Methods and Apparatus for Delivering a Message to Two or More Associated Wireless Communication Devices

• US 20150038182A1
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Carpenter, Paul Marcus
• Granted Patent: US 9,491,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• 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: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• 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 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A method is performed by a message-originating communication device. The method includes inputting, by the device'"'"'s user interface, a request to deliver a message to a first address. The device accesses, in response to receiving the request, a memory to determine a second address that is associated in the memory with the first address. The device then transmits the message to the first address and transmits the message to the second address.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a user interface of a message-originating communication device, a request to deliver a message to a first address;

accessing, by the communication device and in response to receiving the request, a memory to determine a second address that is associated in the memory with the first address;

transmitting, by the communication device, the message to the first address; and

transmitting, by the communication device, the message to the second address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the message to the first address and to the second address is via a wireless communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first address is of a first communication device and the second address is of a second communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first address comprises a first number in a first removable memory card and the second address comprises a second number in a second removable memory card.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first address comprises a first Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) and the second address comprises a second MSISDN.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises depression of a button on the communication device to send the message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises depression of the button only once to send the message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a cell phone.

9. A message-originating communication device comprising:

a user interface;

a memory configured to store an association between a first address and a second address;

a controller configured to;

receive, from the user interface, a request to send a message to the first address;

in response to the request, access the memory to identify the second address associated with the first address;

transmit the message to the first address; and

transmit the message to the second address.

10. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the transmitting of the message to the first address and to the second address is via a wireless communication network.

11. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the first address is of a first communication device and the second address is of a second communication device.

12. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the first address comprises a first number in a first removable memory card and the second address comprises a second number in a second removable memory card.

13. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the first address comprises a first Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) and the second address comprises a second MSISDN.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, by a user interface of a message-originating communication device, a request to deliver a message;

receiving, by the communication device, an alternate address, different than an address of the communication device, for use as a message-originating address of the message; and

transmitting, by the communication device, the message with a designation of the alternate address as the message-originating address.

15. The method of claim 15, wherein the address of the communication device identifies the communication device in a communication network for receiving messages, and the alternate address identifies an alternate communication device in the communication network.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the address of the communication device comprises a first number in a first removable memory card and the alternate address comprises a second number in a second removable memory card.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

requiring, by the communication device, receipt of a removable memory card that contains the alternate address, as a prerequisite to allowing use of the alternate address as the message-originating address.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the alternate address is stored in a memory of the communication device and retrieved by the communication device from the memory in response to receiving the request.

16. The method of claim 16, wherein the address of the communication device comprises a first Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) that identifies the communication device and the alternate address comprises a second MSISDN that identifies the alternate communication device.