US 11012827

US Patent 11012827: Random Number Derived Message Transmission to a Third Party Provider

Title: Random number derived message transmission to a third party provider

Assignee: Rembrandt Messaging Technologies LP

Inventors: Graham Merrett

Filing Date: December 8, 2020

Issue Date: May 18, 2021

Abstract: A mobile wireless device can transmit message content intended for a third-party provider to a server. This server, associated with the messaging service, then forwards a message (derived at least in part from a random number) to the third-party provider. The forwarded message may not be identical to the original message sent by the mobile wireless device, and may specifically exclude certain information elements present in the original message, such as the mobile wireless device's phone number.

Independent Claims Overview:

Claim 1 (Mobile Wireless Device):
This claim describes a mobile wireless device capable of sending messages through two primary channels:

1. To subscribers of a packet-switched messaging service via a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) transceiver (through a WLAN base station and the Internet to a server) or a cellular transceiver (through a cellular base station and the Internet to a server).
2. To non-subscribers of the service over a cellular network (through a cellular base station, potentially through an SMSC, and without traversing the packet-switched messaging service server).

The device's message client retrieves the mobile phone number of a recipient. It uses the WLAN transceiver to send a request to a server (which maintains a subscriber list) to verify if the recipient is a subscriber. Based on the response, the device selects a packet-switched bearer if the recipient is a subscriber (choosing between WLAN or cellular packet-switched bearers) or transmits a limited binary-encoded message (like an SMS) via the cellular network if the recipient is not a subscriber. Crucially, the device also transmits message content intended for a third-party provider to the service's server, which then forwards a message to the third-party provider that is derived at least in part from a random number.

Claim 28 (System):
This claim describes a system that includes both the mobile wireless device (as generally described in Claim 1) and a server. The mobile wireless device has similar capabilities to Claim 1, including WLAN and cellular transceivers and a message client that retrieves a single mobile phone number for an addressed recipient. The WLAN transceiver performs the same subscriber verification steps as in Claim 1. The mobile wireless device selects a packet-switched bearer based on the subscriber status and also considers whether an "undelivered message parameter" has not been exceeded. If a packet-switched bearer is selected, the device chooses between WLAN or cellular packet-switched bearers. If the recipient is not a subscriber, the device sends a limited binary-encoded message via the cellular network through an SMSC. Messages are queued for later delivery if the recipient is a subscriber but cannot connect to the service's server and the undelivered message parameter has not been exceeded. The server in this system receives the message content intended for a third-party provider from the mobile wireless device and forwards a message to the third-party provider that is derived at least in part from a random number.

Claim 29 (Method):
This claim describes a method performed by a server associated with the service. The method involves:

1. Receiving a subscription message from a first mobile wireless device via the Internet to subscribe it to a packet-switched messaging service (excluding SMS, EMS, and MMS).
2. Storing the first mobile phone number as a subscriber in a data store.
3. Receiving a first request from a second mobile wireless device (including the first mobile phone number) and determining that the first mobile wireless device is a subscriber.
4. Transmitting a first response to the second mobile wireless device indicating subscriber status.
5. Receiving a second request from the second mobile wireless device (including another phone number) and transmitting a second response indicating that this other phone number is not a subscriber.
6. The server then receives message content intended for a third-party provider from the second mobile wireless device and forwards a message to the third-party provider that is derived at least in part from a random number.

Litigation Information:

According to the Google Patents page for US11012827, the "Family has litigation" section indicates:

• "First worldwide family litigation filed"
• "US case filed in Texas Western District Court" with case number 1:24-cv-01199
• "PTAB case IPR2026-00109 filed (Pending)"

Therefore, there is active litigation involving this patent family, including a district court case in the Western District of Texas and a pending PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case.