Scheme of sending email to mobile devices
First Claim
1. A client, server, and method providing a simplified scheme to deliver email messages that include texts message body and/or MIME attachments from desktop computing devices to messaging (such as SMS) and wireless internet capable phones, comprising:
- Providing a seamless email to phone option within existing WEB email or email client for users to send emails to mobile phones;
Uploading text message body and/or MIME attachments from user'"'"'s desktop computing device to server;
Collecting targeted mobile device info such as phone number from sender;
Storing message body and/or MIME attachments on server;
Creating an email WAP page using message body and/or MIME attachments;
Generating a unique MSG ID for each dynamically created email WAP page using any of a variety of mechanisms, including a counter, a MD5 hash;
Mapping the unique MSG ID to the email WAP page;
Storing the created email WAP page on server;
Providing a routing table that specifies delivering mechanisms and the associated messaging domains for mobile service providers;
Building the unique email like messaging address for a given mobile number, such as SMS, MMS, or WAP push address;
Generating a notification message with a link pointing to the email WAP page;
Sending a notification message to the unique messaging address (such as SMS or WAP push address) of the mobile device;
Employing the link to access email WAP page;
Collecting device info on the fly from HTTP header and/or user agent profiles and querying a device database to find supported MIME, display and capabilities, etc;
Converting the MIME attachment elements to formats supported by the requesting mobile device so that the attachments can be viewed, downloaded and saved on the requesting mobile device. Formatting and optimizing the email WAP page for display on the particular mobile device;
Delivering the email WAP page to the mobile device for viewing, saving, and downloading.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, client and server are directed at providing a simplified scheme to deliver email messages that include text message body, and/or MIME attachments from desktop computing devices to messaging (such as SMS) and wireless internet capable phones. A web form is provided for users to compose messages and/or adding MIME attachments from their PC. Also provided in the form are input fields for users to enter device numbers for recipients. Upon submitting the form, message body and MIME attachments are uploaded and stored on the server. An email WAP page that contains the message body and the links to all the MIME attachments is created dynamically and stored on the server. The server then queries a service database and looks up a domain routing table to build the email like messaging addresses for recipients. The server sends a notification message with an embedded link to the email like messaging addresses. The link, such as a URL, a script, an executable, a program, and the like, pointing to the email WAP page, can be invoked from mobile devices. When the link is invoked on the mobile device, it sends a request to the server for the email WAP page. Upon receiving the request from the mobile device, the server collects the information about the mobile device; queries a device database for formats, display and capabilities; locates and loads the email WAP page; converts the MIME attachments to the formats supported by the mobile device; formats the email WAP page for display on the mobile device; delivers the formatted email WAP page to the mobile device. The email WAP page can be viewed, downloaded, and played on the mobile device. The scheme of the present invention supports a device number based authentication. The scheme of the present invention can also be implemented to deliver email messages to multiple mobile devices. The scheme of the present invention can expand the PC to SMS capabilities by enabling text messaging with arbitrary message length.
179 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A client, server, and method providing a simplified scheme to deliver email messages that include texts message body and/or MIME attachments from desktop computing devices to messaging (such as SMS) and wireless internet capable phones, comprising:
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Providing a seamless email to phone option within existing WEB email or email client for users to send emails to mobile phones;
Uploading text message body and/or MIME attachments from user'"'"'s desktop computing device to server;
Collecting targeted mobile device info such as phone number from sender;
Storing message body and/or MIME attachments on server;
Creating an email WAP page using message body and/or MIME attachments;
Generating a unique MSG ID for each dynamically created email WAP page using any of a variety of mechanisms, including a counter, a MD5 hash;
Mapping the unique MSG ID to the email WAP page;
Storing the created email WAP page on server;
Providing a routing table that specifies delivering mechanisms and the associated messaging domains for mobile service providers;
Building the unique email like messaging address for a given mobile number, such as SMS, MMS, or WAP push address;
Generating a notification message with a link pointing to the email WAP page;
Sending a notification message to the unique messaging address (such as SMS or WAP push address) of the mobile device;
Employing the link to access email WAP page;
Collecting device info on the fly from HTTP header and/or user agent profiles and querying a device database to find supported MIME, display and capabilities, etc;
Converting the MIME attachment elements to formats supported by the requesting mobile device so that the attachments can be viewed, downloaded and saved on the requesting mobile device. Formatting and optimizing the email WAP page for display on the particular mobile device;
Delivering the email WAP page to the mobile device for viewing, saving, and downloading. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A server for managing a communication with a mobile device over a network, comprising:
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Handling http request from PC;
A transceiver for receiving and sending messages to the mobile device;
Receiving MIME attachments and saving them into email message store;
Creating a email WAP page that contains links to all the MIME attachments stored in the server;
Generating a unique MSG ID for each email WAP page;
Mapping the unique MSG ID to each email WAP page;
Building email like messaging address by querying a service provider database and looking up a domain routing table. Delivering a notification message to the mobile device, wherein the notification message includes a link;
Handling http request from the mobile device for the email WAP page using the link;
Employing the link to enable access to the email WAP page;
Saving the association between the mobile device number and the unique MSG ID of the email WAP page for authentication of recipients;
Collecting characteristics of the mobile device from the mobile request. Querying device database for additional device information. Converting MIME attachment elements to formats supported by mobile device so that the MIME attachments can be viewed, saved, and downloaded to the targeting mobile device;
Formatting the email WAP page for display on a particular mobile device;
Delivering the email WAP page to mobile devices.
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Specification