Method and system providing a messaging service

• US 8,176,184 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Staack, Jens, Koskelainen, Petri
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US12/153,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 709203-207, 709223-224
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]

Abstract

The invention is directed to a instant messaging method and communication system comprising one or more network elements, wherein a connection from one to another network element can be established using a protocol which allows the sending of one or more messages from the one to the another network element as part of one or more protocol words. The protocol includes a protocol portion allowing a network element to specify whether or not the message is to be stored in case it cannot be promptly delivered to the another network element. The protocol portion preferably is part of the protocol header. The protocol may be a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and the message can be contained in an Invite request sent from the sending equipment to the receiving equipment.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing at least one parameter defining a temporary storage of at least one instant message for delivery to a terminal, wherein the temporary storage is specified by including an address of a storage location with the instant message,

receiving parameter setting information from the terminal,

setting or updating, via at least one processor, the at least one parameter depending on the parameter setting information,

receiving an instant message addressed to the terminal,

checking, via the at least one processor, if a user of the terminal is reachable, and

if the user of the terminal is determined to not be reachable, treating the received instant message according to the at least one parameter, and

initiating transmittal of a delivery report indicating successful delivery of the received instant message if the delivery of the received instant message to the terminal is successful.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the temporary storage includes one of storing, non-storing, or store-and-forwarding of the at least one instant message for the terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter setting information defines a setting of a store and forward field in a server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter setting information indicates at least one type of acceptable instant messages.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the instant message by a session initiation protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to determining that the user of the terminal is not reachable, detecting when the user of the terminal becomes reachable.

7. The method of claim 6, where detecting comprises detecting if another message is received that signals a present state or condition of the terminal.

8. The method of claim 6, where in response to detecting that the user of the terminal becomes reachable, sending the received instant message to the terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, where if the user of the terminal is determined to not be reachable, forwarding the received instant message to a destination other than the terminal.

10. The method of claim 1, where the at least one parameter specifies to forward the received instant message if the user of the terminal is determined to not be reachable.

11. The method of claim 10, where at least a part of the received instant message is forwarded to one of a server that periodically attempts to send the received instant message to the user of the terminal, or to an electronic mail address of the user of the terminal, or to a multimedia messaging service server, or to a short message service center.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery report is delivered via the same protocol used to deliver the received instant message.

13. A method, comprising:

initiating, via at least one processor, to send parameter setting information, and then sending the parameter setting information, for setting or updating at least one parameter of a server, the at least one parameter defining a treatment of at least one instant message, the treatment comprising a temporary storage of the at least one instant message, for delivery to a terminal, and wherein the temporary storage is specified by including an address of a storage location with the instant message,

receiving at least one instant message from the server, where

the at least one parameter defines the treatment to be applied when a user of the terminal to which the received instant message is addressed is determined to not be reachable to receive the at least one instant message, and

initiating to send a delivery report indicating successful delivery of the received instant message if the delivery of the received instant message to the terminal is successful.

14. The method of claim 13, where the at least one parameter defines storing, non-storing, or store-and-forwarding of the at least one instant message.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising sending a message to signal to the server a present state or condition of the terminal and to indicate that the terminal is reachable, thereby causing the receiving of the at least one instant message.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein in response to the user of the terminal not being reachable, further comprising receiving at least a part of the received instant message that is forwarded from one of a server that periodically attempts to send the received instant message to the user of the terminal, or from an electronic mail server, or from a multimedia messaging service server, or from a short message service center.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of initiating to send a second instant message, and

receiving a delivery report indicating whether the delivery of the second instant message was successful.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores software executable by the processor, where execution of the software by the processor causes the apparatus to

receive at least one instant message,

send parameter setting information for setting or updating at least one parameter in a server, the at least one parameter defining a treatment of instant messages for the apparatus, the treatment comprising a temporary storage of the at least one instant message, for delivery to a terminal, and wherein the temporary storage is specified by including an address of a storage location with the instant message, where

the at least one parameter defining the treatment to be applied when a user of a terminal to which the instant message is addressed is determined to not be reachable to receive the at least one instant message, wherein the at least one parameter defines that the instant message is temporarily stored until the user becomes reachable,

indicate when the user becomes reachable, and

receive the stored instant message upon indication that the user has become reachable.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the temporary storage includes one of storing, non-storing, or store-and-forwarding of at least one instant message.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the parameter setting information indicates one or more types of acceptable instant messages.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores software executable by the processor, where execution of the software by the processor causes the apparatus to

determine to receive, from a terminal, parameter setting information for setting or updating at least one parameter in the apparatus, the at least one parameter defining a treatment of instant messages for the terminal, the treatment comprising a temporary storage of the instant messages, for delivery to the terminal, and wherein the temporary storage is specified by including an address of a storage location with the instant messages,

determine to receive an instant message addressed for delivery to the terminal,

determine to check if a user of the terminal is reachable, and

if the user of the terminal is determined to not be reachable, treating the received instant message according to the at least one parameter, and

determine to send a delivery report indicating successful delivery of the received instant message if the delivery of the instant message to the terminal is successful.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one parameter defines storing, non-storing, or store-and-forwarding of instant messages for the terminal.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the parameter setting information indicates one or more types of acceptable instant messages.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the apparatus is configured to send or receive at least one instant message using a session initiation protocol.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on a computer, perform a process, the process comprising:

storing at least one parameter defining a treatment of at least one instant message for a terminal, a temporary storage of the at least one instant message, for delivery to a terminal, and wherein the temporary storage is specified by including an address of a storage location with the instant message,

receiving parameter setting information from the terminal,

setting or updating the at least one parameter depending on the parameter setting information,

receiving an instant message addressed for delivery to the terminal,

checking if a user of the terminal is reachable, and

if the user of the terminal is determined to not be reachable, treating the received instant message according to the at least one parameter, and

initiating to send a delivery report indicating successful delivery of the received instant message if the delivery of the received instant message to the terminal is successful.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, the parameter defines storing, non-storing, or store-and-forwarding of the at least one instant message for the terminal.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the parameter setting information defines a setting of a store and forward field in a server.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the parameter setting information indicates one or more types of acceptable instant messages.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, the process further comprising:

sending the instant message by a session initiation protocol.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on a computer, perform a process, the process comprising:

sending parameter setting information for setting or updating at least one parameter of a server, the at least one parameter defining a treatment of at least one instant message, the treatment comprising a temporary storage of the at least one instant message, for delivery to a terminal, and wherein the temporary storage is specified by including an address of a storage location with the message,

receiving at least one instant message from the server, where

the at least one parameter defines the treatment to be applied when a user of the terminal to which the received instant message is addressed for delivery is determined to not be reachable to receive the at least one instant message, and

initiating to send a delivery report indicating successful delivery of the received instant message if the delivery of the received instant message to the terminal is successful.