`
`I 11111 11111111 III 11111 11111 RIJI111,111)!111)11 IIIIII 11110111111
`
`
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Lin
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,961,663 B2
`*Jun. 14, 2011
`
`(54)
`
`PEER-TO-PEER MOBILE INSTANT
`MESSAGING METHOD AND DEVICE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Daniel J Lin, San Francisco, CA (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: Daniel J. Lin, San Francisco, CA (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1030 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/817,994
`
`1/2003 Caloud
`2003/0013467 Al *
`4/2003 Bencze et al.
`2003/0076367 Al
`6/2003 Flowers et al.
`2003/0105812 Al *
`7/2003
`Betzler
`2003/0126213 Al
`7/2003
`Chambers et al.
`2003/0142654 Al *
`11/2003 Dorenbosch et al.
`2003/0217174 Al
`7/2004 Rogalski et al.
`2004/0132468 Al *
`8/2004 Wu et al.
`2004/0152477 Al
`2004/0171396 Al * 9/2004 Carey et al.
`2004/0249953 Al *
`12/2004
`Fernandez et al.
`2005/0005014 Al *
`1/2005
`Holmes et al.
`2005/0015495 Al
`1/2005
`Florkey et al.
`2005/0021645 Al
`1/2005
`Kulkarni et al.
`2005/0058094 Al
`3/2005
`Lazaridis et al.
`(Continued)
`
`455/466
`
`709/203
`
`370/338
`
`455/466
`
`455/466
`709/227
`709/227
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 5, 2004
`
`EP
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2005/0220134 Al
`
`Oct. 6, 2005
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1 331 786 Al
`7/2003
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`H04W 4/00
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`
`
`(2009.01)
` 370/313; 370/395.3; 455/466;
`709/206
` 455/466;
`370/313, 395.3
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,582,956 A
`4/1986
`Doughty
`6,885,871 B2 *
`4/2005
`Caloud
`6,990,352 B2
`1/2006
`Pyhalammi et al.
`7,218,921 B2
`5/2007
`Mendiola et al.
`7,236,472 B2 *
`6/2007
`Lazaridis et al.
`7,447,211 Bl * 11/2008
`Scholte
`2002/0083127 Al
`6/2002
`Agrawal
`2002/0155826 Al
`10/2002
`Robinson et al.
`2002/0165000 Al
`11/2002
`Fok
`2002/0173308 Al
`11/2002
`Dorenbosch et al.
`
` 455/466
`
` 370/328
` 370/395.21
`
`U.S. Appl. No. 60/503,366, filed Sep. 16, 2003, Klassen.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Rafael Perez-Gutierrez
`Assistant Examiner — Liton Miah
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Patterson & Sheridan, LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A technique is provided for establishing peer-to-peer session-
`based instant messaging between mobile devices without the
`need for using an instant messaging registration or log-in
`server to provide presence information. Session-based instant
`messaging communications between mobile devices are
`established by transmitting necessary address information
`through page-based messaging services that utilize the under-
`lying digital mobile network databases and services to resolve
`the identification and location of the mobile devices.
`
`20 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`)
`START
`INITIATING MOBILE
`DEVICE
`
`START
`TARGET MOBILE
`DEVICE
`
`OPEN TCP PORT
`
`OPEN SMS PORT H
`
`220
`
`TRANSMIT INVITATION
`MESSAGE CONTAINING
`IP ADDRESS VIA SMS
`
`210
`
`230
`
`RECEIVE SMS
`INVITATION
`MESSAGE AT
`SMS PORT
`
`EXTRACT IP
`ADDRESS FROM
`SMS MESSAGE
`
`TRANSMIT
`REQUEST TO
`ESTABLISH TCP
`CONNECTION TO
`IP ADDRESS
`
`240
`
`250
`
`260
`
`270
`
`RECEIVE REQUEST TO
`ESTABL SH TCP
`CONNECTION AT TCP
`PORT
`
`
`
`280
`
`
`ES▪ -T ABLISH TCP CONNECTION AND
`ENGAGE IN IM SESSION
`
`( END )
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1012 - Page 1
`
`

`

`US 7,961,663 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2005/0094625 Al
`5/2005 Bouat
`2005/0197143 Al
`9/2005 Lee et al.
