GB2486261A

GB2486261A - Searching a message database using a short message service, SMS, query message

Info

Publication number: GB2486261A
Application number: GB1020929.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Harold Mead
Original assignee: Solent Text Ltd
Current assignee: Solent Text Ltd
Priority date: 2010-12-10
Filing date: 2010-12-10
Publication date: 2012-06-13
Also published as: GB201020929D0

Abstract

Querying a message database is disclosed, wherein the database comprises records which correspond with messages associated with a user of a wireless telecommunication network. The messages may, for example, be Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS) and / or email messages that have been sent to or received by the user. A method comprises receiving a query text message, such as an SMS or MMS message, from to the user, deriving at least one search criterion from the query text message, generating search results by searching the database for records matching the search criterion, compiling a results text message, such as an SMS or MMS message, based on the search results, and sending the results text message to the user. Embodiments of the invention allow a user of a wireless telecommunication network to easily search a database of previously received or sent messages simply by sending a text message containing an indication of desired search criteria. The user is provided with searchable access to network-stored messages in a way that uses only established text message schemes.

Description

TITLE OF TIlE INVENTION

TELECOMMUNICATIONS APPARATUS AND M[ffQfl

BACKGROUND OF THE INV ENT ON

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for use with wireless telecommunications networks, such as a mobile telephone system. More particularly the invention relates to methods and apparatus for querying a database of records corresponding to messages associated with a user of a wireless telecommunication network, for example text or email, messages previously sent or received by the user.

It is well known generally to archive messages in a database so they may be retrieved at a later date. Furthermore, it is well known to provide users of such archives with a search facility to allow messages to be retrieved on the basis of user-specified search criteria. Message databases are particularly well established, for example, in the field of email messaging. An email archive associated with a particular user (La associated with an email address associated with the user) may be used to store both sent and received messages for the user.

It is also known in the context of wireless telecommunication networks to provide subscribers of a network (users) with a facility to archive text messages they have been sent or they have sent themselves.

For text messages sent by the user it is relatively straightforward with conventional network architectures to provide a text message archive facility. This is because text messages sent by a subscriber of a particular network (the "home" network) are always routed through equipment in that network. This provides a central point of control at which the user's home network can intercept and copy sent messages for archiving.

The situation for messages sent to the user is less straightforward. This is because such messages do not necessarily pass through the subscriber's home network, eg. when the user is roaming and a message is sent to him from a network other than his home network. This means for conventional network architectures there 1'-is no central point of control in a user's home network through which all text messages sent to the user must necessarily pass. This means the home network cannot intercept and copy all received messages for archiving simply because it might never see some of the messages. However, it is possible to overcome this issue with special routing schemes, and one such technique is the so-called SMS Home Routing approach, eg, as described in EP 1 474 934 [1].

EP 1 474 934 [1] describes a technique that allows text messages to be routed via service apparatus in a recipient user's home network for the purpose of providing services to the recipient, such as archiving. Similar techniques allowing for the archiving of text messages received by a user are described in WO 2005/048617 [2], which introduces a technique that provides for storage of text messages at an element in a recipient's home network for' mobile terminated messages. EP 1 408 705 [3] also describes a technique for allowing text message recipients to control aspects of message delivery and processing, which could include archiving. EP 1 815 697 [4] describes mobile terminated service applications including an SMS Divert service provided for a message addressee and controlled using stored configuration information, and these techniques could also be used to provide for text message archiving. Further schemes that may be used for providing a text message archiving function are described in WO 2010/020740 [5], EP 1 626 590 [6] and WO 2009/090360 [7] Interfaces for accessing message archives, for example for retrieving and searching messages, may vary between different archives. For example, a database of records corresponding to an email archive might be accessed through ancillary functions of an email client program A database of records corresponding to a text message archive, on the other hand, might be accessed through a proprietary world-wide web interface In any event, there is a generally a desire to allow a user to access databases representing archives of messages in the most convenient manner possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of invention are set out in the appended c1aims.

Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention there is provided an apparatus for use with a wireless telecommunication networE The apparatus comprises: a message database for storing database records corresponding to messages associated with a user of the wireless telecommunication network; a query receiving element operable to receive a query text message from the user; a query processing element operable to derive one or more search criteria from the query text message; a response generating element operable to generate a results text message based on database records which correspond to the search criteria, and a response sending element operable to send the results text message to the user.

