Mobile device status and notification method and system

• US 9,203,960 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• 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): Hu, Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Jean
• Application Number:
  US12/732,202
• Time in Patent Office: 2,076 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/466, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

A method, apparatus and computer program product is provided for processing the status of phone devices having a phone number. A synthetic communication server receives updated status of a target phone device referencing a normalized phone number that specifically identifies the target phone device on a synthetic communication network. Accordingly, the server stores the updated status of the target phone device in a status area referenced by the normalized phone number. The server identifies a subset of phone devices from phone devices on the synthetic communication network interested in the status of the target phone device. For each of the phone devices in the subset, the server pushes the updated status of the target phone device to each phone device in the subset.

Yet another aspect of the invention concerns monitoring status of the phone devices in a status list of normalized phone numbers on a phone device. The phone device monitors other phone devices and also provides individual status. Accordingly, the method and system sends the status list and updated status of the phone device that includes a normalized phone number identifying the phone device on the synthetic communication network.
Subsequently, the method and system receives the status updates of the one or more other phone devices in the status list. The status updates received are also referenced using the corresponding normalized phone numbers for each of the other phone devices. These status updates of the one or more other phone devices are processed by the method and system and then displayed in a display area of the phone device.

Claims

1. A processor implemented method of processing status of phone devices each having a phone number, comprising:

receiving a message from a target phone device, the message including an updated status of the target phone device and specifically identifying the target phone device on a synthetic communication network using a normalized phone number of the target phone device on the synthetic communication network, wherein the normalized phone number used on the synthetic communication network is a version of a telephone number previously provisioned on, and previously only available for use on, a voice network, to create a data network distinct from the voice network, wherein the normalized phone number results from modifying the telephone number provisioned on the voice network and associated with the target phone device to incorporate a country code on a uniform basis to an international telephone number (ITN) to ensure the normalized phone numbers on the synthetic communications network from around the world can be distinguished from each other;

storing the updated status of the target phone device in a status area referenced by the normalized phone number of the target phone device;

identifying a subset of phone devices from other phone devices on the synthetic communication network interested in the status of the target phone device; and

pushing the updated status of the target phone device to a status list on each phone device in the identified subset.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the message with updated status is received from a synthetic communication client executing on the target phone device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the synthetic communication network exchanges information over a data network based upon phone numbers provisioned from one or more different voice networks.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the status area further holds the current status of a set of one or more other phone devices also identified on the synthetic communication network through a corresponding set of normalized phone numbers.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the status list of normalized phone numbers includes one or more phone devices being monitored for status updates.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the status list of normalized phone numbers is received in a message transmitted from each of the one or more other phone devices on the synthetic communication network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the subset of phone devices interested in the status of the target phone device occurs through a comparison of the normalized, phone number of the target phone device against a status list of normalized phone numbers from each of the phone devices in the subset.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the synthetic communication network may be used to transmit text messages between the target phone device and at least one other phone device registered on the synthetic communication network without using one or more voice networks.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the updated status of the target phone device is sent through a status update message over the synthetic communication network.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the synthesized communication network may be used to transmit text messages combined with at least one other multimedia data type selected from a set of multimedia data types including images, video, voice, music and data files.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the target phone device and the other phone devices are 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.

12. 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).

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the preexisting data network is associated with the preexisting voice network and 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 (HSDPA) and Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO).

14. A processor implemented method of monitoring status of one or more phone devices on a synthetic communication network, each having a phone number, comprising:

creating a status list of normalized phone numbers on a phone device that includes one or more other phone devices being monitored by the phone device for status updates, wherein each of the normalized phone numbers results from modifying a telephone number, originally provisioned on a voice network that is distinct from the synthetic communications network, which identifies the one or more other phone devices, to incorporate a country code on a uniform basis to an international telephone number (ITN) to ensure the normalized phone numbers on the synthetic communications network from around the world can be distinguished from each other;

sending the status list and updated status of the phone device in a message that includes a normalized phone number, wherein the normalized phone number uniquely identifies the phone device on the synthetic communication network, wherein the synthetic network reuses the telephone numbers previously only available for use on the voice network to create a data network that is distinct from the voice network;

receiving the status updates of the one or more other phone devices in the status list sent using the normalized phone number for the phone device, wherein the status list also references corresponding normalized phone numbers for each of the one or more other phone devices also on the synthetic communication network; and

