2-way texting through hosted applications

• US 8,472,988 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Voice Assist, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Voice Assist, Inc.
• Inventors: Metcalf, Michael D., Roberts, Tracy
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG-HURST, KATHY W
• Application Number:
  US13/220,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20120052888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/413, 455/550.1, 455/418, 455/466, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• 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

Abstract

The invention is apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party in a 2-way texting system. The apparatus includes a hosted application system, having a host application server, storage, communication apparatus and a hosted application. A subscriber'"'"'s 2-way communication device is coupled to the communication apparatus and assigned a unique designator. The hosted application system is coupled to receive a message and designated recipient from a message originator'"'"'s 2-way communication device. The message originator is one of the subscriber and the second party, and the recipient is the other of the subscriber and the second party. The hosted application converts the message to a designated format and delivers the message using the unique designator, to the recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication device. The message can be responded to by the recipient using the unique designator.

Claims

1. In a 2-way texting system, apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party comprising:

a hosted application system, including a host application server, storage, communication apparatus and a hosted application;

a plurality of subscriber'"'"'s 2-way communication devices coupled to the communication apparatus and assigned in the hosted application a unique designator, wherein the unique designator is a secondary telephone number;

the hosted application system coupled to receive a message and designated recipient from a message originator'"'"'s 2-way communication device, wherein the message originator is one of the subscriber and the second party, and wherein the recipient is the other of the subscriber and the second party; and

the hosted application converts the message to a designated format, and delivers the message having the designated format and associated with the unique designator, to the recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication device, whereby the message can be responded to by the recipient using the unique designator,

wherein the subscriber may designate in the hosted application an order of contact of the plurality of subscriber'"'"'s 2-way communication devices.

2. Apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 1 wherein the message is one of an audio message and a display message sent to the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus and one of a display message and an audio message is provided to the recipient from the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus.

3. Apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 1 wherein the message originator is the subscriber and the message is an audio message sent to the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus from one of the plurality of subscriber'"'"'s 2-way communication devices and a display message is provided to the recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication device, the recipient being the second party, from the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus.

4. Apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 1 wherein the message originator is the second party and the message is a display message sent to the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus from the second party'"'"'s 2-way communication device and an audio message is provided to one of the plurality of recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication devices, the recipient being the subscriber, from the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus.

5. Apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 1 wherein the unique designator is a secondary phone number.

6. Apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hosted application system is coupled to the Internet and includes a hosted application website.

7. In a 2-way texting system, apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party comprising:

a hosted application system, including a host application server, storage, communication apparatus and a hosted application;

a plurality of subscriber'"'"'s 2-way communication devices couplable to the communication apparatus and assigned in the hosted application a unique designator, wherein the unique designator is a secondary telephone number;

a second party'"'"'s 2-way communication device couplable to the communication apparatus, the communication apparatus of the hosted application system coupled to receive a message and selection of a recipient having a recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication device from a message originator'"'"'s 2-way communication device, wherein the message originator'"'"'s 2-way communication device is one of the subscriber'"'"'s 2-way communication device and the second party'"'"'s 2-way communication device, and wherein the recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication device is the other of the subscriber'"'"'s 2-way communication device and the second party'"'"'s 2-way communication device; and

the hosted application converts the message to a designated format, and delivers the message having file designated format and associated with the unique designator, to the recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication device, whereby the message can be responded to by the recipient using the unique designator,

wherein the subscriber may designate in the hosted application an order of contact of the plurality of subscriber'"'"'s 2-way communication devices.

8. Apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second party'"'"'s 2-way communication device is couplable to the communication apparatus of the hosted application system by using the unique designator.

9. Apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 8 wherein communication apparatus of the hosted application system is couplable to one of the plurality of subscriber'"'"'s 2-way communication devices using the unique designator to identify one of the plurality of subscriber'"'"'s 2-way communication devices.

10. Apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 9 wherein the message is one of an audio message and a display message sent to the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus and one of a display message and an audio message is provided to the recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication device from the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus.

11. Apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 9 wherein the message originator is the subscriber and the message is an audio message sent to the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus from one of the plurality of subscriber'"'"'s 2-way communication devices and a display message is provided to the recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication device, the recipient being the second party, from the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus.

12. Apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 9 wherein the message originator is the second party and the message is a display message sent to the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus from the second party'"'"'s 2-way communication device and an audio message is provided to the plurality of the recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication devices, the recipient being the subscriber, from the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus.

13. Apparatus for communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 9 wherein the unique designator is a secondary phone number.

14. In a 2-way texting system, a method of communicating between a subscriber and a second party comprising the steps of:

providing a hosted application system including a hosted application server, storage, communication apparatus, and a hosted application;

receiving contact at the hosted application from an individual and the hosted application designating the individual a subscriber and assigning a unique designator to the subscriber, wherein the unique designator is a secondary telephone number;

receiving contact at the hosted application from a message originator with a 2-way communication device and providing a message and designated recipient using the unique designator of the subscriber wherein the message originator is one of the subscriber and the second party, and wherein the recipient is the other of the subscriber and the second party; and

the hosted application receiving the message, manipulating the message, as desired by the subscriber, and delivering the manipulated message to one of a plurality of a recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication devices using the unique designator, whereby the message can be responded to by the recipient using the unique designator,

wherein the recipient may designate in the hosted application an order of contact of the plurality of recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication devices.

15. The method of communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 14 wherein the message is one of an audio message and a display message sent to the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus and one of a display message and an audio message is provided to the recipient from the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus.

16. The method of communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 14 wherein the message originator is the subscriber and the message is an audio message sent to the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus from one of the plurality of subscriber'"'"'s 2-way communication devices and a display message is provided to the recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication device, the recipient being the second party, from the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus.

17. The method of communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 14 wherein the message originator is the second party and the message is a display message sent to the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus from the second party'"'"'s 2-way communication device and an audio message is provided to one of the plurality of recipient'"'"'s 2-way communication devices, the recipient being the subscriber, from the hosted application by way of the communication apparatus.

18. The method of communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 14 wherein the unique designator is a secondary phone number.

19. The method of communicating between a subscriber and a second party as claimed in claim 14 wherein the step of providing the hosted application system includes coupling the hosted application system to the Internet and providing a hosted application website.