`2006/0126594 Al
`6/2006 Tu
`2007/0112962 Al
`5/2007 Lewontin
`2007/0233732 Al
`10/2007 Porter et al.
`
`EP
`WO
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1 381 765 A
`11/2003
`WO 01/41477 Al
`6/2001
`
`WO 01/89406 A
`WO
`WO 03/087972 A2
`WO
`WO WO 2004/073288 A
`
`9/2001
`10/2003
`8/2004
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`U.S. Appl. No. 60/503,367, filed Sep. 16, 2003, Lazaridis.
`Rosenberg, et. al. "SIP: Session Initiation Protocol" Standards Track,
`The Internet Society, Jun. 2002, pp. 1-269.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1012 - Page 2
`
`

`

`lualud °Sil
`
`Hoz 171 •unp
`
`Z.10 1 WIN
`
`ZS £99`196`L Sf1
`
`155
`
`145A (
`
`160
`
`150A
`)
`
`115
`
`00130000
`0000000
`
`120A
`
`170
`
`VOICE
`NETWORK
`
`-125A
`N
` N
`N
`N
`1---140A N N
`
`130
`
`100 )
`
`165
`
`IP
`NETWORK
`
`110
`(
`( )
`
`0000000
`0000000
`
`115
`
`FIG. 1
`
`,150B
`
`155
`
`(
`145B
`
`160
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1012 - Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 14, 2011
`
`Sheet 2 of 2
`
`US 7,961,663 B2
`
`I
`
`START
`INITIATING MOBILE
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`}
`
`(-- START
`TARGET MOBILE
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`210 -
`
`OPEN TCP PORT
`
`OPEN SMS PORT
`
`
`
`220
`
`230
`
`TRANSMIT INVITATION
`MESSAGE CONTAINING
`IP ADDRESS VIA SMS
`
`\
`
`\
`
`RECEIVE SMS
`INVITATION
`MESSAGE AT
`SMS PORT
`
`...... — 240
`
`EXTRACT IP
`ADDRESS FROM
`SMS MESSAGE
`
`250
`
`----- 260
`
`TRANSMIT
`REQUEST TO
`ESTABLISH TCP
`CONNECTION TO
`IP ADDRESS
`
`270
`
`RECEIVE REQUEST TO
`ESTABLISH TCP
`CONNECTION AT TCP
`PORT
`
`280
`(
`ESTABLISH TCP CONNECTION AND
`ENGAGE IN IM SESSION
`
`( END)
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1012 - Page 4
`
`

`

`1
`PEER-TO-PEER MOBILE INSTANT
`MESSAGING METHOD AND DEVICE
`
`US 7,961,663 B2
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`The present invention relates generally to messaging tech-
`niques for mobile devices, and more specifically, a technique
`to establish peer-to-peer session-based instant messaging
`("IM") communications among mobile devices without the
`need for IM registration.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`35
`
`2
`workstation, establishing an IM session on a mobile device
`does not suffer from the same presence issues because the end
`user is presumed to be carrying the mobile device at all times.
`So long as the mobile device has enough contact information
`(e.g., cellular telephone number, PIN number, etc.) to directly
`communicate with other mobile devices through the under-
`lying wireless network technology (e.g., cellular technology,
`etc.), an IM session could be initiated and established in a
`manner similar to making and answering mobile phone calls
`10 without the need for registering with or logging into an IM
`server in order to broadcast presence information to other end
`users for IM purposes.
