Method and system for messaging across cellular networks and a public data network

• US 9,363,212 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carey, Charles A., Robinson, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun B
• Application Number:
  US14/322,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20140315589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/467, 455/550.1, 455/456
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for instant message communication in a wireless and non-wireless environment. A message is sent from a mobile unit device over a wireless communication network. The message includes a destination address, information associated with the mobile unit device'"'"'s user, message content and message address. If, according to information previously stored for the mobile unit device'"'"'s user at the instant message system, the destination address is associated with an instant message function, the associated instant message function is executed at the instant message system using the information contained in the message content, if required as determined by the associated instant message function. If, according to information previously stored for the mobile unit device'"'"'s user at the instant message system, the destination address is associated with an instant message name, an instant message is created according to the message content and is sent to the user with the associated instant message name. For instant messages sent or received by a mobile unit device with known buddies, the instant message is optimized by tagging the instant message with a routing phone number that is unique to the mobile unit device and buddy combination, whose identity is stored both in the mobile unit device address book and in the instant message routing server.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an electronic message from a mobile device, the electronic message including a destination address, information associated with the mobile device'"'"'s user, message content, and a message address;

according to information previously stored for the mobile device'"'"'s user at an instant message system,

if the destination address is associated with an instant message function, executing the associated instant message function at the instant message system using the information contained in the message content;

based on the destination address being associated with an instant message name, creating an instant message comprising the message content and sending the created instant message to the associated instant message name;

associating, at the instant message system, the instant message name to the destination address;

saving the association in memory of the instant message system according to the user of the mobile device;

generating an executable address loading program according to the saved association; and

sending the generated executable address loading program to the mobile device of the user, which causes the mobile device to enter the associated instant message name and address into memory of the mobile device of the user upon executing the sent executable address loading program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the instant message function is a sign on function, the method further comprises initiating an instant message session according to prestored user profile information and the message content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message content is an instant message name associated with the user of the mobile device and a predefined password.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining status information of users associated with instant message names stored for the user of the mobile device in the instant message system; and

sending the determined status information to the mobile device of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein if the instant message function is a sign off function, the method further comprises ending the instant message session associated with the mobile device'"'"'s user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein if the instant message function is a delete instant message name function, the method further comprises deleting at least one stored instant message name according to the message content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the message content comprises at least one instant message name.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein if the instant message function is an update instant message name function, the method further comprises:

determining status information of users associated with instant message names stored for the user of the mobile device, and

sending the determined status information to the mobile device of the user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an instant message for another user signed on through another mobile device;

processing the received instant message according to the stored user information; and

sending the processed instant message through a wireless environment to the another mobile device of the another user.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising formatting the executable address loading program based on a type of the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated executable address loading program causes the mobile device to enter the associated instant message name and address into an address book in the memory of the mobile device of the user upon executing the sent executable address loading program.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that an intended recipient associated with the instant message name is not signed on to the instant message system; and

storing the instant message until the intended recipient signs on to the instant message system.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the user is not signed on to the instant message system;

based on the user not being signed on to the instant message system;

creating an email comprising the message content;

sending the email to an e-mail address associated with the user.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an electronic message comprises receiving an SMS text message.

16. A system comprising:

a database comprising a plurality of user profiles, wherein each of the plurality of user profiles comprises user identification information and at least one of an instant message name or an instant message function assigned to a destination address;

a server coupled to the database, which receives an electronic message from a mobile carrier, the electronic message sent from a mobile device and comprising a destination address, information associated with the mobile device'"'"'s user, message content, and a message address;

wherein the server, in response to the electronic message, performs a method comprising;

if the destination address is assigned to an instant message function, executing the assigned instant message function according to the information contained in the message content; and

based on the destination address being assigned to an instant message name, creating an instant message comprising the message content and sending the created instant message to the assigned instant message name;

associating the instant message name to the destination address;

saving the association in memory of the instant message system according to a user of the mobile device;

generating an executable address loading program according to the saved association; and

sending the generated executable address loading program to the mobile device of the user, which causes the mobile device to enter the associated instant message name and address into memory of the mobile device of the user upon executing the sent executable address loading program.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile carrier comprises a short message service center for converting information between a wireless protocol and a message delivery protocol.

18. The system of claim 16, the method further comprising:

determining that the user is not signed on to the instant message system; and

storing the instant message until the user signs on to the instant message system.

19. The system of claim 16, the method further comprising:

determining that the user is not signed on to the instant message system;

based on the user not being signed on to the instant message system;

creating an email comprising the message content;

sending the email to an e-mail address associated with the user.

20. A non-transitory storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause a computer system to:

receive an electronic message from a mobile device, the electronic message including a destination address, information associated with the mobile device'"'"'s user, message content, and a message address;

according to information previously stored for the mobile device'"'"'s user at an instant message system,

if the destination address is associated with an instant message function, execute the associated instant message function at the instant message system using the information contained in the message content;

based on the destination address being associated with an instant message name, create an instant message comprising the message content and sending the created instant message to the associated instant message name;

associate the instant message name to the destination address;

save the association in memory of the instant message system according to a user of the mobile device;

generate an executable address loading program according to the saved association; and

send the generated executable address loading program to the mobile device of the user, which causes the mobile device to enter the associated instant message name and address into memory of the mobile device of the user upon executing the sent executable address loading program.