GB2455710A - Text message storage - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system for storing messages, particularly SMS messages, directly from a mobile telephone, or other mobile device, to an online storage server with the ability to retrieve the messages using the same device. The system utilises a unique identifier of the message originating device, such as the telephone number, to securely allow access to the stored messages. The system can also be used to create a unique identifier for each message, search the messages currently being stored and provide secure access to the messages via the internet. The benefits of this system are that users can, in an uncomplicated and secure manner, store and retrieve their important messages.

Description

TEXT MESSAGE STORAGE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the storage of text and other messages communicated across mobile telephone networks.

Background to the Invention

The advent of mobile telephony has not only expanded the opportunities for oral communication between contacts, but has also provided a medium for the transmission of near-instant data communication. In particular, the short messaging service (SMS) protocols established relatively early in the development of mobile communications has led to phenomenal growth of "text messages" as a communication format.

Text messages have developed today to include data above and beyond simple text.

* It is now common for mobile telephones to have the ability to transfer pictures, video, audio, and other media in message form. The term text message" as used hereinafter refers to all message types serviced by mobile phone networks.

Text messages are now an extremely common type of communication. Market sources estimate that in 2007 over 4 billion text messages were sent each month in the UK alone. While a significant number of these messages may be considered trivial or disposable, some are regarded by the receiver (or sender) as having significant personal, or commercial value. For example, it has been reported that on Valentines Day in 2007 there were more valentine messages sent by text messaging than by a traditional card. In another survey by a leading mobile network operator, it was found that almost half of all under 24 year olds surveyed kept more than 20 romantic texts on their phones.

The value of such messages leads to the requirement for their storage.

Conventionally, the most common form of storing or saving a text message is on the device itself (typically, the mobile phone). It is also possible to store text messages * 2 on external devices such as a subscriber identity module (SIM) card or personal computer (PC).

There is limited storage space on mobile phones and/or SIM cards for text messages. As a result, users relying on these means for storage will find that after a penod of time some stored messages must be deleted in order that they may receive and store new ones. This may result in the requirement to delete messages that the user wishes to retain.

Even if a user is satisfied with the storage space on their mobile phone, it is typically difficult or impossible for these messages to be transferred to another mobile phone when the phone is replaced. A user replacing their phone will again lose text messages unwillingly. This is a particular problem given the current business model used in mobile communications whereby a user typically receives a new handset each time a contract of 12 or 18 months is signed.

Although, as mentioned above, it is possible in some circumstances for users to transfer messages they wish to retain to external devices such as PCs, the technical complexity of available methods for this purpose is off-putting to the majority of users.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of storing messages on a network-based message store, comprising: receiving a message transmitted from a mobile device across a mobile communications network, the message comprising a first device identifier; storing the message; receiving a request for the message from the device, the request comprising a second device identifier, and transmitting the message to the device if the second device identifier matches the first device identifier.

The present invention provides a secure method of online storage of messages from a mobile telephone or other device, which allows the message to subsequently be retrieved by said device. Each stored message is only retrievable by the mobile device with which it is associated. This not only secures access to the stored messages, but also allows a single server to store messages from a large number of devices in a manageable form.

The first and second device identifiers may be telephone numbers, serial numbers, or any other identifying feature that may be transmitted electronically. A user transmitting a message to the system will be identified by the first device identifier, while a user attempting to retrieve a message is identified by the second device identifier.

Preferably, the method further includes the step of assigning a message identifier to the message. The request may then include the message identifier in order to ensure that the correct message is retrieved. In this way, a large number of messages may be stored for each device and may still be effectively retrieved.

Alternatively, or additionally, the request may include one or more search terms. As such, the or each stored message is then searched for the presence of these search terms and is returned to the user if the terms are found.

The present invention preferably also allows online access to the stored messages.

As such, a user may log in to a secure website in order to access the stored message.

Preferably, the device identifier for a stored message may be altered on a user transfer request. This allows users to move access to stored messages from one mobile device to another. In this way, should the user replace the mobile device from which the message originated it is possible to gain access to the stored message from the replacement device. It is also possible for more than one device identifier to be assigned to a stored message simultaneously, allowing access to a O 4 single message from a variety of devices.

