Gateway application to support use of a single internet address domain for routing messages to multiple multimedia message service centers

• US 8,284,784 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, Carle S. Jr., Dewey, Mike, Bhadange, Nikhil
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Brian D
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAGLO, EMMANUEL K
• Application Number:
  US11/907,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20080043763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 370/396, 370/352, 370/270, 370/39, 370/401, 370/470, 370/2, 370/310, 370/398, 370/422, 370/400, 455/433, 455/466, 455/445, 455/456, 709220-224
• US Class Current: 370/400
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks

Abstract

Wireless carrier networks can utilize multiple MMSCs all accessed by a message sender with a message addressed to a single Internet domain, providing a single point of entry for messages into the network of MMSCs and maintaining routing information sufficient to route messages to all subscribers via the MMSC.

Claims

1. A method of communicating a message to a plurality of multimedia messaging service (MMS) centers (MMSC), comprising:

providing a distribution MMS gateway (MMSG), assigned to a single unique distribution domain name address, to provide a single point of entry for messages communicated with said plurality of MMSCs, to provide a single distribution source for forwarding incoming MMS messages to said plurality of MMSCs, and to provide a single point to block a particular message from said messages communicated with said plurality of MMSCs based on a sender address; and

hiding a status of said plurality of MMSCs from an MMS transmitting device.

2. The method of communicating a message to a plurality of multimedia messaging service (MMS) centers (MMSC) according to claim 1, further comprising:

checking for spam within said distribution MMSG.

3. The method of communicating a message to a plurality of multimedia messaging service (MMS) centers (MMSC) according to claim 1, further comprising:

blocking messages within said distribution MMSG.

4. The method of communicating a message to a plurality of multimedia messaging service (MMS) centers (MMSC) according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing for at least one of an MM3(SMTP), MM4(MMS Extended SMTP) and MM7 (SOAP) servers for inbound email.

5. The method of communicating a message to a plurality of multimedia messaging service (MMS) centers (MMSC) according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing for at least one of MM3(SMTP), MM4(MMS Extended SMTP) and MM7 (SOAP) client modules.

6. The method of communicating a message to a plurality of multimedia messaging service (MMS) centers (MMSC) according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing a connection mechanism for third party applications to said distribution MMSG.