US6442250B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems and methods for transmitting messages to predefined groups
Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC
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Filing: 2000-08-22
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Granted: 2002-08-27
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Expires: 2020-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A system provides messaging services by transmitting messages to groups of message recipients. The system receives a message from a subscriber in an input format and identifies the group of message recipients to receive the message ( 510 ). The system determines one or more output formats for the message for each of the message recipients in the group ( 530 ) and converts the message from the input format to the output format(s) when the output format(s) differ from the input format ( 540 ). The system then transmits the message to the group of message recipients in the output format(s) ( 550 ).
Inventors
- 👤 David Mark Troen-Krasnow
- 👤 Steven Richard Winnett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:52
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1895; H04L51/00; H04L51/06; H04L51/066; H04L51/21; H04L51/23; H04L51/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for transmitting messages to groups of message recipients, comprising: receiving a message from a subscriber in an input format; identifying one of the groups of message recipients to receive the message; determining one or more output formats for the message for each of the message recipients in the group of message recipients; converting the message from the input format to the one or more output formats when the one or more output formats differ from the input format; transmitting the message to the group of message recipients in the one or more output formats; and monitoring a status of the transmission of the message to each of the message recipients in the group of message recipients, the status indicating whether the transmission was successful, resulted in a busy signal, resulted in a no-answer, or was answered by a voice storage device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for transmitting messages to groups of message recipients, comprising: receiving a message from a subscriber in an input format; identifying one of the groups of message recipients to receive the message; determining one or more output formats for the message for each of the message recipients in the group of message recipients; converting the message from the input format to the one or more output formats when the one or more output formats differ from the input format; transmitting the message to the group of message recipients in the one or more output formats; and monitoring a status of the transmission of the message to each of the message recipients in the group of message recipients, the status indicating whether the transmission was successful, resulted in a busy signal, resulted in a no-answer, or was answered by a voice storage device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , further including: authenticating the subscriber before identifying the group of message recipients.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting includes: transmitting the message to one of the message recipients in a first one to the output formats, determining whether the transmitting was successful, and sending the message to the one message recipient in a second one of the output formats when the transmitting in the first output format was unsuccessful.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , further including: identifying the message recipients in the group of message recipients.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the identifying the message recipients includes: obtaining contact information for each of the message recipients.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the obtaining includes: receiving at least one of a number and address for locating each of the message recipients, and receiving an identification of a type of equipment used by each of the message recipients.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining includes: identifying one or more types of equipment used by each of the message recipients, and identifying one or more of the output formats corresponding to each of the identified types of equipment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining further includes: identifying periods of time when the identified types of equipment are valid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more output formats include a plurality of different output formats: and wherein the converting includes: translating the message from the input format to the different output formats concurrently.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving one or more replies to the message from the message recipients, and providing the replies to the subscriber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: generating a status report from the monitored status.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the input format is one of a plurality of input formats: and wherein the converting includes: determining whether the one or more output formats match the input format.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying includes: receiving a group identifier from the subscriber, determining the group that corresponds to the group identifier, verifying that the subscriber is authorized to access the group corresponding to the group identifier, and locating, in a database, the message recipients in the group when the subscriber is authorized to access the group.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
162 words
A system for transmitting messages from subscribers to groups of message recipients, comprising: means for obtaining messages from the subscribers in one or more input formats; means for identifying one of the groups of message recipients to receive each of the messages; means for determining a plurality of output formats for each of the messages and corresponding to the message recipients in each of the groups of message recipients; means for translating the messages from the one or more input formats to the output formats when the output formats differ from the one or more input formats; means for transmitting the messages to the identified groups of message recipients in the output formats; and means for monitoring a status of the transmission of the message to each of the message recipients in each of the identified groups, the status indicating whether the transmission was successful, resulted in a busy signal, resulted in a no-answer, or was answered by a voice storage device.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
162 words
A system for transmitting messages from subscribers to groups of message recipients, comprising: means for obtaining messages from the subscribers in one or more input formats; means for identifying one of the groups of message recipients to receive each of the messages; means for determining a plurality of output formats for each of the messages and corresponding to the message recipients in each of the groups of message recipients; means for translating the messages from the one or more input formats to the output formats when the output formats differ from the one or more input formats; means for transmitting the messages to the identified groups of message recipients in the output formats; and means for monitoring a status of the transmission of the message to each of the message recipients in each of the identified groups, the status indicating whether the transmission was successful, resulted in a busy signal, resulted in a no-answer, or was answered by a voice storage device.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
191 words
A system for sending messages from subscribers to groups of message recipients, comprising: a group database configured to store identifiers for a plurality of groups of message recipients and indicators that identify one or more output formats corresponding to each of the message recipients; a group access unit configured to receive a message from a subscriber in an input format, identify one of the groups of message recipients in the group database to receive the message, and determine the one or more output formats for each of the message recipients in the identified group based on the indicators in the group database; a translator configured to convert the message from the input format to the one or more output formats; a message transmission unit configured to transmit the message to the identified group in the one or more output formats; and a message status unit configured to monitor a status of the transmission of the message to each of the message recipients in the identified group, the status indicating whether the transmission was successful, resulted in a busy signal, resulted in a no-answer, or was answered by a voice storage device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
