Method and apparatus for distributing messages to mobile recipients

• US 8,036,689 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Buijze, Bart-Jan, van As, Nicolaas Theunis Rudie, Koning, Rentje Theodoor
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu; Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choo; Munsoon
• Application Number:
  US12/729,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20100182945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/414.2, 370/312
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

For processing digital communication traffic in a network comprising a central communication processing structure and a number of separate devices of users designed for communication with the central communication processing structure, each time, a communication coming from one of the separate devices is received which communication is addressed to another of the separate devices. It is then checked whether the received communication meets at least one condition applicable to the communication or the sender. In reaction to meeting the condition, a message is added to the communication and the communication including the added message is sent to the addressed device.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user of a first distributed device to communicate with a second distributed device using a variable cost structure, comprising:

configuring a user interface of the first distributed device to have a plurality of user-selectable options for sending a communication to the second distributed device, a first one of the user-selectable options relating to sending of a communication without an added message and a second one of the user-selectable options relating to sending of a communication with an added message;

enabling a user of the first distributed device to select, using the user interface of the first distributed device, whether to send the communication to the second distributed device using a first communication server of a communications network at a first cost to the user of the first distributed device or a second communication server of the communications network at a second cost to the user of the first distributed device different than the first cost, the step of enabling the user to select whether to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first or second communications server comprising associating the first user-selectable option with an indication of use of the first communications server and associating the second user-selectable options with an indication of use of the second communications server;

directing the communication to the first communication server to be forwarded therefrom to the second distributed device when the user selects the first user-selectable option and thus to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first communication server; and

directing the communication to the second communication server to be forwarded therefrom to the second distributed device when the user selects the second user-selectable option and thus to send the communication to the second distributed device using the second communication server,

whereby when the user selects to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first communication server, a message is not added to the communication and when the user selects to send the communication to the second distributed device using the second communication server, a message is added to the communication such that the communication and added message are delivered to the second distributed device and the second cost to send the communication is less than the first cost to send the communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of configuring the user interface comprises arranging the user interface of the first distributed device to present the user with two keys or menu options to enable the user to select whether to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first communication server or the second communication server, the two keys or menu options constituting the first and second user-selectable options.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a first telephone number is assigned to access the first communication server and a second telephone number is assigned to access the second communication server, further comprising:

causing the first distributed device to dial the first telephone number when the user selects to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first communication server; and

causing the first distributed device to dial the second telephone number when the user selects to send the communication to the second distributed device using the second communication server.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising programming the first and second telephone numbers into a memory component of the first distributed device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the communication at the first distributed device to comprise a header including sender address information, receiver address information, and message content which includes user identification; and

including in the user identification an indication of whether the user of the first distributed device is registered to use the second communication server to send communications to the second distributed device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one of a plurality of different messages is added to the communication based on at least one of data about the user of the first distributed device, data about a user of the second distributed device, a time at which the communication is being sent, a location of the first distributed device and a location of the second distributed device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one of a plurality of different messages is added to the communication based on a code inserted by the first distributed device.

8. A distributed device for use with a system for processing digital communication traffic that includes a first communication server and a second communication server, the distributed device comprising:

a user interface that enables a user of the distributed device to select whether to send a communication to another distributed device using the first communication server or the second communication server, the user interface having a plurality of user-selectable options for sending the communication to the other distributed device, a first one of the user-selectable options relating to sending of a communication without an added message and a second one of the user-selectable options relating to sending of a communication with an added message, the first user-selectable option being associated with an indication of use of the first communications server and the second user-selectable option being associated with an indication of use of the second communications server; and

a processor that;

when the user selects, using the first user-selectable option of the user interface, to send the communication to the other distributed device using the first communication server, directs the communication to the first communication server to be forwarded therefrom to the other distributed device; and

when the user selects, using the second user-selectable option of the user interface, to send the communication to the other distributed device using the second communication server, directs the communication to the second communication server to have a message added thereto with the communication and the added message being directed to the second distributed device,

whereby when the user selects to send the communication to the other distributed device using the first communication server, a message is not added to the communication.

9. The distributed device of claim 8, wherein the user interface is arranged to present the user with two keys or menu options to enable the user to select whether to send the communication to the other distributed device using the first communication server or the second communication server, the two keys or menu options constituting the first and second user-selectable options.

10. The distributed device of claim 8, wherein a first telephone number is assigned to access the first communication server and a second telephone number is assigned to access the second communication server, the processor being arranged such that:

when the user selects to send the communication using the first communication server, the first telephone number is dialed; and

when the user selects to send the communication using the second communication server, the second telephone number is dialed.

11. The distributed device of claim 10, further comprising a memory component in which the first and second telephone numbers are stored.

12. The distributed device of claim 8, wherein the processor is arranged to generate the communication to comprise a header including sender address information, receiver address information, and message content which includes user identification that enables the second communication server to determine whether the user is registered to use the second communication server to send communications.

13. The distributed device of claim 8, wherein the processor is arranged to generate the communication to comprise a header including sender address information, receiver address information, and message content which includes a user inserted code that enables the second communication server to determine which of a plurality of messages to add to the communication.

14. A communication server of a communication processing structure for processing digital communication traffic in a network, the communication server including a processor and a computer program embodied on computer-readable medium that are arranged to:

receive a communication from a first distributed device that is configured to enable a user thereof to insert a code relating to a message to be added to the communication that is directed to a second distributed device, the communication received by the communication server including the code when inserted by the user;

determine whether conditions are present to allow a message to be added to the communication, the step of determining whether the conditions are present including determining whether the user inserted code is present in the communication from the first distributed device;

when the conditions are determined to be present, selecting one of a plurality of different messages to add to the communication based on the user inserted code and adding the selected message to the communication; and

then

directing the communication with the added message to the second distributed device.

15. The communication server of claim 14, wherein one of the conditions is whether the user of the first distributed device is a registered user of the communication server.

16. The communication server of claim 15, wherein the communication received by the communication server includes user identification, the processor and computer-readable medium being further arranged to determine, based on the user information in the communication, whether the user of the first distributed device is registered to use the communication server to send communications to the second distributed device and if not, cease further processing of the communication.

17. The communication server of claim 14, wherein one of the conditions is whether the user of the first distributed device has sufficient credit in an account to deliver the communication to the second distributed device.

18. The communication server of claim 17, wherein the processor and computer-readable medium are further arranged to determine whether the account has sufficient credit to enable delivery of the communication to the second distributed device and if not, cease further processing of the communication.

19. The communication server of claim 17, wherein a plurality of messages that can be added to the communication are stored in a storage component, the processor and computer-readable medium are further arranged to select the message to add to the communication from the storage component based on at least one of a type of credit in the account, data about the user of the first distributed device, data about a user of the second distributed device, a time at which the communication is being sent, a location of the first distributed device and a location of the second distributed device.

20. The communication server of claim 14, wherein a plurality of messages that can be added to the communication are stored in a storage component, the processor and computer-readable medium are further arranged to select the message to add to the communication based on at least one of data about the user of the first distributed device, data about a user of the second distributed device, a time at which the communication is being sent, a location of the first distributed device and a location of the second distributed device.

21. The communication server of claim 14, wherein the processor and computer-readable medium are further arranged to determine whether the communication has available space for the message to be added thereto and if not, couple an additional communication including the message to the communication and direct both the communication and additional communication to the second distributed device.

22. The communication server of claim 14, wherein the processor and computer-readable medium are further arranged to maintain an account for the user of the first distributed device and adjust a balance of the account whenever the user selects to send the communication to the second distributed device using the communication server.

23. A method for processing digital communication traffic in a network, comprising:

receiving, at a communication server, a communication from a first distributed device that is configured to enable a user thereof to insert a code relating to a message to be added to a communication being directed to a second distributed device, the communication received by the communication server including the code when inserted by the user;

determining, at the communication server, whether conditions are present to allow a message to be added to the communication, the step of determining whether the conditions are present including determining whether the user inserted code is present in the communication from the first distributed device;

when the conditions are determined to be present, selecting one of a plurality of different messages to add to the communication based on the user inserted code and adding the selected message to the communication; and

then

directing, via a telecommunications network, the communication with the added message to the second distributed device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of determining, whether conditions are present to allow a message to be added to the communication comprises determining whether the user of the first distributed device is a registered user of the communication server.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

determining, based on user information in the received communication, whether the user of the first distributed device is registered to use the communication server to send communications to the second distributed device; and

ceasing further processing of the communication if the user of the first distributed device is not registered to send communications to the second distributed device.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of determining, whether conditions are present to allow a message to be added to the communication comprises determining whether the user of the first distributed device has sufficient credit in an account to deliver the communication to the second distributed device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising ceasing further processing of the communication if the user of the first distributed device does not have sufficient credit in the account to enable delivery of the communication to the second distributed device.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

storing a plurality of messages that can be added to the communication in a storage component; and

selecting, at the communication server, one of the plurality of stored messages to add to the communication based on at least one of a type of credit in the account, data about the user of the first distributed device, data about a user of the second distributed device, a time at which the communication is being sent, a location of the first distributed device and a location of the second distributed device.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

storing a plurality of messages that can be added to the communication in a storage component; and

selecting, at the communication server, one of the plurality of stored messages to add to the communication based on at least one of data about the user of the first distributed device, data about a user of the second distributed device, a time at which the communication is being sent, a location of the first distributed device and a location of the second distributed device.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

determining, at the communication server, whether the communication has available space for the message to be added thereto; and

if not,

coupling an additional communication including the message to the communication and directing both the communication and additional communication to the second distributed device.

31. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

maintaining, in a storage component, an account for the user of the first distributed device; and

adjusting a balance of the account whenever the communication from the first distributed device to the second distributed device uses the communication server.

32. A communication processing structure for processing digital communication traffic in a network, comprising:

a first communication server;

a second communication server; and

a plurality of distributed devices of users designed for communication with the first and second communication servers,

a first one of the distributed devices comprising;

a user interface that enables a user of the distributed device to select whether to send a communication to a second one of the distributed devices using the first communication server or the second communication server, the user interface having a plurality of user-selectable options for sending the communication to the second distributed device, a first one of the user-selectable options relating to sending of a communication without an added message and a second one of the user-selectable options relating to sending of a communication with an added message, the first user-selectable option being associated with an indication of use of the first communications server and the second user-selectable option being associated with an indication of use of the second communications server, and

a processor that;

when the user selects, using the first user-selectable option of the user interface, to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first communication server, directs the communication to the second distributed device through the first communication server; and

when the user selects, using the second user-selectable option of the user interface, to send the communication to the second distributed device using the second communication server, directs the communication to the second communication server,

the first communication server being arranged to forward the communication it receives from the first distributed device to the second distributed device without adding a message to the communication;

the second communication server being arranged to process the communication it receives from the first distributed device in order to add a message to the communication with the communication and added message then being directed to the second distributed device.

33. The communication processing structure of claim 32, wherein the user interface of the first distributed device is arranged to present the user with two keys or menu options to enable the user to select whether to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first communication server or the second communication server, the two keys or menu options constituting the first and second user-selectable options.

34. The communication processing structure of claim 32, wherein the second communication server is arranged to maintain an account for the user of the first distributed device and adjust a balance of the account whenever the user selects to send the communication to the second distributed device using the second communication server.

35. The communication processing structure of claim 32, wherein a first telephone number is assigned to access the first communication server and a second telephone number is assigned to access the second communication server, the first distributed device being arranged such that when the user selects to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first communication server, the first distributed device dials the first telephone number and when the user selects to send the communication to the second distributed device using the second communication server, the first distributed device dials the second telephone number.

36. The communication processing structure of claim 35, wherein the first distributed device includes a memory component in which the first and second telephone numbers are stored.

37. The communication processing structure of claim 32, wherein the processor is arranged to generate the communication to comprise a header including sender address information, receiver address information, and message content which includes user identification, the second communication server being arranged to determine, based on the user information in the communication, whether the user of the first distributed device is registered to use the second communication server to send communications to the second distributed device and if not, cease further processing of the communication.

38. The communication processing structure of claim 32, wherein the second communication server is arranged to ascertain whether an account associated with the user of the first distributed device has sufficient credit to enable delivery of the communication to the second distributed device and if not, cease further processing of the communication.

39. The communication processing structure of claim 38, further comprising:

a storage component in which a plurality of messages that can be added to the communication are stored,

the second communication server being arranged to select the message to be added to the communication based on at least one of a type of credit in the account, data about the user of the first distributed device, data about a user of the second distributed device, a time at which the communication is being sent, a location of the first distributed device and a location of the second distributed device.

40. The communication processing structure of claim 39, wherein the storage component is separate from the second communication server, the second communication server being arranged to access the storage component in order to receive a message stored in the storage component to be added to the communication.

41. The communication processing structure of claim 32, wherein the second communication server is arranged to determine whether the communication has available space for the message to be added thereto and if not, couple an additional communication including the message to the communication and direct both the communication and additional communication to the second distributed device.

42. The communication processing structure of claim 32, further comprising:

a storage component in which a plurality of messages that can be added to the communication are stored,

the second communication server being arranged to select the message to the communication to add based on at least one of data about the user of the first distributed device, data about a user of the second distributed device, a time at which the communication is being sent, a location of the first distributed device and a location of the second distributed device.

43. The communication processing structure of claim 42, wherein the storage component is separate from the second communication server, the second communication server being arranged to access the storage component in order to receive a message stored in the storage component to add to the communication.

44. The communication processing structure of claim 32, further comprising:

a storage component in which a plurality of messages that can be added to the communication are stored,

the second communication server being arranged to select the message to add to the communication based on a code inserted by the first distributed device.

45. The communication processing structure of claim 44, wherein the storage component is separate from the second communication server, the second communication server being arranged to access the storage component in order to receive a message stored in the storage component to add to the communication.

