Distribution List Management via SMS

• US 20080281923A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barchi, Ronald S.
• Application Number:
  US11/746,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20080281923A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

The ability to manage and use a group distribution list by sending command codes in messages sent via a short messaging service is provided for. Management and usage may include receiving an SMS message having a command code, interpreting the message to retrieve the command code, and executing the command code. A system for managing and using a distribution list may include a short messaging service, and a group distribution list manager configured to receive a message via the short messaging service, interpret the message to retrieve a command code contained within the message, and execute the command code. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for managing and using group distribution lists may include instructions that interpret a short messaging service message, wherein the message contains a command code, retrieve the command code, and execute the command code.

Claims

1. A method of managing a group distribution list, comprising:

receiving a short messaging service (SMS) message, wherein the SMS message comprises a command code;

interpreting the message to retrieve the command code; and

executing the command code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the command code comprises a command to modify the group distribution list.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the command to modify the group distribution list comprises a command to add a member to the group distribution list or a command to remove a member from the group distribution list.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the command code comprises a command to establish a new group distribution list.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the command code comprises a request from a new user that the new user be added to or deleted from the group distribution list.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the command code comprises a command to merge at least a part of the group distribution list with at least a part of a second group distribution list.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the command code comprises a command to opt-in or opt-out of the group distribution list.

8. A method of managing and using a group distribution list, comprising:

generating an SMS message, wherein the SMS message comprises a command code and content; and

sending the SMS message to a group distribution list manager.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the SMS message comprises:

sending the SMS message to the management account code assigned to the group distribution list manager.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the command code comprises a command to compose a message to a group in the group distribution list, wherein the content comprises the message to send to the group.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the command code comprises a command to reply to a prior message sent to a group in the group distribution list, wherein the content comprises the reply message to send to the group.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the command code comprises a command to retrieve a list of members associated with a group in the group distribution list, wherein the content comprises a name of the group.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the command code comprises a command to request a filter of message sent to a group in the group distribution list, wherein the content comprises the message filter.

14. A system for managing and using a distribution list, comprising:

a short messaging service; and

a group distribution list manager configured to;

receive a message via the short messaging service;

interpret the message to retrieve a command code contained within the message; and

execute the command code.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the short messaging service is in communication with a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the short messaging service is in communication with a general packet radio service (GPRS) multimedia network.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the short messaging service is in communication with an internet protocol (IP) network.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the message is sent via a cellular telephone.

19. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for managing and using group distribution lists, the computer-readable instructions comprising instructions that:

interpret a short messaging service message, wherein the message contains a command code;

retrieve the command code; and

execute the command code.

20. The computer-readable instructions of claim 19, wherein the command code is a management command or a usage command.