US6044260A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of controlling the number of messages received by a personal messaging unit
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1997-09-02
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Granted: 2000-03-28
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Expires: 2017-09-02
Abstract
Abstract A subscriber's PMU (Personal Messaging Unit) (14) determines when the number of incoming messages is likely to be excessive by counting the incoming messages and comparing their number and rate of receipt to stored thresholds. The subscriber is alerted when an excess is detected, and he is given options such as: routing future messages to himself via alternate and less expensive communication links (34,38), or terminating messages sent to one of his PMU's addresses that has been receiving messages at a high rate. Similar control can be effected at the PMU's base station (12).
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Thomas Eaton
- 👤 Michael Joseph DeLuca
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:10
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/022; H04W88/023; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/214; H04L51/212; H04L51/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for a subscriber's portable messaging unit to control the number, and associated cost, of messages transmitted to it by a wireless messaging service, comprising in the subscriber's portable messaging unit the steps of: a) storing a threshold number that indicates a number of messages to be received within a given period of time; b) receiving incoming messages; c) determining whether the number of incoming messages is likely to exceed the threshold number; and d) if the threshold number is likely to be exceeded, instructing the messaging service to send messages to the subscriber via an alternate route.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for a subscriber's portable messaging unit to control the number, and associated cost, of messages transmitted to it by a wireless messaging service, comprising in the subscriber's portable messaging unit the steps of: a) storing a threshold number that indicates a number of messages to be received within a given period of time; b) receiving incoming messages; c) determining whether the number of incoming messages is likely to exceed the threshold number; and d) if the threshold number is likely to be exceeded, instructing the messaging service to send messages to the subscriber via an alternate route.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein step c) includes determining the rate at which messages are received.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the personal messaging unit has multiple addresses, wherein messages may be sent to each of the multiple addresses, and wherein when the number of incoming messages exceeds the threshold number, the personal messaging unit determines whether one of its addresses was receiving messages at an excessive rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein if one of the personal messaging unit's addresses received messages at an excessive rate, the personal messaging unit alerts the subscriber to the identity of that one address.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of controlling the number, and associated cost, of messages transmitted by a wireless messaging service to a subscriber's personal messaging unit, comprising: a) storing a threshold number that indicates a number of messages to be received within a given period of time; b) determining whether the number of messages sent to the personal messaging unit exceeds the threshold number; c) if the threshold number is exceeded, giving the subscriber the option of changing the threshold number; and d) if the subscriber does not exercise the option, instructing the messaging service to send messages to the subscriber via an alternate route.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of controlling the number, and associated cost, of messages transmitted by a wireless messaging service to a subscriber's personal messaging unit, comprising: a) storing a threshold number that indicates a number of messages to be received within a given period of time; b) determining whether the number of messages sent to the personal messaging unit exceeds the threshold number; c) if the threshold number is exceeded, giving the subscriber the option of changing the threshold number; and d) if the subscriber does not exercise the option, instructing the messaging service to send messages to the subscriber via an alternate route.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the personal messaging unit has multiple addresses, wherein messages may be sent to each of the multiple addresses, and including determining whether messages were sent to any one address of the personal messaging unit at an excessive rate.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for controlling the number, and associated cost, of messages transmitted by a wireless messaging service to a subscriber's personal messaging unit that can receive messages sent to any one of multiple addresses, comprising: a) storing a threshold number that indicates a number of messages to be received within a given period of time; b) determining whether the number of messages sent to the personal messaging unit exceeds the threshold number; and c) if the threshold number is not exceeded, and messages were sent to any one address of the personal messaging unit at an excessive rate, instructing the messaging service to send messages for that one address via an alternate route.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for controlling the number, and associated cost, of messages transmitted by a wireless messaging service to a subscriber's personal messaging unit that can receive messages sent to any one of multiple addresses, comprising: a) storing a threshold number that indicates a number of messages to be received within a given period of time; b) determining whether the number of messages sent to the personal messaging unit exceeds the threshold number; and c) if the threshold number is not exceeded, and messages were sent to any one address of the personal messaging unit at an excessive rate, instructing the messaging service to send messages for that one address via an alternate route.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein if messages were sent to one of the personal messaging unit's addresses at an excessive rate, the personal messaging unit alerts the subscriber to the identity of that one address.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the threshold number is selected by the subscriber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein a rate deemed to be excessive is determined by the subscriber.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for a subscriber's personal messaging unit to control the number, and associated cost, of messages transmitted to it by a wireless messaging service, comprising in the subscriber's portable messaging unit the steps of: a) storing a threshold number that indicates a number of messages to be received within a given period of time; b) receiving and counting incoming messages; c) determining whether the number of incoming messages exceeds the threshold number; and d) if the threshold number is exceeded, instructing the messaging service to send messages to the subscriber via an alternate route; and e) if the threshold number is not exceeded, determining whether messages were sent to any one address of the personal messaging unit at an excessive rate.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for a subscriber's personal messaging unit to control the number, and associated cost, of messages transmitted to it by a wireless messaging service, comprising in the subscriber's portable messaging unit the steps of: a) storing a threshold number that indicates a number of messages to be received within a given period of time; b) receiving and counting incoming messages; c) determining whether the number of incoming messages exceeds the threshold number; and d) if the threshold number is exceeded, instructing the messaging service to send messages to the subscriber via an alternate route; and e) if the threshold number is not exceeded, determining whether messages were sent to any one address of the personal messaging unit at an excessive rate.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for a wireless messaging service to control the number, and associated cost, of messages transmitted to a subscriber's personal messaging unit that has multiple addresses, comprising in a base station of the wireless messaging service the steps of: a) storing a threshold number that indicates a number of messages to be transmitted to the personal messaging unit within a given period of time; b) counting messages transmitted to the personal messaging unit; c) determining whether the number of messages transmitted to the personal messaging unit exceeds the threshold number; d) if the threshold number is not exceeded, transmitting a message to the personal messaging unit; and e) if the threshold number is exceeded, forwarding the message to the personal messaging unit via an alternate route.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for a wireless messaging service to control the number, and associated cost, of messages transmitted to a subscriber's personal messaging unit that has multiple addresses, comprising in a base station of the wireless messaging service the steps of: a) storing a threshold number that indicates a number of messages to be transmitted to the personal messaging unit within a given period of time; b) counting messages transmitted to the personal messaging unit; c) determining whether the number of messages transmitted to the personal messaging unit exceeds the threshold number; d) if the threshold number is not exceeded, transmitting a message to the personal messaging unit; and e) if the threshold number is exceeded, forwarding the message to the personal messaging unit via an alternate route.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 12 including determining whether messages were sent to one of the personal messaging unit's multiple addresses at an excessive rate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein if an excessive rate is determined, a warning is transmitted to the subscriber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-28 | 2003-09-27 | 2004-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-28 | 2007-09-27 | 2008-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-28 | 2011-09-27 | 2012-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |