Web development and deployment using SMS and USSD

• US 6,961,330 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mavenir Ltd. (Mavenir Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Comverse Limited (Mavenir Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bashan, Tomer, Cattan, Ariel
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US09/599,534
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/328, 370/389, 370/395.5, 370/465, 370/466, 370/474, 370/338, 370/352, 370/353, 370/355, 370/356, 370/467
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A communication system contains a protocol converting controller. The controller receives an upstream mobile terminal message from a mobile terminal and converts the upstream mobile terminal message into an upstream Internet message to be used by an Internet server. Also, the controller receives a downstream Internet message from the Internet server and converts the downstream Internet message into a downstream mobile terminal message to be used by the mobile terminal. In one implementation, the downstream Internet message is output by an Internet application and contains an Internet page having mobile terminal data for creating the downstream mobile terminal message. The Internet page contains potentially responsive mobile terminal messages and Internet addresses that respectively correspond to the potentially responsive mobile terminal messages.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a protocol converting controller that receives a first upstream mobile terminal message having a mobile terminal communication protocol and converts the first upstream mobile terminal message into a first upstream Internet message having an Internet protocol,

wherein the protocol converting controller receives the first upstream mobile terminal message, selects a first upstream Internet address corresponding to the first upstream mobile terminal message, and generates the first upstream Internet message based on the first upstream Internet address,

wherein the first upstream Internet message is supplied to an Internet application,

wherein the protocol converting controller determines if the first upstream mobile terminal message is part of an existing session with the Internet application,

wherein, when the first upstream mobile terminal message is part of the existing session, the protocol converting controller selects a first selected Internet address as the first upstream Internet address, and

wherein, when the first upstream mobile terminal message is not part of the existing session, the protocol converting controller selects a second selected Internet address as the first upstream Internet address.

2. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first downstream Internet message comprises the first selected Internet address, first downstream data corresponding to a first downstream mobile terminal message, and a first responsive mobile terminal message that is associated with the first selected Internet address,

wherein the first downstream Internet message is supplied to the protocol converting controller and the protocol converting controller generates the first downstream mobile terminal message based on the first downstream data,

wherein the first upstream mobile terminal message is supplied to the protocol converting controller in response to the first downstream mobile terminal message, and

wherein the protocol converting controller determines that the first upstream mobile terminal message is part of the existing session with the Internet application when the first upstream mobile terminal message corresponds to the first responsive mobile terminal message.

3. The communication system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first downstream Internet message further comprises a first downstream identification corresponding to a destination of the first downstream mobile terminal message and a first downstream destination address of the Internet application,

wherein the protocol converting controller receives the first upstream mobile terminal message, a first upstream identification corresponding to a source of the first upstream mobile terminal message, and a first upstream destination address corresponding to the first upstream mobile terminal message, and

wherein the protocol converting controller determines that the first upstream mobile terminal message is part of the existing session with the Internet application when the first upstream mobile terminal message corresponds to the first responsive mobile terminal message, the first upstream identification corresponds to the first downstream identification, and the first upstream destination address corresponds to the first downstream destination address.

4. The communication system as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the protocol converting controller determines that the first upstream mobile terminal message is not part of the existing session with the Internet application, the protocol converting controller selects the second selected Internet address based on the first upstream destination address.

5. The communication system as claimed in claim 2, wherein, if the first downstream Internet message further comprises a cache parameter, the protocol converting controller generates a second upstream Internet message based on the first selected Internet address before the protocol converting controller receives the first upstream mobile terminal message,

wherein the protocol converting controller receives a second downstream Internet message corresponding to the second upstream Internet message,

wherein the second downstream Internet message comprises second downstream data corresponding to a second downstream mobile terminal message,

wherein, when the protocol converting controller receives the first upstream mobile terminal message, the protocol converting controller determines if the second downstream mobile terminal message is responsive to the first upstream mobile terminal message, and

wherein, when the second downstream mobile terminal message is responsive to the first upstream mobile terminal message, the protocol converting controller outputs the second downstream mobile terminal message.

6. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first upstream mobile terminal message comprises a destination address, which corresponds to the mobile terminal communication protocol, and

wherein the protocol converting controller selects the first upstream Internet address corresponding to the destination address of first upstream mobile terminal message.

7. A communication system, comprising:

a protocol converting controller that receives a first upstream mobile terminal message having a mobile terminal communication protocol and converts the first upstream mobile terminal message into a first upstream Internet message having an Internet protocol,

wherein the protocol converting controller receives a first downstream Internet message from an Internet application before receiving the first upstream mobile terminal message,

wherein the first downstream Internet message comprises a first downstream cookie,

wherein the protocol converting controller determines if the Internet application requires the first downstream cookie to appropriately process the first upstream Internet message,

wherein, when the first downstream cookie is required to appropriately process the first upstream Internet message, the protocol converting controller outputs the first downstream cookie as a first upstream cookie, along with the first upstream Internet message.

