Systems and Methods for Delayed Message Delivery

• US 20090285129A1
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanson, Paul, Young, Chris, Luu, Adrianne, Swanburg, Scott, Okada, Andre
• Granted Patent: US 8,934,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3329 Natural language query formulation or dialogue systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/205 Parsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/221 Parsing markup language streams streaming G06F40/149
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4547 for personal communications, i.e. using a personal identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4594 Address books, i.e. directories containing contact information about correspondents telephone directories in user terminals H04M1/27453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/705 Account settings, e.g. limits or numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 : Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 : Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 : including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 : where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 : where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42357 : where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 : Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 : Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 : for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 : Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 : Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A system for delayed message delivery can include an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network that is in communication with at least one of a first user equipment and a second user equipment, and a message application server. The message application server can be configured to receive a message sent from the first user equipment, store the message temporarily in accordance with a time parameter, and send the message to a gateway when the time parameter is satisfied. The gateway can be configured to receive a message formatted in accordance with a first protocol used by the IMS network and convert the message into a format in accordance with a second protocol used by a message center. The message center can be configured to receive the message formatted in accordance with the second protocol and forward the message to the second user equipment. Other systems for delayed message delivery and corresponding methods are disclosed.

Claims

11. A method for providing a delayed message delivery feature, the method comprising:

specifying a time parameter;

creating a message on a first user equipment, the message comprising a message body, a telephone number, and the time parameter;

sending the message in a format of a first protocol to an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network;

sending the message from the IMS network to a message application server for temporary storage in accordance with the time parameter;

sending the message from the message application server to a message gateway when the time parameter is satisfied;

converting, at a message gateway, the message from the first protocol to a second protocol compatible with a message center;

sending the message from the message gateway to the message center; and

;

sending the message from the message center to a second user equipment identified by the telephone number.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the specifying the time parameter comprises specifying at least one of a date and a time when the message is to be sent.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the specifying the time parameter comprises specifying a time value for a timer, the expiration of which prompts the message to be sent.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein sending the message in a format of a first protocol comprises sending the message in a format of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

15. The method of claim 11, wherein converting, at a message gateway, the message from the first protocol to a second protocol comprises converting the message from the first protocol to Short Message Service (SMS) protocol.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein converting, at a message gateway, the message from the first protocol to a second protocol comprises converting the message from the first protocol Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein converting, at a message gateway, the message from the first protocol to a second protocol comprises converting the message from the first protocol a voicemail protocol.

18. A system for delayed message delivery, the system comprising:

a first user equipment;

a second user equipment;

a message center, capable of communication with the first user equipment and the second user equipment; and

a message application server, in communication the message center, the message application server being configured to receive a message sent from the first user equipment, store the message temporarily in accordance with a time parameter, and send the message center when the time parameter is satisfied.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the time parameter comprises at least one of a date and a time when the message is to be sent.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the time parameter comprises a time value for a timer, the expiration of which prompts the message to be sent.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the message center is an SMS center (SMSC).

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the message center is an MMS center (MMSC).

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the message center is a voicemail platform.

24. A method for providing a delayed message delivery feature, the method comprising:

specifying a time parameter;

creating a message on a first user equipment, the message comprising a message body, a telephone number, and the time parameter;

establishing a data session between the first user equipment and a message application server;

sending the message to the message application server for temporary storage in accordance with the time parameter;

sending the message from the message application server to a message center when the time parameter is satisfied; and

sending the message from the message center to a second user equipment identified by the telephone number.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the specifying the time parameter comprises specifying at least one of a date and a time when the message is to be sent.

26-1. The method of claim 27, wherein the specifying the time parameter comprises specifying a time value for a timer, the expiration of which prompts the message to be sent.

27. A method for providing a delayed message delivery feature, the method comprising:

specifying a time parameter;

creating a message on a user equipment, the message comprising a message body, a telephone number associated with the user equipment, and the time parameter;

establishing a data session between the user equipment and a message application server;

sending the message to the message application server for temporary storage in accordance with the time parameter;

sending the message from the message application server to a message center when the time parameter is satisfied; and

sending the message from the message center to the user equipment identified by the telephone number.

1. A system for delayed message delivery, the system comprising:

a first user equipment;

a second user equipment;

an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network in communication with at least one of the first user equipment and the second user equipment;

a message application server, in communication with the IMS network, the message application server being configured to receive a message sent from the first user equipment, store the message temporarily in accordance with a time parameter, and send the message to a gateway when the time parameter is satisfied;

a gateway interconnecting the message application server and a message center, the gateway being configured to receive a message formatted in accordance with a first protocol used by the IMS network and convert the message into a format in accordance with a second protocol used by the message center; and

the message center being configured to receive the message formatted in accordance with the second protocol and forward the message to the second user equipment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the time parameter comprises at least one of a date and a time when the message is to be sent.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the time parameter comprises a time value for a timer, the expiration of which prompts the message to be sent.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first protocol is Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second protocol is Short Message Service (SMS) protocol.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the message center is an SMS center (SMSC).

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second protocol is Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the message center is an MMS center (MMSC).

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second protocol is a voicemail protocol.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the message center is a voicemail platform.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the specifying the time parameter comprises specifying a time value for a timer, the expiration of which prompts the message to be sent.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the specifying the time parameter comprises specifying at least one of a date and a time when the message is to be sent.