Method and apparatus for initiating wireless messages

• US 5,875,401 A
• Filed: 07/12/1996
• Issued: 02/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rochkind, Mark Meier
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABEBE, DANIEL DEMELASH
• Application Number:
  US08/680,333
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/413, 455/415, 455/450, 455/31.2
• 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 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/61 Time-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A communications system allows special messages to be transmitted to a wireless device subscriber if certain conditions are met. Identification information authenticating the sender may be sent using an originating device, such as a personal computer with a modem. A location information generating device, such as the ANI generator in a telephone end-office connected by physical telephone wire (local loop) to the computer, generates location information. The identification information and location information are provided to a message platform. The message platform establishes time of day and compares sender identification information, originating device location information, and time of day information to prestored values to determine whether a special prestored message should be sent. If a message should be sent, the message platform initiates message transmission. Message transmission can be initiated if appropriate sender identification and location information are not received within a specified time window. The personal identification information, location information, and time of day information are furnished by three different devices operating independently of each other.

Claims

1. A method for operation of a message processing system for initiating the transmission of a stored message to a wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving identification information sent from an originating device;

receiving location information representing the location of said originating device;

comparing said received identification information and location information with a stored pre-associated identification information and location information pair; and

initiating a message to said wireless device only if said received location information and identification information match the stored pre-associated identification information and location information pair.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining the time at which said identification information and location information are received and initiating said message only if the time at which said identification information and location information are received is within a pre-stored time window corresponding to said identification information and location information pair.

3. The method of claim 1 where a telephone line is connected to said origination device, said step of recieving location information representing the location of said originating device comprising the step of:

receiving automatic number identification (ANI) information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of receiving identification information comprises the step of:

receiving identification information sent via dual tone multifrequency pulses.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said originating device is a wireless device and wherein said location information is global positioning system coordinates.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of initiating a message further comprises the step of sending a paging message to a paging terminal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said originating device is a computer.

8. A message platform for initiating a stored message to a wireless device based on location information and identification information received from an originating device, comprising:

means for receiving identification information sent from the originating device;

means for receiving location information representing the location of said originating device;

a memory for storing a pre-associated identification information and location information pair;

means for comparing said received identification information and location information with said stored pre-associated identification information and location information pair; and

means for initiating said message to said wireless device only if said received location information and identification information match the stored pre-associated identification information and location information pair.

9. The message platform of claim 8 further comprising:

said memory means further storing a time window associated with said identification information and location information pair; and

means for determining the time at which said identification information and location information are received and initiating said message only if the time said identification information and location information are received is within the time window associated with said identification information and location information pair.

10. The message platform of claim 8 wherein said means for receiving location information comprises:

means for receiving automatic number identification (ANI) information.

11. The message platform of claim 10 wherein said means for receiving identification information comprises:

means for receiving identification information sent via dual tone multifrequency pulses.

12. The message platform of claim 8 wherein said originating device is a wireless device and wherein said location information is global positioning system coordinates.

13. The message platform of claim 8 wherein said means for initiating a message further comprises means for sending a paging message to a paging terminal.

14. The message platform of claim 8 wherein said originating device is a computer.

15. A message platform for initiating a stored message to a wireless device based on location information and identification information received from an originating device, comprising:

a database storing a pre-associated location information and identification information pair;

a processing unit coupled to said database for comparing said received location information and identification information with said stored pre-associated location information and identification information pair, and for initiating said message to a wireless device only if said received location information and identification information match the stored pre-associated identification information and location information pair.

16. The message platform of claim 15 further comprising:

clock circuitry, wherein said processing unit is configured for using said clock circuitry to determine the time at which said identification information and location information are received, and initiating said message only if the time at which said identification information and location information are received is within a pre-stored time window corresponding to said identification information and location information pair.

17. The message platform of claim 15 wherein said processing unit is configured for receiving automatic number identification (ANI) information.

18. The message platform of claim 17 wherein said processing unit is configured for receiving identification information sent via dual tone multifrequency pulses.

19. The message platform of claim 15 wherein said originating device is a wireless device and wherein said location information is global positioning system coordinates.

20. The message platform of claim 15 wherein said processing unit is configured for initiating a paging message to a paging terminal.

21. A message platform for initiating a stored message to a wireless device, comprising:

a memory for storing a pre-associated identification information and location information pair and a time window associated with said pair;

means for initiating said message to said wireless device if said preassociated identification information and location information pair is not received from an originating device at said message platform during said time window.

22. The message platform of claim 21 wherein said originating device is a computer.

23. The message platform of claim 21 wherein said location information is automatic number identification (ANI) information.