Electronic messaging using reply telephone numbers

• US 9,894,018 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Odell, James A., Appelman, Barry, Wick, Andrew L., Keister, Alan, Bergstrom, Raine, Yin, Xiaoyan, McNally, Barbara, Hullfish, Keith C.
• Primary Examiner(s): ENGLAND, SARA M
• Application Number:
  US14/447,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20140344384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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

Abstract

A graphical user interface on a display device of a computer enables communications using a computer service. The graphical user interface includes a list of potential message recipients selected by a user as significant to the user. The graphical user interface also includes a mobile device identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients and a user account identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients. At least one of the listed potential recipients includes a mobile device identifier as the only available conduit for data delivery to the potential message recipient using the computer service.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a server device from a sender, a first electronic message of a first communication-type addressed to a recipient;

identifying, by the server device, a temporary reply telephone number from a pool of temporary reply telephone numbers, wherein the pool of temporary telephone numbers comprises a plurality of unassigned telephone numbers;

associating the temporary reply telephone number with the sender of the first electronic message for the duration of a communication session between the sender and the recipient, the communication session comprising the first electronic message, a plurality of replies to the first electronic message, and one or more additional electronic messages of the first communication-type;

preparing, using at least one processor of the server device, a second electronic message of a second communication-type comprising content of the first electronic message of the first communication-type; and

sending, from the server device and via the temporary reply telephone number, the second electronic message of the second communication-type to the recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a message session information entry associated with the communication session.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, from the recipient, a reply electronic message addressed to the temporary reply telephone number; and

associating the reply electronic message with the message session information entry.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

assigning the reply telephone number to the message session information entry.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the temporary reply telephone number comprises a short code.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a set of computing devices at which the recipient is active;

identifying a mobile device from the identified set of computing devices; and

determining that the mobile device is available to receive the second electronic message of the second communication-type.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising sending electronic messages of different communication-types to each computing device in the set of computing devices, wherein the electronic messages of different communication-types comprise content of the first electronic message of the first communication-type.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining capabilities of each computing device in the set of computing devices with regard to receiving the electronic messages of the different communication-types.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a reply electronic message directed to the sender of the first electronic message of the first communication-type, the reply electronic message having a reply source indicator that is different from an intended destination indicator identified by the sender.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending a communication having a surrogate reply source indicator that is the same as the intended destination indicator.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending a communication having a surrogate reply source indicator that is the same as the reply source indicator.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending a communication having a surrogate reply source indicator that comprises the intended destination indicator and the reply source indicator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the intended destination indicator comprises a username associated with the recipient and the reply source indicator comprises a mobile telephone number associated with a mobile device of the recipient.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the recipient, a first reply electronic message of the second communication-type addressed to the sender via the temporary reply telephone number;

preparing a second reply electronic message of the first communication-type comprising content of the first reply electronic message of the first communication-type; and

sending, to the sender via an address of the sender for electronic communications of the first communication-type, the second reply electronic message of the first communication-type.

15. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

receive, from a sender, a first electronic message of a first communication-type addressed to a recipient;

identify a temporary reply telephone number from a pool of temporary reply telephone numbers, wherein the pool of temporary reply telephone numbers comprises a plurality of unassigned telephone numbers;

associate the temporary reply telephone number with the sender of the first electronic message for the duration of a communication session between the sender and the recipient, the communication session comprising the first electronic message, a plurality of replies to the first electronic message, and one or more additional electronic messages of the first communication-type;

prepare a second electronic message of a second communication-type comprising content of the first electronic message of the first communication-type; and

send, via the temporary reply telephone number, the second electronic message of the second communication-type to the recipient.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

identify a mobile device at which the recipient is active; and

determine that the mobile device is available to receive the second electronic message of the second communication-type.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to determine that the recipient was active most recently at the mobile device.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to determine that the recipient is signed in to a communications system through the mobile device.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

receive an indication of whether to hide reply source indicators for reply electronic messages sent by the recipient; and

associate the indication of whether to hide reply source indicators with an account of the recipient.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

receive, from the recipient, a first reply electronic message of the second communication-type directed to the sender of the first electronic message of the first communication-type;

prepare a second reply electronic message of the first communication-type comprising content of the first reply electronic message of the first communication-type, the second reply electronic message of the first communication-type having a reply source indicator selected based on the indication of whether to hide reply source indicators; and

send the second reply electronic message of the first communication-type to the sender.