SELECTIVELY TRANSLATING PORTIONS OF ELECTRONIC MESSAGES

• US 20150026283A1
• Filed: 10/08/2014
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carey, Charles A., Robinson, Bruce A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,887,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for instant message communication in a wireless and non-wireless environment. A message is sent from a mobile unit device over a wireless communication network. The message includes a destination address, information associated with the mobile unit device'"'"'s user, message content and message address. If, according to information previously stored for the mobile unit device'"'"'s user at the instant message system, the destination address is associated with an instant message function, the associated instant message function is executed at the instant message system using the information contained in the message content, if required as determined by the associated instant message function. If, according to information previously stored for the mobile unit device'"'"'s user at the instant message system, the destination address is associated with an instant message name, an instant message is created according to the message content and is sent to the user with the associated instant message name. For instant messages sent or received by a mobile unit device with known buddies, the instant message is optimized by tagging the instant message with a routing phone number that is unique to the mobile unit device and buddy combination, whose identity is stored both in the mobile unit device address book and in the instant message routing server.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a server, a first type of electronic message directed to a user;

determining, using at least one processor, whether the first type of electronic message includes an indication that at least a portion of the first type of electronic message is to be sent to the user as a different type of electronic message;

if the first type of electronic message includes the indication, sending, to the user, a second type of electronic message that includes at least a portion of the first type of electronic message; and

if the first type of electronic message does not include the indication, sending, to the user, the first type of electronic message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising formatting at least a portion of the first type of electronic message if the first type of electronic message includes the indication.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least a portion of the first type of electronic message is formatted in accordance with a protocol used to communicate the second type of electronic message.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising sending the second type of electronic message from a short message service center to an instant message routing server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the user is not signed on to a communications system; and

storing the first type of electronic message until the user signs on to the communication system.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting that the user has signed on to the communications system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the user is not signed on to a communications system; and

forwarding the first type of electronic message to an e-mail address associated with the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the communication system comprises an instant message system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of electronic message comprises a text message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second type of electronic message comprises an instant message.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the text message comprises a short message service message.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a username associated with the user.

13. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

receive, at a server, a first type of electronic message directed to a user;

determine whether the first type of electronic message includes an indication that at least a portion of the first type of electronic message is to be sent to the user as a different type of electronic message;

if the first type of electronic message includes the indication, send, to the user, a second type of electronic message that includes at least a portion of the first type of electronic message; and

if the first type of electronic message does not include the indication, send, to the user, the first type of electronic message.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

compare a destination identifier in the first type of electronic message to a look-up table associated with the user; and

determine how to send the second type of electronic message to the user based upon the comparison.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

identify address information in the first type of electronic message; and

forward the first type of electronic message to a short message service center based on the address information.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to determine whether the user is capable of receiving the second type of electronic message at a mobile device associated with the user.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

determine that the user is not signed on to a communications system; and

store the first type of electronic message until the user signs on to the communication system.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to detect that the user has signed on to the communications system.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to format at least a portion of the first type of electronic message.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to repackage at least a portion of the first type of electronic message.