Inter-carrier messaging service providing phone number only experience

• US 8,682,362 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2011
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Knotts, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US12/929,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20110136520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/417, 455/466, 455/553, 455/562.1, 455/413, 379/100.13, 379/100.15, 379/93.15, 370/356, 370/395.5, 370/401, 370/352, 370/355, 709/206, 709/208
• US Class Current: 455/466
• 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: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A phone number only messaging experience is provided in an Inter-Carrier Messaging System service. Subscriber to subscriber digital messages containing user data are routed between carrier'"'"'s networks using an Inter-Carrier messaging module with appropriate MIN/carrier/carrier routing look-up capabilities. Digital messages containing user data (e.g., short messages, email, digital messages in general, etc.) may be sent to a subscriber in another carrier'"'"'s network addressed only with a phone number. If the recipient is outside of the sender'"'"'s carrier network, the Inter-Carrier messaging module of the Inter-Carrier service provider (ICSP) determines the appropriate carrier for the recipient, appends the appropriate syntax to the digital message containing user data to allow internet protocol (IP) or other standardized communication techniques between message service centers of the two carriers, and routes the digital message containing user data to the destination carrier. The recipient in the other carrier'"'"'s network may reply back to the ICSP'"'"'s sender using only the subscriber'"'"'s directory number.

Claims

1. A system for processing a short message addressed with a number only, comprising:

an access module to access a first database associating subscriber MIN numbers with a plurality of corresponding servicing carriers and a second database associating said plurality of corresponding servicing carriers and corresponding routing syntax;

an inter-carrier messaging module to receive a short message, to perform a lookup of said particular subscriber MIN in said first database, to perform a lookup of a retrieved particular servicing carrier in said second database to retrieve a particular routing syntax, and to add said particular routing syntax to said short message; and

a transmitter to transmit said short message including a source device identified with only a MIN number.

2. A system for processing a short message addressed with a number only according to claim 1, wherein:

said first database and said database are in a common database.

3. A system for processing a short message addressed with a number only according to claim 1, wherein:

said MIN is a phone number.

4. A system for processing a short message addressed with a number only according to claim 1, wherein:

said system forms a store and forward short messaging platform.

5. A system for processing a short message addressed with a number only according to claim 1, wherein:

said short message is received at and routed from, a service bureau.

6. A system for processing a short message addressed with a number only according to claim 1, wherein:

said short message with said added particular routing syntax forms a routable address.

7. A system for processing a short message addressed with a number only according to claim 1, wherein:

said routable address is an e-mail address.

8. A method for processing a short message addressed with a number only, comprising the steps of:

receiving, at an inter-carrier messaging module, a short message;

performing a lookup in a first database associating subscriber MIN numbers with a plurality of corresponding servicing carriers and performing a lookup of a retrieved particular servicing carrier in said second database to retrieve a particular routing syntax;

adding said particular routing syntax to said short message; and

transmitting said short message including a source device identified with only a MIN number.

9. The method for processing a short message addressed with a number only according to claim 8, further comprising:

receiving and routing said short message to and from a service bureau.

10. The method for processing a short message addressed with a number only according to claim 8, wherein:

said MIN is a phone number.

11. The method for processing a short message addressed with a number only according to claim 8, wherein:

forming a routable address with said MIN and said added particular routing syntax.

12. The method for processing a short message addressed with a number only according to claim 11, wherein:

said routable address is an e-mail address.

13. A method of directing a data message from a first device to a second device, comprising:

receiving a data message, addressed with only a destination device phone number associated with a second carrier, from a source device associated with a first carrier;

transmitting said data message, addressed with only a source device phone number identifying said source device, from a message distribution center associating appropriate routing syntax with said destination device phone number; and

routing said data message to a destination device associated with said destination device phone number using said appropriate routing syntax, said destination device being serviced by a second carrier different from said first carrier.

14. The method of directing a data message from a first device to a second device according to claim 13, comprising:

routing a return message from said destination device back to said source device using only said source device phone number.

15. The method of directing a data message from a first device to a second device according to claim 13, comprising:

said data message is transmitted wirelessly.

16. The method of directing a data message from a first device to a second device according to claim 13, wherein said appropriate routing syntax comprises:

said destination device phone number; and

a routable address within said second carrier'"'"'s network.

17. The method of directing a data message from a first device to a second device according to claim 16, comprising:

said routable address is an email address.

18. The method of directing a data message from a first device to a second device according to claim 13, comprising:

said data message is routed via an Internet.

19. Apparatus for directing a data message from a first device to a second device, comprising:

a receiver, at a physical distribution center, to receive a data message, addressed with only a destination device phone number associated with a second carrier, from a source device associated with a first carrier;

a transmitter, at said physical distribution center, to transmit said data message, addressed with only a source device phone number identifying said source device, from said physical distribution center, associating appropriate routing syntax with said destination device phone number; and

a router, at said physical distribution center, to route said data message to said destination device using said appropriate routing syntax.

20. The apparatus for directing a data message from a first device to a second device according to claim 19, wherein said router further:

routes a return message from said destination device back to said source device using only said source device phone number.

21. The apparatus for directing a data message from a first device to a second device according to claim 19, comprising:

said data message is a wireless data message.

22. The apparatus for directing a data message from a first device to a second device according to claim 19, wherein:

said router routes said data message from said physical distribution center.

23. The apparatus for directing a data message from a first device to a second device according to claim 19, wherein said appropriate routing syntax comprises:

said destination device phone number; and

a routable address within a network of said second carrier.

24. The apparatus for directing a data message from a first device to a second device according to claim 23, comprising:

said routable address is an email address.

25. The apparatus for directing a data message from a first device to a second device according to claim 19, comprising:

said data message is routed via an Internet.