System and process for allowing wireless messaging

• US 6,178,331 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Message4U Pty. Ltd. (Sinch AB)
• Original Assignee: Bulletin.Net Inc
• Inventors: Hall, Rich, Kerr, Jason, Holmes, Hudson, Munro, Rob
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woldetatios, Yemane
• Application Number:
  US09/098,899
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/413, 455/414, 455/517, 455/466, 455/461, 455/427, 455/503, 455/565, 455/445
• US Class Current: 455/466
• 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 un-idirectional) 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. An electronic message forwarding system comprising:

(a) a wireless communication device;

(b) means for storing a database of records, each record including an associated date and time;

(c) means for periodically polling the records in the database, wherein the current date and time is compared with the date and time stored in the database for each record;

(c) means for forwarding an electronic message corresponding to a selected record of the database to the wireless communication device, if the date and time associated with the selected record matches the current date and time, according to pre-selected criteria.

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

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each record includes a task associated with a user of the storing means.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each record includes an appointment associated with a user of the storing means.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the database of records is associated with an appointment and task scheduler.

6. An electronic message forwarding process for use with a wireless communication device, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a database of records, each record including an associated date and time;

(b) periodically polling the records in the database, wherein the current date and time is compared with the date and time stored in the database for each record;

(c) forwarding an electronic message corresponding to a selected record of the database to the wireless communication device, if the date and time associated with the selected record matches the current date and time, according to pre-selected criteria.