Text message delivery features for an interactive wireless network

• US 7,756,511 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US11/113,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20050193078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/203, 709/207, 709/217
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols

Abstract

In general, in one aspect, one embodiment of the present disclosure features a message delivery method. The method includes the steps of receiving a message including delivery instruction and delivery information indicating a time at which the message is to be delivered to a communication device of a recipient; storing the message; and delivering the message to the recipient at a time indicated by the delivery information. Further, the delivery instruction and the delivery information are set by a sender of the message. Other embodiments are also provided.

Claims

1. A message delivery method comprising:

receiving a message from the Internet, the message including delivery instruction and delivery information indicating a time at which the message is to be delivered to a communication device of a recipient over a wireless messaging network as well as an expiration time for the message, the expiration time causing the message to expire if the message cannot be delivered to the recipient at the time the message is to be delivered, wherein if the message expires the message is deleted before being delivered to the recipient, the delivery instruction and delivery information being embedded in the message;

storing the message; and

delivering the message over the wireless messaging network to the communication device of the recipient at a time indicated by the delivery information, wherein the delivery instruction and the delivery information are set by a sender of the message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after receiving the message, recognizing the delivery instruction and delivery information as instructions for delivering the message, wherein the delivery instruction and delivery information are embedded in a body of the message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery information comprises numeric values which set parameters for message delivery.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is delivered to a mailbox of the recipient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is delivered to a mailbox of the recipient for delivery to the communication device of the recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is a reminder for the recipient.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

canceling the delivery instruction before the message is delivered.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the delivery information before the message is delivered.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery instruction and delivery information are in a header of the message.

11. A computer readable medium having a computer program for message delivery, the program performing:

receiving a message from the Internet, the message including delivery instruction and delivery information indicating a time at which the message is to be delivered to a communication device of a recipient as well as an expiration time for the message, the expiration time causing the message to expire if the message cannot be delivered to the recipient at the time the message is to be delivered, wherein if the message expires the message is deleted before being delivered to the recipient, the delivery instruction and delivery information being embedded in the message;

storing the message; and

delivering the message over a wireless messaging network to the communication device of the recipient at a time indicated by the delivery information, wherein the delivery instruction and the delivery information are set by a sender of the message.

12. The medium of claim 11, the program further comprising:

after receiving the message, recognizing the delivery instruction and delivery information as instructions for delivering the message, wherein the delivery instruction and delivery information are embedded in a body of the message.

13. The medium of claim 11, wherein the communication device is a wireless device.

14. The medium of claim 11, wherein the delivery information comprises numeric values which set parameters for message delivery.

15. The medium of claim 11, wherein the message is delivered to a mailbox of the recipient.

16. The medium of claim 11, wherein the message is delivered to a mailbox of the recipient for delivery to the communication device of the recipient.

17. The medium of claim 11, wherein the message is a reminder for the recipient.

18. The medium of claim 11, the program further comprising:

canceling the delivery instruction before the message is delivered.

19. The medium of claim 11, the program further comprising:

modifying the delivery information before the message is delivered.

20. The medium of claim 11, wherein the delivery instruction and delivery information are in a header of the message.