Apparatus, system and method for forwarding data sent to a wireless device to another address

• US 7,187,921 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jordan, Royce D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hashem; Lisa
• Application Number:
  US10/097,310
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 709/288, 709/250
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• 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 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

An apparatus for forwarding data sent to a wireless device having a first address to a second address. The apparatus includes a server in communication with a wireless network and an external network. The server includes a processor. The processor includes a data forwarding module for forwarding the data to the second address via the external network when the wireless device is not in communication with the wireless network.

Claims

1. An apparatus for editing a profile of a user associated with a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

a database machine in communication with the wireless network, wherein the database machine includes a processor, the processor including;

an edit request module for at least receiving an electronic mail message from a user including a request to alter the profile of the user, the profile including a waiting time field corresponding to an amount of time for a corresponding wireless device to become available within the wireless network before a message is forwarded to an alternate address;

an update module for altering the profile of the user in response to at least the electronic mail message from the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the database machine includes a database for storing the profile of the user.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the database has a directory structure for identifying the profile.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile includes a primary delivery address associated with a wireless device, and wherein the wireless device is associated with the wireless network.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the profile includes an alternate delivery address associated with the primary delivery address, wherein the alternate delivery address is associated with an external network.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the profile includes a plurality of alternate delivery addresses associated with the primary delivery address, wherein the plurality of alternate addresses are associated with an external network.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the external network is selected from the group consisting of a second wireless network, a telephone network, and the Internet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile includes a waiting time.

9. An apparatus for editing a profile of a user associated with a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

a database machine in communication with the wireless network, wherein the database machine includes a processor, the processor including;

means for receiving at least a request by an electronic mail message from a user including a request to alter the profile of the user, the profile including a waiting time field corresponding to an amount of time for a corresponding wireless device to become available within the wireless network before a message is forwarded to an alternate address; and

means for altering the profile of the user.

10. A system for editing a profile of a user associated with a wireless network, the system comprising:

a gateway in communication with the wireless network, wherein the gateway includes a database machine, the database machine including;

a processor, wherein the processor includes;

an edit request module for receiving at least a request by an electronic mail message from a user including a request to edit the profile of the user, the profile including a waiting time field corresponding to an amount of time for a corresponding wireless device to become available within the wireless network before a message is forwarded to an alternate address; and

an update module for altering the profile of the user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the gateway further includes:

an internal network;

a network router connected to the internal network;

a protocol handler connected to the internal network;

a database machine connected to the internal network;

a mail router connected to the internal network; and

a subsystem connected to the internal network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the internal network is a local are network.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the network router is connected to the wireless network.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the database machine includes a database for storing a profile associated with a user of the wireless network.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the mail router is connected to an external network.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the subsystem is connected to the external network.

17. The system of claim 16, where the subsystem is selected from the group consisting of a faxmail system, a pagemail system, a phonemail system, and an interactive voice response system.