Method, system and apparatus for messaging between wireless mobile terminals and networked computers

• US 7,640,293 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wilson, Christopher Robert Dale, Mihaylova, Mihaela Kamenova, Page, Joseph Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quang N.
• Application Number:
  US10/748,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20040202117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,191 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/227, 709/204, 709/228, 709/246, 709/203, 709/207, 709/223, 709/224, 709/239, 370/352, 455/456.1, 455/466, 455/518, 455/412.1, 455/465.1
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/365 Application layer names, e.g. buddy names, unstructured names chosen by a user or home appliance name
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system is disclosed for messaging between wireless mobile terminals operating on wireless carrier networks and networked computers. The mobile terminals and computers include client applications for communicating messages to one another using push-to-talk modality. A server, located on a packet network outside the wireless carrier networks, forwards messages between the mobile terminals and the computers. The messages consist of text or streaming voice. The server can also include gateways for forwarding messages from the mobile terminals and computers to external email and instant messaging (IM) users. By placing the server outside wireless carrier networks and using conventional packet network protocols such as the Internet protocol (IP), the system provides seamless inter-carrier push-to-talk and/or instant messaging between mobile terminal, networked computers, and users of third-party email and IM services.

Claims

1. A method of messaging between a wireless mobile terminal operating on a wireless carrier network and a networked computer on a landline network, the method comprising:

starting a client on a device selected from the group including the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer, the client for communicating messages in a push-to-talk (PTT) mode;

the client sending a login message to a server located outside of the wireless carrier network, the server communicating with the client by way of a packet network;

the server establishing a communication session with the client in response to receiving the login message;

at the device, selecting at least one recipient for a PTT message, the at least one recipient including the other device from the group including the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer;

sending the PTT message to the server by way of the packet network using a PTT function provided by the client;

determining availability of the at least one recipient to currently receive the PTT message;

the server selectively forwarding the PTT message to the at least one recipient that is available, and based on the respective availability of the at least one recipient,

storing the PTT message for later delivery to an unavailable recipient, and

the server also forwarding the PTT message to an external email system for delivery to the unavailable recipient;

storing, at the server, a user ID and user password useable for logging into the external email system, the user ID and the user password allowing access to an external email service account of a PTT message sender;

determining that an intended recipient of the PTT message is an email client of the external email system;

the server logging into the external email system as a proxy on behalf of the PTT message sender using the stored user ID and user password; and

forwarding the PTT message to the email client using the external email service account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the PTT message is selected from a group including a voice message, a text message, and a combination of the foregoing.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the server forwarding the PTT message to an external instant messaging (IM) system.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing, at the server, a user instant messaging (IM) ID and user IM password useable for logging into the external IM system, the user IM ID and user IM password allowing access to an external IM service account of the PTT message sender;

determining whether the intended recipient of the PTT message is an IM client of the external IM system;

the server logging into the external IM system as a proxy on behalf of the PTT message sender using the stored user IM ID and user IM password; and

forwarding the PTT message to the IM Client using the external IM service account.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transcoding the PTT message into a digitized voice message formatted for playback using a predetermined web browser multimedia plugin;

storing the digitized voice message in a voice message database;

assigning a universal resource locator (URL) to the stored digitized voice message;

imbedding the URL in a text message; and

sending the text message imbedding the URL to the IM client.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the PTT message includes streaming voice.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the client periodically sending a keep-alive message to the server for maintaining as active the communication session between the server and the client.

8. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium for permitting messaging between a wireless mobile terminal operating on a wireless carrier network and a networked computer on a landline packet network, the computer program product comprising:

program code for

establishing a communication session with a server for communicating with the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer by way of a packet network, the communication session involving transfer of voice and text messages between the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer;

presenting a user interface for composing a text message;

presenting a user interface for selecting message recipients to receive messages during the communication session, the message recipients including the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer;

allowing a user to record and send a voice message to the message recipients via the server using a push-to-talk (PTT) mode;

allowing the user to send the text message to the message recipients via the server using instant messaging;

displaying at the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer the text message and an indicia of the voice message in a single displayed conversation thread;

allowing the user to send the text message to unavailable message recipients via an external email system;

storing, at the server, a user ID and user password useable for logging into the external email system, the user ID and the user password allowing access to an external email service account of a text message sender;

determining that an intended recipient of the text message is an email client of the external email system;

the server logging into the external email system as a proxy on behalf of the text message sender using the stored user ID and user password; and

forwarding the text message to the email client using the external email service account.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program code is also for sending the voice message as streaming voice.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program code is also for playing voice messages received from the server.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program code is also for displaying text messages received from the server.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program code is also for accessing a list of the message recipients stored at the server.

13. A wireless mobile terminal for operating on a wireless carrier network, the wireless mobile terminal comprising:

a display screen;

a memory for storing program code; and

a processor, operatively coupled to the memory and the display screen, for executing the program code;

the program code stored in the memory for

establishing a communication session with a server capable of forwarding messages to a networked computer located on a wired network by way of a packet network;

recording a voice message;

accessing a list of potential message recipients stored at the server;

displaying the list on the display screen;

presenting on the display screen a graphical user interface for selecting at least one message recipient from the list displayed on the display screen, the at least one message recipient including the networked computer;

sending the voice message as streaming voice to the server for delivery to the at least one message recipient;

sending the voice message to unavailable message recipients via an external email system;

storing a user ID and user password useable for logging into the external email system, the user ID and the user password allowing access to an external email service account of a voice message sender;

determining that an intended recipient of the voice message is an email client of the external email system;

the server logging into the external email system as a proxy on behalf of the voice message sender using the stored user ID and user password; and

forwarding the voice message to the email client using the external email service account.

14. The wireless mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the program code is also for:

presenting a user interface for composing a text message; and

sending the text message to the server for delivery to the at least one message recipient.

15. The wireless mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the program code is also for allowing a user to send the voice message using a push-to-talk mode.

16. The wireless mobile terminal of claim 13, further comprising:

a speaker; and

wherein the program code is also for playing voice message received from the server on the speaker.

17. The wireless mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the program code is also for displaying text messages received from the server on the display screen.

18. A networked device for operating on a wired packet network, the networked device comprising:

a network interface;

a display screen;

a memory for storing program code; and

a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, the display screen, and the network interface, for executing the program code for

establishing a communication session with a server through the network interface, the server being capable of forwarding messages to a wireless mobile terminal operating on a wireless carrier network;

recording a voice message;

accessing a list of potential message recipients stored at the server;

displaying the list on the display screen;

presenting on the display screen a graphical user interface for selecting at least one message recipient from the list displayed on the display screen, the at least one message recipient including the wireless mobile terminal;

sending the voice message as streaming voice to the server for delivery to the at least one message recipient;

sending the voice message to unavailable message recipients via an external email system;

storing, at the server, a user ID and user password useable for logging into the external email system, the user ID and the user password allowing access to an external email service account of a voice message sender;

determining that an intended recipient of the voice message is an email client of the external email system;

the server logging into the external email system as a proxy on behalf of the voice message sender using the stored user ID and user password; and

forwarding the voice message to the email client using the external email service account.

19. The networked device of claim 18, wherein the processor further executes the program code for:

presenting a user interface for composing a text message; and

sending the text message to the server for delivery to the message recipients.

20. The networked device of claim 18, wherein the processor further executes the program code for allowing a user to send the voice message using a push-to-talk mode.

21. The networked device of claim 18, further comprising:

a speaker; and

wherein the processor further executes the program code for playing voice messages received from the server on the speaker.

22. The networked device of claim 18, wherein the processor further executes the program code for displaying text messages received from the server on the display screen.

23. A system for messaging between a wireless mobile terminal operating on a wireless carrier network and a networked computer on a landline network, the system comprising:

a client software application on a device selected from the group including the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer, the client software application for communicating messages in a push-to-talk (PTT) mode;

means for sending a login message from the device to a server located outside of the wireless carrier network, the server communicating with the client by way of a packet network;

means, included in the server, for establishing a communication session with the client in response to receiving the login message;

means, included in the device, for selecting at least one recipient for a PTT message, the at least one recipient including the other device from the group including the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer;

means for sending the PTT message from the device to the server by way of the packet network using a PTT function provided by the client;

means for determining availability of each of the at least one recipient to currently receive the PTT message; and

means, included in the server, for selectively forwarding the PTT message to the at least one recipient that is available, and based on the respective availability of the at least one recipient,

storing the PTT message for later delivery to an unavailable recipient, and

forwarding the PTT message to an external email system for delivery to the unavailable recipient;

means, included in the server, for storing a user ID and user password useable for logging into the external email system, the user ID and the user password allowing access to an external email service account of a PTT message sender;

means for determining that an intended recipient of the PTT message is an email client of the external email system;

means, included in the server, for logging into the external email system as a proxy on behalf of the PTT message sender using the stored user ID and user password; and

means for forwarding the PTT message to the email client using the external email service account.

24. A method of messaging between a wireless mobile terminal operating on a wireless carrier network and a networked computer on a landline network, the method comprising:

starting a client on a device selected from the group including the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer, the client for communicating messages in a push-to-talk (PTT) mode;

the client sending a login message to a server located outside of the wireless carrier network, the server communicating with the client by way of a packet network;

the server establishing a communication session with the client in response to receiving the login message;

at the device, selecting at least one recipient for a PTT message, the at least one recipient including the other device from the group including the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer;

sending the PTT message to the server by way of the packet network using a PTT function provided by the client;

determining availability of the at least one recipient to currently receive the PTT message;

the server selectively forwarding the PTT message to the at least one recipient that is available, and based on the respective availability of the at least one recipient,

storing the PTT message for later delivery to an unavailable recipient, and

the server also forwarding the PTT message to an external instant messaging (IM) system;

storing, at the server, a user ID and user password useable for logging into the external instant messaging (IM) system, the user ID and user password allowing access to an external IM service account of a PTT message sender;

determining whether an intended recipient of the PTT message is an IM client of the external IM system;

the server logging into the external IM system as a proxy on behalf of the PTT message sender using the stored user ID and user password; and

forwarding the PTT message to the IM Client using the external IM service account.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

transcoding the PTT message into a digitized voice message formatted for playback using a predetermined web browser multimedia plugin;

storing the digitized voice message in a voice message database;

assigning a universal resource locator (URL) to the stored digitized voice message;

imbedding the URL in a text message; and

sending the text message imbedding the URL to the IM client.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the PTT message is selected from a group including a voice message, a text message, and a combination of the foregoing.

27. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium for permitting messaging between a wireless mobile terminal operating on a wireless carrier network and a networked computer on a landline packet network, the computer program product comprising:

program code for

establishing a communication session with a server for communicating with the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer by way of a packet network, the communication session involving transfer of voice and text messages between the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer;

presenting a user interface for composing a text message;

presenting a user interface for selecting message recipients to receive messages during the communication session, the message recipients including the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer;

allowing a user to record and send a voice message to the message recipients via the server using a push-to-talk (PTT) mode;

allowing the user to send the text message to the message recipients via the server using instant messaging;

displaying at the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer the text message and an indicia of the voice message in a single displayed conversation thread;

allowing the user to send the text message to unavailable message recipients via an external instant messaging (IM) system;

storing, at the server, a user ID and user password useable for logging into the external IM system, the user ID and the user password allowing access to an external IM service account of a text message sender;

determining that an intended recipient of the text message is an IM client of the external IM system;

the server logging into the external IM system as a proxy on behalf of the text message sender using the stored user ID and user password; and

forwarding the text message to the IM client using the external IM service account.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the program code is also for sending the voice message as streaming voice.

29. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the program code is also for playing voice messages received from the server.

