WO2011089630A1 - Method and system of communication via anonymous sms text messages authenticated in separated non-communicating real rooms - Google Patents

Abstract

A chat Short Message chat Service (SMS) among nicknames, whose cellular telephone numbers are masked, is provided with an IP server in separate non- communicating environments, also called real rooms. The server is connected both to a gateway to the mobile radio network and to a number of fixed terminals situated in respective real rooms forming a star-type intranet. For each real room the server provides a temporary code which authenticates the text messages sent in that real room to nicknames located in the same real room. The temporary authentication code is shown on a centrally situated display connected to the local terminal. Authentication is given following receipt of individual requests for enablement sent to the server by registered users of the chat service who include in their request message the temporary authentication code shown on the central display.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF COMMUNICATION VIA ANONYMOUS SMS TEXT MESSAGES AUTHENTICATED IN SEPARATED NON-COMMUNICATING REAL ROOMS

Method and system of communication via anonymous SMS text messages authenticated in separated non-communicating real rooms

Field of application of the invention

The present invention concerns the field of internet applications to mobile radio telephone networks and, especially, method and system of communication via anonymous SMS text messages authenticated in separated non-communicating real rooms.

Text messages are sent from one mobile terminal through the Short Message Service (SMS). The message itself is called an SMS text message.

Review of the known art

In line with technological evolution of the network of cellular telephones and mobile terminals, known as "mobiles", a number of interesting uses of the internet, initially realizable only on personal computers, are now being applied to mobile radio telephony. The uses that mainly concern the present subject are those whereby 'conversation' groups can be set up ad hoc, in which the participants converse by exchanging SMS text messages. In the fixed telephony network, organization of such groups is handled by a server that provides instant exchange of SMS text messages; the server being endowed with a software to support applicative programs, such as Windows™ MSN, which allow a participant to use his personal computer to exchange SMS text messages in real time with the personal computers of all those participating in the conversation session. In order to safeguard privacy each participant is known in the network by a nickname used to hide his/her real identity from the other members of the group.

The mobile radio network has adopted internet technology, creating for this purpose a platform for inter- working among 3 GPP protocols in the mobile radio world and with the numerous IETF protocols on the internet, in particular with the Internet Protocol (IP). Some types of applicative software, developed for the earlier internet network but possibly of interest to the mobile radio network as well, have been adapted to the new context. For example, that used for instantaneous SMS text message exchange has led to creation of "push" technology, so-called because, by pressing a certain key on a mobile, the individual member of a conversation group can send an SMS text message to others taking part in the session practically in real time.

The invention now to be described does not specifically concern instantaneous SMS text message exchange, but does share with it the main psychological premise arising from the desire of a person to communicate with others in a commonly shared context. Such a context might be a mutual interest in some kind of sport, in motors, music, or a friendship based on similar experiences of life, the desire for a sentimental relationship or, more simply still, one's neighbours, and so on.

Just as for the fixed network; in the mobile radio network as well, the formation of groups for communication around a theme has no geographical limits. It must be stated that the use of IETF protocols in the mobile radio network for supplying services intrinsic to the internet is not strictly binding and could be suited to earlier 3 GPP protocols, but integration of internet technology provides many advantages. The latest mobile terminals are in fact fitted with advanced software applications able to cope with any evolutionary progress from the simplest instantaneous exchange of SMS text messages to the more complex technologies in the social networks, not to mention all the commercial and financial possibilities encountered when navigating on the web.

For purposes of tracing mobile terminals, the area covered by the mobile radio network has been divided into differently sized geographical cells each covered by a radio signal supplied by a base transceiver station in the access network, able to handle connections to all the terminals in the cell. Change of cell during roaming when a conversation is in progress, known as 'handover', involves nodes in the access network situated on a higher hierarchical level, namely the base transceiver station controllers, which in turn converse with the switching centres for voice and data that are part of the so-called Core Network. The switching centres in turn arranging communication among the various peripheral elements of the access network throughout the country. The core network also provides the platform for inter-working with the internet. A network structured in this way can locate any mobile terminal anywhere in the country, maintaining diameter approximation of the cell containing the terminal, but without revealing the position on the azimuthal plane to the network. The area of location can be further restricted according to the ascertained power of the signal received from the base transceiver station, normally monitored in Power Control procedure. Measurement of the angular position of terminals on the azimuthal plane can be done by the network in two ways: one by furnishing the base transceiver stations with array antennas controlled by beam-forming algorithms; the other, and more costly method, by providing individual mobile terminals with a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna which can then obtain data on latitude and longitude, and on height above ground level, from the GPS signals received, and return this data to the network.

