Synthetic communication network method and system

• US 8,995,965 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WhatsApp LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: WhatsApp LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Inventors: Koum, Jan, Acton, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Magloire, Vladimir
• Assistant Examiner(s): DONADO, FRANK E
• Application Number:
  US12/732,182
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27457 Management thereof, e.g. manual editing of data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42306 Number translation services, e.g. premium-rate, freephone or vanity number services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• 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 12/08 Access security
• 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 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention provide a method and system of registering a phone device on a synthetic communication network. One implementation receives a request to connect the phone device to a synthetic communication network that transmits messages over a data network using one or more phone numbers from a voice network. Aspects of the present invention initially obtain a phone number and a corresponding country code presumed associated with the phone device to be used for communications over the synthetic communication network. Based on the country code, the phone number is normalized to a standard format that distinguishes the resulting normalized phone number from international phone numbers using the synthetic communication network. Before the phone device is registered, aspects of the present invention verify an association between the normalized phone number and the phone device by sending a verification message addressed to the phone device that loops back and returns to the phone device. If the phone device confirms the verification as authentic then an authorization from the synthetic communication network allows the phone device to communicate over the synthetic communication network.

Claims

1. A processor implemented method of registering a phone device on a synthetic data communication network, comprising:

receiving, by a synthetic communication client executing on a phone device a request to connect the phone device to a synthetic data communication network;

normalizing a phone number provisioned to the phone device for operation on a voice network to a standard format;

verifying, by the synthetic communication client, an association between the normalized phone number and the phone device via a loop back verification message;

receiving, by the synthetic communication client, authorization from a synthetic communication server for the synthetic communication client to communicate over the synthetic data communication network;

using the normalized phone number, synchronizing members of the synthetic communication network on the phone device to include entries from a phone directory that are also members of the synthetic communication network according to their phone number;

receiving, by the synthetic communication client, message input from a user of the phone device; and

communicating, by the synthetic communication client, the received message input to a second synthetic communication client operating on a second phone device, the communication occurring over the synthetic data communication network, the synthetic communication client identified using the normalized phone number and the second synthetic communication client identified using a second normalized phone number associated with a second phone number provisioned to the second phone device for operation on the voice network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the messages transmitted over the synthetic data communication network include one or more multimedia data types selected from a set of multimedia types including:

sound and data files.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the phone number provisioned to the phone device is received by the synthetic communication client from the user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein normalizing the phone number includes a country code to uniquely identify the phone number and associated phone device on an international basis.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the verification message is transmitted over a data channel within the voice network configured to carry at least one protocol selected from a set of protocols including a short messaging system (SMS) and a multimedia messaging service (MMS).

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing further comprises normalizing phone numbers associated with entries in the phone directory;

and comparing the normalized phone numbers with normalized phone numbers associated with members of the synthetic communication network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the voice network provides wireless communication between the phone device and one or more other phone devices.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the phone device is selected from a set of devices having a phone number including:

a wireless phone, a wireless tablet computer, a wireless laptop and a wireless modem device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the verification message uses a randomly generated value having a predetermined number of digits.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the voice network uses a compatible protocol selected from a set of protocols including:

Global System for Mobile (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the data network is compatible with at least one protocol selected from a set of protocols including:

Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telephone Standard (UMTS), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDP A) and Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO).

12. The method of claim 1 wherein a first cost incurred by the user for the communication is lower than a second cost for an equivalent communication over the voice network.

13. A computer program product for registering a phone device on a synthetic

communication network, the computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer

readable medium and including instructions for:

receiving a request to connect a phone device to a synthetic data communication network;

normalizing a phone number provisioned to the phone device for operation on a voice network to a standard format;

verifying an association between the normalized phone number and the phone device via a loop back verification message;

receiving authorization from a synthetic communication server to communicate over the synthetic data communication network;

using the normalized phone number, synchronizing members of the synthetic communication network on the phone device to include entries from a phone directory that are also members of the synthetic communication network according to their phone number;

receiving message input from a user of the phone device; and

communicating the received message input to a synthetic communication client

operating on a second phone device, the communication occurring over the synthetic data communication network, the synthetic communication client identified using the normalized phone number and the second synthetic communication client identified using a second normalized phone number associated with a second phone number provisioned to the second phone device for operation on the voice network.

14. A phone device comprising:

a memory; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, adapted to;

receive a request to connect the phone device to a synthetic data communication network;

normalize a phone number provisioned to the phone device for operation on a voice network to a standard format;

verify an association between the normalized phone number and the phone device via a loop back verification message;

receive authorization from a synthetic communication server for the phone device to communicate over the synthetic data communication network;

using the normalized phone number, synchronizing members of the synthetic communication network on the phone device to include entries from a phone directory that are also members of the synthetic communication network according to their phone number;

receive message input from a user of the phone device; and

communicate the received message input to a second phone device, the communication occurring over the synthetic data communication network, the phone device identified on the synthetic data communication network using the normalized phone number and the second phone device identified using a second normalized phone number associated with a second phone number provisioned to the second phone device for operation on the voice network.