Apparatus, System and Method for Forwarding Data Sent to a Wireless Device to Another Address

• US 20150334542A1
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jordan, Royce D. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,485,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

An apparatus for forwarding data sent to a wireless device having a first address to a second address. The apparatus includes a server in communication with a wireless network and an external network. The server includes a processor. The processor includes a data forwarding module for forwarding the data to the second address via the external network when the wireless device is not in communication with the wireless network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating, by a communication device using a processor, a profile-creation message comprising a primary address, an alternate address, and a time period to be incorporated by a remote system into a data-forwarding user profile; and

transmitting, by the communication device, the profile-creation message to the remote system for creating or editing the data-forwarding user profile to include the primary address, the alternate address, and the time period, wherein the data-forwarding user profile enables the remote system to forward, in response to receiving data intended for the primary address, and in response to criteria based upon the time period being satisfied, the data to the alternate address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria is satisfied when a mobile communication device is not in communication with the communication network at a beginning and an end of the time period.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication network is a first communication network and the alternate address is reachable by the remote system by way of a second communication network being distinct from the first communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria comprises unsuccessful attempts to deliver the data to the primary address, and the criteria is satisfied when the data remains undelivered to the primary address throughout the time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile-creation message, in comprising the alternate address, comprises multiple alternate addresses for inclusion in the data-forwarding user profile, and wherein the data-forwarding user profile enables the remote system to forward, in response to receiving the data and the criteria being satisfied, the data to each of the alternate addresses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary address is associated with a first wireless device, and the alternate address is associated with another device other than the first wireless device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the wireless device is the communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating, by the communication device, a function-enable message comprising information instructing the remote system to enable a data-forwarding function comprising forwarding data to the alternate address selectively based on the data-forwarding user profile.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating, by the communication device, a function-disable message comprising information instructing the remote system to disable a data-forwarding function comprising forwarding data to the alternate address selectively based on the data-forwarding user profile.

10. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

generating, by a communication device having a processor, a profile-creation message comprising a primary address, an alternate address, and a time period to be incorporated by a remote system into a data-forwarding user profile; and

transmitting, by the communication device, the profile-creation message to the remote system for creating or editing the data-forwarding user profile to include the primary address, the alternate address, and the time period, wherein the data-forwarding user profile enables the remote system to forward, in response to receiving data intended for the primary address, and in response to criteria based upon the time period being satisfied, the data to the alternate address.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the criteria is satisfied when a mobile communication device is not in communication with the communication network at a beginning and an end of the time period.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication network is a first communication network and the alternate address is reachable by the remote system by way of a second communication network being distinct from the first communication network.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the criteria comprises unsuccessful attempts to deliver the data to the primary address, and the criteria is satisfied when the data remains undelivered to the primary address throughout the time period.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the profile-creation message, in comprising the alternate address, comprises multiple alternate addresses for inclusion in the data-forwarding user profile, and wherein the data-forwarding user profile enables the remote system to forward, in response to receiving the data and the criteria being satisfied, the data to each of the alternate addresses.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise generating, by the communication device, a function-enable message comprising information instructing the remote system to enable a data-forwarding function comprising forwarding data to the alternate address selectively based on the data-forwarding user profile.

16. A computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

generating, by a communication device having a processor, a profile-creation message comprising a primary address, an alternate address, and a time period to be incorporated by a remote system into a data-forwarding user profile; and

transmitting, by the communication device, the profile-creation message to the remote system for creating or editing the data-forwarding user profile to include the primary address, the alternate address, and the time period, wherein the data-forwarding user profile enables the remote system to forward, in response to receiving data intended for the primary address, and in response to criteria based upon the time period being satisfied, the data to the alternate address.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the criteria is satisfied when a mobile communication device is not in communication with the communication network at a beginning and an end of the time period.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the communication network is a first communication network and the alternate address is reachable by the remote system by way of a second communication network being distinct from the first communication network.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the criteria comprises unsuccessful attempts to deliver the data to the primary address, and the criteria is satisfied when the data remains undelivered to the primary address throughout the time period.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the profile-creation message, in comprising the alternate address, comprises multiple alternate addresses for inclusion in the data-forwarding user profile, and wherein the data-forwarding user profile enables the remote system to forward, in response to receiving the data and the criteria being satisfied, the data to each of the alternate addresses.