In some embodiments, advertisernens are appended to messages transmitted to the device. This may enable the costs of the service to the user to be reduced. The advertisements are preferably targeted and based on user demographics.

The present invention may also provide accurate, verifiable and certified time/date stamping for stored messages. This proof of the time and date on which messages were received may be useful in some business applications.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network-based system for storing messages, the system being adapted to, receive a message transmitted from a mobile device across a mobile communications network, the message comprising a first device identifier; store the message; receive a request for the message from the device, the request comprising a second device identifier, and transmit the message to the device if the second device identifier matches the first device identifier.

The system may be implemented on conventional computing equipment, either at a single location or across a distributed network.

Brief Description of the Figures

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a message storage system in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows an example of a message to be stored by an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 shows an example of a confirmation message provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A number of mobile devices 10 (typically mobile telephones) are in communication with a mobile network 20. A server 30 is also in communication with the mobile network. The server 30 is accessible to user workstations 40 via a conventional computer network, such as the internet.

The system shown in Figure 1 allows a user to transfer messages (such as text messages) stored on a mobile device 10 (such as a phone) to the central server 30 for later retrieval.

The user first stores the message at the server 30 by sending it (over the mobile network 20) to a predefined number, or short code (for example, 60030). Preferably, the message sent by the user includes a code word (for example, TXTSAV) followed by the message intended for storage. In this way, a user may simply forward messages that he or she has received for storage without the use of external cabling or devices at the user's end.

Figure 2 shows an example of a message sent to the server by the user to store the phrase "This is a sample text message", using UTXTSA/n as the code word.

The central server 30 receives the text message sent by the user. The server 30 receives data regarding both the content of them message and the identity of the device 10 by which it was sent.

The server 30 maintains a data base of registered mobile devices. On receipt of the text message, the server 30 checks whether it originated from a registered device, It the device 10 is not registered then it creates a new account for the device, stores the text message and assigns it a message identifier (for example, "1"). Accounts created in this way are preferably "mobile only' in that messages may only be retrieved from the particular mobile device from which they originated and not from * 6 other online devices (such as a user's PC). This ensures that messages stored in this way are secure. Once the server 30 has created the account and stored the message, and confirmation message is sent to the user indicating the message identifier for the stored message and preferably reminding the user to register the account online for full access. Figure 3 shows an example of the confirmation message.

If the server 30 receives a message from a device 10 which is on the registered database, it stores the message and assigns it a message identifier, before sending a message to the user indicating the message identifier. Typically, the message identifier will bear a simple relationship to other message identifier used for messages stored from that user or device (for example, the logic new message identifier = old message identifier + 1 may be adopted).

Messages stored by the server 30 are stored in the account belonging to the originating device 10. Each account stores all messages received from a given device along with details of the device. These details may be the telephone number of the device, the serial number, or other identifying information.

A user may retrieve a stored message in a number of ways. In particular, the message may be retrieved from the user's mobile phone (or other mobile device 10) or from workstations 40 connected to the server 30 via the internet. In this second case, however, it is preferred that access is only available to the user once they have registered. Moreover, registered users are typically only granted access once a username and password has been authenticated by the server.

In order to retrieve a message from the mobile device 10, a user sends a text message to a predefined number or short code (for example, 60030) indicating which message or messages they wish to retrieve. This indication may rely on the message identifier or may take another form, such as a key word search.

In the case in which the users wishes to indicate the desired message by message identifier the text message may take the form of a command word followed by the message identifier (for example, "TXTSAV 3").

On receiving the instruction to retrieve a message the server 30 will first check to see whether the device 10 from which the message originates exists on the registered data base. If the device 10 does not exist on the data base then an error message is sent back to the device 10 and no message is retrieved.

If the originating device 10 is present on the data base, the server 30 searches the messages stored for that device in order to check whether a message is stored with the message identifier indicated by the user. If such a message exists, then this is returned to the user, completing the user's retrieval of the stored message. If the message does not exist, then the server 30 will return an error message to the user indicating that the message identifier was invalid and requesting that the user try again.

As indicated above, the user may also indicate the desired message through a keyword search. In this case the user sends a message to the predefined number or short code which includes a command word followed by the search terms (for example, "TXTSAV John'").