Thus embodiments of the invention provide users of a wireless telecommunication network with the ability to search and retrieve results from a database providing an archive of messages associated with the user using conventional text messaging techniques. This means the service can be accessed with, for example, a basic handset supporting only voice and text message services. It also means users can readily access their stored messages when they are mobile or otherwise have no access to an Internet terminal to use a web interface conventionally used for accessing message archives. Furthermore, because embodiments of the invention provide for access to a database which is external to the user's handset I equipment, a much larger archive can be stored. Furthermore still, the archive is not lost if the user's handset / equipment is lost or damaged! More generally, embodiments of the invention can provide users with the ability to access previously received messages at any time in a way that is simple to use and within the capabilities of the most mobile telephone users.

The database records corresponding to messages associated with a user might, for example, correspond to text messages and I or emails that have been sent by and / or sent to the user, or a combination thereof The query receiving element may be associated with an address in the wireless telecommunication network such that text messages sent to the address are delivered

A-

to the query receiving element. The address may, for example be a short code service number, thereby providing a ready mechanism for routing query text messages to the service apparatus.

The results text message may include an indication of the content of one or more messages corresponding to records in the message database which nutch the search criteria. In some examples, the results text message may comprise a list of extracts from one or more messages corresponding to records in the message database which correspond to the search criteria. This provides a way for a user to readily see extracts from a number of messages to identify any that might be of further interests having regard to what he might be searching for. The list might not be a complete listing of messages in the user's archive which meet the search criteria. In which case, the results text message may further comprise an indication there are more records in the message database which correspond to the search criteria than are represented in the list of extracts.

In examples where the results text message might comprise a list of extracts from messages associated with database records that meet the relevant search criteria, the apparatus may further comprise a selection receiving unit operable to receive a selection text message from the user indicating a selection from the list of extracts, and the response generating element may further be operable to generate a further results text message based on the database record which corresponds to the selection from the list of extracts, and the response sending element may further be operable to send the further results text message to the user Thus a ready mechanism is provided that allows a user to identify messages from the list for which he would like to receive further information In general, the format of the results text message may be dependent on the number of records in the message database which correspond to the search criteria For example, if there is only one hit, the results text message might simply be a copy of the relevant message from the database, perhaps with some additional information indicating the identity of the original sender and I or a time or date associated with the message. If there are multiple hits, a list format may be used. If there are vary many hits, the user may be invited in the results text message to formulate a different search.

The query text message may comprise a simple text string and the one or more search criteria may be based on the text string.. In other examples, the query text message may comprise an indication of a point in time and the search criteria may be based on the point in time. For example, the database may be queried for any messages sent or received in a given day, within a given date I time range that is defined, or partly defined, by the point in time specified in the query text message.

The apparatus may further comprise a results storing element operable to to retain information corresponding to the results text message after the results text message has been sent to the user.. This can allow, for' example, a user to further refine the results without the apparatus having to perform another database search.

The query text message may include an indication of Boolean operators to be used in deriving the search criteria and / or search modifiers (such as exact phrase only requirements, ignore case, etc).

According to another embodiment of the invention there is provided a method for querying a database storing records corresponding to messages associated with a user of a wireless telecommunication network, the method comprising: receiving a query text message from the user; deriving one or more search criteria from the query text message; generating a results text message based on database records which correspond to the search criteria, and sending the results text message to the user..

BRIEF DESJ1IFTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect reference is now made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 schematically shows an apparatus for providing access to a database in a wireless telecommunication network in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

JIETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure I schematically shows an apparatus 2 for providing access to a database 4 in a wireless telecommunication network 6 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In broad summary, embodiments of the invention are based on the realisation that text messages can be used to allow users to search and retrieve messages from a database of messages associated with the user in a wireless telecommunication network.

For the sake of example, the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 is based around using Short Message Service (SMS) text messages in a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network. However, it will be appreciated the same or similar principles can also be applied in other mobile network types, such as 1341 networks, and for other types of text messaging, for example, Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS). That is to say, the term text message should be interpreted generally to encompass any form of messaging in a wireless telecommunication network that is able to convey textual content, for example, messages in the any of the well known wireless communication network formats.

