PCS with enhanced short-message service option

• US 6,519,468 B1
• Filed: 12/11/1998
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Wong, Anthony K., Gung, Shou S., Donovan, Steven R., Gallant, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Application Number:
  US09/210,234
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/45, 455/38.1, 455/38.2, 455/38.3, 455/38.4, 455/412, 455/550, 455/566, 455/567, 455/414, 455/413, 455/433, 455/552, 340/825.44, 340/311.1, 340/7.46, 340/7.47, 340/7.48
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

A subscriber terminal for use in a communications system with enhanced short message service options is configured for receiving an unbundled short message that includes a short message type field and a short message data field. If the subscriber terminal supports the short message type, then the short message data is processed; otherwise, the short message is discarded.

Claims

1. A subscriber terminal, comprising:

means for receiving an unbundled short message, said short message including a short message type field and a short message data field;

means for identifying a short message type based on said short message type field;

means for determining whether a short message is supported by the subscriber terminal;

means for discarding the short message if the short message type is not supported by the subscriber terminal; and

logic means for processing said short message data according to a procedure for said short message type if the short message type is supported by the subscriber terminal.

2. The subscriber terminal of claim 1, wherein said logic means outputs said short message data to a display screen on the subscriber terminal.

3. The subscriber terminal of claim 1, wherein said logic means activates an icon on a display screen of the subscriber terminal.

4. The subscriber terminal of claim 1, wherein said logic means sends an acknowledgement message to a mobile switching center upon completion of processing of said short message data.

5. A method of providing short message services at a subscriber terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an unbundled short message at the subscriber terminal, said short message including a short message type field and a short message data field;

identifying a short message type based on said short message type field;

determining whether the short message is supported by the subscriber terminal;

if the short message type is not supported by the subscriber terminal, then discarding the short message; and

if the short message type is supported by the subscriber terminal, then processing said short message data according to a procedure for said short message type.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of outputting said short message data to a display screen on said subscriber terminal.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of activating an icon on a display screen of said subscriber terminal.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of sending an acknowledgement message to a mobile switching center upon completion of processing of said short message data.