MESSAGE SERVER

• US 20090088192A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Hong, Kevin Sanh, Davis, Jeffrey P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,831,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0036 Specially adapted to detect a particular component all the other sub-groups of G01N33/0004 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

An apparatus includes a housing, an interface, a processor and a memory. The interface is affixed to the housing and is configured for coupling to a cellular wireless network. The processor is affixed to the housing and is coupled to the interface. The memory is affixed to the housing and is coupled to the processor. The memory is configured to store a set of instructions for causing the processor to receive a first message using the interface and, in response thereto, for causing the processor to broadcast a second message using the cellular wireless network and using the interface, the second message having a transmission parameter determined by the first message and wherein the second message is compatible with a messaging service protocol.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an interface affixed to the housing and configured for coupling to a cellular wireless network;

a processor affixed to the housing and coupled to the interface;

a memory affixed to the housing and coupled to the processor and wherein the memory is configured to store a set of instructions for causing the processor to receive a first message using the interface and, in response thereto, for causing the processor to broadcast a second message using the cellular wireless network and using the interface, the second message having a transmission parameter determined by the first message and wherein the second message is compatible with a messaging service protocol.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interface is configured for communicating in a wireless protocol compatible with at least one of global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), advanced mobile phone system (AMPS), a satellite network, a landline network, third generation of wireless technology (3G), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), ZigBee, and worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX).

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the messaging service protocol is at least one of instant messaging (IM), short messaging service (SMS), enhanced messaging service (EMS), and multimedia messaging service (MMS).

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interface includes a connector configured to couple with a wired communication network or a wireless communication network.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the wired communication network includes a local area network.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the local area network includes an Ethernet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further wherein the interface includes at least one of a 1-port cellular modem, a 4-port cellular modem, and an 8-port cellular modem.

8. A system comprising:

a message server having a processor, a cellular interface, and a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store a set of instructions for causing the processor to receive a first message using the interface and, in response thereto, for causing the processor to broadcast a second message using a wireless network and using the interface, the second message having a transmission parameter determined by the first message and wherein the second message is compatible with a messaging service protocol; and

a housing to which the message server is affixed.

9. The system of claim 8 further wherein the wireless network includes a cellular network.

10. The system of claim 8 further including a second interface coupled to the processor, wherein the second interface is configured for connecting to a communication network.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the communication network includes a wireless communication network.

12. The system of claim 8 further wherein the processor can be configured to execute one of a plurality of applications selected by at least one of a host computer, an SMS client, a remote client, and a browser-based client.

13. The system of claim 8 further including a host computer coupled to the message server wherein the host computer is configured to manage the message server.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the cellular interface includes at least one cellular modem.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein the cellular interface includes a first cellular modem configured for communicating using a first protocol and includes a second cellular modem configured for communicating using a second protocol, and further wherein the first communication protocol differs from the second communication protocol.

16. A method comprising:

receiving a first message encoded in a first protocol, the first message received using a first communication network;

providing a signal to a processor coupled to the first communication network, the signal generated using the first message;

executing an algorithm using the processor, the algorithm stored in a memory coupled to the processor wherein the memory and the processor are enclosed in a housing, the housing having an interface to the first communication network, and wherein the algorithm is configured to generate a second message, the second message having at least one parameter generated using the signal; and

sending the second message using a second communication network coupled to the processor, the second message having a second protocol, wherein the housing includes an interface to the second communication network and wherein the second protocol includes a messaging service.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein receiving the first message includes receiving a wireless message from a cellular device.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein receiving the first message includes receiving using a wired connection.

19. The method of claim 16 further including exchanging data with a host computer to control the algorithm executed by the processor.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein sending the second message is in response to receiving a trigger signal from a trigger device coupled to the processor.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the first communication network includes the second communication network.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein receiving the first message includes receiving a message to at least one of read a memory and to perform a diagnostic routine.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the algorithm is configured to at least one of read the memory and perform the diagnostic routine and further wherein sending the second message includes reporting a result.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the algorithm is configured to determine an available capacity of a device coupled to the first communication network.

25. A method comprising:

receiving a request for messaging services at a master device coupled to an internet protocol communication network;

using the communication network to send an inquiry for capacity information to at least one slave device, the inquiry determined based on the request;

receiving capacity information at the master device; and

distributing the request to the at least one slave device based on the capacity information.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein receiving the request includes receiving using the internet protocol communication network.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein receiving the request includes receiving using a wireless communication network.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein distributing the request includes sending an SMS message.

29. The method of claim 25 further including selecting the at least one slave device from a plurality of slave devices wherein selecting is based on the request.