In Figure 1 a user 8 of the wireless telecommunication network 6 is schematically represented as a conventional mobile (cellular!) telephone handset. The user 8 may place and receive voice calls, and send and receive text messages, through the network 6 in the usual way. The network 6 is largely conventional and aspects of the network which perform their normal function in the normal way (e.g conventional text message routing and radio access aspects of the network) are not shown in Figure 1 and not described here in detail in the interest of brevity.

The network 6 in Figure 1 is different from a conventional network in that it comprises an apparatus 2, which may also be referred to here as service equipment, for implementing a service function in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In broad summary, the service function provided by the apparatus for users of the network 6 is a text message based database search and access function. The functionality provided in accordance with embodiments of the invention may sometimes be referred to as a text message database access or query service.

The service equipment 2 comprises a database 4 and a number' of functional elements I units referred to here as a query receiving element (QRE) 12, a query processing element (QPE) 14, a response generating element (RGE) 16, and a response sending element (RSE) 18. The database 4 is schematically represented in Figure 1 as being an integral part of the service equipment 2, but in other examples, an external database may be used with appropriate and conventional communicative coupling.

The database 4 is a conventional message archive.. In this example, the database comprises records 24 corresponding to text messages associated with various w different users of the wireless telecommunications network. More particularly, the database stores records corresponding to text messages that have been previously sent to users of the network along with associated data, e.g. data indicating the identity of the recipient user, the identity of the message sender, and the time and date of the message. That is to say, the database 4 may correspond with any known text message database, for example of the kind normally accessed through a world-wide web based interface, such as with the Ocean Smart Services product from Telsis (RTM) (Telsis Limited, Fareham, United Kingdom).

The number of messages stored in the database will depend on the specific implementation. For example, in one case a network operator (or other provider of the text message database access service) may provide for the storage of all text messages sent to a user since the user first provisioned the database I archive service. In other examples, only a subset of text messages may be stored, for example, only messages received in the last 2 years, or a fixed number of messages per user, for example, the last 2000 messages received by each user. It will be appreciated these numbers are provided purely for example and the exact rules on the basis of which messages are stored in any given implementation is not particularly significant. In some examples where a limited number of messages are stored in the archive, a user may have the option of marking messages for keeping in preference to others.

To help in describing the operation of the apparatus 2 of Figure 1 an example scenario is assumed. In particular, it is assumed the user 8 needs to find the address of a friend who lives in a particular town. The user 8 knows he has at some stage in the past been sent the address in a text message, but has now forgotten the details.

To search the database 4 for the previously received message containing his fiend's address, The user 8 composes a conventional text message comprising a text string to be used as a search term. For example, the user 8 may recall that his friend lives somewhere in the town "Swindon", and so would like to search the database 4 for previously received text messages which include the text string "Swindon". Thus the user 8 operates his mobile telephone handset (or other text message capable device) in the conventional maimer to compose a text message, e.g. a conventional SMS message, simply comprising the text "Swindon". This text message may be referred to here as a query text message.

The user then sends the query text message to a predefined service number assigned by the operator of the network 6 to the service apparatus 2. The predefined number may, for example, be a short code, but any other suitable access address could is be used. For example, a full-length telephone number associated with the apparatus, or a textual address in networks that support alphanumeric addressing, could equally be used.

As schematically shown in Figure 1 by wavy line 26, the query text message sent by the user 8 is routed to the apparatus 2 and received at the query receiving element (QRE) 12. The routing 26 of the query text message from the user 8 to the apparatus 2 may be achieved using any conventional techniques, and aspects associated with the routing, e.g. radio base station, mobile switching centre (MSC), short message service centre (SMSC), etc., are not shown in Figure 1 for simplicity.

The QRE 12 operates to interface with the network 6 to receive the query text message and provide any associated signalling, e.g. providing acknowledgment of receipt. Thus the QRIB 12 in this example is operable to receive mobile terminated (MT) text messages in the usual manner.

The QRE 12 passes the query message to the query processing element (QPE) 14. The QPB is responsible for deriving one or more search criteria from the query text message to be used as the basis for a search of the database 4.

