METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCHEDULING THE TRANSMISSION OF MESSAGES FROM A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20090311992A1
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: JAGETIYA, Vikas
• Granted Patent: US 8,290,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications

Abstract

Methods and devices enable scheduling the transmission of messages based upon date, time and/or location transmission criteria. Text and multimedia messages may be drafted and scheduled for automatic transmission at a later time and date or when the mobile device is in a particular location. Alternatively, methods and systems enable the message to be sent automatically from a remote server.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling a transmission of a message, comprising:

receiving the message content on a mobile device;

receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient for the message on the mobile device;

receiving on the mobile device a date for transmission of the message;

storing the message content in memory;

storing the date for transmission of the message in memory;

comparing a present date to the date for transmission stored in memory in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted;

retrieving the message content from memory if the present date equals the date for transmission; and

transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient

wherein the step of comparing the present date to the date for transmission stored in memory is performed within an operating system of the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving on the mobile device a time for transmission of the message;

storing the received time for transmission in memory;

comparing a present time to the time for transmission stored in memory in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted,

wherein the step of comparing the present time to the time for transmission stored in memory is performed within an operating system of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising alerting a user of the mobile device that the message has been transmitted.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting confirmation from a user of the mobile device prior to transmitting the message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication that the message is to be a recurring message; and

transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient on a recurring basis.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a messaging application when the present date and the date for transmission are equal, wherein the step of transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient is performed by the activated messaging application.

7. A method for scheduling a transmission of a message, comprising:

receiving the message content on a mobile device;

receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient for the message on the mobile device;

receiving on the mobile device a date for transmission of the message;

transmitting the message content to a server;

storing the message content in server memory;

transmitting the date for transmission of the stored message content to the server;

storing the date for transmission in the server memory;

comparing a present date to the date for transmission stored in memory in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted;

retrieving the message content from the server memory if the present date equals the date for transmission; and

transmitting the message from the server to the at least one intended recipient.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a future time for transmission of the message on the mobile device;

transmitting the time for transmission to the server;

storing the time for transmission in the server memory; and

comparing in the server a present time to the time for transmission stored in the server memory in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting to the mobile device from the server an indication that the message has been transmitted; and

alerting a user of the mobile device that the message has been transmitted.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting a confirmation request from the server to the mobile device prior to transmitting the message;

requesting of a user of the mobile device confirmation of transmission of the message; and

transmitting from the mobile device to the server a response received from the user on the mobile device,

wherein the step of transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient is performed only if response received from the mobile device confirms transmission.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving an indication that the message is to be a recurring message; and

transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient on a recurring basis

12. A method for scheduling a transmission of a message, comprising:

receiving the message content on a mobile device;

receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient to receive the message;

receiving on the mobile device a geographic transmission criteria for the message;

storing the message content in memory;

storing the geographic transmission criteria in memory;

determining a current location of the mobile device;

comparing the current location of the mobile device to the geographic transmission criteria to determine if the message should be transmitted;

retrieving the message content from the memory if the current location satisfies the geographic transmission criteria; and

transmitting the message.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising retrieving calendar data from a calendar application, wherein the step of retrieving the message content from memory and transmitting the message are performed only if the calendar data does not indicate a schedule conflict.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising alerting a user of the mobile device that the message has been transmitted.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising requesting confirmation from a user of the mobile device prior to transmitting the message.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the geographic transmission criteria is a location of the at least one intended recipient.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving the geographic transmission criteria as a reference to a contact database; and

obtaining an address of the at least one intended recipient from the contact database for use as the geographic transmission criteria.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

obtaining a city the address record for the at least one recipient stored in the contacts database; and

using the city as the geographic transmission criteria.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the location of the mobile device is based upon a cell identifier within a cellular network.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the location of the mobile device is based upon global positioning system (GPS) coordinates measured by a GPS receiver included within the mobile device.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of comparing the current location to the geographic transmission criteria is performed within an operating system of the mobile device.

