Two-way wireless messaging system having user agent

• US 5,970,122 A
• Filed: 07/24/1996
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia of America Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Sabnani, Krishan Kumar, LaPorta, Thomas F., Woo, Thomas Yat Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US08/686,080
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/67.1, 379/76, 379/88.04, 379/88.08, 379/88.22, 379/93.29, 379/93.34, 379/170, 379/173, 379/185, 379/201, 379/217, 455/31.1, 455/31.2, 455/31.3, 382/50, 382/251
• US Class Current: 340/7.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4581 Sending message identifiers instead of whole messages notification of incoming messages in packet-switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/022 One-way selective calling networks, e.g. wide area paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A two-way wireless messaging system includes a messaging network having at least one user agent corresponding to a subscriber of a two-way wireless messaging service. The subscriber receives messages from the messaging network along a first communication channel. The user agent includes a plurality of messages stored therein wherein a predetermined message is stored in the user agent and forwarded to a desired destination in response to an originating message code that is received from a two-way messaging device of the subscriber along a second communication return channel. The originating message code can be expanded by the user agent. The messages stored by the user agent can be modified so that different messages can be forwarded to the predetermined destination. The user agent also maintains location information of the two-way messaging device of the subscriber.

Claims

1. A two-way wireless messaging system, comprising:

a messaging network having a first user agent corresponding to a first subscriber of a two-way wireless messaging service, wherein a first pager of said first subscriber receives messages from the messaging service along a first wireless communication channel that wirelessly couples said messaging network and said first pager of said first subscriber,

said first pager including a plurality of messages stored therein and corresponding message codes;

first air interface between said first pager and said messaging network;

wherein said first wireless communication channel crosses said first air interface;

said first user agent including a plurality of messages stored therein and corresponding message codes that are identical to said messages and codes in said first pager, wherein a predetermined message stored in said first user agent is forwarded to a desired destination in response to an originating message code corresponding to said predetermined message that is received from said first pager of said first subscriber along a second wireless communication channel that wirelessly couples said messaging network and said first pager of said first subscriber;

wherein said second wireless communication channel crosses said first air interface;

a second user agent in said messaging network corresponding to a second subscriber of said two-way wireless messaging service and through which said predetermined message is forwarded to said desired destination;

a second pager of said second subscriber receiving said predetermined message from said second user agent along a third wireless communication channel that wirelessly couples said messaging network and said second pager of said second subscriber;

a second air interface between said second pager and said messaging network;

wherein said third wireless communication channel crosses said second air interface;

said second user agent receiving a reply code from said second pager of said second subscriber indicating additional action;

wherein said reply code is received by said second user agent from a fourth wireless communication channel;

wherein said fourth wireless communication channel crosses said second air interface.

2. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said originating message code includes a message that is expanded by said first user agent.

3. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first user agent includes a fixed portion where basic messaging functions generic to all user agents are implemented.

4. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first user agent includes an extensible portion for performing specific tasks as desired by said first subscriber.

5. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first user agent includes stored addresses corresponding to a destination alias in the originating message code.

6. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said originating message code includes a modifier for modifying the predetermined message that will be forwarded to a desired location.

7. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first user agent maintains location information of the first pager of the first subscriber.

8. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said messages stored within the first user agent can be updated and changed by the first subscriber.

9. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said messages stored within said first user agent can be updated and changed from information transmitted by the first subscriber along the second wireless communication channel.

10. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first pager includes means for displaying a simulated keyboard such that messages can be input through the simulated keyboard.

11. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

messages stored with said first user agent can be updated from messages the first subscriber receives.

12. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first pager includes an input/output port that can be connected to a source of download information such that messages and addresses can be downloaded to the first pager.

13. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

messages stored within said first user agent are updated through said messaging network.

14. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first user agent includes at least one group address corresponding to a plurality of destinations to which a predetermined message will be forwarded.

15. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

a message forwarded by the first user agent to said desired destination includes a response from the recipient and forwarded back to the first user agent for transmittal to the first subscriber along the first wireless communication channel.

16. The two-way messaging system according to claim 15, wherein:

a response includes dynamic components that can be customized by the recipient for forwarding back to the first subscriber.

17. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

a message can be forwarded to a plurality of destinations for multiple responses and the system is selective for transmitting only the desired responses back to said first pager along the first wireless communication channel.

18. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first user agent stores calendar information and delivers calendar reminders to said first subscriber.

19. The two-way messaging system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of base stations through which messages to and from the messaging network are received, and a batch server associated with at least one of said plurality of base stations for receiving and acknowledging messages and forwarding messages to and from the messaging network.

20. The two-way messaging system according to claim 19, further comprising:

a messaging server in association with said first user agent for determining the location and format in which a message should be delivered.

21. The two-way messaging system according to claim 19, further comprising:

a distribution server working in association with said first user agent for routing messages to their final destination based on destination information received from the first user agent.

22. The two-way messaging system according to claim 19, wherein:

said messaging network includes a plurality of user agents corresponding to respective subscribers for each user agent, wherein said subscribers send and receive messages between each other, and including a transaction server for tracking message transactions among the subscribers.

23. A method for two-way messaging, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of messages and corresponding message codes within a first pager,

storing a plurality of messages and corresponding message codes that are identical to said messages and codes in said first pager within a first user agent of a two-way messaging network, the messages corresponding to those selected by a first subscriber of a two-way messaging service,

transmitting messages from said two-way messaging network to said first pager of said first subscriber along a first wireless communication channel that wirelessly couples said two-way messaging network and said first pager of said first subscriber,

wherein a first air interface separates said first pager and said messaging network;

wherein said first wireless communication channel crosses said first air interface;

transmitting an originating message code from said first pager of said first subscriber to said two-way messaging network along a second wireless communication channel,

expanding the originating message code into one of said plurality of messages that corresponds to said originating message code within said first user agent in response to receiving said originating message code from said first pager,

forwarding said one of said plurality of messages through a second user agent in said two-way messaging network corresponding to a second subscriber of said two-way messaging service to a desired destination based on the content of the originating message code,

wherein a second pager of said second subscriber receiving said one of said plurality of messages from said second user agent along a third wireless communication channel,

wherein a second air interface separates said second pager and said messaging network;

transmitting a reply code indicating additional action along a fourth wireless communication channel to said second user agent;

wherein said fourth wireless communication channel crosses said second air interface.

24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

displaying a simulated keyboard on said first pager, and including inputting the messages through the simulated keyboard.

25. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

updating the messages stored within said first user agent from received messages.

26. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

downloading information through an input/output port for updating messages and addresses in said first user agent.

27. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

updating the first user agent through information received from said first pager.

28. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

updating the first user agent through information received from the two-way messaging network.

29. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

expanding a destination alias in the originating message code to a list of destination addresses.

30. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

originating messages having dynamic message components that include optional components, user defined selections, predefined variables and conditional components.

31. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

determining and maintaining within the first user agent the status of said first pager as either on or off and delivering messages accordingly.

32. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

receiving any messages in a preferred delivery format as established by said first user agent.

33. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

sending messages in a preferred delivery format as established by said first user agent.

34. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

filtering messages and replies to and from said first pager based on predetermined criteria stored within said first user agent.

35. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

forwarding messages and replies to said desired destination based on forwarding information stored within said first user agent.

36. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

maintaining within the first user agent the status of a message from its origination to its destination.

37. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

downloading messages stored within said first user agent to said first pager after said first pager is turned on.

38. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

accessing said first user agent for changing, adding and deleting information by a computing or communication device.

39. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

implementing basic messaging functions within said first user agent that are generic for all user agents.

40. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

programming an extensible part of said first user agent for performing specific tasks as desired by said first subscriber.