Intelligent delivery agent for short message distribution center

• US 7,860,068 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Dewey, Michael, Smith, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Faroul; Farah
• Application Number:
  US11/025,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20060146840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,185 Days
• Field of Search: 370/396, 370/400, 370/401, 370/466, 370/467, 455/414.1, 455/414.4
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/50 Queue scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting broadcasting in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• 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 3/4872 Non-interactive information services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53316 Messaging centre selected by message originator
• 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 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 : Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A message distribution center (MDC) and Intelligent Delivery Agent are implemented in a wireless Internet gateway interposed between content providers and a wireless carrier to subjectively examine and direct messages via Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) based on desired rules (e.g., non-peak hours, paying subscribers only, etc.) using standard SMTP Gateway and other well-known protocols. The MDC includes an individual queue for each subscriber, and the provider is informed through conventional SMTP protocol messages that the short message has been accepted. If the carrier has specifically disallowed service for a particular Mobile Identification Number (MIN) (e.g., in the case of churning), then the content provider is informed through an SMTP interchange that the recipient is invalid. An MDC provides a single mechanism for interacting with subscribers of multiple carriers, regardless of each carrier'"'"'s underlying infrastructure.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a short message, comprising:

receiving, at a message distribution center, said short message;

queuing, at said message distribution center, said received short message in an individual subscriber queue;

determining, at said message distribution center, if a destination wireless device is turned on or off through interaction with a mobile chat location register (MCLR); and

in response to said determination, delivering from said message distribution center said short message to said destination wireless device when said destination wireless device is determined to be turned on and foregoing delivery of said short message to said destination wireless device when said wireless device is off.

2. The method of delivering a short message according to claim 1, wherein:

said short message is transmitted to a destination wireless carrier using Remote Method Invocation (RMI) protocols.

3. The method of delivering a short message according to claim 1, wherein:

said short message is transmitted to a wireless carrier using Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) protocols.

4. The method of delivering a short message according to claim 1, wherein:

said short message is transmitted to a destination gateway using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).

5. Apparatus for delivering a short message, comprising:

means for receiving, at a message distribution center, said short message;

means for queuing, at said message distribution center, said received short message in an individual subscriber queue;

means for determining, at said message distribution center, if a destination wireless device is turned on or off through interaction with a mobile chat location register (MCLR); and

means responsive to said means for determining for delivering from said message distribution center said short message to said destination wireless device when said destination wireless device is determined to be turned on.

6. The apparatus for delivering a short message according to claim 5, wherein:

said means for delivering said short message delivers said short message to a destination wireless carrier using Remote Method Invocation (RMI) protocols.

7. The apparatus for delivering a short message according to claim 5, wherein:

said means for delivering said short message delivers said short message to a destination wireless carrier using Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) protocols.

8. The apparatus for delivering a short message according to claim 5, wherein:

said short message is transmitted to a destination gateway using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).