Having sufficiently explained the structural aspect of the mobile radio network, valid irrespective of the sort of physics technology used, for example: GSM, GPRS, E-GPRS, HSDPA, UMTS etc., consideration can now be given to some interesting applications of the known art. These applications aim at overcoming the purely 'virtual' aspect affecting instantaneous SMS text messaging, an aspect essentially due to the absence of any geographical limits for those taking part in a group conversation, often added to a lack of knowledge of the real identity of group members.

Patent application US2003/0037110A1 describes a method and apparatus for making available an area of virtual 'rooms' for conversation, known as 'chat- rooms', where unspecified users, each with a portable terminal, can exchange SMS text messages, or the like, in real time, roaming while doing so. The users themselves can create chat-rooms, or search for existing chat-rooms, each having a specific geographical location and, during the conversation, show details of the location on their displays to participants. The chat area is handled by a special apparatus that deals with requests for inclusion and exclusion of chat-rooms in the chat area, each associated to a specific location, accepts a request from a portable terminal, that states the present location of the terminal together with a brief SMS text message, and allocates the user to a chat-room stating its present location This information is conveyed to all the requesters present in the chat- room. Low down on the display of each terminal is a map of the chat-room giving the location of all the participants; uppermost on the display is the brief SMS text message sent by the last speaker, or the latter part of the conversation. It appears from the foregoing that chat-rooms are areas dynamically defined by the users themselves based on visual information acquired while roaming. Compared with the previous virtual chat-rooms covering a vast area, those made possible by the above reference cover a variable area within a boundary, so that it is still possible to focus the attention of someone driving a car, for example, on the presence of landmarks such as shops, supermarkets, restaurants, cinemas, stations and on others useful to point out or publicise. Though these chat groups are not so 'virtual' as other delocalised chat groups, something of this nature still remains since:

- the participants are all occasional; they communicate only for a very short time only and may not do so again, partly because they are represented by small moving circles on a pseudo-map in the chat room;

- there is practically no chance of having all the potential participants in the actual field of vision, both because the size of the chat-room area depends on the possibility of arranging a conversation of reasonable duration while roaming, and also because the participants might never meet. For example, a chat room set up along a main road might extend for over two kilometres, too long for visual location of the participants.

This means that chat rooms are short-lived; their geographical position depends on roaming; identity of participants is only casual and they cannot therefore become attached to any real fixed place. Further aspects to note include the fact that conversation via SMS text message involves the use of sophisticated mobile terminals, necessarily fitted with a GPS antenna for acquiring information as to position, a drawback that hinders a wider use of a service such as this. Further, as chat rooms are movable, they may partly or entirely overlap in the same geographical area. In a context other than roaming, overlapping of chat areas might cause confusion if it became necessary to assign an actual location to chat participants.

Some curious commercial initiatives aimed at favouring exchanges of SMS text messages in discotheques, or in indoor premises in general, have recently been publicised on the web. One of these, called 'Reality Chat', offers three SMS text messages free in exchange for a drink or snack to be bought on the premises; subsequent recharging to be effected with each further order. The scheme works as follows: a code, corresponding to a 'chat number', is attached to the clothes of anyone in the discotheque wanting to chat. That person then sends an SMS text message requesting entry to the chat service stating his/her chat number to a phone number of the server handling the 'Reality Chat' service, after which he/she can use the service by sending an SMS text message to the server's telephone number, the syntax to include the following: requester's chat number - space - chat number of the person to be contacted - space - the content of the short SMS text message.

On leaving the premises, SMS text messages can still be sent, while credit remains, to the desired chat numbers for up to seven days. The salient technical feature here is to permit peer-to-peer communication, masking the person's own phone number on condition that a simplified phone number, individually allocated, is worn on the person's clothing in a clearly visible position.

