Mobile network message to email redirection

• US 20030119532A1
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hatch, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

A text message service to email gateway is provided so that text messages, or other information, in a mobile phone network can be selectively redirected to email addresses.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile phone network, the method comprising the steps of:

recording an email address in association with a mobile phone number;

receiving a text message addressed to said number;

converting the text message into an email addressed to said email address; and

sending the email.

2. A method according to claim 1, including receiving a text message redirect instruction associated with said mobile phone number.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said redirect instruction is received from a subscriber in advance of said text message.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said redirect instruction is generated after receipt of said text message and in dependence on a non-delivery criterion relating to the unavailability of a mobile station to receive said message.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the text message is received at a message service center and the message service center obtains gateway address data from a database in dependence on the text message'"'"'s destination address, the gateway address data identifying a text message to email gateway.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said gateway obtains said email address from a database in dependence on said text message'"'"'s destination address.

7. A gateway apparatus for a mobile telephone network, the apparatus comprising:

text message receiving means for receiving a text message;

address obtaining means for obtaining an email address in dependence on the destination address of a text message received by the text message receiving means; and

email means for forming an email from the text in a text message received by the text message receiving means and sending it to the address obtained for it by the address obtaining means.

8. A gateway apparatus according to claim 7 in combination with a database storing a mapping of text message destinations onto email addresses, wherein the address obtaining means is configured to obtain email addresses from said mapping in said database.

9. A method of operating a mobile phone network, the method comprising the steps of:

recording an email address in association with a mobile phone number;

receiving a signal addressed to said number;

converting said signal into an email addressed to said email address; and

sending the email.

10. A method according to claim 9, including receiving a redirect instruction associated with said mobile phone number.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said redirect instruction is received from a subscriber in advance of said signal.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said redirect instruction is generated after receipt of said signal and in dependence on a non-delivery criterion relating to the unavailability of a mobile station to receive said signal.