22. A method for scheduling a transmission of a message, comprising:

receiving the message content on a mobile device;

receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient for the message on the mobile device;

receiving on the mobile device a geographic transmission criteria for the message;

transmitting the message content to a server;

storing the message content in server memory;

transmitting the geographic transmission criteria for the stored message to the server;

storing the geographic transmission criteria in the server memory;

transmitting a current location of the mobile device to the server;

comparing the current location to the geographic transmission criteria stored in memory in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted;

retrieving the message content from the server memory if the current location satisfies the geographic transmission criteria; and

transmitting the message from the server to the at least one intended recipient.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of transmitting the current location of the mobile device is repeated whenever the location of the mobile device changes.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the location of the mobile device is based upon a cell identifier within a cellular network.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the location of the mobile device is based upon global positioning system (GPS) coordinates measured by a GPS receiver included within the mobile device.

26. A mobile device, comprising:

means for receiving a message on the mobile device;

means for receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient for the message on the mobile device;

means for receiving on the mobile device a date for transmission of the message;

means for storing the message;

means for storing the date for transmission of the message;

means for comparing a present date to the date for transmission in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted;

means for retrieving the message from said means for storing the message if the present date equals the date for transmission; and

means for transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient.

27. The mobile device of claim 26, further comprising:

means for receiving on the mobile device a time for transmission of the message;

means for storing the received time for transmission;

means for comparing a present time to the time for transmission in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted.

28. The mobile device of claim 27, further comprising means for alerting a user of the mobile device that the message has been transmitted.

29. The mobile device of claim 26, further comprising means for requesting confirmation from a user of the mobile device prior to transmitting the message.

30. The mobile device of claim 26, further comprising:

means for receiving an indication that the message is to be a recurring message; and

means for transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient on a recurring basis.

31. A messaging system, comprising:

means for receiving a message body on a mobile device;

means for receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient for the message on the mobile device;

means for receiving on the mobile device a date for transmission of the message;

means for transmitting the message to a server;

means for storing the message in the server;

means for transmitting the date for transmission of the stored message to the server;

means for storing the date for transmission in the server;

means for comparing a present date to the date for transmission stored in said means for storing the date for transmission in the server in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted;

means for retrieving the message from the means for storing the message in the server if the present date equals the date for transmission; and

means for transmitting the message from the server to the at least one intended recipient.

32. The messaging system of claim 31, further comprising:

means for receiving a future time for transmission of the message on the mobile device;

means for transmitting the time for transmission to the server;

means for storing the time for transmission in the server; and

means for comparing in the server a present time to the time for transmission stored in the means for storing the time for transmission in the server in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted.

33. The messaging system of claim 32, further comprising:

means for transmitting to the mobile device from the server an indication that the message has been transmitted; and

means for alerting a user of the mobile device that the message has been transmitted.

34. The messaging system of claim 32, further comprising:

means for transmitting a confirmation request from the server to the mobile device prior to transmitting the message;

means for requesting of a user of the mobile device confirmation of transmission of the message; and

means for transmitting from the mobile device to the server a response received from the user on the mobile device,

wherein the means for transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient transmits the message only if the means for transmitting from the mobile device to the server a response received from the user on the mobile device transmits a confirmation for transmission.

35. The messaging system of claim 32, further comprising:

means for receiving an indication that the message is to be a recurring message; and

means for transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient on a recurring basis

36. A mobile device, comprising:

means for receiving a message on the mobile device;

means for receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient to receive the message;

means for receiving on the mobile device a geographic transmission criteria for the message;

means for storing the message;

means for storing the geographic transmission criteria;

means for determining a current location of the mobile device;

means for comparing the current location of the mobile device to the geographic transmission criteria to determine if the message should be transmitted;

means for retrieving the message from the means for storing the message if the current location satisfies the geographic transmission criteria; and

means for transmitting the message.

37. The mobile device of claim 36, further comprising means for alerting a user of the mobile device that the message has been transmitted.

38. The mobile device of claim 36, further comprising means for requesting confirmation from a user of the mobile device prior to transmitting the message.

39. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein the geographic transmission criteria is a location of the at least one intended recipient.

40. The mobile device of claim 39, further comprising:

means for receiving the geographic transmission criteria as a reference to a contact database; and

means for obtaining an address of the at least one intended recipient from the contact database for use as the geographic transmission criteria.

41. The mobile device of claim 40, further comprising:

means for obtaining a city the address record for the at least one recipient stored in the contacts database; and

means for using the city as the geographic transmission criteria.

42. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein the location of the mobile device is based upon a cell identifier within a cellular network.

43. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein the location of the mobile device is based upon global positioning system (GPS) coordinates measured by a GPS receiver included within the mobile device.

44. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein the means for comparing the current location to the geographic transmission criteria is within an operating system of the mobile device.

45. A messaging system, comprising:

means for receiving the message body on a mobile device;

means for receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient for the message on the mobile device;

means for receiving on the mobile device a geographic transmission criteria for the message;

means for transmitting the message to a server;

means for storing the message in the server;

means for transmitting the geographic transmission criteria for the stored message to the server;

means for storing the geographic transmission criteria in the server;

means for transmitting a current location of the mobile device to the server;

means for comparing the current location to the geographic transmission criteria stored in the means for storing the geographic transmission criteria in the server in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted;

means for retrieving the message from the means for storing the message in the server if the current location satisfies the geographic transmission criteria; and

means for transmitting the message from the server to the at least one intended recipient.

46. The messaging system of claim 45, wherein the means for transmitting the current location of the mobile device transmits the current location whenever the location of the mobile device changes.

47. The messaging system of claim 45, wherein the location of the mobile device is based upon a cell identifier within a cellular network.

48. The messaging system of claim 45, wherein the location of the mobile device is based upon global positioning system (GPS) coordinates measured by a GPS receiver included within the mobile device.

49. A mobile device, comprising:

a user interface display;

a user interface keypad;

an air interface for transmitting and receiving data signals;

a processor coupled to the user interface keypad, the user interface display and the air interface; and

a memory coupled to the processor, said memory having stored therein processor executable software instructions configured to cause the processor to perform steps comprising;

receiving a message on a mobile device;

receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient for the message on the mobile device;

receiving on the mobile device a date for transmission of the message;

storing the message in memory;

storing the date for transmission of the message in memory;

comparing a present date to the date for transmission stored in memory in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted;

retrieving the message from memory if the present date equals the date for transmission; and

transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient,

wherein the step of comparing the present date to the date for transmission stored in memory is performed within an operating system of the mobile device.

50. The mobile device of claim 49, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the processor to further perform steps comprising:

receiving on the mobile device a time for transmission of the message;

storing the received time for transmission in memory; and

comparing a present time to the time for transmission stored in memory in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted, wherein the step of comparing the present time to the time for transmission stored in memory is performed within an operating system of the mobile device.

51. The mobile device of claim 50, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the processor to further perform steps comprising alerting a user of the mobile device that the message has been transmitted.

52. The mobile device of claim 49, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the processor to further perform steps comprising requesting confirmation from a user of the mobile device prior to transmitting the message.

53. The mobile device of claim 49, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the processor to further perform steps comprising:

receiving an indication that the message is to be a recurring message; and

transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient on a recurring basis.

54. The mobile device of claim 49, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the processor to further perform steps comprising activating a messaging application when the present date and the date for transmission are equal, wherein the step of transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient is performed by the activated messaging application.

55. A messaging system, comprising a mobile device and a server,

wherein said mobile device comprises:

a user interface display;

a user interface keypad;

a mobile device air interface for transmitting and receiving data signals;

a mobile device processor coupled to the user interface keypad, the user interface display and the air interface; and

a mobile device memory coupled to the mobile device processor, said mobile device memory having stored therein processor executable software instructions configured to cause the mobile device processor to perform steps comprising;

receiving a message body on the mobile device;

receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient for the message on the mobile device;

receiving on the mobile device a date for transmission of the message;

transmitting the message to the server; and

transmitting the date for transmission of the message to the server; and

wherein said server comprises;

a network interface coupled to a network and configured to transmit and receive data signals;

a server processor coupled to the network interface; and

a server memory coupled to the processor, said server memory having stored therein processor executable software instructions configured to cause the server processor to perform steps comprising;

receiving the transmitted message;

storing the message in the server memory;

receiving the transmitted date for transmission of the message;

storing the date for transmission in the server memory;

comparing a present date to the date for transmission stored in server memory in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted;

retrieving the message from the server memory if the present date equals the date for transmission; and

transmitting the message from the server to the at least one intended recipient.