displaying the status updates of the one or more other phone devices on the synthetic communication network in the status list in a display area of the phone device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the status list of normalized phone numbers is managed through a synthetic communication client executing on the phone device.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the synthetic communication network exchanges information over a data network using phone numbers provisioned from one or more different voice networks.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the status list holds the most recent status of a set of one or more other phone devices each identified on the synthetic communication network through a normalized phone number.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein identifying the subset of phone devices interested in the status of the target phone device occurs through a comparison of the normalized phone number of the target phone device against a status list of normalized phone numbers from each of the phone devices in the subset.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the status list of normalized phone numbers is sent in response to a message requesting the status list from one or more phone devices on the synthetic communication network.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the synthetic communication network may be used to transmit text messages between the phone device and at least one other phone device registered on the synthesized communication network without using one or more voice networks.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the updated status of the target phone device is sent through a status update message over the synthetic communication network.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein the synthetic communication network may be used to transmit text messages combined with at least one other multimedia data type selected from a set of multimedia data types including images, video, voice, music and data files.

23. The method of claim 14 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.

24. The method of claim 14 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).

25. The method of claim 14 wherein the preexisting data network is associated with the preexisting voice network and 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 (HSDPA) and Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO).

26. An apparatus for processing status of phone devices, each having a telephone number provisioned on a voice network, comprising:

a processor that executes instructions;

a memory having the instructions that when executed receive a message with updated status of a target phone device sent from the target phone device, that uniquely identifies the target phone device on a synthetic communication network using a normalized phone number, store the updated status of the target phone device in a status area referenced by the normalized phone number of the target phone device, identify a subset of phone devices from a set of one or more other phone devices on the synthetic communication network interested in the status of the target phone device and push the updated status of the target phone device to a status list on each phone device in the subset of phone devices interested in the status of the target phone device, wherein the synthetic network uses a normalized version of a telephone number previously only available for use on the voice network to create a data network distinct from the voice network and the normalized phone number results from modifying the voice network telephone number to incorporate a country code on a uniform basis to an international telephone number (ITN) to ensure the normalized phone numbers from around the world can be distinguished from each other.

27. A method for providing status of phone devices, the method comprising:

receiving, by a synthetic communication server, an updated status from a synthetic communication client of a target phone device, the target phone device having a provisioned telephone number on a voice network and a confirmed phone number on a synthetic network which is distinct from the voice network, the confirmed phone number on the synthetic network being a normalized version of the provisioned telephone number that uniquely identifies the target phone device on the synthetic network;

identifying a plurality of other phone devices on the synthetic network monitoring status of the target phone device, each of the other phone devices having a provisioned telephone number on one of a plurality of voice networks and a confirmed phone number on the synthetic network, the confirmed phone number on the synthetic network corresponding to a normalized version of the provisioned telephone number; and

providing a push notification to the plurality of other phone devices, the notification including the updated status received from the target phone device.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the target phone device and the other phone devices are selected from a set of devices, each having a telephone number provisioned on a voice network including:

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

29. A method for monitoring the status of phone devices on a synthetic communication network using normalized phone numbers, the method comprising:

creating a status list of the normalized phone numbers on a target phone device that includes the normalized phone numbers of one or more other phone devices being monitored by the target phone device for status updates, wherein each of the normalized phone numbers results from modifying a telephone number, provisioned on a voice network that is distinct from the synthetic communication network, and associated with one of the other phone devices, to incorporate a country code on a uniform basis to an international telephone number (ITN) to ensure the normalized phone numbers on the synthetic communication network from a plurality of countries uniquely identify a corresponding phone device on the synthetic communication network and can be distinguished from each other;

sending, to a synthetic communication server, an updated status from a synthetic communication client of the target phone device, the target phone device having a provisioned telephone number on a voice network and a confirmed phone number on the synthetic network, the confirmed phone number on the synthetic network being a normalized version of the provisioned telephone number that uniquely identifies the target phone device on the synthetic network;

receiving status updates of the one or more other phone devices in the status list sent using the normalized phone number for each of the one or more other phone devices; and

displaying the status updates of the one or more other phone devices on the synthetic communication network in the status list in a display area of the phone device.