8. The communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first downstream Internet message further comprises a first downstream identification and a first downstream Internet address, and

wherein the protocol converting controller determines that the Internet application requires the first downstream cookie to appropriately process the first upstream Internet message if a first upstream identification and a first upstream Internet address corresponding to the first upstream Internet message respectively correspond to the first downstream identification and the first downstream Internet address.

9. The communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first upstream mobile terminal message comprises a destination address, which corresponds to the mobile terminal communication protocol,

wherein the protocol converting controller receives the first upstream mobile terminal message, selects a first upstream Internet address corresponding to the destination address of the first upstream mobile terminal message, and generates the first upstream Internet message based on the first upstream Internet address.

10. A communication system, comprising:

a protocol converting controller that receives a first downstream Internet message having an Internet protocol and converts the first downstream Internet message into a first downstream mobile terminal message having a mobile terminal communication protocol,

wherein the first downstream Internet message comprises an Internet data page having;

first downstream mobile terminal message data that is used to generate the first downstream mobile terminal message;

first responsive mobile terminal message data corresponding to a first responsive upstream mobile terminal message that responds to the first downstream mobile terminal message; and

a first Internet address that corresponds to the first responsive upstream mobile terminal message,

wherein the protocol converting controller generates the first downstream mobile terminal message based on the first downstream mobile terminal message data and outputs the first downstream mobile terminal message.

11. The communication system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mobile terminal communication protocol is one of an SMS protocol and a USSD protocol.

12. The communication system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the Internet protocol is one of an HTTP protocol and an XML protocol.

13. The communication system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the protocol converting controller receives a first upstream mobile terminal message having the mobile terminal communication protocol and determines if the first upstream mobile terminal message corresponds to the first responsive upstream mobile terminal message,

wherein, when the first upstream mobile terminal message corresponds to the first responsive upstream mobile terminal message, the protocol converting controller generates a first upstream Internet message having the Internet protocol, and

wherein the first upstream Internet message comprises the first Internet address.

14. The communication system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the protocol converting controller receives the first downstream Internet message from an Internet application,

wherein the first downstream Internet message further comprises a first downstream cookie,

wherein the protocol converting controller determines if the Internet application requires the first downstream cookie to appropriately process the first upstream Internet message,

wherein, when the first downstream cookie is required to appropriately process the first upstream Internet message, the protocol converting controller outputs the first downstream cookie as a first upstream cookie, along with the first upstream Internet message.

15. A communication system, comprising:

an Internet server that receives a first upstream Internet message having an Internet protocol, wherein the first upstream Internet message is based on a first upstream mobile terminal message having a mobile terminal communication protocol,

wherein the Internet server contains an Internet application that generates a first downstream Internet message based on the first upstream Internet message,

wherein the first downstream Internet message comprises an Internet data page having;

first downstream mobile terminal message data that is used to generate a first downstream mobile terminal message that responds to the first upstream mobile terminal message;

first responsive mobile terminal message data corresponding to a first responsive upstream mobile terminal message that responds to the first downstream mobile terminal message; and

a first Internet address that corresponds to the first responsive upstream mobile terminal message.

16. The communication system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the mobile terminal communication protocol is one of an SMS protocol and a USSD protocol.

17. The communication system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the Internet protocol is one of an HTTP protocol and an XML protocol.

18. The communication system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first downstream Internet message further comprises a first downstream cookie that is required for a second upstream Internet message to be appropriately processed by the Internet application, and

wherein the second upstream Internet message corresponds to the first responsive upstream mobile terminal message.

19. A communication method, comprising:

(a) receiving a first upstream mobile terminal message having a mobile terminal communication protocol, wherein the first upstream mobile terminal message comprises a destination address, which corresponds to the mobile terminal communication protocol; and

(b) converting the first upstream mobile terminal message into a first upstream Internet message having an Internet protocol;

wherein the operation (b) comprises;

(b1) selecting a first upstream Internet address corresponding to the destination address of the first upstream mobile terminal message; and

(b2) generating the first upstream Internet message based on the first upstream Internet address,

wherein the first upstream Internet message is supplied to an Internet application, and

wherein the operation (b1) comprises;

(b1a) determining if the first upstream mobile terminal message is part of an existing session with the Internet application;

(b1b) when the first upstream mobile terminal message is part of the existing session, selecting a first selected Internet address as the first upstream Internet address; and

(b1c) when the first upstream mobile terminal message is not part of the existing session, selecting a second selected Internet address as the first upstream Internet address.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

(c) receiving a first downstream Internet message comprising the first selected Internet address, first downstream data corresponding to a first downstream mobile terminal message, and a first responsive mobile terminal message that is associated with the first selected Internet address;

(d) generating the first downstream mobile terminal message based on the first downstream data; and