In most practical implementations, one search criterion will be the identity of the user 8 sending the query text message. This is because the database 4 will typically contain records of messages for a number, possibly all, subscribers of the network 6, but each user 8 will normally only be allowed to search his own messages (i.e. messages sent to him or by him). The QPE 14 may, for example, derive the user's identity from the MSISDN (Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number) associated with the query text message. Depending on the architecture of the database 4, the user's identIty may be treated as a required search term to be matched in a search of all database records, or may be used to identify a logically distinct io database of records specific to the user 8. That is to say the database records 24 may be split into "folders" for different users, and a query text message received from a specific user might only be used to search within the folder associated with that user.

The QPE 14 extracts the text string that is to be used as a search term from the query text message and passes the information to the results generating element [5 (ROE) 16. Thus in this example, the QPE 14 informs the ROE 16 that a search is to be performed for the term "Swinclon" in the database records 24 associated with user 8.

The ROE 16 is responsible for querying the database 4 for records that match the search criteria. Thus in this example, the RGE 16 operates to query the database 4 for messages previously sent to the user 8 which contain the word "Swindon".

Conventional database query and search techniques and interface syntax may be used.

In general the interface will depend on the particular nature and architecture of the database, and in this example a Structured Query Language (SQL) database interface is assumed. It will, however, be appreciated that the exact nature of the interaction between the ROE 16 and the database 4 is not significant to the overall operation of embodiments of the invention.

The database 4 responds to the search query received from the ROE 16 with an indication of records corresponding to / matching the search criterion I criteria. In accordance with known teclmiques, the database 4 may provide either exact matches only, or may also provide an indication of "near misses", for example, based on common misspellings, different use of capitalisation, and so on. This may be achieved within the database's own internal search algorithm, or by structuring the ROE 16 database query accordingly (e.g. requesting a search for "Swindon" OR "swindon" OR "Swinden"...).

The ROE 16 receives the results of the query from the database and generates a results text message addressed to the user 8 based on the search results (discussed ftirther below). This may be done in accordance with established "machine-generated" text message techniques, and in this example comprises a conventional SMS text message. The ROE 16 then passes the results text message to the results sending element (RSE) 18.

The RSE 18 operates to send the results text message from the apparatus 2 to the user 8, as schematically shown in Figure 1 by wavy line 28. Thus the RSE 12 in this example is operable to send messages in the usual manner. The routing 28 of the results text message from the apparatus 2 to the user 8 through the network 6 may be achieved using conventional techniques, and aspects of the network associated with the routing are not shown in Figure 1 for simplicity.

is Once the results text message is received by user 8 ftc. delivered to his mobile handset or other device supporting text messaging that is to say capable of receiving MT format text messages), the user may open and read the text message in the normal way, thereby providing him with an indication of the results of the database query based on the search criteria established from his initial query text message. The user is thus able to in effect query his message archive using only conventional text message functions of his handset.

Appropriate measures may be taken to prevent search results text messages sent to the user from being added to his archive. For example, the database manager may be configured to reject messages for storage if they are identified as having been sent by the apparatus 2 (e.g. based on an MSISDN or other originator address associated with the apparatus 2 / RSE 1 8).

The format of the results text message received by the user 8 is in this example embodiment is dependent on the number of records deemed to match the search criteria / criterion (i.e. the number of matches).

For example, if only one database record is found to match the search criteria, the results text message may simply be a copy of the previously received message, perhaps with an additional header / prefix setting out relevant information, such as the telephone number of the original sender of the message and its date and time. In another example, the ROE 16 or RSE 18 may operate to in effect spoof the originator address for the results text message so that it appears to have come from the original sender of the message in the archive that is deemed to match the search criteria.

Thus in the event only one archived message is *found to match the search criteria, the results text message sent to the user 8 might comprise the following text: Example!: FROM: +99 1234 567890 SENT: 09:30 16 Jan 2009 Hi, my address is 99 Acacia Gardens Swindon, Wiltshire, SN99 9ZZ. See you on the weekend The last four lines of this example results text message are a copy of the archived message found to match the search criteria. The first two lines are added by the ROE 16 based on associated information in the database to help in providing the user 8 with a context for the message.

If more than one database record is found to match the search criteria, the user 8 could in principle be sent multiple results text messages (or a single concatenated text message) contsponding to different ones of the matching database records.