The "Reality Chat" service obviously does not ensure anonymity; anyone wanting to begin a conversation cannot fail to see the owner before choosing a chat number; more likely is it that the choice of a chat number is made after seeing the wearer. As the SMS text message received includes the sender's chat number, and the sender is wearing it, the receiver can at once identify the sender and decide whether or not to reply. The "Reality Chat" service is therefore purely commercial, designed to increase the number of drinks/snacks ordered, allow the manager to draw up a list of 'real' mobile numbers to which advertising material can be sent and also increase the number of regular clients. "Reality Chat" merely offers a way of overcoming initial shyness among people who do not know each other, but the technology employed does not guarantee anonymity.

Another commercial initiative based on the SMS is described on the internet site of the firm Pangolino, producer of a program called Interactive Messaging Unlimited (IMU). With IMU, single SMS text messages from a mobile, or entire chat SMS sessions, can be shown on a screen. The program more or less automatically sifts out any offensive or indecent messages with a warning to the senders concerned, subsequently excluding them if the offence is repeated. The screen can be situated in a public place, or privately, or be transferred to the home TV or to a web page on the PC. Among the many IMU applications - chat, online voting, marketing, interactive TV, etc. - mention should be made of those for entertainment in discotheques, nightclubs, concert halls and private clubs where SMS text messages from individual users, suitably scheduled and sifted, are projected onto a screen that can be seen by everyone. Those present can then give a personal touch to their SMS text messages by adding an icon, nickname and choice of colour. In this way personalised SMS text messages can be broadcast from inside the premises.

The IMU thus provides an amusing Text-on-screen broadcasting service of which all the users present can benefit by using their mobiles to send an SMS text message to the manager of the central screen to be broadcast inside the premises, foe example, asking the DJ to have a certain piece of music played. An SMS text message sent to IMU by a user, with icon and nickname, visualised on the central screen, can be followed by an answering visualised SMS text message from another suitably scheduled user. This gives rise to a sort of broadcast type of chat; participation, however, is entirely casual and this constitutes the intrinsic limitation of the IMU service.

To complete this description of the known art, it may be mentioned that the market can supply displays fitted with Light Emitting Diodes (LED) integrated with an mobile phone receiver able to receive SMS text messages containing information or advertising, that slide across the display. Visualisation on the display is also managed by SMS text message. The software for managing the integrated receiver is set up to bring the individual SMS text messages received onto the display. The IMU service referred to above could benefit from a similar display, instead of the central screen, in which case the receiver integrated in the display would be tuned into the radio channel of the IMU server to receive the SMS text message to be shown.

Purpose of the invention

The invention purports to overcome the limitations described in the exchange of chat SMS text messages as in the presently known art. It therefore aims to lessen the sense of virtuality experienced by chat participants, de-located to some extent, by the assured presence of real interlocutors for a sufficiently long time, even for several hours; interlocutors who, however, remain completely anonymous until they spontaneously decide that they want the encounter to become real, thus overcoming the shyness typical of a first meeting. Purpose of the invention is therefore to establish chat rooms with clearly defined boundaries, stable over time and geographically separate, such as discotheques, restaurants, pubs, etc., where people can see each other and exchange SMS text messages without necessarily being acquainted.

Summary of the invention

To achieve this purpose, subject of the invention is a method for operating a chat service by sending and receiving short text messages through the Short Message Service (SMS), hereinafter called SMS text messages, within circumscribed areas, hereinafter called real rooms, included in the area covered by the radio signal of a mobile radio network, connected to a linking node, hereinafter called a gateway, between the mobile radio network and a server that handles the chat service in a network of real rooms, the method including the following steps: a) linking several fixed terminals to the server, each terminal being situated in a real room set up in an area separated from other possible geographical areas in which the respective real rooms non-communicating one with another have been set up,

the server then executing these steps: b) receiving SMS text messages requesting registration to the chat service, each SMS text message including the telephone number of the mobile terminal of the requester and at least one nickname unique in the network of real rooms; c) producing for each real room a unique and temporary authentication code for the SMS text messages relevant to the chat service and passing on said authentication codes to the fixed terminals located in the respective real rooms to be made available to the registered users present in that room;

d) receiving the SMS text messages requesting enablement to use the chat service sent by registered users, and granting such enablement to those registered users whose request SMS text messages include a valid temporary authentication code;

e) receiving the SMS text message sent through the gateway on behalf of users enabled to use the chat service and, for each real room:

checking to see if the nickname of the receiver stated in each authenticated SMS text message corresponds to an enabled user in that real room, or if the