`Furthermore, unlike IM services in a traditional connected
`Current instant messaging ("IM") technologies depend
`5 network environment, successful end user adoption of an IM
`upon a registration system to enable end users to communi- 1
`service between mobile devices would not suffer from reli-
`cate with one another. For example, to establish an IM session
`ance upon establishing a critical mass of end users through a
`on AOL' s Instant Messenger ("AIM"), each participating end
`registration system. In contrast, such an IM service would be
`user must have registered with AOL and must log into an AIM
`instantly usable to any and all end users of mobile devices so
`server in order to use the service. This registration system
`0 long as such mobile devices are already capable of directly
`creates a virtual network of registered users and the value to a 2
`communicating with other mobile devices through the under-
`new user in joining an IM service is directly related to the
`number of existing users already registered on the service. As
`lying wireless mobile technology without needing further
`more users register to use an IM service, the value of the IM
`presence information (e.g., cellular phones directly commu-
`service to registered users increases since registered users
`nicating with other cellular phones through cellular telephone
`will be able establish IM sessions with an increasing number 2
`5 numbers). As such, what is needed is a method to establish IM
`of users. Known as a "network effect," this phenomenon
`sessions directly between mobile devices, where such mobile
`causes a further tipping effect, which is the natural tendency
`devices are capable of directly communicating with other
`for few (or even a single) IM services to pull away from their
`mobile devices through the underlying wireless technology,
`competitors once they have gained an initial edge by regis-
`such that no IM registration or log-in server is needed to
`tering a critical mass of users. This tipping effect tends to 3
`provide presence information to other mobile devices for IM
`occur rapidly and stems, in part, from users' inclination to
`purposes.
`gravitate towards the IM services that they expect will be
`become dominant. This tipping effect gives proprietary IM
`services such as AIM, Microsoft's .NET Messenger Service,
`and Yahoo! Messenger, that have achieved a large network of
`registered users, a strong barrier to entry into the IM market.
`As such, proprietary IM services may be reluctant to provide
`interoperability to other less established IM services since
`providing such access could cannibalize their competitive
`network advantage.
`From a technical perspective, the registration system used
`in IM services is necessary to provide presence capabilities.
`In order to establish an IM session, an end user must be
`registered with the IM service so that the end user can log into
`the service's IM server, which broadcasts the end user's avail-
`ability to engage in IM sessions to an authorized group of the
`end user's peers that have also registered and logged into the
`IM server. The IM server also similarly provides the end user
`with a list of registered peers that are available to engage in an
`IM session. When end users engage in IM sessions over a
`traditional connected network environment, presence capa-
`bilities are a critical characteristic of an IM service because
`such capabilities are needed to provide an end user's peers
`with sufficient presence information (i.e., IP address and port
`number) in order to locate the end user within the network and
`establish a connection between the end user and a peer for an
`IM session. Furthermore, logging into an IM server also
`enables an end user to indicate whether or not he or she is
`physically present (e.g., sitting in front of a networked work-
`station or in front of a laptop that is connected the network) 60
`and willing to engage in an IM session.
`However, IM services for mobile devices, such as smart-
`phones, appear to have less a need for presence capabilities.
`Unlike establishing an IM session on a laptop, desktop or
`workstation, where the end user must broadcast his or her
`availability and presence information on the network when he
`or she is physically sitting in front of the laptop, desktop or
`
`The present invention provides a method for establishing a
`peer-to-peer session-based IM communications between
`mobile devices over a digital mobile network system that
`supports data packet-based communications. Under the
`present invention, no IM registration or IM log-in server need
`40 be used to provide presence information. Instead, a mobile
`device initiating an IM session opens a listening port defined
`by an underlying data packet based network protocol. The
`initiating mobile device sends an invitation message contain-
`ing the network address, including the listening port, of the
`45 initiating device to a target mobile device through a page-
`mode messaging service supported by the digital mobile net-
`work system. The initiating mobile device further utilizes and
`incorporates a unique identification number (e.g., telephone
`number, PIN number, etc.) associated with the target mobile
`50 device into the invitation message to locate and contact the
`target mobile device within the wireless mobile network.
`Once the initiating mobile device receives a response from the
`target mobile device at the listening port, the two mobile
`devices are able to establish a reliable virtual connection
`55 through the underlying data packet-based network protocol in
`order to exchange text messages directly between the two
`mobile devices through a session-based communication.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 depicts a diagram of an environment for establishing
`an IM session in accordance with the present invention
`between a first mobile device and a second mobile device in a
`GSM mobile network system supporting GPRS as a data
`65 packet-based communications service, SMS as a text mes-
`saging service, and TCP/IP as an underlying data packet
`based network protocol.
