higher priority is received so as to enable storage of the higher priority message.

30. The mobile station of claim 29, further comprising a display screen for displaying information in the message, and wherein:

the priority characteristic comprises display information; and

the controller is arranged to respond to the display information by outputting the message for display on the display screen or storing the message for subsequent display.

31. The mobile station of claim 29, wherein:

the priority characteristic comprises information identifying the message source; and

the controller is arranged to respond to the priority characteristic by storing the message in the store if the message source is known.

32. The mobile station of claim 29, further comprising a clock circuit for identifying current time, and wherein:

the priority characteristic comprises time information defining the message as time dependent; and

the controller is coupled to the clock circuit and is arranged to respond to the priority characteristic by storing the message in the store if the time information is current.

33. The mobile station of claim 29, further comprising a position circuit for identifying current position, and wherein:

the priority characteristic comprises position information defining the message as position dependent; and

the controller is coupled to the position circuit and is arranged to respond to the priority characteristic by storing the message in the store if the position information is current.

33-1. The mobile station of claims 29, wherein the controller comprises a look up table defining message priorities and is arranged to delete a previously stored message of lower priority if a new message of higher priority is received so as to enable storage of the higher priority message in the store.