System and process for allowing wireless messaging

• US 6,134,432 A
• Filed: 06/17/1998
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Message4U Pty. Ltd. (Sinch AB)
• Original Assignee: Bulletin.Net Inc
• Inventors: Holmes, Hudson, Munro, Rob, Hall, Rich, Kerr, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC M
• Application Number:
  US09/098,614
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/556, 455/557, 455/31.3, 455/32.1, 455/412, 455/413, 455/414, 340/825.44, 379/93.24, 379/93.01, 379/100.08, 379/88.12, 379/88.15, 370/312, 370/313
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• 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: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53341 Message reply
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

The present invention provides a bi-directional (and/or uni-directional) multiplexing messaging gateway for wireless devices, such as for devices using the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) wireless digital standard, or any other suitable protocols. Electronic messages may be transmitted over a wireless connection to, or to and from, a mobile phone, and the present invention maintains and facilitates all necessary housekeeping functions. For example, electronic messages addressed to a mobile phone may be received by the gateway of the present invention from the Internet, a LAN, or any other source, and routed to the appropriate mobile phone. Such electronic messages may be originated manually or may be automatically generated by specific computer applications, such as a scheduling program operating on a LAN. Likewise, the user of the mobile phone may reply to the sender of the original electronic message, whereby the gateway of the present invention maintains the address of the sender and matches it with the reply so as to facilitate the forwarding of the reply to the correct address. Finally, the user of the mobile phone may cause an electronic message received from a sender to be remotely routed to, for example, a chosen facsimile machine, or any other suitable destination.

Claims

1. A messaging system comprising:

(a) a wireless communication device;

(b) means for originating an electronic message including;

(i) a destination address, in a first format, associated with the wireless communication device; and

(ii) a reply address, in a second format, associated with the originating means;

(c) means for performing the steps of;

(i) receiving the electronic message from the originating means;

(ii) creating a temporary reply address, in the first format, associated with the reply address of the electronic message;

(iii) forwarding a modified electronic message to the wireless communication device via a selected communication connection, wherein the modified electronic message includes as a reply address the temporary reply address;

(iv) receiving from the wireless communication device via the selected communication connection a reply electronic message including the temporary reply address; and

(v) forwarding the reply electronic message to the originating means whose reply address is associated with the temporary reply address.

2. The messaging system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a digital mobile phone.

3. The messaging system of claim 1, wherein the originating means comprises a client/server system.

4. The messaging system of claim 1, wherein the originating means comprises a mail server on the Internet.

5. The messaging system of claim 1, wherein the first format corresponds to an MSISDN address.

6. The messaging system of claim 1, wherein the second format corresponds to an Internet address.

7. A messaging process for use with a wireless communication device, comprising the steps of:

(a) originating an electronic message including;

(i) a destination address, in a first format, associated with the wireless communication device; and

(ii) a reply address, in a second format, associated with the originating means;

(b) creating a temporary reply address, in the first format, associated with the reply address of the electronic message;

(c) forwarding a modified electronic message to the wireless communication device via a selected communication connection, wherein the modified electronic message includes as a reply address the temporary reply address;

(d) receiving from the wireless communication device via the selected communication connection a reply electronic message including the temporary reply address; and

(e) forwarding the reply electronic message to the reply address associated with the temporary reply address.