Communicating multi-part messages between cellular devices using a standardized interface

• US 7,050,408 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Shen, Alan W., Sherman, Roman, Anson, David L. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Man U.
• Application Number:
  US09/963,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 370329-349, 370401-409, 370465-469, 370/477, 455412-466, 455556-558, 719328-331, 709223-228, 709238-240
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/166 IP fragmentation; TCP segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Fragmentation and reassembly of a multi-part message for communication over a cellular network. When transmitting a multi-part message, a calling application issues a function call to a short messaging layer via a standardized interface. The function call represents a request to transmit the message. A short messaging layer divides the message into fragments of limited size that meet the size requirements of the cellular network. Each of the short messages is then transmitted across the cellular network. When receiving a multi-part message, a short messaging layer at the receiving device receives various short message fragments corresponding to the multi-part message. The short messaging layer then reassembles the short message fragments into the multi-part message, and then passes the reassembled multi-part message to the receiving application. The short message layer also presents a consolidated delivery report if requested.

Claims

1. In a cellular network that facilitates transmission of messages between cellular computing devices, the messages often being multi-part messages that consist of multiple short message fragments of limited size, a method for facilitating an application sending the multiple short message fragments without having a calling application implement detailed processing required to fragment the message, the method comprising the following:

an act of receiving a function call from a calling application via a standardized interface, the function call requesting the transmission of a first message over the cellular network;

an act of dividing the first message into a set of short message fragments of limited size;

an act of causing each of the short message fragments to be transmitted over the cellular network; and

wherein the calling application is adapted to act as a receiving application for a second message reassembled from a second set of short message fragments.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of receiving a function call from a calling application via a standardized interface comprises the following:

an act of receiving a function call from a calling application via an application program interface.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the act of the receiving a function call from a calling application via a standardized interface comprises the following:

an act of receiving a function call from a standardized user interface.

4. A method in accordance claim 1, further comprising the following:

an act of processing the message prior to the act of dividing the message into a number of short message fragments.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the act of processing the message comprises the following:

an act of compressing the message.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the act of processing the message comprises the following:

an act of encrypting the message.

7. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the act of processing the message comprises the following:

an act of wrapping the message in XML.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the following prior to the act of dividing the message into a number of short message fragments of limited size:

an act of determining that the message must be transmitted as a plurality of short messages in order to comply with a size restriction of the cellular network.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cellular network is a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) cellular network.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cellular network implements TDMA cellular technology.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cellular network implements CDMA technology.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cellular network implements wireless CDMA technology.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cellular network implements 1xRTT technology.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cellular network implements 3G technology.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cellular network implements UMTS technology.

16. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cellular network implements CDMA2000 technology.

37. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an act of the calling application receiving a delivery response for the first message as a whole.

38. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the acts of receiving the function call and dividing the first message are performed by a short messaging layer.

17. In a cellular network that facilitates transmission of messages between cellular computing devices, the messages often being multi-part message that consist of multiple short message fragments of limited size, a method for calling application implement detailed processing required to fragment the message, the method comprising the following:

an act of receiving a function call from a calling application via a standardized interface, the function call requesting the transmission of a message over the cellular network;

an act of dividing the message into a number of short message fragments of limited size;

an act of causing each of the short message fragments to be transmitted over the cellular network;

an act of receiving a request for a delivery report for the message from the calling application;

an act of gathering delivery reports received back from the communication network for each short message fragment;

an act of interpreting the gathered delivery reports for each of the short message fragments to determine an appropriate delivery response for the message as a whole; and

an act of returning the appropriate delivery response for the message as a whole to the calling application.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the act of receiving a request for a delivery report is performed via the standardized interface.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the act of returning the appropriate delivery response is performed via the standardized interface.

20. A computer program product for use in a cellular network that facilitates the transmission of messages between cellular computing devices, the messages often being multi-part messages that consist of multiple short message fragments of limited size, the computer program product for implementing a method for facilitating an application sending the multiple short message fragments without having a calling application implement detailed processing required to fragment the message, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon the following:

computer-executable instructions for receiving a function call from a calling application via a standardized interface, the function call requesting the transmission of a message over the cellular network;

computer-executable instructions for dividing the message into a set of short message fragments of limited size; and

computer-executable instructions for causing each of the short message fragments to be transmitted over the cellular network; and

wherein the calling application is adapted to act as a receiving application for a second message reassembled from a second set of short message fragments.

21. A computer program product in accordance with claim 20, wherein the one or more computer-readable media are physical storage media.

22. A computer program product in accordance with claim 20, wherein the computer-executable instructions for receiving a function call from a calling application via a standardized interface comprise the following:

computer-executable instructions for receiving a function call from a calling application via an application program interface.

23. A computer program product in accordance with claim 20, wherein the computer-executable instructions for receiving a function call from a calling application via a standardized interface comprise the following:

computer-executable instructions for receiving a function call from a standardized user interface.

24. A computer program product in accordance with claim 20, wherein the one or more computer-readable media further have stored thereon the following:

computer-executable instructions for determining that the message must be transmitted as a plurality of short messages in order to comply with a size restriction of the cellular network prior to executing the computer-executable instructions for dividing the message into a number of short message fragments of limited size.

25. A computer program product for use in a cellular network that facilitates transmission of message between cellular computing devices, the messages often being multi-part messages that consist of multiple short message fragments of limited size, the computer program product for implementing a method for facilitating an application sending the multiple short message fragments without having a calling application implemented detailed processing required to fragment the message, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon the following:

computer-executable instructions for receiving a function call from a calling application via standardized interface, the function call requesting the transmission of a message over the cellular network;

computer-executable instructions for dividing the message into a number of short message fragments of limited size;

computer-executable instructions for causing each of the short message fragments to be transmitted over the cellular network;

computer-excusable instructions for receiving a request for a delivery report for the message from the calling application;

computer-executable instructions for gathering delivery reports received back from the communication network for each short message fragment;

computer-executable instructions for interpreting the gathered delivery reports for each of the short message fragments to determine an appropriate delivery response for the message as a whole; and

computer-executable instructions for returning the appropriate delivery response for the message a whole to the calling application.

26. In a cellular network that facilitates transmission of messages between cellular computing devices, the messages often being multi-part messages that consist of multiple short message fragments of limited size, a method for facilitating an application sending the multiple short message fragments without having a calling application implement detailed processing required to fragment the message, the method comprising the following:

an act of receiving a function call from a calling application via a standardized interface, the function call requesting the transmission of a first message over the cellular network, wherein the calling application is configured to act as a receiving application for a second message reassembled from a set of short message fragments; and

a step for transmitting the message over the cellular network in response to the function call.

27. A method in accordance with claim 26, wherein the step for transmitting the message over the cellular network in response to the function call comprises the following:

an act of dividing the message into a number of short message fragments of limited size; and

an act of causing each of the short message fragments of the first message to be transmitted over the cellular network.

28. In a cellular network that facilitates transmission of messages between cellular computing devices, the messages often being multi-part messages that consist of multiple short message fragments of limited size, a method for a receiving application to receive a multi-part message, the method comprising the following:

an act of receiving a plurality of short message fragments corresponding to a multi-part message;

an act of reassembling the plurality of fragments into the multi-part message; and

an act of passing the reassembled message to a receiving application via a standardized interface, wherein the receiving application is adapted to act as a calling application for s second multi-part message.

29. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein the act of passing the reassembled message to a receiving application via a standardized interface comprises the following:

an act of passing the reassembled message to a user interface.

30. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein the act of passing the reassembled message to a receiving application via a standardized interface comprises the following:

an act of passing the reassembled message to a receiving application via an application program interface.

31. A method in accordance with claim 28, further comprising the following:

receiving a function call from the receiving application via a standardized interface, the function call requesting the processing and forwarding of complete multi-part messages.

32. A computer program product for use in a cellular network that facilitates transmission of messages between cellular computing devices, the messages often being multi-part messages that consist of multiple short message fragments of limited size, the computer program product for implementing a method for a receiving application to receive a multi-part message without performing the detailed processing necessary to reassemble the message, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon the following:

computer-executable instructions for receiving a plurality of short message fragments corresponding to a multi-part message;

computer-executable instructions for reassembling the plurality of fragments into the multi-part message; and

computer-executable instructions for passing the reassembled message to a receiving application via a standardized interface, wherein in receiving application is adapted to act as a calling application for a second multi-part message.

33. A computer program product in accordance with claim 32, wherein the computer-executable instructions for passing the reassembled message to a receiving application via a standardized interface comprise the following:

computer-executable instructions for passing the reassembled message to a user interface.

34. A computer program product in accordance with claim 32, wherein the computer-executable instructions for passing the reassembled message to a receiving application via a standardized interface comprise the following:

computer-executable instructions for passing the reassembled message to a receiving application via an application program interface.

35. A computer program product in accordance with claim 32, wherein the one or more computer-readable media further have stored thereon the following:

computer-executable instructions for receiving a function call from the receiving application via a standardized interface, the function call requesting the processing and forwarding of complete multi-part messages.

36. A computer program product in accordance with claim 32, wherein the one or more computer-readable media are physical storage media.