56. The messaging system of claim 55, wherein:

the processor executable software instructions stored in the mobile device memory are configured to cause the mobile device processor to further perform steps comprising;

receiving a time for transmission of the message on the mobile device; and

transmitting the time for transmission to the server; and

wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the server memory are configured to cause the server processor to further perform steps comprising

receiving the time for transmission;

storing the time for transmission in the server memory; and

comparing in the server processor a present time to the time for transmission stored in the server memory in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted.

57. The messaging system of claim 55,

wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the server memory are configured to cause the server processor to further perform steps comprising transmitting to the mobile device from the server an indication that the message has been transmitted;

and

wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the mobile device memory are configured to cause the mobile device processor to further perform steps comprising alerting a user of the mobile device that the message has been transmitted.

58. The messaging system of claim 55,

wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the server memory are configured to cause the server processor to further perform steps comprising transmitting a confirmation request from the server to the mobile device prior to transmitting the message;

and

wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the mobile device memory are configured to cause the mobile device processor to further perform steps comprising;

receiving the confirmation request from the server;

requesting of a user of the mobile device confirmation of transmission of the message; and

transmitting from the mobile device to the server a response received from the user on the mobile device,

wherein the step of transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient by the server is performed only if response received from the mobile device confirms transmission.

59. The messaging system of claim 55, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the server memory are configured to cause the server processor to further perform steps comprising:

receiving an indication that the message is to be a recurring message; and

transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient on a recurring basis

60. A mobile device, comprising:

a user interface display;

a user interface keypad;

an air interface for transmitting and receiving data signals;

a processor coupled to the user interface keypad, the user interface display and the air interface; and

a memory coupled to the processor, said memory having stored therein processor executable software instructions configured to cause the processor to perform steps comprising;

receiving a message on a mobile device;

receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient to receive the message;

receiving on the mobile device a geographic transmission criteria for the message;

storing the message in memory;

storing the geographic transmission criteria in memory;

determining a current location of the mobile device;

comparing the current location of the mobile device to the geographic transmission criteria to determine if the message should be transmitted;

retrieving the message from the memory if the current location satisfies the geographic transmission criteria; and

transmitting the message.

61. The mobile device of claim 60, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the processor to further perform steps comprising retrieving calendar data from a calendar application, wherein the step of retrieving the message from memory and transmitting the message are performed only if the calendar data does not indicate a schedule conflict.

62. The mobile device of claim 60, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the processor to further perform steps comprising alerting a user of the mobile device that the message has been transmitted.

63. The mobile device of claim 60, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the processor to further perform steps comprising requesting confirmation from a user of the mobile device prior to the transmitting of the message.

64. The mobile device of claim 60, wherein the geographic transmission criteria is a location of the at least one intended recipient.

65. The mobile device of claim 64, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the processor to further perform steps comprising:

receiving the geographic transmission criteria as a reference to a contact database; and

obtaining an address of the at least one intended recipient from the contact database for use as the geographic transmission criteria.

66. The mobile device of claim 65, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the processor to further perform steps comprising

obtaining a city the address record for the at least one recipient stored in the contacts database;

and

using the city as the geographic transmission criteria.

67. The mobile device of claim 60, wherein the location of the mobile device is based upon a cell identifier within a cellular network.

68. The mobile device of claim 60, wherein the location of the mobile device is based upon global positioning system (GPS) coordinates measured by a GPS receiver included within the mobile device.