However, in practice this may not be appropriate, for example, if there are potentially a large number of matches.

Accordingly, in accordance with the example embodiment of Figure 1, and in the event of multiple matches, the ROE 16 is configured to generate a results text message comprising a numbered list of extracts of content from previously received messages matching the search criterion.

For example, if between two and a first threshold number, eg. nine, database records are found to match the search criteria, the results text message sent to the user may comprise a corTesponding list of items numbered from one upwards, with each item comprising its number followed by a separator (e.g. a space) and a number (e.g. the first 13) characters of the matched message. The matched messages in the list may be ordered by date, for example, with the first entry being the most recent, The list may additionally include a header (or other indication) setting out details of the search criteria Thus in the event there are three archived messages found to match the search criteria, the results text message sent to the user 8 might comprise the following text: Example2: Search: "SWINDON" I Hello User 8 2 Hi, my addres..

3 Train times f,..

The last three lines of this example results text message provide initial extracts from archived message found to match the search criteria. The first line sets out the search string initially specified by the user 8 to help in providing the user 8 with a context for the results message.

If more than the first threshold number of results are found to match, then the results text message sent to the user may comprising a list of the first nine items numbered from one to nine and an additional tenth item, e.g. numbered zero and labelled as More'.

Thus in the event there are fifteen archived messages found to match the search criteria, the results text message sent to the user 8 might comprise the following text: Example3: Search: "'SWINDON" I Hello User 8. -.

2 Hi, my addres...

3 Train times f.

4 Hi, what time,..

S We are meetin.

6 Sarah told me...

7 Can you help 8 Meet me at th...

9 Are you aroun...

0>>More>> If more than a second threshold number! of messages are found to match, the results text message may simply notify the user 8 there are too many matches and suggest refining the search criteria. For example, in the event there are over a hundred archived messages found to match the search criteria, the results text message sent to the user 8 might comprise the following text: Example4: Search: "SWINDON" There are more than 100 matches, please modify the search criteria A user receiving such a message may then send a new query text message with more specific search criteria, for example including a Boolean operator such as in the text string "Swindon AND Wiltshire" When the user is presented with an enumerated list of extracts as described above (Examples 2 and 3), the user' may peruse the list of extracts to determine which one might correspond with what he is looking for Thus if presented with either of the above-identified lists the user, the user will note that entry number 2 looks like it might contain the information he requires.

To obtain the remainder of the corresponding message from the database the user may simply reply to the results text message with a selection text message indicating the selection of item 2 from the list. For example, by sending the text string "2". The selection text message is routed through the network 6 to the apparatus 2 in accordance with conventional techniques and received by at the QRE 12 and passed to the QPE 16. The QPE identifies the message as being a response to an enumerated list (for example, based on the fact it comprises only a single digit number) and passes the information to the RUE 16. The RUE can then refer to the list recently sent to the user 8 to identify the desired message and generate a further results text message for sending to the user &. Now that a single record from the database has been identified as being of interest, the RUE 16 may generate the further results text message in a manner that corresponds with that described above for the situation of a single match

(Example I)

When the user is presented with an enumerated list of extracts with more than nine matches (Example 3), the user may decide than none of the entries 1 to 9 correspond with what he is looking for, In this case the user 8 may reply with a selection text message comprising "0". This is received in the apparatus and interpreted as a wish for the user to be sent a further list of extract. The RUE 16 may thus generate a further results text message that in essence corresponds with the first results text message, but which presents an enumerated list of the next nine messages Is found to niateh the search criteria. This process may repeat until the user S identifies a particular message as being of interest and returns a corresponding selection text message returned to the apparatus 2. The apparatus can then respond by sending a still further results text message based on the selected message from the list in a format corresponding to that shown in Example I above.

In examples where an enumerated list may be provided to a user as a results text message, there are a number of ways the apparatus can establish a link between a subsequently received selection text message and the original query results. For example, each user may only be allowed one ongoing search such that any selection text message (eg. any message containing a single digit, or other specified fonnat, such as the word "Select" followed by a selected number) received at the apparatus is automatically applied to the most recent results text message sent to that user. Thus, the RUE 16 may maintain a store of the latest search results from the database 4 and corresponding results text message sent for each user, Another option to allow users to have multiple ongoing searches is to include an indication of the relevant search in the selection text message. For example, the user may reply to a results text message with the text string CS rindo Select 2" to retrieve the message associated with entry 2 on the latest results text message received in relation to an initial query text message "Swindon".

Thus embodiments of the invention provide a user with a mechanism to search and retrieve previously received messages using conventional text messaging.

Furthermore, a user may do this without requiring access to a computer or a "smart" phone providing internet access, which is the conventional way to access text message databases.

It will be appreciated there are many ways in which the above described example may be modified while still retaining the characteristic of providing a text message based access mechanism for searching and receiving results from a database comprising a message archive.

For example, the above description has focussed on a database comprising an archive of previously received text messages. In other examples, the database could equally include records corresponding to text messages the user has previously sent, and / or emails the user has previously sent or received, or any combination of such messages, That is to say, the origin of the messages in the archive provided by the database is not significant in so far as the ability to search and retrieve messages from the database using text messaging is concerned. Figure 1 schematically shows the apparatus 2 as being within the network 6 since it is likely (but not necessary) for an archive of text messages to be managed by a network operator. However, embodiments of the invention may equally be implemented by a third patty, e.g. to allow text-message based access to an email message archive that is external to the network. In this ease the apparatus may be provided by the third party outside the control of the network operator.

While the query and response text messages in the example of Figure 1 are sent using SMS, in other embodiments other text message formats may be used. Some example embodiments may support multiple wireless communication system text message formats, such as SMS and MMS, at the choice of the user. For example, MMS may be considered more appropriate, at least for the results text message, in examples in which the database might comprise records of previously sent and / or received MMS messages, and / or emails which might include images or attachments.

Similarly, MMS might be preferred in some situations because MMS has a higher capacity than SMS and so could be more suited to returning multi-segment or long Unicode messages. In some examples, a user may send the query text message as an MMS as an indication that the user wishes to receive search results back by MMS rather than SMS.

The apparatus may be configured to store a list of matched messages (search results) for some time after the results text message is sent. For example, the search results might be kept for a fixed time, such as for 24 hours, or until the user starts a new search by sending a new query. During the time the search results from the Jo database are stored, the user may send further requests in the form of a single number, which will be interpreted as a request to send the full text of the correspondingly numbered message indicated in the most recent search results.

The apparatus represented in Figure 1 is dedicated to the provision of the above-described text message database query service. Thus it is assumed that any text message received at the apparatus is a query text message (or subsequent selection text message). However, in other examples a text message database query service may be provided by an apparatus that supports a range of advanced services for mobile terminated messages addressed to the network's subscribers. A user may then select a desired service by selecting from various syntaxes. For example, to use a text message database query service the user may send a text message comprising a keyword followed by the desired search string (e.g. "FIND: Swindon") to an address associated with the apparatus providing the range of services. The apparatus may then classi& the received text message as a query text message for the database query service based on the presence of the predefined keyword (e.g. "FIND"), or other indicator, and process the message accordingly.

In some examples all users of a network may be provided with access to the text message database query service. In other examples, the service may be subscription based.

In some embodiments, the query text message (and hence the search criteria on the basis of which the database is queried) might support more complex syntaxes than simple text strings to be searched for. For example Boolean operators and qualifiers may be included to provide for the kinds of advanced search options commonly used on traditional search interfaces, such as * exact phrase (e.g. by use of quotes around the desired phrase) * restricted date and/or time range While the apparatus of Figure 1 is schematically shown as comprising Various functional blocks / elements, it will be appreciated that these elements are shown separately largely for ease of explanation. In some practical implementations of JO embodiments of the invention, the above-described functionality of vaiious ones of these elements may be provided by a single apparatus element. Generally, the above-described functionality may be provided by one or more suitably programmed general purpose computers, or by application specific apparatus, as is generally conventional in telecommunications networks.

is It will further be appreciated that the terms used herein in connection with text message formats at various stages of routing, ag., terms such as "mobile originated / originating" (MO) and "mobile terminated / terminating" (MT) are used in the context of their well understood meanings as defined in the relevant telecommunication network standards, eg., the IS 23 M40 standard (see www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/I999- 1O/for-itu123040-320.pdf) and later versions thereoL Thus, for example, an MO message is a message originating from a sender (e.g., from a sender's telephone handset) and an MT message is a message in a format suitable for delivering to a recipient (e.g., to a recipient user's telephone handset) in accordance with the well understood Mobile Application Protocol (MAP), It will be appreciated that in the context of embodiments of the invention, references to "to" or "from" a user / subscriber are intended as meaning "to" or "from" communication equipment / apparatus, such as a mobile telephone, which is associated with / being used by the user.

