Buddy-Based Cross-Carrier Messaging System
First Claim
1. A server for implementing a mobile phone network based text messaging service where the server is in communication with a first mobile phone network and a second mobile phone network, such that communication with a first communication device is through the first mobile phone network and communication with a second communication device is through the second mobile phone network;
- such that, when the server receives a first communication message including a text message from the first communication device, the text message identifying the intended recipient as the second communication device, the server checks whether the second communication device'"'"'s details are included on a list of communication devices associated with the first communication device;
and, if so included, send the text message to the second communication device;
and, if not so included, send a second communication message to the second communication device informing them of the existence of the text message and seeking authorisation from a possessor of the second communication device to associate the second communication device with the first communication device and, if such authorisation is given, to include the second communication device on the list of communication devices associated with the first communication device and thereafter send the text message to the second communication device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A buddy-based, cross-carrier mobile phone based text messaging server, system and method is disclosed. A table of subscribers cross referenced against buddy subscribers who have opted in to receive text messages (SMS) is maintained. Where a recipient subscriber is not yet registered as a buddy subscriber, the server sends a message asking if the recipient subscriber wants to become a buddy subscriber of the sending subscriber. If the recipient subscriber opts-in, the recipient subscriber is added to the table as a buddy subscriber, and thereafter will be forwarded all messages through the service, sent from the particular sending subscriber, until the buddy subscriber opts-out. The invention ensures a near one to one correspondence of in/out SMS for participating mobile phone networks, and avoids any one network being overloaded with spam messaging.
26 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A server for implementing a mobile phone network based text messaging service where the server is in communication with a first mobile phone network and a second mobile phone network, such that communication with a first communication device is through the first mobile phone network and communication with a second communication device is through the second mobile phone network;
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such that, when the server receives a first communication message including a text message from the first communication device, the text message identifying the intended recipient as the second communication device, the server checks whether the second communication device'"'"'s details are included on a list of communication devices associated with the first communication device; and, if so included, send the text message to the second communication device; and, if not so included, send a second communication message to the second communication device informing them of the existence of the text message and seeking authorisation from a possessor of the second communication device to associate the second communication device with the first communication device and, if such authorisation is given, to include the second communication device on the list of communication devices associated with the first communication device and thereafter send the text message to the second communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for implementing a mobile phone network based text messaging service comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first communication message including a text message from a first communication device by way of a first mobile phone network, the text message identifying the intended recipient as a second communication device; checking whether the second communication device'"'"'s details are included on a list of communication devices associated with the first communication device; if so included, sending the text message to the second communication device by way of a second mobile phone network; if not so included; sending a second communication message to the second communication device by way of the second mobile phone network informing them of the existence of the text message; seeking authorisation from a possessor of the second communication device to associate the second communication device with the first communication device; and if such authorisation is given; including the second communication device on the list of communication devices associated with the first communication device; and sending the text message to the second communication device by way of the second mobile phone network. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A mobile phone network based text messaging service system comprising:
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a server; a first communication device communicable with the server through a first mobile phone network; and a second communication device communicable with the server through a second mobile phone network where, when the server receives a first communication message including a text message from the first communication device, the text message identifying the intended recipient as the second communication device, the server checks whether the second communication device'"'"'s details are included on a list of communication devices associated with the first communication device; and, if so included, send the text message to the second communication device; and, if not so included, send a second communication message to the second communication device informing them of the existence of the text message and seeking authorisation from a possessor of the second communication device to associate the second communication device with the first communication device and, if such authorisation is given, to include the second communication device on the list of communication devices associated with the first communication device and thereafter send the text message to the second communication device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer readable medium having software recorded thereon, the software comprising:
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incoming communication means for receiving a first communication message including a text message from a first communication device by way of a first mobile phone network, the text message identifying the intended recipient as a second communication device; verification means for checking whether the second communication device'"'"'s details are included on a list of communication devices associated with the first communication device; authorised communication means for sending the text message to the second communication device by way of a second mobile phone network if the second communication device'"'"'s details are so included; outgoing communication means for sending a second communication message to the second communication device by way of the second mobile phone network informing them of the existence of the text message, the second communication message seeking authorisation from a possessor of the second communication device to associate the second communication device with the first communication device; association means for including the second communication device on the list of communication devices associated with the first communication device if the possessor provides such authorisation; and initial communication means for sending the text message to the second communication device by way of the second mobile phone network if authorisation is so provided by the possessor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification