Inter-carrier messaging service providing phone number only experience

• US 7,890,127 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Knotts, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US12/073,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20080153527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/417, 455/466, 455/553, 455/562.1, 455/413, 379/100.13, 379/100.15, 379/93.15, 370/356, 370/395.5, 370/401, 370/352, 370/355, 709/206, 709/208
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging
• 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 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A phone number only messaging experience is provided in an Inter-Carrier Messaging System service. Subscriber to subscriber digital messages containing user data are routed between carrier'"'"'s networks using an Inter-Carrier messaging module with appropriate MIN/carrier/carrier routing look-up capabilities. Digital messages containing user data (e.g., short messages, email, digital messages in general, etc.) may be sent to a subscriber in another carrier'"'"'s network addressed only with a phone number. If the recipient is outside of the sender'"'"'s carrier network, the Inter-Carrier messaging module of the Inter-Carrier service provider (ICSP) determines the appropriate carrier for the recipient, appends the appropriate syntax to the digital message containing user data to allow internet protocol (IP) or other standardized communication techniques between message service centers of the two carriers, and routes the digital message containing user data to the destination carrier. The recipient in the other carrier'"'"'s network may reply back to the ICSP'"'"'s sender using only the subscriber'"'"'s directory number.

Claims

1. A method of directing a user-to-user packet message from a first user device serviced by a first carrier to a second user device serviced by a different carrier network, comprising:

receiving a user-to-user packet message from a first user device addressed with only a phone number of a receiving second user device;

stripping off a sending user device syntax from said user-to-user packet message to leave only a phone number of said sending user device; and

transmitting said user-to-user packet message, addressed with only said phone number of said sending user device, from a message distribution center adapted to associate said user-to-user packet message with appropriate routing syntax to reach said second carrier'"'"'s network using said phone number of said receiving second user device as input; and

routing a return message from said receiving second user device back to said first user device using only said phone number of said sending user device.

2. The method of directing a user-to-user packet message from a first user device serviced by a first carrier to a second user device serviced by a different carrier network according to claim 1, wherein:

said user-to-user packet message is transmitted from a wireless device.

3. The method of directing a user-to-user packet message from a first user device serviced by a first carrier to a second user device serviced by a different carrier network according to claim 1, wherein:

said message distribution center is comprised in a service bureau.

4. The method of directing a user-to-user packet message from a first user device serviced by a first carrier to a second user device serviced by a different carrier network according to claim 1, wherein said appropriate routing syntax comprises:

said phone number; and

a routable address within said second carrier'"'"'s network.

5. The method of directing a user-to-user packet message from a first user device serviced by a first carrier to a second user device serviced by a different carrier network according to claim 4, wherein:

said routable address is an email address.

6. The method of directing a user-to-user packet message from a first user device serviced by a first carrier to a second user device serviced by a different carrier network according to claim 1, wherein:

said user-to-user packet message is routed via an Internet.

7. Apparatus for directing a user-to-user packet message from a first user device serviced by a first carrier to a second user device serviced by a different carrier network, comprising:

means for receiving a user-to-user packet message from a first user device addressed with only a phone number of a receiving second user device;

means for stripping off a sending user device syntax from said user-to-user packet message to leave only a phone number of said sending user device; and

means for transmitting said user-to-user packet message, addressed with only said phone number of said sending user device, from a message distribution center adapted to associate said user-to-user packet message with appropriate routing syntax to reach said second carrier'"'"'s network using said phone number of said receiving second user device as input; and

means for routing a return message from said receiving second user device back to said first user device using only said phone number of said sending user device.

8. The apparatus for directing a user-to-user packet message from a first user device serviced by a first carrier to a second user device serviced by a different carrier network according to claim 7, wherein:

said user-to-user packet message is transmitted from a wireless device.

9. The apparatus for directing a user-to-user packet message from a first user device serviced by a first carrier to a second user device serviced by a different carrier network according to claim 7, wherein:

said message distribution center is comprised in a service bureau.

10. The apparatus for directing a user-to-user packet message from a first user device serviced by a first carrier to a second user device serviced by a different carrier network according to claim 7, wherein said appropriate routing syntax comprises:

said phone number; and

a routable address within said second carrier'"'"'s network.

11. The apparatus for directing a user-to-user packet message from a first user device serviced by a first carrier to a second user device serviced by a different carrier network according to claim 10, wherein:

said routable address is an email address.

12. The apparatus for directing a user-to-user packet message from a first user device serviced by a first carrier to a second user device serviced by a different carrier network according to claim 7, wherein:

said user-to-user packet message is routable via an Internet.