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1012 - Page 5
`
`

`

`US 7,961,663 B2
`
`3
`FIG. 2 depicts a flow chart for establishing a peer-to-peer
`session-based IM system in accordance with the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`FIG. 1 depicts one environment to deploy an embodiment
`of the present invention. As depicted, the underlying digital
`mobile network system in this environment is the Global
`System for Mobile communications (GSM) 100 standard.
`Under the GSM standard, each of the mobile devices 105 and
`110 includes a Subscriber Information Module (SIM) card
`that contains unique identification information that enables
`the GSM system to locate the mobile devices within the
`network and route data to them. A current commercial
`example of a mobile device (e.g., smartphone, PDA, hand-
`held, etc.) that might be used in FIG. 1 could be Research In
`Motion's (RIM) BlackBerry handheld devices, which
`includes a QWERTY keyboard to facilitate the typing of text.
`As depicted, a GSM architecture includes the following com-
`ponents: base transceiver stations (BTS) 115 and base station
`controllers (BSC) (120A or 120B) for managing the trans-
`mission of radio signals between the MSC (defined below)
`and the mobile devices, mobile service-switching centers
`(MSC) (125A and 125B) for performing the all switching
`functions and controlling calls to and from other telephone
`and data systems, a home location register (HLR) 130 for
`containing all the administrative, routing and location infor-
`mation of each subscriber registered in the network, visitor
`location registers (VLR) (135A and 135B) for containing
`selected administrative information about subscribers regis-
`tered in one HLR who are roaming in a another HLR, and an
`equipment identity register (EIR) (not shown) for containing
`a list of all valid mobile equipment on the network). As
`depicted in FIG. 1, in one architecture of a GSM network,
`there may be exist one HLR while there may exist multiple
`MSCs (each with a related VLR) which each serves a differ-
`ent geographic area. The MSCs also provide the interface for
`the GSM network to more traditional voice networks 170
`such as the PSTN. This underlying GSM architecture pro-
`vides radio resources management (e.g., access, paging and
`handover procedures, etc.), mobility management (e.g., loca-
`tion updating, authentication and security, etc.), and commu-
`nication management (e.g., call routing, etc.) in order to
`enable mobile devices in the GSM network to send and
`receive data through a variety of services, including the Short
`Message Service (SMS), an asynchronous bi-directional text
`messaging service for short alphanumeric messages (up to
`160 bytes) that are transported from one mobile device to
`another mobile device in a store-and-forward fashion.
`A GSM network within which the present invention may be
`deployed would also support a page-mode messaging service,
`such as SMS, that relies upon the underlying GSM mecha-
`nisms to resolve routing information in order to locate desti-
`nation mobile devices. Page-mode messaging services such
`as SMS transmit messages that are independent or asynchro-
`nous with each other, but there is no formal relationship
`between one message and another. In contrast, an IM session
`that is implemented in accordance with the present invention
`is a session-mode or session-based messaging service where
`exchanged messages are formally associated in a session
`thereby minimizing the overhead costs of transmitting inde-
`pendent messages. A GSM network supporting SMS text
`messaging may further include the following SMS specific
`components: a short message service center (SMSC) (140A
`or 140B) for storing and forwarding messages to and from
`one mobile device to another, an SMS Gateway-MSC (SMS
`
`30
`
`4
`GMSC) for receiving the short message from the SMSC
`(140A or 140B) and interrogating the destination mobile
`device's HLR 130 for routing information to determine the
`current location of the destination device to deliver the short
`5 message to the appropriate MSC (125A or 1256B). The SMS
`GMSC is typically integrated with the SMSC 140. In a typical
`transmission of an SMS text message from an originating
`mobile device 105 to a receiving mobile device 110, (i) the
`text message is transmitted from the mobile 105 to the MSC
`io 125A, (ii) the MSC 125A interrogates its VLR 135A to verify
`that the message transfer does not violate any supplementary
`services or restrictions, (iii) the MSC 125A sends the text
`message to the SMSC 140A, (iv) the SMSC 140A, through
`the SMS GMSC, interrogates the receiving mobile device's
`15 HLR 130 (by accessing the SS7 network) to receive routing
`information for the receiving mobile device 110, (v) the
`SMSC sends the text message to the MSC 125B servicing
`receiving mobile device 110, (vi) the MSC 125B retrieves
`subscriber information from the VLR 135B, and (vii) the
`20 MSC 125A transmits the text message to the receiving mobile
`device 110. Similar to other transactions on the GSM net-
`work, SMS text messaging utilizes telephone numbers as
`identifying addresses for mobile devices and as such, utilizes
`the SS7 network signaling system through which cellular
`25 service providers share information from the HLR with other
`service providers. As depicted in FIG. 1, SS7 based signaling
`communication is represented by the broken lines. In con-
`trast, the solid lines in FIG. 1 represent data or voice based
`communications.
