US 8918127

US Patent 8918127: Messaging Service in a Wireless Communication Network

Title: Messaging service in a wireless communication network

Assignee: Rembrandt Messaging Technologies LP

Inventor: Graham Merrett

Filing Date: February 7, 2013

Issue Date: December 23, 2014

Abstract:
A method for providing a messaging service in a sender's wireless device is disclosed. The sender's wireless device can send messages via a packet-switched base station (first mode) or a Short Message Service (SMS) base station (second mode), which is independent of the packet-switched base station. The device determines if a destination address is a subscriber to a service that receives messages via a packet-switched bearer by sending a request to a server via the packet-switched WLAN base station and receiving a response. If the destination is a subscriber, the message is sent as IP packets via the packet-switched WLAN base station. Otherwise, it is sent as an SMS message via the SMS base station. The request and response related to this determination do not traverse the cellular core network.

Independent Claims Overview:

Claim 1 (Method of Providing a Messaging Service):
This claim describes a method performed by a sender's wireless device for providing a messaging service. The method involves:

1. A message client on the sender's device receiving a destination address for a recipient's wireless device.
2. The sender's device determining if the destination is a subscriber to a service for receiving messages via a packet-switched bearer. This is done by sending a request to a server via a packet-switched Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) base station and receiving a response from that server, with neither the request nor response going through the cellular core network.
3. Based on this determination, the sender's device selects a transmission mode:
   • If the recipient is a subscriber, the first transmission mode (packet-switched) is selected, and the message is sent as Internet Protocol (IP) packets via the packet-switched WLAN base station.
   • If the recipient is not a subscriber, the second transmission mode (SMS) is selected, and the message is sent as an SMS message via a base station associated with a cellular core network that is independent of the packet-switched WLAN base station.

Claim 11 (Method of Providing a Messaging Service - with capability focus):
This claim is very similar to Claim 1, also describing a method performed by a sender's wireless device for providing a messaging service. The key distinctions are subtle in wording, emphasizing the capability of the wireless device to send in certain modes rather than explicitly stating the act of sending in those modes in the main method steps, before defining the sending actions.

1. A message client on the sender's device receives a destination address for a recipient's wireless device. The client is capable of determining a transmission mode, and the sender's device is capable of sending messages in multiple modes (first and second).
2. The sender's device determines if the destination is a subscriber to a service for receiving messages via a packet-switched bearer by sending a request to a server via a packet-switched WLAN base station and receiving a response, again without traversing the cellular core network.
3. Based on this indication, the sender's device selects a transmission mode: the first mode if a subscriber, the second mode if not.
4. The claim then specifies the capabilities of the wireless device for sending in these modes:
   • In the first mode, the device is capable of sending the message as IP packets via the packet-switched WLAN base station.
   • In the second mode, the device is capable of sending the message as an SMS message via a base station associated with a cellular core network independent of the packet-switched WLAN base station.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search of CAFC 2026 dockets for US patent 8918127 did not return any specific cases directly involving this patent number. The search results provided general updates on other patent-related cases decided by the Federal Circuit in 2026, but no mention of US8918127.