Peer-to-peer mobile instant messaging method and device

• US 7,961,663 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2004
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Daniel J
• Primary Examiner(s): Perez-Gutierrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miah, Liton
• Application Number:
  US10/817,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20050220134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,626 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 370/313, 370/395.3
• US Class Current: 370/313
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

A technique is provided for establishing peer-to-peer session-based instant messaging between mobile devices without the need for using an instant messaging registration or log-in server to provide presence information. Session-based instant messaging communications between mobile devices are established by transmitting necessary address information through page-based messaging services that utilize the underlying digital mobile network databases and services to resolve the identification and location of the mobile devices.

Claims

1. A method of establishing an instant messaging session between mobile devices that support a data packet-based communications service over a digital mobile network system, the method comprising:

opening a listening software port on an initiating mobile device to receive communications through the data packet-based communications service;

transmitting an invitation message to a target mobile device through a page-mode messaging service, wherein the invitation message comprises a network address associated with the initiating mobile device and port information corresponding to the opened listening software port, and wherein the target mobile device is located by providing a unique identifier to the page-mode messaging service;

receiving a response from the target mobile device at the listening software port on the initiating wireless device; and

establishing a stateful instant messaging session through the data packet-based communications service between the initiating mobile device and the target mobile device, wherein the stateful instant messaging session is established in a peer-to-peer fashion without a server intermediating communications through the established stateful instant messaging session between the initiating mobile device and the target mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

opening a second listening software port on the initiating mobile device to receive invitation messages through the page-mode messaging service;

receiving, at the second listening software port and through the page-mode messaging service, a message from another mobile device inviting the initiating mobile device to establish a stateful instant messaging session, wherein such message comprises a network address and a listening software port associated with the other mobile device; and

transmitting a response to the network address and the listening software port of the other mobile device, wherein the response acknowledges the ability to establish a stateful instant messaging session.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network address of the initiating mobile device is an IP address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the page-mode messaging service is SMS.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the page-mode messaging service is a PIN-to-PIN messaging service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is a telephone number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the stateful instant messaging session utilizes a TCP connection.

8. A mobile device enabled to establish an instant messaging session with other mobile devices in a digital mobile network system, the mobile device comprising a processor configured to perform the steps of:

opening a listening software port on an initiating mobile device to receive communications through the data packet-based communications service;

transmitting an invitation message to a target mobile device through a page-mode messaging service, wherein the invitation message comprises a network address associated with the initiating mobile device and port information corresponding to the opened listening software port, and wherein the target mobile device is located by providing a unique identifier to the page-mode messaging service;

receiving a response from the target mobile device at the listening software port on the initiating wireless device; and

establishing a stateful instant messaging session through the data packet-based communications service between the initiating mobile device and the target mobile device, wherein the stateful instant messaging session is established in a peer-to-peer fashion without a server intermediating communications through the established stateful instant messaging session between the initiating mobile device and the target mobile device.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the steps of:

opening a second listening software port on the initiating mobile device to receive invitation messages through the page-mode messaging service;

receiving, at the second listening software port and through the page-mode messaging service, a message from another mobile device inviting the initiating mobile device to establish a stateful instant messaging session, wherein such message comprises a network address and a listening software port associated with the other mobile device; and

transmitting a response to the network address and the listening software port of the other mobile device, wherein the response acknowledges the ability to establish a stateful instant messaging session.

10. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the network address of the initiating mobile device is an IP address.

11. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the page-mode messaging service is SMS.

12. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the page-mode messaging service is a PIN-to-PIN messaging service.

13. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the unique identifier is a telephone number.

14. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the stateful instant messaging session utilizes a TCP connection.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed on a processor of a mobile device that supports a data packet-based communications service over a digital mobile network system, causes the processor to establish an instant messaging session by performing the steps of:

opening a listening software port on an initiating mobile device to receive communications through the data packet-based communications service;

transmitting an invitation message to a target mobile device through a page-mode messaging service, wherein the invitation message comprises a network address associated with the initiating mobile device and port information corresponding to the opened listening software port, and wherein the target mobile device is located by providing a unique identifier to the page-mode messaging service;

receiving a response from the target mobile device at the listening software port on the initiating wireless device; and

establishing a stateful instant messaging session through the data packet-based communications service between the initiating mobile device and the target mobile device, wherein the stateful instant messaging session is established in a peer-to-peer fashion without a server intermediating communications through the established stateful instant messaging session between the initiating mobile device and the target mobile device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further including instructions that cause the processor to perform the steps of:

opening a second listening software port on the initiating mobile device to receive invitation messages through the page-mode messaging service;

receiving, at the second listening software port and through the page-mode messaging service, a message from another mobile device inviting the initiating mobile device to establish a stateful instant messaging session, wherein such message comprises a network address and a listening software port associated with the other mobile device; and

transmitting a response to the network address and the listening software port of the other mobile device, wherein the response acknowledges the ability to establish a stateful instant messaging session.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the network address of the initiating mobile device is an IP address.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the page-mode messaging service is SMS.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the unique identifier is a telephone number.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the stateful instant messaging session utilizes a TCP connection.