Method and system for transmitting text messages from a caller to a subscriber at an unknown address

• US 6,104,789 A
• Filed: 12/29/1997
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MediaOne Group Inc. (Comcast Corporation), U S West Inc.
• Inventors: Lund, Arnold M.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US08/998,795
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.23, 379/93.18, 379/93.27, 379/93.24, 379/219, 379/220, 379/222, 379/223, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/93.26, 379/100.08, 379/100.13
• US Class Current: 379/93.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting a text message from a caller to a subscriber at an unknown address based on a known address or number associated with the subscriber includes a server application having a database. The database contains addresses and phone numbers associated with the subscriber. The caller transmits a first signal to obtain access to the database, and then transmits a second signal representative of one of the known address and number upon accessing the database. The caller then receives either a text-based address or number, or both, associated with the subscriber in response to the second signal. A text-based address or number is an address or phone number capable of receiving text messages, such as an e-mail address or fax number. The caller then transmits a text message to one of the text-based address and number for receipt by the subscriber.

Claims

1. For use with a server application in a circuit switched telephone network having a database containing addresses and phone numbers associated with a subscriber, a method for transmitting a text message from a caller to the subscriber at an unknown address based on a known address or number associated with the subscriber, the method comprising:

initiating a voice telephone call from the caller to the server application over the circuit switched telephone network by transmitting a first signal over the circuit switched telephone network to obtain access to the database;

transmitting a second signal from the caller to the server application representative of one of the known address and number upon accessing the database;

receiving one of a text-based address and number associated with the subscriber from the server application in response to the second signal, both the text-based address and number being capable of receiving text messages;

receiving an originate text message prompt from the server application that allows the caller to opt to originate a text message for transmission to the subscriber; and

originating and transmitting the text message at least partially over the circuit switched telephone network to one of the text-based address and number for receipt by the subscriber.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein transmitting the text message includes transmitting at least one touch-tone digit.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving one of the text-based address and number includes receiving a third signal indicating a plurality of predefined text messages available to be transmitted to the subscriber and wherein transmitting a text message includes transmitting a fourth signal selecting one of the plurality of predefined text messages.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the third signal is an audio signal.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the third signal is a visual signal.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein transmitting the text message includes transmitting at least a portion of the text message.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving one of the text-based address and number further includes receiving an electronic address containing graphical information associated with the subscriber in response to the second signal.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising automatically retrieving and displaying the graphical information.

9. A system for transmitting a text message from a caller to the subscriber at an unknown address based on a known address or number associated with the subscriber, the system comprising:

a server application on a circuit switched telephone network having a database containing addresses and phone numbers associated with the subscriber;

an input device for initiating a voice telephone call from the caller to the server application over the circuit switched telephone network by transmitting a first signal over the circuit telephone switched network to obtain access to the database and transmitting a second signal from the caller to the server application representative of one of the known address and number upon accessing the database;

means for receiving one of a text-based address and number associated with the subscriber from the server application in response to the second signal, both the text-based address and number capable of receiving text messages; and

the server being configured to send an originate text message prompt that allows the caller to opt to originate a text message for transmission to the subscriber; and

the input device being configured to originate and transmit the text message at least partially over the circuit switched telephone network to one of the text-based address and number for receipt by the subscriber.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the input device includes a touch-tone keypad for transmitting at least one touch-tone digit.

11. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the input device includes a keyboard for transmitting text.

12. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the means for receiving is further operative to receive a third signal indicating a plurality of predefined text messages available to be transmitted to the subscriber and wherein the input device is further operative to transmit a fourth signal selecting one of the plurality of predefined text messages.

13. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein the third signal is an audio signal.

14. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein the third signal is a visual signal.

15. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the input device is operative to transmit at least a portion of the text message.

16. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the means for receiving is further operative to receive an electronic address containing graphical information associated with the subscriber in response to the second signal.

17. The system as recited in claim 16 further comprising:

an application coupled to the means for receiving for automatically retrieving the graphical information; and

a display for displaying the graphical information.