Methods and apparatus for delivering a message to two or more associated wireless communication devices
First Claim
1. A method for use in delivering a short message to at least two wireless communication devices which operate in a wireless communication network comprising the acts of:
- maintaining, at a message server, a stored association between a first address of a first wireless communication device and a second address of a second wireless communication device;
receiving, at the message server, a request to deliver the short message to the first address of the first wireless communication device;
performing, at the message server, the following acts in response to the request;
sending, from the message server, the short message to the first address for delivery, via the wireless communication network, to the first wireless communication device operating in the wireless communication network;
identifying the second address of the second wireless communication device through the stored association with the first address; and
additionally sending, from the message server, the short message to the second address for delivery, via the wireless communication network, to the second wireless communication device operating in the wireless communication network, so that the short message is delivered to both the first and the second wireless communication devices in response to the request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for use in delivering a message, such as a Short Message Service (SMS) message, simultaneously to two or more associated wireless communication devices are described. In one illustrative example, a request to deliver an SMS message to a first wireless communication device identified by a first address is received. In response to the request, the SMS message is delivered to the first wireless communication device as well as to a second wireless communication device identified by a second address different from the first address. In one preferred scenario, the first and the second wireless devices are possessed by the same end user so that SMS messages can be received regardless of which device is being used at any given moment. The method may be executed by a server in the wireless network or, alternatively, by the wireless communication device itself.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for use in delivering a short message to at least two wireless communication devices which operate in a wireless communication network comprising the acts of:
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maintaining, at a message server, a stored association between a first address of a first wireless communication device and a second address of a second wireless communication device; receiving, at the message server, a request to deliver the short message to the first address of the first wireless communication device; performing, at the message server, the following acts in response to the request; sending, from the message server, the short message to the first address for delivery, via the wireless communication network, to the first wireless communication device operating in the wireless communication network; identifying the second address of the second wireless communication device through the stored association with the first address; and additionally sending, from the message server, the short message to the second address for delivery, via the wireless communication network, to the second wireless communication device operating in the wireless communication network, so that the short message is delivered to both the first and the second wireless communication devices in response to the request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A message server which is adapted to deliver a short message to two or more wireless communication devices through a wireless communication network by maintaining a stored association between a first address of a first wireless communication device and a second address of a second wireless communication device;
- receiving a request to deliver the short message to the first address of the first wireless communication device; and
in response to the request;
sending the short message to the first address for delivery, via the wireless communication network, to the first wireless communication device operating in the wireless communication network;
identifying the second address of the second wireless communication device through the stored association with the first address; and
additionally sending the short message to the second address for delivery, via the wireless communication network, to the second wireless communication device operating in the wireless communication network, so that the short message is delivered to both the first and the second wireless communication devices in response to the request. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- receiving a request to deliver the short message to the first address of the first wireless communication device; and
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26. A communication system, comprising:
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a wireless communication network; a first wireless communication device operative in the wireless communication network; a second wireless communication device operative in the wireless communication network; a message server of the wireless communication network; and the message server being adapted to deliver a short message to the first and the second wireless communication devices through the wireless communication network by maintaining a stored association between a first address of the first wireless communication device and a second address of the second wireless communication device;
receiving a request to deliver the short message to the first address; and
in response to the request;
sending the short message to the first address for delivery, via the wireless communication network, to the first wireless communication device operating in the wireless communication network;
identifying the second address of the second wireless communication device through the stored association with the first address; and
additionally sending the short message to the second address for delivery, via the wireless communication network, to the second wireless communication device operating in the wireless communication network, so that the short message is delivered to both the first and the second wireless communication devices in response to the request. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification