Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
`US007428580B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Hullfish et al.
`
`(io) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`L S 7,428,580 B2
`*Sep. 23,2008
`
`(54) ELECTRONIC MESSAGE FORWARDING
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(75) Inventors: Keith C. Hullflsh, Snohomish, WA
`(US); Charles A. Carey, Kirkland, WA
`(US); Michael R. Longe, Seattle, WA
`(US); Joe Parr, Redmond, WA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: AOL LLC, Dulles, VA (US)
`
`( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 369 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis­
`claimer.
`
`(21)
`
`.: 10/723,040
`Appl.No
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Nov. 26, 2003
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2005/0114533 Al May 26, 2005
`
`EP
`
`1104964
`
`6/2001
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Ellen Isaacs, Alan Walendowski, Dipti Ranganathan Communica­
`tions of the ACM vol. 45, No. 9 (Sep. 2002), pp. 68-72 *
`
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner—Jason Cardone
`Assistant Examiner—Aj ay Bhatia
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Michael A. Glenn; Glenn
`Patent Group
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The invention provides a method of transmitting electronic
`messages in a computer environment. The preferred embodi­
`ment receives an electronic message addressed to a telephone
`number and determines an instant message identifier associ­
`ated with the telephone number. In response to the determi­
`nation that an instant message identifier associates with the
`telephone number, it is further determined whether an instant
`message receiver is available to receive messages addressed
`to the instant message identifier. In response to a determina­
`tion that an instant message receiver is available to receive
`instant messages addressed to the instant message identifier,
`the electronic message is forwarded äs an instant message
`addressed to the instant message identifier. In response to a
`determination that an instant message receiver is available to
`receive instant message addressed to the instant message
`identifier, electronic message is sent to a mobile device at the
`telephone number in response to a determination that no
`instant message receiver is available to receive instant mes­
`sages addressed to the instant message identifier.
`
`(56)
`
`(51) Int.Cl.
`G06F15/16
`(52) U.S. CI
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`
`(2006.01)
`
` 709/207; 455/466
` 709/205 206,
`709/207; 455/466
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
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`(Continued)
`
`59 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1009
`Page 1
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`

`

`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`US 7,428,580 B2
`Page 2
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`* cited by examiner
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 23, 2008
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
`
`US 7,428,580 B2
`
`ORIGINATOR
`
`RECIPIENT
`
`FIG. 1A
`(Prior Art)
`
`FIG. 1B
`(Prior Art)
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 23, 2008
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`Sheet 2 of 8
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`US 7,428,580 B2
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 23, 2008
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`Sheet 3 of 8
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`US 7,428,580 B2
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 23, 2008
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
`
`US 7,428,580 B2
`
`FIG. 4
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 23, 2008
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`US 7,428,580 B2
`
`FIG. 5
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 23, 2008
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`US 7,428,580 B2
`
`FIG. 6
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 23, 2008
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`US 7,428,580 B2
`
`FIG. 7
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 23, 2008
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`US 7,428,580 B2
`
`802
`
`804
`
`806
`
`808
`
`FIG. 8
`
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`

`

`1
`ELECTRONIC MESSAGE FORWARDING
`
`US 7,428,580 B2
`
`2
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Technical Field
`Hie invention relates to electronic messaging systems in a
`computer environment. More particularly, the invention
`relates to the delivery of an electronic message addressed to a
`telephone number.
`2. Description of Prior Art
`Hie information age has brought various communication
`tools into every day life. In addition to the traditional tele­
`phone and facsimile services, wireless communication sys­
`tems and electronic messaging systems are popular methods
`that offer convenience and advantages that the traditional
`communication devices do not provide. For example, wire­
`less communication systems allow a mobile phone user to be
`reached on his mobile phone in any places within the geo­
`graphical area where the wireless telephone services are
`offered. Electronic messaging systems allow a user to access
`electronic messages received from the Internet via a computer
`terminal where he has access to the Internet.
`Much effort has been made to enable electronic message
`delivery and communication across different communication
`systems, for example, between wireless communication sys­
`tems and electronic messaging systems via the Internet or
`between the electronic messaging systems and facsimile ser­
`vices. A unified messaging system attempts to provide a uni­
`versal message sending and delivery system that allows
`interoperability among the three typical message types, that
`is, voice mail, facsimile message, and electronic messaging
`Using the unified messaging system, a user can retrieve all
`three types of messages via a single point of access. For
`example, a user can access all three types of messages via an
`electronic message system at a computer terminal or via a
`telephone system with a telephone number.
`Hie Short Message Services (SMS) is a type of electronic
`messaging system that allows a mobile phone user to send
`from one mobile phone a small text message addressed to a
`telephone number for reception at another mobile phone.
`Further, a user may send an SMS message to a mobile phone
`at a telephone number through the Web site of the wireless
`service provider using a Web browser. Also, a user may send
`an SMS message to a mobile phone at a telephone number
`using an Instant Messaging software, like AOL Instant Mes­
`senger. The recipient may also be enable to reply from the
`mobile device using various mechanisms, like using special
`short codes that route messages to a Screen Name on the
`Instant Messaging service, like AOL Instant Messenger. An
`SMS message addressed to a telephone number is typically
`stored in a central short message center which forwards it to
`the mobile phone at the telephone number when it is available
`for communication with the central short message center.
`Hie Instant Message Services (IMS) are a real-time com­
`munication process that allows users to exchange instant mes­
`sages via a user interface over a communication network.
`Instant messages are typically exchanged when the commu­
`nication channel between the source and destination devices
`are established for real-time communication.
`However, interoperability between the SMS and the IMS
`has yet to be achieved. It would be advantageous to provide an
`electronic message delivery system that bridges both worlds
`of the SMS and the IMS.
`
`The invention provides processes and systems for forward­
`ing electronic messages addressed to telephone numbers in a
`computer environment.
`In one embodiment of the invention, a method of transmit­
`ting electronic messages in a computer environment includes:
`receiving an electronic message addressed to a telephone
`number; determining an instant message identifier associated
`with the telephone number; determining an instant message
`receiver is available to receive messages addressed to the
`instant message identifier; forwarding the electronic message
`as an instant message addressed to the instant message iden­
`tifier in response to a determination that an instant message
`receiver is available to receive instant messages addressed to
`the instant message identifier; maintain the identity of the
`telephone number in the message and for any subsequent
`responses; and sending the electronic message to a mobile
`device at the telephone number in response to a determination
`that no instant message receiver is available to receive instant
`messages addressed to the instant message identifier.
`In one example, the electronic message includes one of a
`text message, an SMS text message, an Multimedia Messag­
`ing Services (MMS) message, a video message and an audio
`message; and the instant message is received at an electronic
`device configured to receive instant messages addressed to
`the instant message identifier. For example, the electronic
`device may be one of: a computer, a personal data assistant
`(PDA) and a telephone receiver. In one example, the instant
`message identifier associated with the telephone number is
`determined through searching in a database. In one example,
`whether or not to forward the electronic message as an email
`message addressed to an email address is determined accord­
`ing to a user preference Stored in a database. In another
`example, whether or not to forward the electronic message as
`an instant message addressed to the instant message identifier
`is determined according to a user preference stored in a data­
`base. In one example, the determination of whether or not to
`forward is further based on source information of the elec­
`tronic message, such as: a source address of the electronic
`message, a user name of a sender of the electronic message, a
`telephone number of a sender of the electronic message, or an
`instant message identifier of a sender of the electronic mes­
`sage. In one example, the instant message is generated from
`the electronic message based on one or more predetermined
`rules. For example, the one or more predetermined rules may
`select one or more portions of the electronic message as the
`instant message and may selectively delete one or more por­
`tions of the electronic message to generate the instant mes­
`sage.
`In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for trans­
`mitting electronic messages in a computer environment
`includes: a module for receiving an electronic message
`addressed to a telephone number; a module for determining
`an instant message identifier associated with the telephone
`number; a module for determining whether an instant mes­
`sage receiver is available to receive messages addressed to the
`instant message identifier; a module for forwarding the elec­
`tronic message as an instant message addressed to the equiva­
`lent instant message identifier in response to a determination
`that an instant message receiver is available to receive instant
`messages addressed to the instant message identifier; and a
`module for sending the electronic message to a mobile device
`at the telephone number in response to a determination that no
`instant message receiver is available to receive instant mes­
`sages addressed to the instant message identifier.
`
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`US 7,428,580 B2
`
`3
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1A is a block schematic diagram showing a system
`that forwards an SMS message to the intended recipient’s
`communication devices according to prior art;
`FIG. IB is a block diagram showing a method of forward­
`ing an SMS message to the intended recipient according to
`prior art;
`FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram showing a system for
`forwarding an SMS message to the destination devices
`according to one embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a method of forwarding
`the SMS text message according to one embodiment of the
`invention;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a method of selectively
`forwarding electronic messages based on user preferences
`according to one embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a method of receiving
`the SMS text message with a privacy feature according to one
`embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a method of selective
`forwarding SMS text messages according to one embodiment
`of the invention;
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a method of forwarding
`SMS text messages according to one embodiment of the
`invention; and
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a method of forwarding
`SMS messages according to one embodiment of the inven­
`tion.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`Tire invention is embodied in an electronic message for­
`warding system in a computer environment. The invention
`provides methods and apparati for forwarding electronic
`messages addressed to telephone numbers as instant mes­
`sages for the instant message identifiers associated with the
`corresponding telephone numbers.
`In one embodiment of the invention, after an electronic
`message addressed to a telephone number is received for
`forwarding, an instant message identifier associated with the
`telephone number is determined. Then, it is determined
`whether an instant message receiver is available to receive
`messages addressed to the instant message identifier. The
`electronic message is forwarded as an instant message
`addressed to the instant message identifier in response to a
`determination that an instant message receiver is available to
`receive instant messages addressed to the instant message
`identifier. The identity of the telephone number in the mes­
`sage and for any subsequent responses is maintained. In
`response to a determination that no instant message receiver
`is available to receive instant messages addressed to the
`instant message identifier, the electronic message is for­
`warded to a mobile device at the telephone number.
`In one embodiment, the electronic message is not for­
`warded to a mobile device at the telephone number when the
`electronic message is forwarded as an instant message
`addressed to the instant message identifier, e.g. according to a
`user preference stored in the database associated with the
`telephone number.
`Alternatively, the electronic message may be forwarded to
`a mobile device at the telephone number regardless of
`whether there is an instant message receiver available to
`receive instant messages addressed to the instant message
`identifier, e.g. according to a user preference stored in the
`database associated with the telephone number.
`
`4
`In one embodiment, the electronic message is forwarded as
`the instant message regardless whether there is an instant
`message receiver available to receive instant messages
`addressed to the instant message identifier, e.g. according to a
`user preference stored in the database associated with the
`instance message identifier or the telephone number.
`FIG. 1A is a block schematic diagram showing a system
`that forwards an SMS message to the intended recipient’s
`communication devices according to prior art. Refering now
`to FIG. 1A, an SMS message originator instructs a mobile
`phone 102 to send the SMS text message to the recipient’s
`mobile phone 106 by using the destination SMS message
`address associated with the recipient’s mobile phone number
`106. The SMS message is received by an SMS server 104. The
`SMS server 104 further transmits the SMS message to the
`recipient’s mobile phone 106 according to the telephone
`number designated as the destination address of the SMS
`message. The recipient receives the SMS message on the
`mobile phone 106.
`FIG. IB is a block diagram showing a method of forward­
`ing an SMS message to the intended recipient according to
`prior art. Referring now to FIG. IB, an SMS message origi­
`nator specifies the telephone number to which the SMS mes­
`sage is addressed 112. The SMS message originating mobile
`phone sends the SMS message to a SMS server 114. The SMS
`server stores the SMS message 116 and further forwards the
`SMS message according to the destination mobile telephone
`number of the SMS message 118 when the mobile phone is in
`communication with the SMS server.
`FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram showing a system for
`forwarding an SMS message to the destination device accord­
`ing to one embodiment of the invention. Referring now to
`FIG. 2, one embodiment of the invention provides a system
`for forwarding an SMS message to destination devices
`depending on the real-time presence of the intended recipient.
`The system according to one embodiment of the invention
`includes an SMS text message originator 202, an SMS server
`204 that includes a routing logic 206, a dynamic message
`control server 208, an IM server 210, and one or more desti­
`nationdevices 212,214,216. One embodiment includes addi­
`tional media storage 218.
