System and method for sending SMS and text messages

• US 7,369,865 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2003
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leandro Gabriel, Manny Gabriel
• Original Assignee: Leandro Gabriel, Manny Gabriel
• Inventors: Gabriel, Leandro, Gabriel, Manny
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, WESLEY LEO
• Application Number:
  US10/686,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20040082348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,664 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/426.1, 455/566, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• 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 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• 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 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A system and method for sending SMS messages between wireless communications networks. SMS messages are sent to a hardware device in the originating wireless network, which then forwards the message to a management server via the Internet. The management server forwards the message to the appropriate device in the receiving wireless network, which then sends the message to the intended recipient. Replies can then be sent to the originator of the message. Users can also send messages from a computer to a cellular telephone and receive messages sent from a cellular telephone on a computer via email or an HTML based interface. The system can also be used to send and receive messages from a wireless carrier'"'"'s SMSC.

Claims

1. A system for sending and receiving SMS messages between SMS message devices located in different wireless networks without traversing a network bridge in either wireless network, said system comprising:

a plurality of SMS devices, each said SMS device being connectable to the internet and connectable to a wireless network and having a machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program comprising a plurality of code sections executable by a machine whereby SMS messages arriving at said SMS device from a wireless network may be sent to the internet, and SMS messages arriving at said SMS device from the internet may be sent to said wireless network without said SMS messages being passed through a network bridge attached to said wireless network;

a first wireless network having at least a first SMS device and a first network bridge, said first network bridge comprising a short message service center (SMSC) and means for connecting said SMSC to external networks, said first SMS device being connected to the internet and connected to said first wireless network such that SMS messages arriving at said first SMS device from said first wireless network may be sent to the internet, and SMS messages arriving at said first SMS device from the internet may be sent to said first wireless network without said SMS messages being passed through said first network bridge;

a second wireless network having at least a second SMS device and a second network bridge, said second network bridge comprising a short message service center (SMSC) and means for connecting said SMSC to external networks, said second SMS device being connected to the internet and to said second wireless network, such that SMS messages arriving at said second SMS device from said second wireless network may be sent to the internet, and SMS messages arriving at said second SMS device from the internet may be sent to said second wireless network without said SMS messages being passed through said second network bridge;

at least one server that is connected to the Internet, said server having a machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program comprising a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for maintaining a plurality of interrelated tables comprising a database, said database containing user-provided information cross-referencing SMS user devices, and predetermined routing and identification information for verifying SMS message authorization, and for routing SMS messages to selected, identified SMS message recipients;

whereby an SMS message sent from a sending user device in said first wireless network and directed to a recipient user device in said second wireless network may be routed through said first SMS device to said server via the internet, may be analyzed for further routing information by said server, and may be further routed to said recipient'"'"'s SMS device via the internet and said second SMS device, and said server may debit an identified user'"'"'s account.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least a first SMS device in said first wireless network comprises one of a plurality of SMS devices in said first wireless network;

said at least a second SMS device in said second wireless network comprises one of a plurality of SMS devices in said second wireless network; and

said second wireless network comprises one of a plurality of wireless networks.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and said second SMS devices each comprise a cellular telephone connected to a computer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first SMS device is further programmed to assist said server in determining which other SMS device to forward said SMS messages to when such messages are received from said first wireless network.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said server is a computer.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of user computers that are programmed to communicate with said server across the internet , said user computers having means for sending and receiving SMS messages.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said server is further programmed to forward SMS messages for authorized users of the system to the user'"'"'s email account.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said server is further programmed to store SMS messages and allow authorized users of the system to send and retrieve SMS messages via an HTML based interface on the Internet.

9. The system of claim 6, further said server further comprising one or more executable code sections that allow said server to receive an SMS message from one of said user computers, determine routing information from said database to direct said SMS message to the intended recipient of said SMS message, and forward said SMS message to a SMS device in the wireless communication network where said intended recipient is located for further forwarding to said intended recipient.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising e-mail accounts whereby SMS messages can be sent or received as e-mail, and one or more of said executable code sections in said computer program on said server causes said server to receive SMS messages sent from an e-mail account or to forward SMS messages to an email account, as directed by instructions comprising said personalized information maintained in said database.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein one or more of said executable code sections in said computer program on said server causes said server to store SMS messages whereby authorized users can send and retrieve SMS messages using an HTML based interface on the Internet.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of servers connected to the Internet, each said server having a machine readable storage and having stored thereon a computer program comprising a plurality of code sections executable by a machine to cause said servers to exchange information concerning SMS messages and user accounts across the Internet.