On receiving a message indicating a keyword search is to be performed, the server first checks whether the originating device 10 is on the registered database and if not returns an error message to the device 10. If the device 10 is registered, then the server 30 searches through all stored messages for that device and checks to see if any contain the search terms. If no message contains the relevant term then an error message is returned to the user indicating that the term used was invalid and inviting the user to try again with a different term.

If a single message is located that contains the search terms, then the server 30 transmits this message to the mobile device 10, completing the user's retrieval of the message. If, alternatively, a plurality of messages contain the given search terms * 8 the server 30 returns a message to the device 10 which indicates the number of messages found, the search terms used, and the message identifiers for the messages that contain the search terms. The user may then use the retrieval method by message identifier described above to retrieve the desired message.

Alternatively, the user may narrow the search by the use of further search terms. In the example given above, once an initial search for ujohnn returns a plurality of results, a further search for ujohn Saturday may be performed to narrow down the search. Indeed any collection of search terms may be used, along with Boolean or other operators (such as AND or OR), if desired.

As mentioned above, registered users may also access stored messages from network workstations 40 (such as PCs) connected to the internet. In order to access the messages from a workstation 40 of this kind, the user logs on to a service website (for example, www.bdsav.com) using a unique user name and password that they have been assigned on registration to the service.

Once the user is logged on to the website, he or she may view the stored messages and may also manipulate them in a number of ways. For instance, the user will typically be able to edit the messages, alter their arrangement in the inbox, delete messages, or forward messages to other mobile devices or online accounts. The user may also transfer the stored messages to other mobile devices. For example, if the user purchases a new telephone, the messages stored from the old phone may be transferred so as to be accessible from the new phone. That is, the stored messages may be updated to refer to the identity of the new phone.

Users may also select an uAd..enabledn feature which allows targeted advertisements to be sent with the messages.

In allowing online access, the server 30 takes the necessary steps to verify the user name and password entered by the user and to allow the manipulation of the user's stored messages as described above. If the usemame and/or password entered are incorrect the server 30 will preferably provide a uforgonen password"" option to * 9 securely forward the necessary information to the user if required.

The present invention may be used to store both personal and commercial messages of interest to the user. It offers the opportunity both to safeguard messages of a sentimental value and to allow business information to be saved and retrieved in a simple, safe and secure manner. The present invention can also be used to provide a text messaging based system for querying an online database holding business or personal information (for example, theatre listings, restaurant finder, personal contacts and so on). It may also be used to provide corporate messaging and communication across different platforms (for example, PCs, mobile phones and PDAs).

The present invention is effective in mobile networks of any type, and is not limited to Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) or other protocols. In particular, the present invention may be implemented in 3G, 4G, WiFi or WiMax networks.

Claims (12)

1. A method of storing messages on a network-based message store, comprising: receiving a message transmitted from a mobile device across a mobile communications network, the message comprising a first device identifier; storing the message; receiving a request for the message from the device, the request comprising a second device identifier, and transmitting the message to the device if the second device identifier matches the first device identifier.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: assigning a first message identifier to the stored message, wherein the request further comprises a second message identifier, and the step of transmitting the message to the device only occurs if the second message identifier matches the first message identifier.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the request further comprises one or more search terms, and the step of transmitting the message only occurs if the message contains the one or more search terms.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising the step of adjusting the first device identifier in response to a transfer instruction.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising the step of offering access to the stored message across a computer network.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the computer network is the Internet

7. A network-based system for storing messages, the system being adapted to, receive a message transmitted from a mobile device across a mobile communications network, the message comprising a first device identifier; store the message; receive a request for the message from the device, the request comprising a second device identifier, and transmit the message to the device if the second device identifier matches the first device identifier.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the system is further adapted to assign a first message identifier to the stored message, and wherein the request further comprises a second message identifier, and the system is adapted to transmit the message to the device only if the second message identifier matches the first message identifier.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein the request further comprises one or more search terms, and the system is adapted to transmit the message to the device only if the message contains the one or more search terms.

10. A system according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the system is further adapted to adjust the first device identifier in response to a transfer instruction.

11. A system according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the system is further adapted to offer access to the stored message across a computer network.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the computer network is the internet.