`The SMS text message originator (“originator”) 202 gen­
`erates an SMS text message addressed to a telephone number
`of the recipient mobile devices 212, 214 or an email address
`of a desktop computer 216. The SMS text message originator
`202 can be any SMS generating devices, e.g. an SMS-enabled
`mobile device, a web-browser or an IM client, that allow to
`generate and send the SMS text message addressed to the
`telephone number or the email address.
`In one embodiment, after the SMS message sender
`instructs the originator 202 to send an SMS message to a
`destination device 212, 214 or 216, the SMS server 204
`receives the SMS text message. The SMS server 204 then
`forwards it to the dynamic message control server 208.
`The dynamic message control server 208 makes decisions
`with regard to various actions that can be taken with the SMS
`text message, such as whetherto forward the SMS message as
`an instant message, or whether or not to forward the SMS
`message in its original content. The details of these actions are
`described below in FIG. 3.
`If the dynamic message control server 208 decides that the
`SMS message should be forwarded as an instant message, the
`dynamic message control server 208 forwards the SMS mes­
`sage to the IM server 210 to be transmitted further as an
`instant message. The IM server 210 then forwards the SMS
`message as an instant message to one or more instant message
`receivers 214, 216 for the instant message identifier. In one
`
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`US 7,428,580 B2
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`5
`embodiment, the destination device is an IM-enabled mobile
`device 214 displaying the IM interface. Alternatively, the
`destination device 216 is a computer terminal displaying an
`IM interface.
`If the dynamic message control server 208 decides that the
`SMS message should be forwarded as an SMS message
`through the SMS server 204, the routing logic 206 then for­
`wards the SMS message to the mobile phone number with the
`addressed telephone number. Alternatively, the dynamic mes­
`sage control server 208 may be implemented inside or with
`the routing logic 206 in the SMS server 204, or inside the IM
`server 210, or partially in the SMS server 204 and partially in
`the IM server 210.
`In one embodiment, the destination device is an SMS-
`enabled mobile device 214. It is understood that different
`devices may be used to receive different types of electronic
`messages. For example, the mobile device 214 may be used to
`receive the SMS messages. The computer terminal 216 may
`be used to receive the IM messages. The mobile device 214
`may also be used to receive the IM messages if IMS-enabled.
`In this way, the SMS text message is routed to the destina­
`tion devices 214, 216 according to the routing path deter­
`mined by the IM Server 210. The dynamic message control
`server 208 maintains a database containing the information to
`map the telephone numbers for the SMS message to corre­
`sponding instant message identifiers and user preferences.
`The user preferences and the mapping between the telephone
`numbers and the IM identifiers are used by the dynamic
`message control server 208 to route the SMS messages
`according to the embodiments of the invention.
`In another embodiment, media storage 218 are provided to
`store various messages, For example, an SMS text message
`can be forwarded not only to an IM server 210, but also the
`media storage 218. A message containing a picture can be
`forwarded to an online journal or an online album. In addi­
`tion, user preferences could be applied so that only messages
`originating from a registered phone number would be able to
`be forwarded to the medial storage 218. Alternatively, user
`preferences could also be applied to allow messages from any
`originating phone number to be forwarded to the media stor­
`age 218.
`In addition, the media storage 218 provides storage when
`messages could not be forwarded to the phone number for the
`destination mobile device. For instance, when the destination
`mobile device is not capable of receiving the message or parts
`of the message, the whole message and/or its parts could be
`forwarded for storage.
`It is understood that any type of electronic messages
`addressed to a telephone, such as a text message, an SMS
`short text message, an Multimedia Messaging Services
`(MMS) message, a video message, a graphic message and an
`audio message, can be routed according to embodiments of
`the invention.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a method of forwarding
`the SMS text message according to one embodiment of the
`invention. Referring now to FIG. 3, the invention provides a
`method of forwarding an SMS text message addressed to a
`telephone number at either a mobile device in the SMS text
`message format or one or more IM message receivers dis­
`playing an IM message interface, depending upon whether
`there is an IM message receiver available to receive IM mes­
`sages.
`In one embodiment of the invention, the SMS text message
`recipient subscribes to both the SMS service and the IM
`service. At the time of the registration of the services, the
`recipient receives an SMS address, or has one already
`assigned, which is typically the telephone number of the
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`mobile device number for the SMS service. For example, an
`SMS text message recipient Jane Smith is assigned an SMS
`text message address 650.555.1212, which is her mobile tele­
`phone number. A user of a mobile phone may send an SMS
`text message to the mobile phone of Jane Smith by specifying
`the phone number 650.555.1212 as the destination address.
`An email address, such as 651)5551212@servicepr<)vider-
`.com, may also be used for sending a text message from an
`email client program to the SMS center of the service pro­
`vider for delivery as the SMS text message to the mobile
`device at the address of 650.555.1212.
`Meanwhile, she registers a screen name representing her
`identity in an IM service system, e.g. JaneSmithl. When
`setting up her user profile, she associates her screen name of
`her IM service with the mobile device number of her SMS
`services. Thus, for example, the user profile database of the
`dynamic message control server associates the screen name
`“JaneSmithl” with the mobile device number 650.555.1212.
`The user profile database may also associate her screen
`name with other profile information regarding the recipient,
`such as preferences of Jane Smith in routing SMS messages
`as instant messages. For example, she may specify user pref­
`erence information that directs the determination process in
`forwarding SMS text messages äs IM messages and user
`preference information for applying filters to forwarded mes­
`sages. For example, the filters may include a SPAM filter, a
`rate-limiting filter, do-not-message list filters or even do-not-
`call list filters.
`In one embodiment, the SMS text message sender instructs
`the SMS originator to send an SMS text message to a mobile
`device address that includes the mobile device number 302.
`The SMS server receives the SMS text message and forwards
`it to the dynamic message control server .304.
`Subsequently, the dynamic message control server deter­
`mines whether the recipient at the mobile device number has
`enabled the SMS forwarding feature 3046. The SMS text
`message is forwarded to the mobile device number directly
`308 if it is determined that the recipient at the mobile device
`number did not enable the SMS forwarding feature 306.
`If it is determined that the recipient at the mobile device
`number enabled the SMS forwarding feature 306, the SMS
`server proceeds to determine whether the recipient desires to
`forward the SMS message as an instant message 310 to the IM
`service address by checking against the user preference pro­
`file.
`If it is determined that the recipient does not desire to
`forward the SMS message to as an instant message 310, the
`SMS text message is forwarded to the intended mobile device
`number at the mobile phone number 308.
`If the recipient desires to forward the SMS message as an
`instant message 310, it is then determined whether an IM
`receiver is available to receive IM messages 312.
`In one embodiment of the invention, it is dynamically
`determined whether the recipient’s IM service receiver is
`available to receive an IM message 312. If it is determined
`that the recipient’s IM service receiver is not available to
`receive an IM message 312, the SMS text message is for­
`warded to the intended mobile device address as the SMS text
`message 308. However, if it is determined that the recipient’s
`IM service receiver is available to receive an IM message 312,
`the SMS text message is forwarded as an instant message to
`the recipient’s IM display interface for delivery 314. Various
`features can be implemented in forwarding the SMS message
`as the IM message. These features are discussed below in
`connection with their respective figures.
`In one embodiment, the recipent’s IM display interface is
`on a computer terminal. In another embodiment, the recipi-
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1009
`Page 13
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`US 7,428,580 B2
`
`7
`ent’s IM display interface is on a mobile device such as a PDA
`or a mobile telephone. Once the instant messaging interface is
`initiated, the information for establishing the real-time or near
`real-time communication with the IM message receiving
`device is sent to an IM server so that IM messages can be *
`delivered in real time or near real time.
`In one embodiment of the invention, the IM user can also
`respond to the sender of the SMS message, which is for­
`warded to the SMS user as an SMS message, using an IM
`forwarding to the SMS service 314. For example, the server
`which forwards the SMS message to the IM receiver is aware
`of the source of the SMS message. When the IM receiver
`responds to the sender of the SMS message by an IM mes­
`sage, the server automatically converts the IM message into
`an SMS message for delivery to the sender. When this SMS
`message is delivered to device used by the SMS text message
`sender,