`In addition to a page-mode messaging service such as
`SMS, a GSM network within which the present invention
`may be deployed would also support a data packet based
`communications service, such as the General Packet Radio
`Service (GPRS), that enables TCP/IP transmission protocol
`35 based communications between mobile devices within the
`network. As depicted in FIG. 1, a core GPRS network exists
`in parallel to the existing GSM core network. The BSC 120
`may direct voice traffic through the MSC (125A or 125B) to
`the GSM network and data traffic through the Serving GPRS
`40 Support Note (SGSN) (145A or 145B) to the GPRS network.
`Such communication between the BSC (125A or 125B) and
`the SGSN (145A or 145B) may be, for example, based upon
`the IP network protocol communication 155. As such, GPRS
`signaling and data traffic do not flow through the core GSM
`45 network. Instead, the core GSM network is used by GPRS
`only for table look-up in the HLR 130 and VLR (135A or
`135B) to obtain routing, location and other subscriber infor-
`mation in order to handle user mobility. The SGSN (145A or
`145B) serves as a "packet-switched MSC," delivering data
`so packets to mobile devices in its service area. The Gateway
`GPRS Support Note (GGSN) (150A or 150B) communicates
`with the SGSN (145A or 145B) through an IP based GPRS
`backbone 160 and serves as an interface to other external IP
`networks 165 such as the Internet and other mobile service
`55 providers' GPRS services.
`When an IM service is offered in a traditional online packet
`based network environment such as the Internet, the initiating
`computer must have knowledge of the IP address (and possi-
`bly, a port) that has been opened on the listening computer to
`60 receive IM communications. In order to provide such IP
`address information, an IM service will set up a log-on or
`registration server through which end users can record the IP
`address on which they are currently listening for instant mes-
`saging communications. Because all end users have access to
`65 (i.e., know the IP address of) the registration server, they are
`able to obtain the IP addresses of other end users who have
`also logged-on or registered on the server and thereby initiate
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1012 - Page 6
`
`

`

`5
`IM sessions directly with another end user's computer. Alter-
`natively, the log-on or registration server may serve as a
`forwarding agent between the two end users engaged in an
`instant messaging session.