46. A method for processing digital communication traffic in a network comprising a central communication processing structure including a first communication server, a second communication server and a plurality of distributed devices of users designed for communication with the central communication processing structure, the method comprising:

configuring a user interface of a first one of the distributed devices to have a plurality of user-selectable options for sending a communication to a second one of the distributed devices, a first one of the user-selectable options relating to sending of a communication without an added message and a second one of the user-selectable options relating to sending of a communication with an added message;

enabling a user of the first one of the distributed devices to select, using the user interface of the first distributed device, whether to send the communication to the second one of the distributed devices using the first communication server or the second communication server, the step of enabling the user to select whether to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first or second communications server comprising associating the first user-selectable option with an indication of use of the first communications server and associating the second user-selectable option with an indication of use of the second communications server;

when the user selects the first user-selectable option and thus to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first communication server, directing the communication from the first distributed device to the second distributed devices through the first communication server; and

when the user selects the second user-selectable option and thus to send the communication to the second distributed device using the second communication server, directing the communication from the first distributed device to the second distributed device through the second communication server while adding a message to the communication such that the communication and added message are delivered to the second distributed device,

whereby when the user selects to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first communication server, a message is not added to the communication.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of directing the communication from the first distributed device to the second distributed device through the second communication server while adding a message to the communication comprises:

directing the communication from the first distributed device to the second communication server,

adding a message at the second communication server to the communication from the first distributed device being sent to the second distributed device, and then

directing the communication with the added message from the second communication server to the second distributed device.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of configuring the user interface comprises arranging the user interface of the first distributed device to present the user with two keys or menu options to enable the user to select whether to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first communication server or the second communication server, the two keys or menu options constituting the first and second user-selectable options.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

maintaining an account for the user of the first distributed device; and

adjusting a balance of the account whenever the user selects to send the communication to the second distributed device using the second communication server.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

assigning a first telephone number to access the first communication server;

assigning a second telephone number to access the second communication server;

when the user selects to send the communication to the second distributed device using the first communication server, causing the first distributed device to dial the first telephone number such that the communication from the first distributed device to the second distributed devices uses the first communication server; and

when the user selects to send the communication to the second distributed device using the second communication server, causing the first distributed device to dial the second telephone number such that the communication from the first distributed device to the second distributed devices uses the second communication server.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising programming the first and second telephone numbers into a memory component of the first distributed device.

52. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

generating the communication at the first distributed device to comprise a header including sender address information, receiver address information, and message content which includes user identification; and

determining at the second communication server, based on the user identification, whether the user of the first distributed device is registered to use the second communication server to send communications to the second distributed device and if not, ceasing further processing of the communication.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein when the user of the first distributed device is determined to be registered to use the second communication server to send communications to the second distributed device, determining whether an account associated with the user of the first distributed device has sufficient credit to enable delivery of the communication to the second distributed device and if not, ceasing further processing of the communication.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein when the user of the first distributed device is determined to be registered to use the second communication server to send communications to the second distributed device and determine to have sufficient credit in the account to enable delivery of the communication to the second distributed device, determining whether the communication has available space for the message to be added thereto and if not, the step of adding a message to the communication comprising coupling an additional communication including the message to the communication and directing both the communication and additional communication to the second distributed device.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein when the user of the first distributed device is determined to be registered to use the second communication server to send communications to the second distributed device and determine to have sufficient credit in the account to enable delivery of the communication to the second distributed device, determining whether the communication has available space for the message to be added thereto and only if so, adding the message to the communication.

56. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

storing a plurality of messages that can be added to the communication in a storage component; and

selecting, using a processor, the message to add to the communication based on at least one of a type of credit in the account, data about the user of the first distributed device, data about a user of the second distributed device, a time at which the communication is being sent, a location of the first distributed device and a location of the second distributed device.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the storage component is separate from the second communication server, further comprising directing the second communication server to access the storage component in order to receive a message stored in the storage component to add to the communication.

58. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

storing a plurality of messages that can be added to the communication in a storage component; and

selecting, using a processor, the message to add to the communication based on at least one of data about the user of the first distributed device, data about a user of the second distributed device, a time at which the communication is being sent, a location of the first distributed device and a location of the second distributed device.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the storage component is separate from the second communication server, further comprising directing the second communication server to access the storage component in order to receive a message stored in the storage component to add to the communication.

60. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

storing a plurality of messages that can be added to the communication in a storage component; and

selecting, using a processor, the message to add to the communication based on a code inserted by the first distributed device.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the storage component is separate from the second communication server, further comprising directing the second communication server to access the storage component in order to receive a message stored in the storage component to add to the communication.