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

• US 9,491,290 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• 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:
  US14/518,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20150038182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 message-originating communication device associated with a first address, a request to deliver an originating short message to a second wireless communication device associated with a second address;

accessing, by the message-originating communication device and in response to receiving the request, a memory to identify a third address that is associated with the first address;

transmitting, by the message-originating communication device, the short message to the second wireless communication device associated with the second address; and

transmitting, by the message-originating communication device, the short message to a third wireless communication device associated with the third address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message-originating communication device and the third wireless communication device are possessed by a common user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein short messages delivered from either the message-originating communication device and the third wireless communication device are identified as having been delivered from a common address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the short message comprises one of a Short Message Service (SMS) message or a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

designating, by the message-originating communication device prior to transmitting the short message, an alternate address other than the first address, the short message appearing as having been sent from a device having the alternate address.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the alternate address is the third address.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received via a user interface of the message-originating communication device.

8. A message-originating communication device comprising:

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

a controller configured to;

receive a request to deliver an originating short message to a second wireless communication device associated with a second address;

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

transmit the short message to the second wireless communication device associated with the second address; and

transmit the short message to a third wireless communication device associated with the third address.

9. The message-originating communication device of claim 8, wherein the third wireless communication device and the message-originating communication device are possessed by a common user.

10. The message-originating communication device of claim 9, wherein short messages delivered from either the message-originating communication device and the third wireless communication device are identified as having been delivered from a common address.

11. The message-originating communication device of claim 8, wherein the short message comprises one of a Short Message Service (SMS) message or a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message.

12. The message-originating communication device of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:

designate, prior to transmitting the short message, an alternate address other than the first address, the short message appearing as having been sent from a device having the alternate address.

13. The message-originating communication device of claim 12, wherein the alternate address is the third address.

14. The message-originating communication device of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the short message via a wireless network.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer instructions executable by a processor in a message-originating communication device to implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving, by the message-originating communication device associated with a first address, a request to deliver an originating short message to a second wireless communication device associated with a second address;

accessing, by the message-originating communication device and in response to receiving the request, a memory to identify a third address that is associated with the first address;

transmitting, by the message-originating communication device, the short message to the second wireless communication device associated with the second address; and

transmitting, by the message-originating communication device, the short message to a third wireless communication device associated with the third address.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the message-originating communication device and the third wireless communication device are possessed by a common user.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein short messages delivered from either the message-originating communication device and the third wireless communication device are identified as having been delivered from a common address.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the short message comprises one of a Short Message Service (SMS) message or a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

designating, by the message-originating communication device prior to transmitting the short message, an alternate address other than the first address, the short message appearing as having been sent from a device having the alternate address.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the alternate address is the third address.