`In contrast, in accordance with the present invention, a
`log-on or registration server for IM or presence purposes can
`be eliminated on a mobile network environment such as that
`depicted on FIG. 1. Through the use of a page-mode messag-
`ing service, such as SMS, which transmits messages to
`mobile devices based upon their telephone numbers, an ini-
`tiating mobile device can transmit its IP address (and a lis-
`tening port) in an invitation message to a target mobile device
`through the target device's telephone number. Once the target
`device receives the invitation message, it is able to contact the
`initiating mobile device through the received IP address and
`the two devices can establish a reliable virtual connection,
`such as a TCP connection, for session-based IM communi-
`cations. FIG. 2 depicts a flow chart depicting the steps taken
`by an initiating and target mobile device to establish an IM
`session in accordance with the present invention. Initially, the
`initiating mobile device opens a TCP port to listen for com-
`munications from the target mobile device 210. The target
`mobile device has also similarly opened an SMS listening
`port to receive invitation SMS text messages at the specified
`SMS port 220. The initiating mobile device then transmits its
`IP address (and TCP port) in an invitation SMS text message
`to the telephone phone number and a specified SMS port of
`the target mobile device 230. The target mobile device
`receives the SMS text message containing the initiating
`mobile device's IP address (and TCP port) at the specified
`SMS port 240. The target mobile device extracts the IP
`address and TCP port from the SMS text message and opens
`its own TCP port 250. The target mobile device then transmits
`a request to establish a TCP connection to the initiating
`mobile device's IP address and TCP port 260. The initiating
`mobile device receives this request 270 and a TCP connection
`is established between the IP addresses and TCP ports of the
`initiating and listening mobile devices and these devices are
`able to engage in an IM session over a reliable virtual con-
`nection 280.
`While the foregoing detailed description has described the
`present invention using SMS, GSM, GPRS, and TCP/IP,
`other similar services and protocols may be used in a variety
`of similar environments in which the present invention may
`be implemented. For example and without limitation, rather
`than using SMS to transmit an IP address (and port) from the
`initiating mobile device to the listening mobile device
`through the devices' telephone numbers, an alternative
`embodiment of the present invention might use a PIN-to-PIN
`messaging technology (as, for example, offered in RIM' s
`Blackberry handheld devices) to transmit the IP address (and
`port) through unique PIN numbers associated with the mobile
`devices, or an alternative paging protocol using telephone
`numbers. Furthermore, the present invention contemplates
`that the actual protocol used during an established IM session
`may also vary depending upon the preference of the imple-
`mentation. For example and without limitation, Message Ses-
`sion Relay Protocol (MSRP) or any proprietary based proto-
`col may be used during the IM session that is established in
`accordance with the present invention. Thus, various modifi-
`cations, additions and substitutions and the like can be made
`without departing from the spirit of the invention and these
`are therefore considered to be within the scope of the inven-
`tion as defined in the following claims.
`
`US 7,961,663 B2
`
`6
`
`20
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method of establishing an instant messaging session
`between mobile devices that support a data packet-based
`communications service over a digital mobile network sys-
`tem, the method comprising:
`opening a listening software port on an initiating mobile
`device to receive communications through the data
`packet-based communications service;
`transmitting an invitation message to a target mobile device
`through a page-mode messaging service, wherein the
`invitation message comprises a network address associ-
`ated with the initiating mobile device and port informa-
`tion corresponding to the opened listening software port,
`and wherein the target mobile device is located by pro-
`viding a unique identifier to the page-mode messaging
`service;
`receiving a response from the target mobile device at the
`listening software port on the initiating wireless device;
`and
`establishing a stateful instant messaging session through
`the data packet-based communications service between
`the initiating mobile device and the target mobile device,
`wherein the stateful instant messaging session is estab-
`lished in a peer-to-peer fashion without a server inter-
`mediating communications through the established
`stateful instant messaging session between the initiating
`mobile device and the target mobile device.
`2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
`opening a second listening software port on the initiating
`mobile device to receive invitation messages through the
`page-mode messaging service;
`receiving, at the second listening software port and through
`the page-mode messaging service, a message from
`another mobile device inviting the initiating mobile
`device to establish a stateful instant messaging session,
`wherein such message comprises a network address and
`a listening software port associated with the other
`mobile device; and
`transmitting a response to the network address and the
`listening software port of the other mobile device,
`wherein the response acknowledges the ability to estab-
`lish a stateful instant messaging session.
`3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network address of
`the initiating mobile device is an IP address.
`4. The method of claim 1, wherein the page-mode messag-
`ing service is SMS.
`5. The method of claim 1, wherein the page-mode messag-
`ing service is a PIN-to-PIN messaging service.
`6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is
`so a telephone number.
`7. The method of claim 1, wherein the stateful instant
`messaging session utilizes a TCP connection.
