MESSAGING SERVICE IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

• US 20110039584A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HBCU Messaging US LP (f/k/a Rembrandt Messaging Technologies II, LP) (HBCU Tech Holding 2 LLC)
• Original Assignee: Messmo Technologies Pty. Limited
• Inventors: Merrett, Graham
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• 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 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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

This invention concerns a messaging service in a wireless communications network. In a first aspect, the invention is a method for providing a messaging service on a wireless device in a wireless communications network; the method comprising the steps of: Retrieving the destination address of an outgoing message on the device. Verifying whether the destination address is capable of receiving the message via a packet-switched bearer. If verification is affirmative, then automatically sending the message to the destination address via a packet-switched bearer, but otherwise, automatically sending the message to the destination address via an SMS bearer. In another aspect, the invention is a mobile device programmed to perform the method. In a further aspect, the invention is a software program to implement the method.

Claims

1. A method for providing a messaging service on a mobile wireless device in a wireless communications network;

the method comprising the following steps performed by the mobile wireless device;

retrieving the destination address of an outgoing message on the device;

verifying whether the destination address is capable of receiving the message via a packet-switched bearer;

in the event verification is affirmative, then automatically sending the message to the destination address via a packet-switched bearer, but otherwise, automatically sending the message to the destination address via an SMS bearer.

2. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 1, wherein a message client running on the device programmatically and dynamically constructs an outgoing message in the correct syntax given the user'"'"'s preferences and given the dynamic requirements of the message server for a particular service.

3. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 2, wherein the message client interprets incoming SMS or incoming messages from the message server, that are identified in their contents as being requirements for the dynamic construction of a message, when the user views the message.

4. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 2, wherein the message client interprets incoming SMS or incoming messages from the message server, that are identified in their contents as being requirements for the dynamic construction of a message, and stores the requirements for the dynamic construction of a message, such that they are later invoked by selecting a dynamic menu option.

5. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 3, wherein the requirements are set out in a structured format such that the message client shall, when a user opens a message containing requirements for the dynamic construction of a message:

present the user with options to choose from; and

for each option, know the intended destination and bearer of the message; and

prompt the user for input or to select a file to be sent with the constructed message; and

construct a message of the correct syntax based on the user'"'"'s choices and input.

6. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 4, wherein the requirements are set out in a structured format such that the message client shall, when a user selects a dynamic menu:

present the user with options to choose from; and

for each option, know the intended destination and bearer of the message; and

prompt the user for input or to select a file to be sent with the constructed message; and

construct a message of the correct syntax based on the user'"'"'s choices and input.

7. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 1, wherein the destination address is a mobile phone number or a numeric “

shortcode”

or alias representing one or more, or a combination of, phone numbers, email addresses, instant messaging user handles and IP addresses.

8. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 1, further comprising the step of connecting to a message server before verifying the destination address.

9. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 8, further comprising the step of retrieving connection parameters and displaying the retrieved parameters on the mobile device, if connection to a message server is not available, in order to configure the mobile device to establish a connection to the message server.

10. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 8, further comprising the step of manual or automatic over-the-air (OTA) programming.

11. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 10, further comprising the step of displaying a link for a sender to request an OTA configuration message if connection to the message server is not available.

12. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 10, further comprising the step of retrieving connection parameters, automatically creating an OTA configuration message based on the retrieved parameters and sending the generated configuration message from the mobile device to the same mobile device.

13. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 1, wherein the step of verifying the destination address involves sending an address verification request to a message server and then receiving a notification from the message server specifying whether the destination address is capable of receiving the message via a packet-switched bearer.

14. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically providing options to add one or more attachments to the outgoing message before sending the message if a packet-switched bearer is selected.

15. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 14, wherein the attachment is a text, voice, video or picture file.

16. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 1, further comprising the step of formatting the outgoing message according to the mode of delivery before sending the message.

17. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 1, further comprising the step of appending a system message to the outgoing message if an SMS bearer is selected.

18. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 17, wherein the system message comprises an invitation to add the destination address to a subscriber address list if the destination address is not on the list.

19. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 17, wherein, if the destination address is on the subscriber address list but has an inactive status, the system message comprises an invitation to retrieve messages in the message queue of the destination address.

20. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 18, further comprising the step of notifying the recipient, if the recipient is on the subscriber list, when either a message has been received, or when a message is queued but not yet delivered.

21. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 1, comprising the further step of queuing an outgoing message for later delivery if the message is undelivered.

22. A mobile device programmed to perform the method according to claim 1.

23. A method for providing a messaging service according to claim 19, further comprising the step of notifying the recipient, if the recipient is on the subscriber list, when either a message has been received, or when a message is queued but not yet delivered.