191 words
A system for sending messages from subscribers to groups of message recipients, comprising: a group database configured to store identifiers for a plurality of groups of message recipients and indicators that identify one or more output formats corresponding to each of the message recipients; a group access unit configured to receive a message from a subscriber in an input format, identify one of the groups of message recipients in the group database to receive the message, and determine the one or more output formats for each of the message recipients in the identified group based on the indicators in the group database; a translator configured to convert the message from the input format to the one or more output formats; a message transmission unit configured to transmit the message to the identified group in the one or more output formats; and a message status unit configured to monitor a status of the transmission of the message to each of the message recipients in the identified group, the status indicating whether the transmission was successful, resulted in a busy signal, resulted in a no-answer, or was answered by a voice storage device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 15 , further including: an authentication unit configured to authenticate the subscriber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the message transmission unit is configured to transmit the message to one of the message recipients in the identified group in a first one of the output formats, determine whether the transmission was successful, and send the message to the one message recipient in a second one of the output formats when the transmission in the first output format was unsuccessful.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the group access unit is further configured to predefine the groups of message recipients in the group database.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein the group access unit is further configured to obtain contact information for each of the message recipients.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein the group access unit is further configured to receive information for each of the message recipients including at least one of a number and address for locating the message recipient and an identification of a type of equipment used by the message recipient, and store the received information in the group database.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the group access unit is configured to identify one or more types of equipment used by each of the message recipients, and identify one or more of the output formats corresponding to each of the identified types of equipment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the group access unit is further configured to identify periods of time when the identified types of equipment are valid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more output formats include a plurality of different output formats; and wherein the translator is configured to concurrently translate the message from the input format to the different output formats.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 15 , further comprising: a message delivery indicator configured to receive one or more replies to the message from the message recipients, and provide the replies to the subscriber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the message status unit is further configured to generate a status report from the monitored status.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the input format is one of a plurality of input formats; and wherein the translator is further configured to determine whether the one or more output formats match the one input format.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
71 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the group access unit is configured to receive one of the identifiers from the subscriber locate the group that corresponds to the received identifier in the group database, verify that the subscriber is authorized to access the group corresponding to the received identifier, and identify the message recipients in the group from the group database when the subscriber is authorized to access the group.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
152 words
A computer-readable medium that stores instructions executable by at least one processor to perform a method for transmitting messages from subscribers to a plurality of groups of message recipients, comprising: instructions for identifying one of the groups of message recipients to receive a message from a subscriber; instructions for determining one or more output formats for the message for each of the message recipients in the identified group of message recipients; instructions for translating the message to the one or more output formats; instructions for transmitting the message to the identified group of message recipients in the one or more output formats; and instructions for monitoring a status of the transmission of the message to each of the message recipients in the identified group of message recipients, the status indicating whether the transmission was successful, resulted in a busy signal, resulted in a no-answer, or was answered by a voice storage device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
152 words
A computer-readable medium that stores instructions executable by at least one processor to perform a method for transmitting messages from subscribers to a plurality of groups of message recipients, comprising: instructions for identifying one of the groups of message recipients to receive a message from a subscriber; instructions for determining one or more output formats for the message for each of the message recipients in the identified group of message recipients; instructions for translating the message to the one or more output formats; instructions for transmitting the message to the identified group of message recipients in the one or more output formats; and instructions for monitoring a status of the transmission of the message to each of the message recipients in the identified group of message recipients, the status indicating whether the transmission was successful, resulted in a busy signal, resulted in a no-answer, or was answered by a voice storage device.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for monitoring delivery of messages to groups of message recipients, comprising: identifying one of the groups of message recipients to receive a message; determining the message recipients in the identified group of message recipients; transmitting the message to each of the determined message recipients; monitoring a status of the transmission to each of the determined message recipients, the status indicating whether the transmission was successful, resulted in a busy signal, resulted in a no-answer, or was answered by a voice storage device; and generating a status report based on the monitored status.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for monitoring delivery of messages to groups of message recipients, comprising: identifying one of the groups of message recipients to receive a message; determining the message recipients in the identified group of message recipients; transmitting the message to each of the determined message recipients; monitoring a status of the transmission to each of the determined message recipients, the status indicating whether the transmission was successful, resulted in a busy signal, resulted in a no-answer, or was answered by a voice storage device; and generating a status report based on the monitored status.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 29 , further comprising: receiving one or more replies to the message from the determined message recipients, and incorporating the one or more replies in the status report.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-26 | 2006-02-25 | 2006-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-26 | 2010-02-25 | 2010-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-26 | 2014-02-25 | 2014-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |