Electronic Message Exchange Over Multiple Wireless Communication Networks with a Single Device

• US 20100173657A1
• Filed: 03/19/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gao, Xiaofeng, Zhao, Wei
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Electronic messages such as pages are exchanged between a user device and a message service using one of multiple wireless communication networks. The wireless communication networks may include mobile and/or fixed wireless networks. The user device registers with the message service through at least one of the wireless communications networks. The user device may register through multiple wireless communication devices when available. The user device sends messages through the wireless network through which registration has been established and may apply rules to choose when registration has occurred via multiple wireless networks.

Claims

1. A portable communication device for use with multiple wireless networks, the portable communications device comprising:

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory containing instructions;

a mobile wireless communication transceiver in communication with the processor; and

a fixed wireless transceiver in communication with the processor,

wherein the processor controls whether a message is sent via the mobile wireless communication transceiver or the fixed wireless transceiver based upon the instructions on the memory and presence of available wireless connections, the presence of the available wireless networks determined by a presence server.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising an input allowing a user to enter content for the message.

3. The portable communication device of claim 2, wherein the input is one or more of a keyboard, a keypad, a touch screen, and a voice input.

4. The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising an output.

5. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the output includes one or more of an audio output, a visual output, and a tactile output.

6. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the memory is one or more of electronic storage, magnetic storage, and optical storage.

7. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the available wireless connections include one or more of a mobile wireless network and a fixed wireless network.

8. The portable communication device of claim 7, wherein the mobile wireless network is one of a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network and a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network.

9. The portable communication device of claim 7, wherein the fixed wireless network is a Wi-Fi network.

10. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the message is a page.

11. A method of using multiple wireless networks to send an electronic message, the method comprising:

sending a registration message from a portable communication device to a presence server via a plurality of wireless connections;

receiving a plurality of confirmations, the plurality of confirmations notifying the portable communication device of available wireless networks;

creating a message;

sending the message to one of the available wireless networks according to rules on the portable communication device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending a heartbeat signal to the available wireless networks.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the heartbeat signal is repeated on a periodic basis.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the heartbeat signal allows the presence server to maintain current information regarding the available wireless networks.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the portable communication device continuously measures performance parameters and the heartbeat signal includes data specific to the performance parameters.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the rules specify the use of a wireless network among the available wireless networks when a performance parameter is met.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the rules specify a preference of a wireless network at a time.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the rules set a hierarchy as to the available wireless networks for sending the message.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the available wireless connections include one or more of a mobile wireless network and a fixed wireless network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the mobile wireless network is one of a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network and a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network and the fixed wireless network is a Wi-Fi network.