METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A WIRELESS DIGITAL MESSAGE SERVICE

• US 20010012339A1
• Filed: 09/01/1998
• Published: 08/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kappa Digital, LLC (Daniel Francisco Perez)
• Original Assignee: Edward C. Frazier, Eugene D. Termini, Stephen W. Eckersley, Victor A. Weir III
• Inventors: ECKERSLEY, STEPHEN W., TERMINI, EUGENE D., WEIR, VICTOR A. III, FRAZIER, EDWARD C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,349,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00103 specially adapted for radio transmission, e.g. via satellites H04N1/00098 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00108 of digital signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00315 with a radio transmission apparatus with a cordless telephone H04N1/00305; systems or arrangements for the transmission of a picture signal specially adapted for transmission via radio H04N1/00103; H04N1/00307 takes precedence; radio transmission systems H04B7/00; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32797 Systems adapted to communicate over more than one channel, e.g. via ISDN changing transmission mode according to type of channel H04N2201/33364; multichannel or multilink communication protocols H04L69/14
• 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 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices. After the digital message is received from the source, the one or more receiving devices are selected from a list of addressable receiving devices and the digital message is routed through a local area network until the digital message can be transmitted to the one or more receiving devices. The digital message is then transmitted to the one or more receiving devices using a single wireless transmission. Alternatively, the present invention provides a method and system for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations. After the digital message is received from the source, the digital message is transmitted over a wireless communications link to each of the one or more destinations, if any, that has a device for receiving the digital message over the wireless communications link. The digital message is also transmitted over a telephone network to each of the one or more destinations, if any, that has a device for receiving the digital message over the telephone network but not over the wireless communications link.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the digital message from the source;

selecting the one or more receiving devices from a list of addressable receiving devices;

routing the digital message through a local area network until the digital message can be transmitted to the one or more receiving devices; and

transmitting the digital message to the one or more receiving devices using a single wireless transmission.

2. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the digital message is a facsimile message.

3. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the digital message is a color facsimile message.

4. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the digital message is an advertisement.

5. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the digital message is a bill.

6. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the single wireless transmission is a radio frequency broadcast.

7. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the single wireless transmission is a satellite broadcast.

8. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the source is a facsimile machine.

9. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the source is a wireless facsimile machine.

10. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the source is a scanner.

11. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the source is a computer.

12. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the list of addressable receiving devices comprises one or more wireless facsimile machines.

13. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the list of addressable receiving devices comprises one or more wireless facsimile adapters, each wireless facsimile adapter connected to a facsimile machine.

14. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the list of addressable receiving devices comprises one or more wireless computer adapters, each wireless computer adapter connected to a computer.

15. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, further comprising the step of routing the digital message through a wide area network until the one or more receiving devices are accessible through the local area network.

16. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices as recited in

claim 1

, further comprising the step of confirming that the one or more receiving devices have received the digital message.

17. A method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the digital message from the source;

transmitting the digital message over a wireless communications link to each of the one or more destinations, if any, that has a device for receiving the digital message over the wireless communications link; and

transmitting the digital message over a telephone network to each of the one or more destinations, if any, that has a device for receiving the digital message over the telephone network but not over the wireless communications link.

18. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 17

, further comprising the step of selecting the one or more destinations from a list of destinations.

19. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 17

, wherein the wireless communications link is a radio frequency transmission.

20. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 17

, wherein the wireless communications link is a satellite data link.

21. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 17

, wherein the device for receiving the digital message over the wireless communications link comprises a wireless facsimile machine.

22. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 17

, wherein the digital message is transmitted to the device for receiving the digital message over the wireless communications link using a single wireless transmission.

23. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 17

, wherein the device for receiving the digital message over the telephone network but not over the wireless communications link comprises a facsimile machines connected to a telephone network.

24. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 17

, further comprising the step of creating the digital message by scanning one or more documents.

25. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 17

, further comprising the step of routing the digital message through a local area network until the digital message can be transmitted to each of the one or more destinations.

26. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 25

, further comprising the step of routing the digital message through a wide area network until each of the one or more destinations are accessible through the local area network.

27. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 17

, further comprising the step of confirming that the devices at the one or more destinations received the digital message.

28. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 27

, wherein the confirmation is transmitted over the wireless communications link.

29. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 27

, wherein the confirmation is transmitted over the telephone network.

30. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 17

, further comprising the step of sending a hard copy of the digital message to each of the one or more destinations, if any, that do not have a device for receiving the digital message over the wireless communications link or the telephone network.

31. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 30

, further comprising the steps of:

printing the hard copy of the digital message; and

packaging the hard copy for delivery to each of the one or more destinations that are not capable of receiving the digital message over the wireless communications link or the telephone network.

32. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 30

, wherein the hard copy is sent by mail.

33. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 30

, wherein the hard copy is sent by a priority mail service.

34. The method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more destinations as recited in

claim 30

, wherein the hard copy is sent by a courier service.

35. A method for transmitting a digital message from a source to one or more receiving devices, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the digital message from the source;

routing the digital message through a local area network until the digital message can be transmitted to each of the one or more receiving devices;

transmitting the digital message over a wireless communications link to each of the one or more destinations, if any, that has a device for receiving the digital message over the wireless communications link;

transmitting the digital message over a telephone network to each of the one or more destinations, if any, that has a device for receiving the digital message over the telephone network but not over the wireless communications link; and

sending a hard copy of the digital message to each of the one or more destinations that do not have devices for receiving the digital message over the wireless communications link or the telephone network.

36. A system for transmitting a digital message, the system comprising:

one or more devices capable of receiving the digital message over a wireless communications link;

a communications network comprising one or more communication nodes communicably linked to one or more server computers, each communication node having a broadcast range and the capability of establishing the wireless communications link and transmitting the digital message to the one or more devices that are located within the broadcast range; and

the one or more server computers receiving the digital message from a source and routing the digital message over the communications network to the one or more communication nodes that will transmit the digital message to the one or more devices.

37. The system for transmitting a digital message as recited in

claim 36

, further comprising:

one or more devices capable of receiving the digital message over a telephone network;

a telephone network interface communicably linking each server computer to the telephone network; and

the one or more server computers routing the digital message to the one or more devices capable of receiving the digital message over the telephone network using the telephone network interface.

38. The system for transmitting a digital message as recited in

claim 36

, wherein the wireless communications link is a radio frequency transmission.

39. The system for transmitting a digital message as recited in

claim 36

, wherein the source is a facsimile machine connected to a telephone network.

40. The system for transmitting a digital message as recited in

claim 36

, wherein the one or more communication nodes are communicably linked to the one or more server computers using microwave communication links.

41. The system for transmitting a digital message as recited in

claim 36

, wherein the one or more communication nodes are communicably linked to the one or more server computers using fiber optic communication links.

42. The system for transmitting a digital message as recited in

claim 36

, wherein the source is a wireless facsimile machine.

43. The system for transmitting a digital message as recited in

claim 36

, wherein the source is a scanner.

44. The system for transmitting a digital message as recited in

claim 36

, wherein the source is a computer.

45. The system for transmitting a digital message as recited in

claim 36

, wherein the one or more devices comprise one or more wireless facsimile machines.

46. The system for transmitting a digital message as recited in

claim 36

, wherein the digital message is transmitted to more than one of the receiving devices that are capable of receiving the digital message over the wireless communications link using a single wireless transmission.

47. The system for transmitting a digital message as recited in

claim 36

, wherein the one or more receiving devices comprise one or more facsimile machines connected to a telephone network.

48. A system for transmitting a digital message, the system comprising:

one or more devices capable of receiving the digital message over a wireless communications link;

a satellite communications network communicably linked to one or more server computers and capable of establishing the wireless communications link and transmitting the digital message to the one or more devices; and

the one or more server computers receiving the digital message from the source and routing the digital message over the satellite communications network to the one or more devices.

49. The system for transmitting a digital message as recited in

claim 48

, further comprising:

one or more devices capable of receiving the digital message over a telephone network;

a telephone network interface communicably linking each server computer to the telephone network; and

the one or more server computers routing the digital message to the one or more devices capable of receiving the digital message over the telephone network using the telephone network interface.