SMS text message is public;

if the check is affirmative, repeating despatch of the content of each authenticated SMS text message to the gateway for forwarding to the telephone number of the mobile terminal corresponding to the nickname of the receiver, masking the telephone number of the sender, or else,

- forwarding, after adequate sifting, the content of each public SMS text message to at least one centralized visualising device, as described in claim 1. Further characteristics of the present invention considered innovative are described in the dependent claims.

Another subject of the invention is a system for operating the SMS text message service in anonymity in accordance with the method described above. Taken as a whole, the system is structured like a star-shaped geographical network in which the peripheral nodes, consisting of the local terminals situated in the real rooms, link up to a central server. Stated more precisely, the system for operating a chat service by sending and receiving short text messages through the Short Message Service (SMS), hereinafter called SMS text messages, within circumscribed areas, hereinafter called real rooms, included in the area covered by the radio signal of a mobile radio network, comprises:

a linking node, hereinafter called a gateway, connected to the mobile radio network and to an IP server that manages the chat service in the real rooms, in which, according to the invention, the system further includes:

a number of fixed terminals situated in respective real rooms separated and non-communicating one with another, said fixed terminals being connected to the server to form a star-type intranet;

a number of displays connected to their respective fixed terminals for visualising in each real room a unique code of defined duration, produced by the server to authenticate anonymous chat SMS text messages originated in that real room relating to nicknames situated in the same real room and enabled to use the chat service, each anonymous chat SMS text message being associated to a nickname unique in the intranet.

Since, according to the present invention, the chat service requires that the real rooms be covered by the mobile radio network, and that sophisticated mobile terminals fitted with GPS antennas for precise location of their positions are not required, it may be deduced that the system cannot know if a user, who obtained enablement to use the chat service, left the real room during the period of validity of the authentication code (presence code). In that case the user concerned clearly continues to maintain his status of enablement to make use of the chat service with users present in the real room he has just left, or with users of the same status, at least as long as his present authentication code remains valid. The authentication code is renewed at the discretion of the manager of the service. For instance, taking a discotheque as an example of a real room where many SMS text messages, in accordance with the chat service of the present invention, are being exchanged, nothing would be gained by changing the authentication code before closing time, as it would be more reasonable to do so when the disco reopens. The system can, however, find out if a premises is closed, either because the local terminal has followed a logout procedure or because it will appear as disconnected from the network for a time longer than temporary disconnection would last, or by consulting a table of the closing times of the various premises corresponding to real rooms. Acting on this information, the server can sort out, from among all the SMS text messages received, those from enabled users who are outside a real room during the interval of time when, not having been renewed, the authentication code for the SMS text messages from that real room, is still valid. Those users are given the status of OUT ROOM ON LINE and their enablement to use the chat service - with other users of the same status and of the same real room - remains valid for a time decided by the manager; this time cannot however continue beyond the moment of renewal of the enablement code, a moment that coincides with subsequent logon of the premises. The users then assume the status of OUT ROOM OFF LINE and enablement to use the service ceases forthwith.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the network consisting of the gateway, of the server, and of the local terminals in the real rooms, adopts the IETF protocols characterizing the internet network, especially the IP. Though for some time past the mobile terminals at present in circulation have been connectable to the internet, the fact of being connectable is not required for using the new chat service which is carried on by sending and receiving SMS text messages expressed in suitable syntax. For this purpose the gateway comprises a telephonic subsystem that can be reached by the phone number, and an IP subsystem to the chat server. In this way the chat service network between server and gateway forms a first intranet, while the chat service network between server, local terminals (PCs) and the visualizing devices (TV monitor, projectors and screens, LED displays, etc.) forms a second intranet.

Before proceeding further it should be stated that the chat service, in accordance with the present invention, can be handled either by a single manager or by one who interfaces with the ultimate users through an intermediate user level required to handle some aspects of the chat service in the individual real rooms. The invention is obviously not concerned with the economic aspects of running the chat service, nor with agreements between the head manager and intermediate users, but it is also true that the ultimate users will consider the intermediate users as joint managers of the chat service to whom they apply for whatever they need, such as purchasing SMS text-message credit, and renewal of credit for the chat service only, in accordance with the invention. Credit on the SIM card of the manager of the mobile radio service must be arranged separately. Ultimate users can agree to debit the charge against the remaining credit on their SIM phone cards.

The server at step (a) of the above method allocates to each real room an identification code and sends it to the local terminal. This is a stable code not to be confused with the authentication code for SMS text messages which is temporary. The identification code of the real room is useful in transactions between server and ultimate user, and in procedures of enquiry into the status of individual mobile terminals in relation to any one real room.

In one form of realizing the invention, relating to step (b), SMS text messages requesting registration are sent by requesters direct to the website address of the server for the chat service.

In one form of realizing the invention, relating to step (b), SMS text messages requesting registration formulated by requesters are sent to the server through the local terminal in the real room where the requester concerned is situated.

In one form of realizing the invention relating to step (b), messages requesting registration are SMS text messages expressed in agreed syntax and sent by requesters to the phone number of the gateway where an algorithm checks to see that both syntax and data are correct, said SMS text messages being automatically forwarded by SMS text message to the server operating the chat service.

As a consequence of step (b), the chat service server checks to ensure that the syntax and data contained in the SMS text messages requesting registration comply with the fixed rules; if this is so, an SMS text message notifying that registration has taken place is sent to the requesters concerned.

In one form of realizing the invention relating to step (c), the unspecified local terminal is connected to a visualizing device, addressable in the network, placed in a position so that all those present in the real room can see the temporary authentication code projected by the device. In the larger real rooms it is best to have several displays, individually addressable in the network, situated at various points around the real room, all displays receiving from the local terminal the same temporary authentication code so that it can be seen by everyone in the real room.

In one form of realizing the invention relating to step (c), the unspecified local terminal is connected to one or more batch reading stations present in the real room for reading each registered user's card in which the chosen nickname is also stored. Each registered user who intends to request enablement to use the chat service in the real room where he is situated, submits his card to a reading station so that the local terminal can acquire the identification data stored in the card, add to it the temporary authentication code allotted to the real room and include the added data in an SMS text message requesting enablement forwarded to the chat service server on behalf of the requester.

In one form of realizing the invention relating to step (c), the unspecified local terminal is connected to one or more active Radio Frequency Identification devices (R ID) located at the entrance to the premises or at previously decided positions. The active RFIDs send a radio signal to passive RFIDs, worn respectively by the registered users, in each of which a chosen nickname is stored. When the radio signal of enquiry from the active RFIDs reaches the passive RFIDs, the identification data stored in each one is transferrable. The local terminal acquires these data adding, for each RFID, the temporary authentication code allotted to the real room and including the added data in an SMS text message requesting enablement forwarded to the server operating the chat service on behalf of the requester.

According to one aspect of the invention, any enabled used can send the server an SMS text message in disenabling syntax (logout); in this way physical transfer to another real room and partial re-execution of the method can be made, starting from step (e), to request enablement to use the service in the new real room. According to one aspect of the invention, any registered user can send the server enquiries by SMS text messages, expressed in different syntaxes, to which the server replies by providing the information requested; stated more clearly:

· an enquiry SMS text message requests the list of nicknames registered in any one real room identified by its own Identification Real Room Code (IRRC); • an enquiry SMS text message requests that automatic information on the status of a nickname present in any real room be provided whenever its status alters: such status information is as follows:

Out room off line (OUR ROOM OFF LINE)

In room on line + IRRC (TN ROOM ON LINE)

Out room on line (OUT ROOM ON LINE)

• A manual variation consists in obtaining information on the present status of a nickname for every SMS text message of enquiry sent;

• An enquiry SMS text message requests that the address of a real room corresponding to a given identification code be restored;

• An enquiry SMS text message requests that residual credit available to the service be returned.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, any registered user can send an SMS text message to the server requesting inclusion of a nickname in a blacklist of nicknames, communication of which is prohibited. By a further SMS text message the nickname can be removed from the blacklist and once more made free for communication. The advantage of this procedure is to prevent a certain nickname from continuing to be a nuisance to another nickname by sending inappropriate SMS text messages.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, any registered user can send the server an SMS text message asking said server not to reply to questions concerning the status of said user to a certain nickname that has made the request. A further SMS text message can restore the former situation regarding questions on said status. This precautionary measure is less drastic than the preceding One. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, on receiving an enquiry by SMS text message regarding the status of a nickname, the server checks to see if the requester's nickname is on the blacklist and, if not, sends the requester status information and at the same time notifies the requester's nickname to the nickname subject of the enquiry.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, in addition to the temporary authentication code (also called presence code, or CPS) of the SMS text messages, the server also sends the following details to the local terminals to be forwarded to the centralised visualising device present in each real room: phone number of the gateway, identification code of the real room (IRRC of unlimited duration ).

Advantages of the invention

The proposed invention describes chat rooms which are in no way virtual as each chat SMS text message group is located in a real circumscribed area so that each participant can see the others and interact with them via SMS text message, even without knowing them personally since information on phone numbers is not given. This arouses curiosity in the persons chatting who, first of all, want to guess who it is they are chatting with and then want to meet them personally, but only after a precautionary stage of reciprocal study and, maybe, of provocation. This preparatory stage might lead to the wish to avoid further contact if incompatibility of character or conflicting points of view were to appear. A combination of such emotive factors could certainly not have arisen in the example of the known art previously discussed.

The invention can be used inside public premises such as discotheques, pubs, private clubs, etc. or outside as in stadiums, at open-air concerts etc., Discotheques, however, are more suitable because mainly patronised by young people who would like to meet each other; chatting in a disco through the SMS by nickname only is the most intriguing means, while bearing in mind that a spoken conversation is in any case disturbed by music played at high volume. A further advantage is that when the disco closes, chatting by SMS text message can continue for some while before the next time the disco opens. This prolongs the conversation making both sides want to return to the disco to continue where they left off. In this way the young people become attached to a certain place though, generally speaking, this also applies to the users of the chat service in relation to a certain real room.

There are also advantages for the proprietors of public premises who can profit from their position as joint managers of the chat service and, indirectly, because if users become attached to a certain place, they spend more on drinks/snacks; added to which the centralized visualization device enables publicity messages to be seen and paid for.

Short description of the drawings

Further purposes and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of an example of its realization and from the attached drawings given solely for purposes of explanation in no way limitative, wherein:

Figure 1 shows the architecture of a network for realizing the chat service by exchange of SMS text messages in real rooms, according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a variant with several displays in a real room;

Figure 3 illustrates the evolution over time of the state of a real room, as in

Figure 1 , and of the related mobile terminals enabled therein.

Figure 4 is a more simple schematized view of the network in Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows the chat SMS server in Figure 4 represented by functional blocks. Figure 6 shows the intranet of a real room in Figure 4 giving prominence to functional block representation of the local terminal.

Figure 7 gives details of the ATC block in Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows the flow diagram of possible ways of registering a new user. Figure 9 shows a sequence of SMS text messages sent through various network elements and processing stages in nick registration procedure by SMS text message.

Figure 10 concerns procedure for local terminal logon and renewal of the presence code on the public display.

Figure 11 concerns the nick enablement procedure with presence code.

Figure 12 is a flow chart of processing done by block BC 02 in Figure 11.

Figure 13 (and 13A) illustrates the nick-to-nick SMS text message procedure . Figure 14 (and 14A) illustrates the procedure for sending SMS text messages from nick to public display.

Figure 15 concerns local terminal logout procedure, with presence code maintained by time.

Figure 16 concerns the procedure for requests for the list of enabled nicks.

Figure 17 (and 17A) concerns the procedure for enquiries on nick status. Figure 18 (and 18A) concerns the procedure for enquiries for the "ABCD" real room address.

