Methods and apparatus for delivering a message to two or more associated wireless communication devices

• US 8,868,116 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Carpenter, Paul Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H
• Application Number:
  US13/965,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20130331133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• 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 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A method is performed by a message-originating communication device. The method includes inputting, by the device'"'"'s user interface, a request to deliver a message to a first address. The device accesses, in response to receiving the request, a memory to determine a second address that is associated in the memory with the first address. The device then transmits the message to the first address and transmits the message to the second address.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a user interface of a message-originating communication device, a request to deliver a message to a first address;

accessing, by the communication device and in response to receiving the request, a memory to determine a second address that is associated in the memory with the first address;

transmitting, by the communication device, the message to the first address; and

transmitting, by the communication device, the message to the second address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the message to the first address and to the second address is via a wireless communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first address is of a first communication device and the second address is of a second communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first address comprises a first number in a first removable memory card and the second address comprises a second number in a second removable memory card.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first address comprises a first Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) and the second address comprises a second MSISDN.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises depression of a button on the communication device to send the message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the request comprises depression of the button only once to send the message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a cell phone.

9. A message-originating communication device comprising:

a user interface;

a memory configured to store an association between a first address and a second address;

a controller configured to;

receive, from the user interface, a request to send a message to the first address;

in response to the request, access the memory to identify the second address associated with the first address;

transmit the message to the first address; and

transmit the message to the second address.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the transmitting of the message to the first address and to the second address is via a wireless communication network.

11. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the first address is of a first communication device and the second address is of a second communication device.

12. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the first address comprises a first number in a first removable memory card and the second address comprises a second number in a second removable memory card.

13. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the first address comprises a first Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) and the second address comprises a second MSISDN.

14. A non-transitory processor readable medium that stores software code configured to be executed by a processor to perform the steps of:

receiving, by a user interface of a message-originating communication device, a request to deliver a message to a first address;

accessing, by the communication device and in response to receiving the request, a memory to determine a second address that is associated in the memory with the first address;

transmitting, by the communication device, the message to the first address; and

transmitting, by the communication device, the message to the second address.

15. The processor readable medium of claim 14, wherein the transmitting of the message to the first address and to the second address is via a wireless communication network.

16. The processor readable medium of claim 14, wherein the first address is of a first communication device and the second address is of a second communication device.

17. The processor readable medium of claim 14, wherein the first address comprises a first number in a first removable memory card and the second address comprises a second number in a second removable memory card.

18. The processor readable medium of claim 14, wherein the first address comprises a first Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) and the second address comprises a second MSISDN.

19. The processor readable medium of claim 14, wherein the request comprises depression of a button on the communication device to send the message.

20. The processor readable medium of claim 19, wherein the request comprises depression of the button only once to send the message.