Facilitating messaging between a mobile device and a user

• US 8,019,363 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parr, Joe, Longe, Michael, Carey, Charles A., Robinson, B. Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Gary; Erika
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAPA, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US10/773,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20040157586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,778 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.2, 455/433, 455/466, 709/207, 709/226, 709/219, 709/218
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• 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: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for instant message communication in a wireless and non-wireless environment. The invented system includes an apparatus that facilitates conversation with individuals not included in the user'"'"'s buddy group, non-buddies. The system includes at least one additional routing code reserved for conversing with non-buddies. The first time during a user session that the system receives a message originating from or destined for a non-buddy, before routing the message, the non-buddy'"'"'s personal identifier is associated with one of the reserved routing codes. The mobile user can then reply to the message using the same automated ‘reply’ function available for replies to buddies. The non-buddy routing code assignment is only for the duration of a user session. When the mobile user signs off from the system, the routing code becomes available for reassignment.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating messaging between a mobile device and a sender, the method comprising steps of:

providing a plurality of reserved routing codes for exchanging messages between senders and mobile devices;

in response to receiving a message from the sender directed to the mobile device, temporarily associating one of the routing codes with the sender, said associating of said routing code persisting until reassignment of said routing code;

including the temporarily associated routing code in a reply message as a reply address; and

transmitting the reply message with the included temporarily associated routing code to the mobile device;

the method further comprising the steps of;

composing a message for the sender at said mobile device, said message including at least said sender'"'"'s personal identifier in body of said message;

sending said message to a routing code assigned to an ‘

unlisted’

function on said mobile device;

receiving said message at an instant messaging system;

capturing said sender'"'"'s personal identifier by said instant messaging system;

temporarily assigning a routing code from said plurality of reserved routing codes to said sender'"'"'s personal identifier by said instant messaging system, said assigning of said routing code persisting until reassignment of said routing code;

sending said message to said sender; and

returning notice of said assignment to said mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a reply message from the mobile device directed to the temporarily associated routing code; and

transmitting the reply message to the sender.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said messages comprise instant messages.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising steps of:

sending a message to said mobile device by said sender;

receiving said message at said instant messaging system;

capturing said sender'"'"'s personal identifier by an instant messaging system;

assigning a routing code to said sender'"'"'s personal identifier; and

sending said message to said mobile device.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of transmitting the reply message to the sender comprises steps of:

receiving a message at said mobile device from said sender, wherein said sender'"'"'s personal identifier has previously been associated with a routing code; and

replying to said received message by means of a ‘

reply’

function on said mobile device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein routing codes for assignment are recycled during a user session on said mobile device if the number of senders exceeds the routing codes available.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

preventing occurrence of a condition wherein different senders are associated with the same routing code.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of preventing comprises any of the steps of:

delaying delivery of a message from said sender pending confirmation of a mobile user'"'"'s desire to receive said message; and

providing sufficient routing codes that recycling of codes is unlikely to be necessary.

9. A computer program product, said computer program product comprising a tangible medium with computer-readable code embodied thereon said computer-readable code including code means for performing the steps of a method of facilitating messaging between a mobile device and a sender the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of reserved routing codes for exchanging messages between senders and mobile devices;

in response to receiving a message from the sender directed to the mobile device, temporarily associating one of the routing codes with the sender, said associating of said routing code persisting until reassignment of said routing code;

including the temporarily associated routing code in the message as a reply address; and

transmitting the message with the included temporarily associated routing codes to the mobile device;

the method further comprising the steps of;

composing a message for said sender at said mobile device, said message including at least said sender'"'"'s personal identifier in body of said message;

sending said message to a routing code assigned to an ‘

unlisted’

function on said mobile device;

receiving said message at an instant messaging system;

capturing said sender'"'"'s personal identifier by said instant messaging system;

temporarily assigning a routing code from said plurality of reserved routing codes to said sender'"'"'s personal identifier by said instant messaging system, said assigning of said routing code persisting until said routing code is reassigned;

sending said message to said sender; and

returning notice of said assignment to said mobile device.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, the method further comprising:

receiving a reply message from the mobile device directed to the temporarily associated routing code; and

transmitting the reply message to the sender.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein said messages comprise instant messages.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, said method further comprising steps of:

sending a message to said mobile device by said sender;

receiving said message at said instant messaging system;

capturing said sender'"'"'s personal identifier by an instant messaging system;

assigning a routing code to said sender'"'"'s personal identifier; and

sending said message to said mobile device.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein said step of transmitting the reply message to the sender comprises steps of:

receiving a message at said mobile unit from said sender, wherein said sender'"'"'s personal identifier has previously been associated with a routing code; and

replying to said received message by means of a ‘

reply’

function on said mobile device.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein routing codes for assignment are recycled during a user session on said mobile device if the number of senders exceeds the routing codes available.

15. The computer program product of claim 10, said method further comprising the step of:

preventing occurrence of a condition wherein different senders are associated with the same routing code.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said step of preventing comprises any of the steps of:

delaying delivery of a message from said sender pending confirmation of a mobile user'"'"'s desire to receive said message; and

providing sufficient routing codes that recycling of codes is unlikely to be necessary.

17. An apparatus for facilitating messaging between a mobile device and a sender comprising:

a plurality of reserved routing codes for exchanging messages between senders and mobile devices;

in response to receiving a message from the sender directed to the mobile device, temporarily associating one of the routing codes with the sender, said associating of said routing code persisting until said routing code is reassigned;

means for including the temporarily associated routing code in the message as a reply address; and

transmitting the message with the included temporarily associated routing codes to the mobile device;

the apparatus further comprising means for;

composing a message for said sender at said mobile device, said message including said sender'"'"'s personal identifier in body of said message;

sending said message to a routing code assigned to an ‘

unlisted’

function on said mobile device;

receiving said message at an instant messaging system;

capturing said sender'"'"'s personal identifier by said instant messaging system;

temporarily assigning a routing code from said plurality of reserved routing codes to said sender'"'"'s personal identifier by said instant messaging system, said assigning of said routing code persisting until said routing code is reassigned;

sending said message to said sender; and

returning notice of said assignment to said mobile device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for receiving a reply message from the mobile device directed to the temporarily associated routing code; and

means for transmitting the reply message to the sender.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said messages comprise instant messages.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said means for exchanging messages comprises means for:

sending a message to said mobile device by said sender;

receiving said message at said instant messaging system;

capturing said sender'"'"'s personal identifier by said instant messaging system;

assigning a routing code to said sender'"'"'s personal identifier; and

sending said message to said mobile device.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said means for transmitting the reply message to the sender comprises means for:

receiving a message at said mobile unit from said sender, wherein said sender'"'"'s personal identifier has previously been associated with a routing code; and

replying to said received message by means of a ‘

reply’

function on said mobile device.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein routing codes for assignment are recycled during a user session on said mobile device if the number of users exceeds the routing codes available.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for:

preventing occurrence of a condition wherein different senders are associated with the same routing code.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said means for preventing comprises means for any of:

delaying delivery of a message from a sender pending confirmation of a mobile user'"'"'s desire to receive said message; and

providing sufficient routing codes for assignment that recycling of codes is unlikely to be necessary.