Apparatus, system and method for forwarding data sent to a wireless device to another address

• US 9,485,638 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US14/077,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20150334542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 370/331, 370/338, 370/352, 370/402, 455/412.1, 455/432, 455/461, 455/417, 709/203, 709/206, 709/228, 709/245, 709/249, 379/201.01, 379/201.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

An apparatus for forwarding data sent to a wireless device having a first address to a second address. The apparatus includes a server in communication with a wireless network and an external network. The server includes a processor. The processor includes a data forwarding module for forwarding the data to the second address via the external network when the wireless device is not in communication with the wireless network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a gateway comprising a processor, from a communication device, a message comprising a primary address, an alternate address, and a time period;

creating, by the gateway, a user profile to include the primary address, the alternate address, and the time period; and

forwarding, by the gateway, in response to receiving data intended for the primary address, and in response to criteria associated with the time period being satisfied, the data to the alternate address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria is satisfied when a wireless device associated with the primary address is not in communication with a communication network at a beginning and an end of the time period.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication network is a first communication network and the alternate address is reachable by the gateway by way of a second communication network being distinct from the first communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period represents a period of time that the data intended for the primary address remains undelivered to the primary address before the data is forwarded to the alternate address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternate address of the message comprises a plurality of alternate addresses for inclusion in the user profile, and wherein forwarding, in response to receiving the data and to the criteria being satisfied, the data to the alternate address comprises forwarding the data to each of the plurality of alternate addresses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary address is associated with a wireless device and the alternate address is associated with a device other than the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria is satisfied when a wireless device associated with the primary address is not in communication with a wireless network at a beginning and an end of the time period, and wherein the data is forwarded to the alternate address via an external network being distinct from the wireless network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the communication device, information instructing the gateway to enable a data forwarding function such that any data intended for the primary address is forwarded to the alternate address if the criteria is satisfied.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the communication device, information instructing the gateway to disable a data forwarding function such that any data intended for the primary address is not forwarded to the alternate address.

10. A gateway comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a communication device, a message comprising a primary address, an alternate address, and a time period,

creating a user profile to include the primary address, the alternate address, and the time period, and

forwarding, in response to receiving data intended for the primary address, and in response to criteria associated with the time period being satisfied, the data to the alternate address.

11. The gateway of claim 10, wherein the criteria is satisfied when a wireless device associated with the primary address is not in communication with a communication network at a beginning and an end of the time period.

12. The gateway of claim 11, wherein the communication network is a first communication network and the alternate address is reachable by the gateway by way of a second communication network being distinct from the first communication network.

13. The gateway of claim 10, wherein the time period represents a period of time that the data intended for the primary address remains undelivered to the primary address before the data is forwarded to the alternate address.

14. The gateway of claim 10, wherein the alternate address of the message comprises a plurality of alternate addresses for inclusion in the user profile, and wherein forwarding, in response to receiving the data and to the criteria being satisfied, the data to the alternate address comprises forwarding the data to each of the plurality of alternate addresses.

15. The gateway of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise receiving information instructing the gateway to enable a data forwarding function such that any data intended for the primary address is forwarded to the alternate address if the criteria is satisfied.

16. A computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a gateway, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a communication device, a message comprising a primary address, an alternate address, and a time period;

creating a user profile to include the primary address, the alternate address, and the time period; and

forwarding, in response to receiving data intended for the primary address, and in response to criteria associated with the time period being satisfied, the data to the alternate address.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the criteria is satisfied when a wireless device associated with the primary address is not in communication with a communication network at a beginning and an end of the time period.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the communication network is a first communication network and the alternate address is reachable by the gateway by way of a second communication network being distinct from the first communication network.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the time period represents a period of time that the data intended for the primary address remains undelivered to the primary address before the data is forwarded to the alternate address.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the alternate address of the message comprises a plurality of alternate addresses for inclusion in the user profile, and wherein forwarding, in response to receiving the data and to the criteria being satisfied, the data to each of the plurality of alternate addresses.