Systems and methods for messaging using a broadband connection

• US 9,338,029 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2012
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alston, Douglas B., Stark, Barbara, Gonzalez, Valois
• Primary Examiner(s): Phung, Luat
• Application Number:
  US13/565,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20130029699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-357, 370/386, 370/463, 370/401, 379/88.17, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.25, 455/426.1, 455/452.2, 455/466, 455/554.2, 455/556.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• 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 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Systems and methods for sending and receiving text, or data, messages between wireless communication devices and wireline-messaging devices utilize a broadband connection to the wireline premises as the signaling channel. A message application server sends messages directly to wireline-messaging devices through a digital network, such as the Internet. Such systems and methods include wireline-messaging devices integrated with premises telephones connected to a PSTN, in which the telephones are adapted with thin client software to send and receive data messages.

Claims

1. A method for data messaging comprising:

receiving, at a message application server, a data message from a wireless communication device, the data message identifying, as a routing address for the data message, a wireline directory number associated with an intended premises;

mapping the wireline directory number to an Internet protocol address associated with a premises broadband gateway of the intended premises and associated with a plurality of wireline-messaging devices located at the intended premises, each of the plurality of wireline-messaging devices associated with a respective one of a plurality of users, wherein one of the plurality of wireline-messaging devices comprises a premises telephone connected to a public switched telephone network;

establishing a point-to-point protocol session over a broadband connection between the message application server and each of the plurality of wireline-messaging devices via the premises broadband gateway at the intended premises; and

routing a password protected message comprising the data message from the message application server to the premises broadband gateway for routing to each of the plurality of wireline-messaging devices located at the intended premises using the Internet protocol address, content of the password protected message displayed to a particular user via the premises telephone in response to entry of a password of the password protected message associated with the particular user into the premises telephone.

2. A method for data messaging comprising:

receiving, at a message application server, a data message from a wireless communication device, the data message identifying, as a terminating address for the data message, a wireline directory number associated with an intended premises;

mapping the wireline directory number to an Internet protocol address associated with a premises broadband gateway of the intended premises, each of the plurality of wireline-messaging devices associated with a respective one of a plurality of users, wherein one of the plurality of wireline-messaging devices comprises a premises telephone connected to a public switched telephone network;

establishing a point-to-point protocol session over a broadband connection between the message application server and a plurality of wireline-messaging devices of the intended premises via the premises broadband gateway; and

routing a password protected message comprising the data message from the message application server to the premises broadband gateway for routing to each of the plurality of wireline-messaging devices located at the intended premises using the Internet protocol address, content of the password protected message displayed to a particular user via the premises telephone in response to entry of a password of the password protected message associated with the particular user into the premises telephone.

3. A system for data messaging comprising:

a message application server to perform a method comprising;

receiving a data message from a wireless communication device, the data message identifying, as a routing address for the data message, a wireline directory number associated with an intended premises;

mapping the wireline directory number to an Internet protocol address associated with a premises broadband gateway of the intended premises and associated with a plurality of wireline-messaging devices at the intended premises, each of the plurality of wireline-messaging devices associated with a respective one of a plurality of users, wherein one of the plurality of wireline-messaging devices comprises a premises telephone connected to a public switched telephone network;

establishing a point-to-point protocol session over a broadband connection between the message application server and each of the plurality of wireline-messaging devices via the premises broadband gateway at the intended premises; and

routing a password protected message comprising the data message from the message application server to the premises broadband gateway for routing to each of the plurality of wire-line messaging devices located at the intended premises using the Internet protocol address, content of the password protected message displayed to a particular user via the premises telephone in response to entry of a password of the password protected message associated with the particular user into the premises telephone.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a wireless network message service center for storing and routing the data message to and from the wireless communication device.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the wireless network message service center stores short message service messages.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the wireless network message service center stores enhanced message service messages.

7. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a wireline network message service center for storing and routing the password protected data message comprising the data message to and from the plurality of wireline-messaging devices.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the wireline network message service center stores short message service messages.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the wireline network message service center stores enhanced message service messages.