System and Method for Communicating Using Two-Way SMS

• US 20130109350A1
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDT Corporation
• Original Assignee: IDT Corporation
• Inventors: Skelton, Jeffrey S., Wurtzel, Yitzchak, Hirsch, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/65 Telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2596 Translation of addresses of the same type other than IP, e.g. translation from MAC to MAC addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8055 Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8061 Selecting least cost route depending on origin or type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/28 SMS billing
• 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 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• 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 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for communicating using SMS messages between devices in different home networks, and, in one embodiment, to a method and system for assigning a local SMS number to a recipient device in a different home network such that a user is charged reduced communications costs.

Claims

1. A computerized telephone system comprising:

a receiver for receiving from a first local telephony device a first text message addressed to a first local platform telephone number, the first text message including a first remote telephone number of a first remote telephony device;

a controller for (1) verifying that an account of the first local telephony device will allow transmission of a portion of the first text message to the first remote telephony device and (2) transmitting the portion of the first text message to a remote telephony platform that will forward the portion of the first text message to the first remote telephony device; and

a transmitter for transmitting to the first local telephony device a first local telephone number different than the first local platform number and different from the first remote telephone number for use in subsequent communications from the first local telephony device to the first remote telephony device.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein verifying that the account of the first local telephony device will allow transmission of the portion of the first text message to the first remote telephony device comprises verifying that the account has a sufficient prepaid balance to allow transmission of the portion of the first text message to the first remote telephony device.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein verifying that the account of the first local telephony device will allow transmission of the portion of the first text message to the first remote telephony device comprises verifying that an authorization code was provided as part of the first text message.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver receives from the first local telephony device (a) the first local telephone number and (b) a second text message for the first local telephone number, and wherein the controller transmits the second text message to be delivered to the first remote telephone number without the first local telephony device including the first remote telephone number in the second text message.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the controller verifies that the account of the first local telephony device has a sufficient prepaid balance to allow transmission of the second text message to the first remote telephony device as a precondition to transmitting the second text message.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first text message includes an account number associated with the first local telephony device and wherein the portion of the first text message transmitted to the remote telephony platform to be forwarded to the first remote telephony device does not include the account number.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first text message includes a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the first local telephony device and wherein the portion of the first text message transmitted to the remote telephony platform to be forwarded to the first remote telephony device does not include the PIN.

8. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second text message sent to the first local telephone number does not include an account number associated with the first local telephony device.

9. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second text message sent to the first local telephone number does not include a personal identification number associated with the first local telephony device.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein verifying that the account of the first local telephony device will allow transmission of the portion of the first text message to the first remote telephony device comprises verifying a phone number of the first local telephony device from which the receiver received the first text message.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter further transmits to the first local telephony device a reminder to increase a prepaid balance of the account associated with the first local telephony device.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits to the first local telephony device a reply message from the first remote telephone device as addressed from the first local telephone number.