SELECTIVELY SENDING ELECTRONIC MESSAGES

• US 20150113087A1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• 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 9,621,489 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:

responsive to a message addressed to a user;

sending the message via a messaging server if the user is registered with the messaging server; and

sending the message via a mobile carrier if the user is not registered with the messaging server.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising accessing the messaging server to determine if the user is able to receive messages through the messaging server.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, if the user is registered with the messaging server, providing a visual indication that the user is able to receive messages through the messaging server.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing a messaging application on a cellular communications device.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising storing a contacts list on the cellular communications device that maintains user addresses.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising sending a message to an address associated with a user from the contacts list using the messaging application.

7. An apparatus for sending messages, the apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

responsive to a message addressed to a user;

send the message via a messaging server if the user is registered with the messaging server; and

send the message via a mobile carrier if the user is not registered with the messaging server.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the one or more memories has further instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

access the messaging server to determine if the user is able to receive messages through the messaging server.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the one or more memories has further instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

provide a visual indication that the user is able to receive messages through the messaging server if the user is registered with the messaging server.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the one or more memories has further instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

store a messaging application on a cellular communications device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more memories has further instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

store a contacts list on the cellular communication device that maintains user addresses.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more memories has further instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

send a message to an address associated with a user from the contacts list using the messaging application.

13. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to:

responsive to a message addressed to a user;

send the message via a messaging server if the user is registered with the messaging server; and

send the message via a mobile carrier if the user is not registered with the messaging server.

14. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to:

access the messaging server to determine if the user is able to receive messages through the messaging server.

15. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to:

provide a visual indication that the user is able to receive messages through the messaging server if the user is registered with the messaging server.

16. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to:

store a messaging application on a cellular communications device.

17. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to:

store a contacts list on the cellular communication device that maintains user addresses.

18. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to:

send a message to an address associated with a user from the contacts list using the messaging application.

19. A method comprising:

accessing, at a messaging application maintained on a cellular communications device, a message to be sent to an address associated with a user from a contacts list stored on the cellular communications device;

accessing a messaging server to determine if the user is able to receive messages through the messaging server;

sending the message via the messaging server if the user is registered with the messaging server;

sending the message via a mobile carrier if the user is not registered with the messaging server; and

providing a visual indication that the user is able to receive messages through the messaging server if the user is registered with the messaging server.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a request to add the user to the contacts list;

receiving a set of executable instructions to enter a contact for the user into the contacts list; and

executing the set of executable instructions to enter the contact for the user into the contacts list.