Figure 19 concerns procedure for enquiries about residual credit.

Figure 20 (and 20A) concerns procedure for a request to blacklist a nick (blacklist-on).

Figure 21 (and 21 A) concerns request procedure to cancel a nick from the blacklist (blacklist-off).

Figure 22 (and 22A) concerns procedure for enquiries on the status-off of a nick. Figure 23 (and 23A) concerns procedure for enquiries on the status-on of a nick. Detailed description of some preferred forms of realizing the invention

In the following description, identical elements that appear in different figures may be indicated by the same symbols. In describing a figure reference can be made to elements not specifically shown in that figure but in preceding figures. Figure 1 shows a mixed type of telecommunications network comprising a mobile radio network (PLMN) and a fixed telecommunications network (PSTN). In both networks information to be sent, whether voice or data, can be routed through a circuit-type automatic switch for voice and a packet-type for data. SMS text messages can also be sent and received through the mobile radio network, and more recently from fixed to mobile terminals. The mobile radio network (PLMN) is the present cellular network covering the whole country with extensions to bordering countries. For this the most varied transmission technologies on the physical layer are used, including FDMA, TDMA, HSDPA, CDMA. The services supplied by the mobile radio network are the prerogative of a wide variety of private operators, the so-called providers: TIM, Vodafone, Tre, H3G, Wind, Poste Mobile, etc. The fixed network is the present public telephone network (PSTN) in which the X.25 protocol, originally used for transmission of packet data, now dated, has been almost entirely replaced by the Internet Protocol (IP). The IP network possesses the versatility known to everyone and is used in various ways that include electronic mail, WEB navigation, streaming, VoIP telephony and many more. The mobile radio network has access to the IP network through a hardware and software platform located in the core network. Referring to Figure 1, this shows a base transceiver station 1 comprising transceivers connected to a sector antenna 2 whose radiation diagram produces a territorial cell for irradiated signal coverage pertaining to a previously established number of radio channels. Antenna 2 is also used to receive radio signals from the antenna built into the mobile terminals, known as mobiles, belonging to the users occupying that cell. The base transceiver station 1 exemplifies all the similar stations spread over the area 3 with radio coverage pertaining to the mobile radio network, divided up into adjacent cells. The base transceiver station 1 is connected to a controller 4 of base transceiver stations 1, interfaced with several base transceiver stations to supervise connectivity of each respective cluster of cells to the core network 5. The base transceiver stations 1 and 2, together with the controller 4, constitute the access network to the core network 5. This latter is connected to a gate on the mobile radio network side of a node 6 which has a gate on the IP network side connected to a server 7 specialised in supplying a certain chat service by SMS text message, the peculiarities of which will be described below. Node 6 possesses gateway functionality between the 3 GPP typical of the mobile radio network, and the IETF protocols typical of the IP network. As such, the gate on the mobile radio network side can be reached at an address corresponding to a prearranged NUM.TEL.M. phone number, while an IP.ADD.M. internet address is assigned to the gate on the IP network side.

The server 7 exploits connectivity of the IP network to communicate with fixed terminals 8, 9 and 10, typical of personal computers (PC), physically located in respective areas STR1, STR2 and STR3 covered by the radio signal 3 of the mobile radio network. Areas STR1, STR2 and STR 3, hereinafter called real rooms, are situated in different places and are reciprocally isolated; in this specific instance they are discotheques. The chat service by SMS text message in the real rooms is managed by server 7 through local terminals 8, 9 and 10 each with its own IP address, respectively IP ADD.l, IP ADD.2 and IP ADD.3, IP ADD.O being the IP address of server 7. The local terminals 8, 9, 10 in the real rooms are respectively connected to their monitors 8a, 9a and 10a, so placed as to be visible to local operators only. Each local terminal is also connected to its own visualizing device, respectively 8b, 9b and 10b, situated so that everyone in the real room can see it. This centralised device is an active or passive screen (for projections), or a LED display. The users present in the real rooms STR.1. STR2. STR3, all covered by the radio signal from the mobile radio, are provided with mobile terminals, respectively and collectively indicated by 11, 12 and 13 and can therefore benefit from all the services made available by the mobile radio operator. Mobile terminals 11, 12, 13 are the usual 'mobiles' and can therefore send and receive SMS text messages through the mobile radio network.