(e) generating the first upstream mobile terminal message in response to the first downstream mobile terminal message, and

wherein the operation (b1a) comprises;

(b1a1) determining that the first upstream mobile terminal message is part of the existing session with the Internet application when the first upstream mobile terminal message corresponds to the first responsive mobile terminal message.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first downstream Internet message further comprises a first downstream identification corresponding to a destination of the first downstream mobile terminal message and a first downstream destination address of the Internet application,

wherein the operation (a) comprises:

(a1) receiving a first upstream identification corresponding to a source of the first upstream mobile terminal message and a first upstream destination address corresponding to the first upstream mobile terminal message, and

wherein the operation (b1a1) comprises;

(b1a1a) determining that the first upstream mobile terminal message is part of the existing session with the Internet application when the first upstream mobile terminal message corresponds to the first responsive mobile terminal message, the first upstream identification corresponds to the first downstream identification, and the first upstream destination address corresponds to the first downstream destination address.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein operation (b1c) comprises:

(b1c1) when the first upstream mobile terminal message is not part of the existing session with the Internet application, selecting the second selected Internet address based on the first upstream destination address.

23. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

(f) determining if the first downstream Internet message further comprises a cache parameter;

(g) when the first downstream Internet message comprises the cache parameter, generating a second upstream Internet message based on the first selected Internet address before receiving the first upstream mobile terminal message;

(h) receiving a second downstream Internet message corresponding to the second upstream Internet message, wherein the second downstream Internet message comprises second downstream data corresponding to a second downstream mobile terminal message;

(i) when the first upstream mobile terminal message is received, determining if the second downstream mobile terminal message is responsive to the first upstream mobile terminal message; and

(j) when the second downstream mobile terminal message is responsive to the first upstream mobile terminal message, outputting the second downstream mobile terminal message.

24. A communication method comprising:

(a) receiving a first upstream mobile terminal message having a mobile terminal communication protocol; and

(b) converting the first upstream mobile terminal message into a first upstream Internet message having an Internet protocol;

(c) receiving a first downstream Internet message from an Internet application before receiving the first upstream mobile terminal message, wherein the first downstream Internet message comprises a first downstream cookie;

(d) determining if the Internet application requires the first downstream cookie to appropriately process the first upstream Internet message; and

(e) when the first downstream cookie is required to appropriately process the first upstream Internet message, outputting the first downstream cookie as a first upstream cookie, along with the first upstream Internet message.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the first downstream Internet message further comprises a first downstream identification and a first downstream Internet address, and

wherein the operation (d) comprises:

(d1) determining that the Internet application requires the first downstream cookie to appropriately process the first upstream Internet message if a first upstream identification and a first upstream Internet address corresponding to the first upstream Internet message respectively correspond to the first downstream identification and the first downstream Internet address.

26. The communication method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the first upstream mobile terminal message comprises a destination address, which corresponds to the mobile terminal communication protocol, and

wherein the operation (b) comprises:

(b1) selecting a first upstream Internet address corresponding to the destination address of the first upstream mobile terminal message; and

(b2) generating the first upstream Internet message based on the first upstream Internet address,

wherein the first upstream Internet message is supplied to an Internet application.

27. A software program contained in a computer readable medium, wherein the software program instructs a communication system to perform a routine, comprising:

(a) receiving a first upstream Internet message having an Internet protocol, wherein the first upstream Internet message is based on a first upstream mobile terminal message having a mobile terminal communication protocol,

(b) generating a first downstream Internet message based on the first upstream Internet message, wherein the first downstream Internet message comprises an Internet data page having;

first downstream mobile terminal message data that is used to generate a first downstream mobile terminal message that responds to the first upstream mobile terminal message;

first responsive mobile terminal message data corresponding to a first responsive upstream mobile terminal message that responds to the first downstream mobile terminal message; and

a first responsive Internet address that corresponds to the first responsive upstream mobile terminal message.

28. The software program as claimed in claim 27, wherein the mobile terminal communication protocol is one of an SMS protocol and a USSD protocol.

29. The software program as claimed in claim 27, wherein the Internet protocol is an HTTP protocol and an XML protocol.

30. The software program as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first downstream Internet message further comprises a first downstream cookie that is required for a second upstream Internet message to be appropriately processed, and

wherein the second upstream Internet message corresponds to the first responsive upstream mobile terminal message.

31. The software program as claimed in claim 27, further comprising:

(c) receiving the first upstream mobile terminal message, wherein the first upstream mobile terminal message comprises a destination address which corresponds to the mobile terminal communication protocol;

(d) converting the first upstream mobile terminal message into the first upstream Internet message;

wherein the operation (d) comprises;

(d1) selecting a first upstream Internet address corresponding to the destination address of the first upstream mobile terminal message; and

(d2) generating the first upstream Internet message based on the first upstream Internet address, and

wherein the first upstream Internet message is supplied to an Internet application.