69. The mobile device of claim 60, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the processor to perform the step of comparing the current location to the geographic transmission criteria within an operating system operating on the processor.

70. A messaging system, comprising a mobile device and a server,

wherein said mobile device comprises:

a user interface display;

a user interface keypad;

a mobile device air interface for transmitting and receiving data signals;

a mobile device processor coupled to the user interface keypad, the user interface display and the air interface; and

a mobile device memory coupled to the processor, said mobile device memory having stored therein processor executable software instructions configured to cause the mobile device processor to perform steps comprising;

receiving a message on the mobile device;

receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient for the message on the mobile device;

receiving on the mobile device a geographic transmission criteria for the message;

transmitting the geographic transmission criteria for the stored message to the server;

transmitting a current location of the mobile device to the server; and

transmitting the message to a server;

wherein said server comprises;

a server network interface coupled to a network and configured to transmit and receive data signals;

a server processor coupled to the network interface; and

a server memory coupled to the processor, said server memory having stored therein processor executable software instructions configured to cause the server processor to perform steps comprising;

receiving the message;

storing the message in server memory;

receiving the geographic transmission criteria;

storing the geographic transmission criteria in the server memory;

receiving the current location of the mobile device;

comparing the received current location to the geographic transmission criteria stored in the server memory in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted;

retrieving the message from the server memory if the current location satisfies the geographic transmission criteria; and

transmitting the message from the server to the at least one intended recipient.

71. The messaging system of claim 70, wherein the processor executable software instructions stored in the mobile device memory are configured to cause the mobile device processor to further perform steps comprising transmitting the current location of the mobile device whenever the location of the mobile device changes.

72. The messaging system of claim 70, wherein the current location of the mobile device is based upon a cell identifier within a cellular network.

73. The messaging system of claim 70, wherein the current location of the mobile device is based upon global positioning system (GPS) coordinates measured by a GPS receiver included within the mobile device.

74. A tangible processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:

receiving a message on a mobile device;

receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient for the message on the mobile device;

receiving on the mobile device a date for transmission of the message;

storing the message in memory;

storing the date for transmission of the message in memory;

comparing a present date to the date for transmission stored in memory in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted;

retrieving the message from memory if the present date equals the date for transmission; and

transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient,

wherein the step of comparing the present date to the date for transmission stored in memory is performed within an operating system operating on the processor.

75. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 74, further having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

receiving on the mobile device a time for transmission of the message;

storing the received time for transmission in memory; and

comparing a present time to the time for transmission stored in memory in order to determine whether the message should be transmitted,

wherein the step of comparing the present time to the time for transmission stored in memory is performed within an operating system operating on the processor.

76. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 75 further having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising alerting a user of the mobile device that the message has been transmitted.

77. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 74 further having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising requesting confirmation from a user of the mobile device prior to transmitting the message.

78. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 74 further having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising:

receiving an indication that the message is to be a recurring message; and

transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient on a recurring basis.

79. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 74 further having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising activating a messaging application when the present date and the date for transmission are equal, wherein the step of transmitting the message to the at least one intended recipient is performed by the activated messaging application.

81. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 74 further having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising retrieving calendar data from a calendar application, wherein the step of retrieving the message from memory and transmitting the message are performed only if the calendar data does not indicate a schedule conflict.

83. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 74 further having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising requesting confirmation from a user of the mobile device prior to the transmitting of the message.

84. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 74 further having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform the step of comparing the current location to the geographic transmission criteria within an operating system operating on the processor.

80. A tangible processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:

receiving a message on a mobile device;

receiving a telephone number of at least one intended recipient to receive the message;

receiving on the mobile device a geographic transmission criteria for the message;

storing the message in memory;

storing the geographic transmission criteria in memory;

determining a current location of the mobile device;

comparing the current location of the mobile device to the geographic transmission criteria to determine if the message should be transmitted;

retrieving the message from the memory if the current location satisfies the geographic transmission criteria; and

transmitting the message.

82. The tangible processor-readable storage medium of claim 80 further having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform further steps comprising alerting a user of the mobile device that the message has been transmitted.