`8. A mobile device enabled to establish an instant messag-
`ing session with other mobile devices in a digital mobile
`55 network system, the mobile device comprising a processor
`configured to perform the steps of:
`opening a listening software port on an initiating mobile
`device to receive communications through the data
`packet-based communications service;
`transmitting an invitation message to a target mobile device
`through a page-mode messaging service, wherein the
`invitation message comprises a network address associ-
`ated with the initiating mobile device and port informa-
`tion corresponding to the opened listening software port,
`and wherein the target mobile device is located by pro-
`viding a unique identifier to the page-mode messaging
`service;
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
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`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1012 - Page 7
`
`

`

`7
`receiving a response from the target mobile device at the
`listening software port on the initiating wireless device;
`and
`establishing a stateful instant messaging session through
`the data packet-based communications service between
`the initiating mobile device and the target mobile device,
`wherein the stateful instant messaging session is estab-
`lished in a peer-to-peer fashion without a server inter-
`mediating communications through the established
`stateful instant messaging session between the initiating
`mobile device and the target mobile device.
`9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the processor is
`further configured to perform the steps of:
`opening a second listening software port on the initiating
`mobile device to receive invitation messages through the
`page-mode messaging service;
`receiving, at the second listening software port and through
`the page-mode messaging service, a message from
`another mobile device inviting the initiating mobile
`device to establish a stateful instant messaging session,
`wherein such message comprises a network address and
`a listening software port associated with the other
`mobile device; and
`transmitting a response to the network address and the
`listening software port of the other mobile device,
`wherein the response acknowledges the ability to estab-
`lish a stateful instant messaging session.
`10. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the network
`address of the initiating mobile device is an IP address.
`11. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the page-mode
`messaging service is SMS.
`12. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the page-mode
`messaging service is a PIN-to-PIN messaging service.
`13. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the unique
`identifier is a telephone number.
`14. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the stateful
`instant messaging session utilizes a TCP connection.
`15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
`including instructions that, when executed on a processor of a
`mobile device that supports a data packet-based communica-
`tions service over a digital mobile network system, causes the
`processor to establish an instant messaging session by per-
`forming the steps of:
`opening a listening software port on an initiating mobile
`device to receive communications through the data
`packet-based communications service;
`transmitting an invitation message to a target mobile device
`through a page-mode messaging service, wherein the
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`* * * * *
`
`US 7,961,663 B2
`
`5
`
`10
`
`8
`invitation message comprises a network address associ-
`ated with the initiating mobile device and port informa-
`tion corresponding to the opened listening software port,
`and wherein the target mobile device is located by pro-
`viding a unique identifier to the page-mode messaging
`service;
`receiving a response from the target mobile device at the
`listening software port on the initiating wireless device;
`and
`establishing a stateful instant messaging session through
`the data packet-based communications service between
`the initiating mobile device and the target mobile device,
`wherein the stateful instant messaging session is estab-
`lished in a peer-to-peer fashion without a server inter-
`mediating communications through the established
`stateful instant messaging session between the initiating
`mobile device and the target mobile device.
`16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
`of claim 15, further including instructions that cause the
`20 processor to perform the steps of:
`opening a second listening software port on the initiating
`mobile device to receive invitation messages through the
`page-mode messaging service;
`receiving, at the second listening software port and through
`the page-mode messaging service, a message from
`another mobile device inviting the initiating mobile
`device to establish a stateful instant messaging session,
`wherein such message comprises a network address and
`a listening software port associated with the other
`mobile device; and
`transmitting a response to the network address and the
`listening software port of the other mobile device,
`wherein the response acknowledges the ability to estab-
`lish a stateful instant messaging session.
`17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
`of claim 15, wherein the network address of the initiating
`mobile device is an IP address.
`18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
`of claim 15, wherein the page-mode messaging service is
`40 SMS.
`19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
`of claim 15, wherein the unique identifier is a telephone
`number.
`20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
`45 of claim 15, wherein the stateful instant messaging session
`utilizes a TCP connection.
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1012 - Page 8
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