ELECTRONIC MESSAGE FORWARDING
First Claim
1. A method for forwarding an electronic message addressed to a telephone number to an alternative destination, the method comprising:
- storing, in computer memory that is accessible by an electronic messaging system, an association between a particular telephone number and an alternative address for message delivery;
storing, in the computer memory that is accessible by the electronic message system, a condition for forwarding an electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number to another destination;
receiving, from a message sender, an electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number;
in response to receiving the electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number;
accessing, from the computer memory, the stored condition for forwarding a received electronic message to another destination and determining that the condition presently is satisfied, andaccessing, from the computer memory, the stored association between the particular telephone number and the alternative address for message delivery to reveal that the alternative address for message delivery is associated with the particular telephone number; and
in response to determining that the condition for forwarding a received electronic message to another destination presently is satisfied and based on accessing the stored association between the particular telephone number and the alternative address for message delivery, forwarding the electronic message to the alternative address for message delivery in a format that is appropriate for receipt at the alternative address for message delivery.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method of transmitting electronic messages in a computer environment. The preferred embodiment receives an electronic message addressed to a telephone number and determines an instant message identifier associated with the telephone number. In response to the determination that an instant message identifier associates with the telephone number, it is further determined whether an instant message receiver is available to receive messages addressed to the instant message identifier. In response to a determination that an instant message receiver is available to receive instant messages addressed to the instant message identifier, the electronic message is forwarded as an instant message addressed to the instant message identifier. In response to a determination that an instant message receiver is available to receive instant message addressed to the instant message identifier, electronic message is sent to a mobile device at the telephone number in response to a determination that no instant message receiver is available to receive instant messages addressed to the instant message identifier.
101 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for forwarding an electronic message addressed to a telephone number to an alternative destination, the method comprising:
-
storing, in computer memory that is accessible by an electronic messaging system, an association between a particular telephone number and an alternative address for message delivery; storing, in the computer memory that is accessible by the electronic message system, a condition for forwarding an electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number to another destination; receiving, from a message sender, an electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number; in response to receiving the electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number; accessing, from the computer memory, the stored condition for forwarding a received electronic message to another destination and determining that the condition presently is satisfied, and accessing, from the computer memory, the stored association between the particular telephone number and the alternative address for message delivery to reveal that the alternative address for message delivery is associated with the particular telephone number; and in response to determining that the condition for forwarding a received electronic message to another destination presently is satisfied and based on accessing the stored association between the particular telephone number and the alternative address for message delivery, forwarding the electronic message to the alternative address for message delivery in a format that is appropriate for receipt at the alternative address for message delivery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A system for forwarding an electronic message addressed to a telephone number to an alternative destination, the system comprising:
-
computer memory that stores; an association between a particular telephone number and an alternative address for message delivery; a condition for forwarding an electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number to another destination; and a computing device that is configured to; receive, from a message sender, an electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number; access, from the computer memory, the stored condition for forwarding a received electronic message to another destination and determining that the condition presently is satisfied; access, from the computer memory, the stored association between the particular telephone number and the alternative address for message delivery to reveal that the alternative address for message delivery is associated with the particular telephone number; and forward the electronic message to the alternative address for message delivery in a format that is appropriate for receipt at the alternative address for message delivery in response to determining that the condition for forwarding a received electronic message to another destination presently is satisfied and based on accessing the stored association between the particular telephone number and the alternative address for message delivery.
-
-
16. A computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer program for forwarding an electronic message addressed to a telephone number to an alternative destination, the computer program including instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:
-
store, in computer memory that is accessible by an electronic messaging system, an association between a particular telephone number and an alternative address for message delivery; store, in the computer memory that is accessible by the electronic message system, a condition for forwarding an electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number to another destination; receive, from a message sender, an electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number; access, from the computer memory, the stored condition for forwarding a received electronic message to another destination and determine that the condition presently is satisfied; access, from the computer memory, the stored association between the particular telephone number and the alternative address for message delivery to reveal that the alternative address for message delivery is associated with the particular telephone number; and forward the electronic message to the alternative address for message delivery in a format that is appropriate for receipt at the alternative address for message delivery in response to determining that the condition for forwarding a received electronic message to another destination presently is satisfied and based on accessing the stored association between the particular telephone number and the alternative address for message deli very.
-
-
17. A method for forwarding an electronic message addressed to a telephone number to an instant message identity, the method comprising:
-
receiving, from a message sender, an electronic message addressed to a particular telephone number; in response to receiving the electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number; determining that the particular telephone number is associated with an instant message identity corresponding to a user of an instant messaging system, and determining that the instant message identity presently is available to receive an instant message; and in response to determining that the particular telephone number is associated with the instant message identity and that the instant message identity presently is available to receive an instant message, forwarding the electronic message to the instant message identity as an instant message.
-
-
18. The method of 17 wherein determining that the instant messaging identity presently is available to receive an instant message comprises determining that the instant message identity presently is signed in to the instant messaging system.
-
19. A method for forwarding an electronic message addressed to a telephone number to an alternative destination, the method comprising:
-
storing, in computer memory that is accessible by an electronic messaging system, an association between a particular telephone number and an alternative address for message delivery; maintaining a filter that identifies objectionable content; receiving, from a message sender, an electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number; applying the filter to the received electronic message; based on applying the filter to the electronic message, determining that the electronic message does not include content identified by the filter as objectionable; accessing, from the computer memory, the stored association between the particular telephone number and the alternative address for message delivery to reveal that the alternative address for message delivery is associated with the particular telephone number; and in response to determining that the electronic message does not include content identified by the filter as objectionable and based on accessing the stored association between the particular telephone number and the alternative address for message delivery, forwarding the electronic message to the alternative address for message delivery in a format that is appropriate for receipt at the alternative address for message delivery.
-
-
20. A method for forwarding an electronic message addressed to a telephone number to an alternative destination, the method comprising:
-
storing, in computer memory that is accessible by an electronic messaging system, an association between a particular telephone number and an alternative address for message delivery; maintaining a filter that identifies objectionable content; receiving, from a message sender, an electronic message addressed to the particular telephone number; applying the filter to the received electronic message, based on applying the filter to the electronic message, determining that the electronic message includes content identified by the filter as objectionable; in response to determining that the electronic message includes content identified by the filter as objectionable, deleting the content identified as objectionable from the electronic message; accessing, from the computer memory, the stored association between the particular telephone number and the alternative address for message delivery to reveal that the alternative address for message delivery is associated with the particular telephone number; and based on accessing the stored association between the particular telephone number and the alternative address for message delivery, forwarding the electronic message from which the content identified as objectionable has been deleted to the alternative address for message delivery in a format that is appropriate for receipt at the alternative address for message delivery.
-
Specification