Universal short code administration facility
First Claim
1. A system for transmitting a message from a mobile subscriber to an application provider using a short code, the system comprising:
- an administrator in communication with a database, wherein the database contains the short code and a status of the short code that indicates that the short code is leased;
a network facilitator selectably connectable to the administrator; and
a plurality of wireless carriers selectably connectable to the network facilitator,wherein the mobile subscriber is associated with one of the plurality of wireless carriers,wherein the one of the plurality of wireless carriers connects to the network facilitator when receiving the message from the mobile subscriber addressed to the short code,wherein the network facilitator communicates with the administrator to obtain routing information indicating to which one of a plurality of application providers the short code is assigned, and based on the information thereafter delivers the message to the application provider,wherein the administrator, in response to a request asking whether the short code is available, provides the status of the short code, andwherein the administrator periodically broadcasts to the network facilitator information regarding (i) which short codes have recently been leased and (ii) which leases for short codes are soon to expire.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for assigning short codes to provide uniformity among wireless carriers. In the systems and methods, a Universal Short Code (USC) Administrator maintains a list of short codes and their lease status so that SMS messages sent to a particular short code may be routed to the proper holder of the short code. A network facilitator is in communication with both the USC Administrator and at least one wireless carrier to route the SMS message to the proper holder of the short code. The short code may be leased for a specified period of time so that the short code can be reassigned after expiration of the lease. The systems and methods also support inquiries concerning particular short codes, leases, lessees, and usage prices.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for transmitting a message from a mobile subscriber to an application provider using a short code, the system comprising:
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an administrator in communication with a database, wherein the database contains the short code and a status of the short code that indicates that the short code is leased; a network facilitator selectably connectable to the administrator; and a plurality of wireless carriers selectably connectable to the network facilitator, wherein the mobile subscriber is associated with one of the plurality of wireless carriers, wherein the one of the plurality of wireless carriers connects to the network facilitator when receiving the message from the mobile subscriber addressed to the short code, wherein the network facilitator communicates with the administrator to obtain routing information indicating to which one of a plurality of application providers the short code is assigned, and based on the information thereafter delivers the message to the application provider, wherein the administrator, in response to a request asking whether the short code is available, provides the status of the short code, and wherein the administrator periodically broadcasts to the network facilitator information regarding (i) which short codes have recently been leased and (ii) which leases for short codes are soon to expire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for assigning a specific short code that is employed to route a non-voice message, the method comprising:
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receiving from a first application provider a request to lease the specific short code that is to be employed to route a non-voice message from a mobile subscriber to an application provider; verifying the availability of the specific short code via at least a database lookup; temporarily assigning the specific short code to the first application provider; notifying the first application provider of the assignment of the specific short code; receiving from a second application provider a query for a status of the specific short code; reporting the status of the specific short code to the second application provider; and periodically broadcasting to the first application provider and the second application provider information regarding (i) which short codes have recently been leased and (ii) which leases for short codes are soon to expire. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for transmitting a message from a mobile subscriber to an application provider using a short code, the system comprising:
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an administrator in communication with a database, wherein the database contains the short code and a status of the short code that indicates that the short code is leased; a plurality of network facilitators selectably connectable to the administrator and logically operating as a singe network facilitator; and a plurality of wireless carriers, each being selectably connectable to and associated with at least one of the plurality of the network facilitators, wherein the mobile subscriber is associated with one of the plurality of wireless carriers wherein the one of the plurality of wireless carriers connects to the associated network facilitator when receiving the message from the mobile subscriber addressed to the short code, wherein the associated network facilitator communicates with the administrator to obtain routing information indicating to which one of a plurality of application providers the short code is assigned, and based on the information thereafter delivers the message to the application provider, wherein the administrator, in response to a request asking whether the short code is available, provides the status of the short code, and wherein the administrator periodically broadcasts to interested parties information regarding (i) which short codes have recently been leased and (ii) which leases for short codes are soon to expire. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification