Electronic message exchange over multiple wireless communication networks with a single device

• US 8,249,593 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2010
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gao, Xiaofeng, Zhao, Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUONG, DAI
• Application Number:
  US12/727,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20100173657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 455/428, 4554321-445, 370352-358
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Electronic messages such as pages are exchanged between a user device and a message service using one of multiple wireless communication networks. The wireless communication networks may include mobile and/or fixed wireless networks. The user device registers with the message service through at least one of the wireless communications networks. The user device may register through multiple wireless communication devices when available. The user device sends messages through the wireless network through which registration has been established and may apply rules to choose when registration has occurred via multiple wireless networks.

Claims

1. A portable communication device for use with multiple wireless networks, the portable communications device comprising:

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory containing instructions;

a mobile wireless communication transceiver in communication with the processor; and

a fixed wireless transceiver in communication with the processor,

wherein the instructions in the memory include determining a presence of available wireless networks by sending a registration message to a presence server over a plurality of available wireless networks and receiving a confirmation from the presence server, the plurality of available wireless networks including one or more of a mobile wireless network and a fixed wireless network, the confirmation notifying the portable communication device of registration with the presence server over one or more of the mobile wireless network and the fixed wireless network,

wherein the presence server maintains current information regarding whether registration over the available wireless networks remains valid such that an incoming message is received by the portable communication device over one of the mobile wireless network and the fixed wireless network according to the instructions and the presence of the available wireless networks, and

wherein the instructions further include transmitting a heartbeat signal to the presence server, the heartbeat signal including measured performance criteria between the mobile wireless communication transceiver and the mobile wireless network, and between the fixed wireless transceiver and the fixed wireless network.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising an input allowing a user to enter content for the message.

3. The portable communication device of claim 2, wherein the input is one or more of a keyboard, a keypad, a touch screen, and a voice input.

4. The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising an output.

5. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the output includes one or more of an audio output, a visual output, and a tactile output.

6. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the memory is one or more of electronic storage, magnetic storage, and optical storage.

7. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the mobile wireless network is one of a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network and a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network.

8. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the fixed wireless network is a Wi-Fi network.

9. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the message is a page.