30. A wireless mobile terminal for operating on a wireless carrier network, the wireless mobile terminal comprising:

a display screen;

a memory for storing program code; and

a processor, operatively coupled to the memory and the display screen, for executing the program code;

the program code stored in the memory for

establishing a communication session with a server capable of forwarding messages to a networked computer located on a wired network by way of a packet network;

recording a voice message;

accessing a list of potential message recipients stored at the server;

displaying the list on the display screen;

presenting on the display screen a graphical user interface for selecting at least one message recipient from the list displayed on the display screen, the at least one message recipient including the networked computer;

sending the voice message as streaming voice to the server for delivery to the at least one message recipient;

sending the voice message to unavailable message recipients via an external instant messaging (IM) system;

storing, at the server, a user ID and user password useable for logging into the external IM system, the user ID and the user password allowing access to an external IM service account of a voice message sender;

determining that an intended recipient of the voice message is an IM client of the external IM system;

the server logging into the external IM system as a proxy on behalf of the voice message sender using the stored user ID and user password; and

forwarding the voice message to the IM client using the external IM service account.

31. The wireless mobile terminal of claim 30, wherein the program code is also for:

presenting a user interface for composing a text message; and

sending the text message to the server for delivery to the at least one message recipient.

32. The wireless mobile terminal of claim 30, wherein the program code is also for allowing a user to send the voice message using a push-to-talk mode.

33. A networked device for operating on a wired packet network, the networked device comprising:

a network interface;

a display screen;

a memory for storing program code; and

a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, the display screen, and the network interface, for executing the program code for

establishing a communication session with a server through the network interface, the server being capable of forwarding messages to a wireless mobile terminal operating on a wireless carrier network;

recording a voice message;

accessing a list of potential message recipients stored at the server;

displaying the list on the display screen;

presenting on the display screen a graphical user interface for selecting at least one message recipient from the list displayed on the display screen, the at least one message recipient including the wireless mobile terminal;

sending the voice message as streaming voice to the server for delivery to the at least one message recipient;

sending the voice message to unavailable message recipients via an external instant messaging (IM) system;

storing, at the server, a user ID and user password useable for logging into the external IM system, the user ID and the user password allowing access to an external IM service account of a voice message sender;

determining that an intended recipient of the voice message is an IM client of the external IM system;

the server logging into the external IM system as a proxy on behalf of the voice message sender using the stored user ID and user password; and

forwarding the voice message to the IM client using the external IM service account.

34. The networked device of claim 33, wherein the processor further executes the program code for:

presenting a user interface for composing a text message; and

sending the text message to the server for delivery to the message recipients.

35. The networked device of claim 33, wherein the processor further executes the program code for allowing a user to send the voice message using a push-to-talk mode.

36. A system for messaging between a wireless mobile terminal operating on a wireless carrier network and a networked computer on a landline network, the system comprising:

a client software application on a device selected from the group including the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer, the client software application for communicating messages in a push-to-talk (PTT) mode;

means for sending a login message from the device to a server located outside of the wireless carrier network, the server communicating with the client by way of a packet network;

means, included in the server, for establishing a communication session with the client in response to receiving the login message;

means, included in the device, for selecting at least one recipient for a PTT message, the at least one recipient including the other device from the group including the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer;

means for sending the PTT message from the device to the server by way of the packet network using a PTT function provided by the client;

means for determining availability of each of the at least one recipient to currently receive the PTT message; and

means, included in the server, for selectively forwarding the PTT message to the at least one recipient that is available, and based on the respective availability of the at least one recipient,

storing the PTT message for later delivery to an unavailable recipient, and

forwarding the PTT message to an external instant messaging (IM) system for delivery to the unavailable recipient;

means, included in the server, for storing a user ID and user password useable for logging into the external IM system, the user ID and the user password allowing access to an external IM service account of a PTT message sender;

means for determining that an intended recipient of the PTT message is an IM client of the external IM system;

means, included in the server, for logging into the external IM system as a proxy on behalf of the PTT message sender using the stored user ID and user password; and

means for forwarding the PTT message to the IM client using the external IM service account.

37. The wireless mobile terminal of claim 36, further comprising:

means, included in the device, for presenting a user interface for composing a text message; and

means, included in the device, for sending the text message to the server for delivery to the at least one recipient.

38. The wireless mobile terminal of claim 36, further comprising means, included in the device, for allowing a user to send a voice message using the PTT mode.