Apparatus and method for channel-transparent multimedia broadcast messaging
First Claim
1. An apparatus for permitting a user to send a broadcast message via a sending device to a first recipient and a second recipient, the sending device either addressable over a data network or addressable over a telephone network connected to the data network, the first recipient having a first receiving device addressable over the data network and the second recipient having a second receiving device addressable over the telephone network, the apparatus comprising:
- a message router, configured to parse recipient addresses received in the broadcast message from the sending device over the data network if the sending device is addressable over the data network and over the telephone network via the data network connected to the telephone network if the sending device is addressable over the telephone network, the message router configured to translate the received broadcast message into a translated first broadcast message and a translated second broadcast, the translated first broadcast message being in a format compatible with the first receiving device for delivery to the first receiving device over the data network, the translated second broadcast message being in a format compatible with the second receiving device for delivery to the second receiving device over the telephone network via the data network, the message router configured to associate a telephone number that corresponds to the second receiving device with the translated second broadcast message, the message router configured for routing the translated first broadcast message to the first receiving device over the data network and configured for routing the translated second broadcast message and the associated telephone number to the second receiving device over the telephone network via the data network wherein the associated telephone number provides routing information to the telephone network for delivery of the translated second broadcast message.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for addressing and broadcasting a message to recipients having both telephone network-based receiving devices and data network-based receiving devices. The apparatus includes a message router that translates the broadcast message into individual messages that are addressed to each message recipient in a format, e.g., voice, text, email, fax, pager, compatible with each message recipient'"'"'s receiving device. The individual messages are transmitted by a data network server over a data network. Individual messages designated for recipients having receiving devices addressable by the data network are delivered directly over the data network to the receiving devices. Individual messages designated for recipients having receiving devices addressable by the telephone network are delivered over the data network first to a telephone network server. The telephone network server then delivers the individual messages to the telephone network-based receiving devices over the telephone network via a local telephone switch corresponding to the telephone network server.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for permitting a user to send a broadcast message via a sending device to a first recipient and a second recipient, the sending device either addressable over a data network or addressable over a telephone network connected to the data network, the first recipient having a first receiving device addressable over the data network and the second recipient having a second receiving device addressable over the telephone network, the apparatus comprising:
a message router, configured to parse recipient addresses received in the broadcast message from the sending device over the data network if the sending device is addressable over the data network and over the telephone network via the data network connected to the telephone network if the sending device is addressable over the telephone network, the message router configured to translate the received broadcast message into a translated first broadcast message and a translated second broadcast, the translated first broadcast message being in a format compatible with the first receiving device for delivery to the first receiving device over the data network, the translated second broadcast message being in a format compatible with the second receiving device for delivery to the second receiving device over the telephone network via the data network, the message router configured to associate a telephone number that corresponds to the second receiving device with the translated second broadcast message, the message router configured for routing the translated first broadcast message to the first receiving device over the data network and configured for routing the translated second broadcast message and the associated telephone number to the second receiving device over the telephone network via the data network wherein the associated telephone number provides routing information to the telephone network for delivery of the translated second broadcast message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for permitting a user to send a broadcast message via a sending device to a first recipient and a second recipient, the sending device either addressable over a data network or addressable over a telephonic network connected to the data network, the first recipient having a first receiving device addressable over the data network and the second recipient having a second receiving device addressable over the telephone network, the method comprising:
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parsing in a router recipient addresses received in the broadcast message from the sending device over the data network if the sending device is addressable over the data network and over the telephone network via the data network if the sending device is addressable over the telephone network;
translating the received broadcast message into a translated first broadcast message and a translated second broadcast message, the translated first broadcast message being in a format compatible with the first receiving device for delivery to the first receiving device over the data network, the translated second broadcast message being in a format compatible with the second receiving device for delivery to the second receiving device over the telephone network via the data network;
associating a telephone number that corresponds to the second receiving device with the translated second broadcast message;
routing the translated first broadcast message to the first receiving device over the data network; and
routing the translated second broadcast message and the associated telephone number to the second receiving device over the telephone network via the data network wherein the associated telephone number provides routing information to the telephone network for delivery of the translated second broadcast message. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for:
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parsing in a router recipient addresses received in a broadcast message from a sending device over a data network if the sending device is addressable over the data network and over a telephone network via the data network if the sending device is addressable over the telephone network;
translating the received broadcast message into a translated first broadcast message_and a translated second broadcast message, the translated first broadcast message being in a format compatible with a first receiving device addressable over the data network the translated second broadcast message being in a format compatible with a second receiving device addressable over the telephone network;
associating a telephone number that corresponds to the second receiving device with the translated second broadcast message;
routing the translated first broadcast message to the first receiving device over the data network; and
routing the translated second broadcast message and the associated telephone number to the second receiving device over the telephone network via the data network wherein the associated telephone number provides routing information to the telephone network for delivery of the translated second broadcast message. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification