Method and system for routing SMS messages

• US 7,433,967 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sherman, Roman, Anson, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess; Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASH, LASHANYA RENEE
• Application Number:
  US09/788,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,790 Days
• Field of Search: 709238-242, 709/221, 37922101-22102, 379/221.06, 455/466, 455/556.2
• US Class Current: 709/240
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• 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 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method and system for routing messages received by a device is described. The router routes messages to applications associated with a provider that recognizes an incoming message type. Providers register with the router to receive messages of a particular type. The providers are prioritized so that the router delivers messages to the providers based on the assigned priority. The router inquires with the providers in their relative assigned priority. The router stops inquiring the providers once an appropriate provider for the message has been found. If the message does not belong to the provider then the next provider is queried. Before delivering the message to the application, the provider formats the message to the specifications provided by the application.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for routing messages, received by a mobile device, to an application of the mobile device, comprising:

accessing a registry of the mobile device, wherein the registry includes data that indicates a priority of each of the plurality of prioritized providers with respect to one another;

providing a plurality of prioritized providers on the mobile device in accordance with the priority indicated by the registry of the mobile device, wherein each provider is associated with a message type;

receiving a message on the mobile device, the message having a message type identified by a character sequence;

routing, on the mobile device, the message to the plurality of prioritized providers on the mobile device, wherein the provider with the first highest priority receives the message first;

routing the message to the provider with the second highest priority when the provider with the first highest priority does not recognize the message type;

associating the message with at least one of the plurality of prioritized providers when the at least one of the plurality of prioritized providers recognizes the message type;

associating the message with a default provider associated with a lowest priority when at least one of the plurality of higher prioritized providers does not recognize the message type;

informing an application of the mobile device and associated with the provider that the message is waiting without the application sending a query to receive an indication that the message is waiting; and

formatting the message to the requirements of the application, wherein formatting the message to the requirements of the application comprises removing the character sequence identifying the message type.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

waiting for the application to request the message; and

delivering the message to the application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein associating the message with a provider, further comprises:

providing the message to a provider based on a priority level; and

determining if the prioritized provider is associated with the message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the provider has a unique priority level.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining if the prioritized provider is associated with the message, further comprises:

receiving a response from the prioritized provider indicating if the prioritized provider is associated with the message; and

associating the message with the prioritized provider if the received response indicates that the prioritized provider is associated with the message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein associating the message with the prioritized provider if the received response indicates that the prioritized provider is associated with the message, further comprises storing the message in a location associated with the prioritized provider.

7. A computer storage media having computer executable instructions for routing messages, received by a mobile device, to an application of the mobile device, comprising:

accessing a registry of the mobile device, wherein the registry includes data that indicates a priority of each of a plurality of prioritized providers with respect to one another;

providing a plurality of prioritized providers on the mobile device in accordance with the priority indicated by the registry of the mobile device, wherein each provider is associated with a message type;

receiving a message, on the mobile device, having a message type indicated by a character sequence in the message;

routing the message to a first prioritized provider on the mobile device from a list of prioritized providers on the mobile device;

associating the message with the first prioritized provider when the first prioritized provider recognizes the character sequence, wherein an application of the mobile device and associated with the first prioritized provider is informed that the message is waiting without the application sending a query to receive an indication that the message is waiting;

formatting the message to the requirements of an application associated with the first prioritized provider, wherein formatting the message to the requirements of the application comprises removing the character sequence indicating the message type;

routing the message to a second prioritized provider when the first prioritized provider does not recognize the character sequence; and

associating the message with a default provider associated with a lowest priority when at least one of the plurality of higher prioritized providers does not recognize the message type.

8. The computer storage media of claim 7, wherein associating the message with the first prioritized provider further includes further comprising:

waiting for the application to request the message; and

delivering the message to the application.

9. The computer storage media of claim 8, wherein formatting the message to the requirements of the application further comprises:

providing access to the message to the first prioritized provider associated with the requesting application; and

the first prioritized provider associated with the requesting application formatting the message to the requirements of the application.

10. The computer storage media of claim 8, wherein associating the message with a provider, further comprises:

prioritizing the list of providers based on a priority level; and

providing access to the message to each of the prioritized providers in order of priority until the message has been associated.

11. The computer storage media of claim 10, wherein each of the set of providers has a unique priority level.

12. The computer storage media of claim 11, wherein providing access to the message to each of the prioritized providers in order of priority until the message has been associated, further comprises:

receiving a response from the highest level prioritized provider indicating if the prioritized provider is associated with the message; and

associating the message with the highest level prioritized provider if the received response indicates that the prioritized provider is associated with the message.

13. The computer storage media of claim 12, wherein associating the message with the prioritized provider if the received response indicates that the prioritized provider is associated with the message, further comprises storing the message in a location associated with the prioritized provider.

14. A system for routing messages received by a mobile device to an application of the mobile device, comprising:

a processor and a computer storage media;

computer readable instructions stored on the computer storage media and executing on the processor;

a communication connection device operating under the control of computer readable instructions; and

a routing device operating under the control of the computer readable instructions and operative to perform actions, including;

accessing a registry of the mobile device, wherein the registry includes data that indicates a priority of each of a plurality of prioritized providers with respect to one another;

providing priority to the plurality of prioritized providers in accordance with the priority indicated by the registry of the mobile device, wherein each provider is associated with a message type;

recognizing a character sequence indicating the message type;

receiving a message on the mobile device having a provider indicator;

routing the message until at least one provider on the mobile device recognizes the provider indicator, wherein the message is routed according to a priority level of the provider, wherein the provider having the first highest level of priority receives the message first, and wherein the message is routed to a provider having a second highest level of priority when the provider having the first highest level of priority does not recognize the provider indicator;

associating the message with at least one provider when the at least one provider recognizes the provider indicator;

associating the message with a default provider associated with a lowest priority when at least one of the plurality of higher prioritized providers does not recognize the message type;

formatting the message to the requirements of an application associated with the at least one provider, wherein formatting the message to the requirements of the application comprises removing the character sequence indicating the message type;

delivering the message to an the application of the mobile device and associated with the at least one provider when the at least one provider recognizes the provider indicator, wherein the application is informed that the message is waiting without the application sending a query to receive an indication that the message is waiting.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the routing device is further operative to perform actions, including:

waiting for the application to request the message.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein associating the message with a provider, further comprises:

providing the message to a provider based on a priority level; and

determining if the prioritized provider is associated with the message.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein determining if the prioritized provider is associated with the message, further comprises:

receiving a response from the prioritized provider indicating if the prioritized provider is associated with the message; and

associating the message with the prioritized provider if the received response indicates that the prioritized provider is associated with the message.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein associating the message with the prioritized provider if the received response indicates that the prioritized provider is associated with the message, further comprises storing the message in a location associated with the prioritized provider.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein formatting the message for the application further comprises:

providing access to the message to the provider associated with the requesting application; and

the provider associated with the requesting application formatting the message to the requirements of the application.

20. A computer-implemented method for routing messages, received by a mobile device, to an application of the mobile device, comprising:

accessing a registry of the mobile device, wherein the registry includes data that indicates a priority of each of the plurality of prioritized providers with respect to one another;

providing a plurality or providers on the mobile device in accordance with the priority indicated by the registry of the mobile device, wherein each provider is associated with a message type and at least one application of the mobile device;

prioritizing the plurality of providers, wherein the plurality of providers are prioritized from a high priority to a low priority;

receiving at least one message including a provider character sequence;

routing the at least one message to the prioritized plurality of providers until one of the plurality of providers recognizes the provider character sequence, wherein the message is routed to each of the providers in order of priority;

routing the message to a default provider associated with a lowest priority when at least one of the plurality of higher prioritized providers does not recognize the provider character sequence;

indicating that the message is recognized;

associating the recognized message with the recognizing provider;

informing an application that the message is waiting without the application sending a query to receive an indication that the message is waiting;

requesting, by the application, delivery of the message;

associating the request with the recognizing provider;

formatting the message for the application, wherein formatting the message for the application comprises removing the character sequence indicating the provider; and

delivering the formatted message to the application.