In so far as the embodiments of the invention described above may be implemented, at least in part, using software controlled processing apparatus, it will be appreciated that a computer program providing such software control and a storage medium by which such a computer program is stored are envisaged as aspects of the inventionS.

Thus a method and apparatus for querying a database has been described. The database comprises records which correspond with messages associated with a user of a wireless telecommunication network. The messages may, for example, be SMS, MMS and / or email messages that have been sent to or received by the user. The method comprises receiving a query text message, such as an SMS or MMS message, fiom the user, deriving at least one search criterion from the query text message, generating search results by searching the database for records matching the search Jo criterion, compiling a results text message, such as an SMS or MMS message, based on the search results, and sending the results text message to the user. Thus embodiments of the invention allow a user of a wireless telecommunication network to easily search a database of previously received or sent messages simply by sending a text message containing an indication of desired search criteria. Thus the user is is provided with seaxchable access to network-stored messages in a way that uses only established text message schemes.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. It will be appreciated that features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims

REFERENCES

[1] EP 1 474 934 (Inteflprop Limited) [2] WO 2005/048617 (Tntellprop Limited) [3] EP 1 408 705 (Telsis Holdings Limited) [4] EP 1 815 697 (Intellprop Limited) [5] WO 20 10/020740 (Inteliprop Limited) [6] EP 1 626 590 (Inteflprop Limited) [7] WO 2009/090360 (Inteliprop Limited)

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus for use with a wireless telecommunication network, comprising: a message database for storing database records corresponding to messages associated with a user of the wireless telecommunication network; a query receiving element operable to receive a query text message from the user; a query processing element operable to derive one or more search criteria from tile query text message; Jo a response generating element operable to generate a results text message based on database records which correspond to the search criteria, and a response sending element operable to send the results text message to the user.
2. The apparatus of claim I, wherein at least some of the database records correspond to text messages previously sent to the user.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein at least some of the database records correspond to text messages previously sent by the user.
4. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the database records correspond to email messages previously sent to an email address associated with the user.
5. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the database records correspond to email messages previously sent from an email address associated with the user 6-The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the query receiving element is associated with an address in the wireless telecommunication network such that text messages sent to the address are delivered to the query receiving element.7, The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the results text message includes an indication of the content of one or more messages corresponding to records in the message database which correspond to the search criteria.S8 The apparatus of any preceding, wherein the results text message comprises a list of extracts from one or more messages corresponding to records in the message database which correspond to the search criteria.9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the results text message further comprises an indication that there are more records in the message database which correspond to the search criteria than are represented in the list of extracts.10. The apparatus of claim 8 or 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises a selection receiving unit operable to receive a receive a selection text message from the user indicating a selection from the list of extracts, and wherein the response generating element is further operable to generate a further results text message based on the database record which corresponds to the selection from the list of extracts, and the response sending element is further operable to send the further results text message to the usei 11. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the format of the results text message is dependent on the number of records in the message database which correspond to the search criteria.12. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the query text message comprises a text string and the search criteria are based on the text string.13. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the query text message comprises an indication of a point in time and the search criteria are based on the point in time.14. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising a results storing element operable to retain information corresponding to the results text message afier the results text message has been sent to the user.15. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the query text message includes an indication of Boolean operators and / or search modifiers to be used in deriving the search eritejia.in 16. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the query text message and / or the results text message comprises a short message service (SMS) or multimedia message service (MMS) message.17. A method for querying a database storing records corresponding to messages associated with a user of a wireless telecommunication network, the method comprising: receiving a query text message from the user; deriving one or more search criteria from the query text message; generating a results text message based on database records which correspond to the search criteria, and sending the results text message to the user.I S. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.19. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.