Remotely accessible short messages

• US 20070207820A1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhao, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/367,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20070207820A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• 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 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

Short messages such as SMS format messages intended for a mobile station (24) can be accessed using a second, different device (42-46) to increase the accessibility of such messages. A disclosed example includes a message center (22) that has a receiver portion (34) for receiving short messages from a plurality of device (26-32) on behalf of an intended recipient mobile station (24). A message storage portion (36) at least temporarily stores such messages at the message center (22). An access portion (40) provides access to such a short message responsive to a valid request from a second, different device (42-46) so that such a message can be received at the second, different device.

Claims

1. A method of communicating, comprising

accessing a short message intended for a mobile station pursuant to a request for access to the short message from a second, different device.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising

receiving the short message at a message center;

maintaining the short message at the message center; and

providing access to the maintained short message to the second, different device responsive to the request.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising

determining whether the request identifies the mobile station to which the short message was directed;

and

determining whether the request includes a valid access authorization before providing the access to the short message to the second, different device.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising

sending the request from the second, different device;

and

receiving the short message at the second, different device.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising

including an identifier of the mobile station with the request;

and

including an access authorization with the request.

6. The method of claim 4, comprising

sending the request to a message center that maintains the short message on behalf of the mobile station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second, different device comprises one of another mobile station, a computer or a personal digital assistant.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the short message comprises at least one of a text message, visual image content or audio content.

9. A message center, comprising

a receiver portion for receiving a short message that is intended for a mobile station;

a storage portion for storing the received short message on behalf of the intended mobile station; and

an access portion for receiving a request from a second device that is different from the intended mobile station regarding a desired access to the stored short message and providing the second device access to the stored short message responsive to the request.

10. The message center of claim 9, wherein the access portion determines if the request is valid before providing the second device access to the stored short message.

11. The message center of claim 10, wherein the access portion determines whether the request properly identifies the intended mobile station and includes a valid access authorization.

12. The message center of claim 9, wherein the access portion provides access to the stored short message responsive to a request from the intended mobile station.

13. The message center of claim 9, wherein the second device comprises one of another mobile station, a computer or a personal digital assistant.

14. The message center of claim 9, wherein the short message comprises at least one of a text message, visual image content or audio content.