System for transmitting messages, between an installed network and wireless device

• US 5,758,088 A
• Filed: 07/24/1997
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cranberry Properties, LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compuserve Interactive Services Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bezaire, David L., Owens, Stephen J. H., Hronek, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US08/900,033
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 12, 364/DIG. 25, 340/825.07, 370/254, 370/259, 370/277, 370/310, 370/313, 370/351, 395/200.3, 395/200.34, 395/200.35, 395/200.36, 395/200.37, 395/200.47, 395/200.49, 395/200.5, 395/200.57, 395/200.62, 395/200.68 , 395/200.74
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A system is disclosed in which electronic communications such as e-mail messages may be sent to a wireless device. The electronic communications originate or are transmitted through an information service that sends the communications to a wireless service provider capable of communicating with different types of wireless devices. Recipients of electronic communications register their wireless devices with the information service and may take advantage of the sophisticated messaging features of the information service to determine what information should be sent to the wireless device.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a wireless device capable of receiving electronic communications;

a computer network with devices capable of receiving, generating, and transmitting electronic communications;

wireless device information required for communicating with said wireless device, said wireless device information provided by a user of said wireless device through registration of said wireless device with said computer network;

filtering rules for selectively transmitting said electronic communications to said wireless device, said rules defined by said user of said wireless device; and

a connection between said computer network and said wireless device for transmitting from said computer network to said wireless device said filtered electronic communications using said wireless device information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said connection between said computer network and said wireless device is through a wireless device service provider.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said connection between said wireless device and said computer network through a wireless device service provider is a dedicated communication link.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said user of said wireless device registers said wireless device with said computer network through a online, interactive session with said computer network devices.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein wireless device information provided by said user during said registration is associated with a user identifier so that messages to said user'"'"'s wireless device may be sent using said identifier.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer network is an information service network capable of accepting information feeds directly or indirectly from a variety business, financial, sports, and other information sources and capable of sending electronic communications containing information from said feeds.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic communications include electronic mail messages from individuals.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless device is capable of generating and transmitting electronic communications to said computer network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless device is a pager.

10. A method of communication between an information service and a wireless device, said method comprising the steps of:

registering a wireless device with an information service by providing wireless device registration information;

receiving at said information service electronic communications;

filtering said electronic communications for transmission to said wireless device;

transmitting, using said wireless device information, said filtered electronic communications from said information service to said wireless device; and

storing said device registration information for later retrieval.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of associating said device registration with an information service identifier.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said electronic communications from said information service to said wireless device are transmitted through a wireless device service provider.

13. An electronic communication system comprising:

a pager capable of receiving electronic mail messages;

a wireless service provider capable of transmitting electronic mail messages to said wireless device;

an information service capable of generating, receiving, filtering, and transmitting electronic mail messages;

an interactive, online session for registering information about said pager with said information service; and

a dedicated connection between said information service and said wireless service provider for transmitting filtered electronic mail messages to said pager using said registered information.