Processing messages based on a destination device

• US 8,755,828 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carey, Charles A., Robinson, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US13/614,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20130090138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/464, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• 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 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

A computer program product for instant message communication in a wireless and non-wireless environment. A message is sent from a mobile unit device over a wireless communication network. The message includes a destination address, information associated with the mobile unit device'"'"'s user, message content and message address. If, according to information previously stored for the mobile unit device'"'"'s user at the instant message system, the destination address is associated with an instant message function, the associated instant message function is executed at the instant message system using the information contained in the message content, if required as determined by the associated instant message function. If, according to information previously stored for the mobile unit device'"'"'s user, the destination address is associated with an instant message name, an instant message is created according to the message content and is sent to the user with the associated instant message name.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a server, an electronic message directed to a user of a communications system;

determining, using at least one processor, whether the user is logged into the communications system with a mobile device or an on-line account;

if the user is logged into the communications system with a mobile device, sending the electronic message to the mobile device using a first protocol;

if the user is logged into the communications system with an on-line account, sending the electronic message to the on-line account using a second protocol; and

if the user is not logged into the communications system, sending the electronic message to the user via a third protocol.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first protocol comprises a mobile protocol;

the second protocol comprises a web-based protocol; and

the third protocol comprises an email protocol.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the mobile protocol comprises a text message protocol.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the second protocol comprises an instant message protocol.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising sending the user'"'"'s status on the communications system to one or more co-users of the communications system.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the user'"'"'s status indicates whether the user is logged into the communications system or not.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the third protocol is an email protocol.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising storing the electronic message until receiving a confirmation that the electronic message was delivered.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising sending a failure message to a sender of the electronic message if the user is not logged into the communications system.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a phone.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform steps comprising:

receiving, at a server, an electronic message directed to a user of a communications system;

determining whether the user is logged into the communications system with a mobile device or an on-line account;

if the user is logged into the communications system with a mobile device, sending the electronic message to the mobile device using a first protocol;

if the user is logged into the communications system with an on-line account, sending the electronic message to the on-line account using a second protocol; and

if the user is not logged into the communications system, sending the electronic message to the user via a third protocol.

12. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to send the user'"'"'s status on the communications system to one or more co-users of the communications system.

13. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to log the user out of the communications system if the mobile device fails to receive the electronic message after a predetermined number of delivery attempts.

14. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the third protocol is an email protocol.

15. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to store the electronic message until receiving a confirmation that the electronic message was delivered.

16. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to send a failure message to a sender of the electronic message if the user is not logged into the communications system.

17. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the first protocol comprises a mobile-based protocol;

the second protocol comprises a web-based protocol; and

the third protocol comprises an email protocol.

18. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the mobile-based protocol comprises a text message protocol.

19. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the second protocol comprises an instant message protocol.

20. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the mobile device comprises a phone.

21. A method comprising:

receiving, at a server, an electronic message intended for a user of a communications system;

determining, using at least one processor, whether the user is logged into the communications system with a mobile device;

if the user is logged into the communications system with a mobile device sending the electronic message to an account of the communications system associated with the user; and

if the user is not logged into the communications system, sending the electronic message to an email address associated with the user.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising sending the electronic message to the mobile device.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising sending the electronic message as a text message to the mobile device.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising sending the electronic message as an instant message.

25. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

determining if the user is logged into the communications system with an on-line account; and

sending the electronic message to a server associated with the on-line account.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the mobile device comprises a device capable of using cellular communications.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular phone.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform steps comprising:

receiving, at a server, an electronic message intended for a user of a communications system;

determining, using at least one processor, whether the user is logged into the communications system with a mobile device;

if the user is logged into the communications system with a mobile device sending the electronic message to an account of the communications system associated with the user; and

if the user is not logged into the communications system, sending the electronic message to an email address associated with the user.

29. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 28, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to send the electronic message to the mobile device.

30. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to send the electronic message as a text message to the mobile device.

31. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to send the electronic message as an instant message.

32. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:

determine if the user is logged into the communications system with an on-line account; and

send the electronic message to a server associated with the on-line account.

33. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 28, wherein the mobile device comprises a device capable of using cellular communications.

34. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular phone.