US 11991601

A concise summary of US Patent 11,991,601 is as follows:

Title: Wireless messaging method and server

Assignee: Rembrandt Messaging Technologies LP

Inventor: Graham Merrett

Filing Date: July 21, 2023

Issue Date: May 21, 2024

Abstract:
A method performed by a mobile wireless device may comprise receiving an SMS message or an EMS message indicating a client program, when a phone number associated with the mobile wireless device is not associated with a subscriber of a service associated with the client program at the time of receiving the SMS message. The method may further comprise downloading the client program on the mobile wireless device and authenticating, via the client program, the phone number associated with the mobile wireless device to the service via SMS protocol. After the authenticating, the client program may cause transmission of first information comprising a first phone number. The client program may receive a first response to the transmission of the first information indicating that the first phone number is associated with a subscriber of the service.

Overview of Independent Claims

This patent contains three independent claims: Claim 1 (a method), Claim 18 (a server system), and Claim 25 (a system).

Claim 1: A method for a mobile device to join and use a messaging service.

In plain language, this claim describes a process for a mobile device that is not yet part of a specific messaging service. The device first receives a standard text message (SMS or EMS) that points to a special client program. The user then downloads this program. The program then uses an SMS-based method to sign the device's phone number up for the service.

Once registered, the user can check if other phone numbers belong to subscribers of the service. If a number is a subscriber, the device can send them messages, including rich content, over a wireless local area network (WLAN). If a number is not a subscriber, the program helps create a standard SMS or EMS message to send to them instead. The service is designed to protect user privacy by not sharing subscriber information with third parties without permission.

Claim 18: A server system for a messaging service.

This claim details the server-side operations that support the messaging service described in Claim 1. The server system is responsible for authenticating new users via the SMS protocol and then adding their phone numbers to a subscriber list.

When a user's client program sends a query with a numeric identifier (like a phone number), the server checks if that identifier is linked to a subscriber. If it is, the server informs the client program, enabling it to send a message through the service. If the identifier is not on the subscriber list, the server notifies the client program, which will then use a standard messaging method (like SMS) to communicate with that non-subscriber's device.

Claim 25: A complete messaging system including a base station and a server.

This claim covers the entire system, which includes both the wireless communication infrastructure (a base station) and the server system. The process begins when a mobile device subscribes to the messaging service, which is distinct from standard SMS, EMS, or MMS.

When a user composes a message, the device sends a request to the server to check if the recipient's numeric identifier (which looks like a phone number) is associated with an email address of a subscriber. If the server confirms this, it instructs the user's device to send the message via the service. If the recipient is not a subscriber, the server informs the user's device to use a different delivery method, not the specialized service.

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Disclaimer: This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The plain-language explanation of the claims is an interpretation and should not be considered a definitive legal analysis.