Operatively speaking, each visualizing device (display) is used by the local PC to visualize all kinds of information such as, for example, codes for the chat service, single SMS text messages or advertisements. In Figure 1 each display visualizes a code allocated by the server 7 and sent to the local terminal in the real room. The code visualized in real room STR1 by display 8b is different from that visualized in the other real rooms STR2 and STR3 by displays 9b and 10b, and this continues to apply to all the codes visualized in all real rooms in the network managed by server 7. The code visualized is a temporary authentication code for all the SMS text messages sent in the real room where said code is visualized. In other words, the authentication code certifies the actual presence of the sender of the SMS text message in that real room. The authentication code is valid for a certain length of time and is renewed on expiry, so that the users registered for the chat service supplied through server 7 must request enablement to use the service stating the new presence code before they can use it again. The SMS text messages that do not relate to the chat service run by server 7, are sent and received by mobiles 11, 12 and 13 as usually happens. The SMS text messages that relate to the chat service managed by server 7 must use a specific syntax and their displays will not show the sender's phone number, replaced by a respective nickname, unique in the network managed by server 7. To be properly delivered these SMS text messages must be sent to nicknames actually present in the same real room as the senders; the situation is schematized by arrows between the various mobiles, all present in the real room.

Figure 2 shows a real room STR4 in which a local terminal 20 is connected to a switch 21, in turn connected to three displays 22, 23 and 24 so placed in the real room ST R4 that all those present can see them. The internet address of local terminal 20 is IP.ADD.4, each display 22, 23, 24 having its own internet address, respectively IP.ADD.5, IP.ADD.6 and IP.ADD.7. Each display shows the same presence code. Real room STR.4 is a very large room where a single display might not be sufficient. The different IP address for displays 22, 23, 24, means that different information can be sent to each one for public visualization, excepting the presence code which is the same.

Figure 3 shows the evolution over time of the status of real room STRl in Figure 1 and of mobile terminals 11a, l ib and 11c, initially present in that room and enabled to send and receive SMS text messages using the chat service managed by server 7. The initial situation is that of IN ROOM ON LINE, in which the users, each with a mobile terminal, and having asked server 7 for enablement to use the chat service, include in their SMS request text message the presence code shown on display 8b, permission having been granted, they proceed to exchange anonymous SMS text messages stating the sender's nickname. This situation can continue until server 7 decides to change the presence code visualized on display 8b. At this point the status of real room STRl is LOGOUT TIME ON and that of mobile terminals 11a, l ib, 11c is OUT ROOM ON LINE, these terminals continuing to exchange SMS text messages through the SMS managed by server 7 in the vicinity of the closed premises, still covered by the mobile radio network. When the period of enablement ends, the status of real room STRl changes to LOGOUT TIME OFF and that of mobile terminals 11a, l ib and 11c changes to OUT ROOM OFF LINE ceasing to make use of the chat service.

The detailed description of the network structure and subsequently of its mode of operation is given by altering the symbols in Figure 1 to the more simplified form in Figure 4 where their significance is as follows:

- D is the operator of mobile radio telephony;

- P is a network node arranged by the provider of the chat SMS text message service in the real rooms to interface with both operator D and server B of said service in the network of real rooms;

- C is the gateway of P associated to phone number NUM.TEL.M to the operator of mobile radio telephony for the chat SMS text message service; - BIP is the gateway of P associated to the IP address of first level www.yvv.yy;

- B is the server that manages the chat SMS in the network of real rooms;

- BIB is the gateway of B associated to the IP address of first level www.xxx.xx;

AOl, A02, A03 are the names of real rooms corresponding to the identification code associated to the actual addresses of the rooms;

- BIL is the internet gateway of AOl to which the http://IP address is associated;

- TR 01 and TR 02 are the mobile terminals present in real room A01 ;

- AT is the local terminal in real room A01 associated to the address http://IP ;

- AD is the display connected to local terminal AT and is reached by AT through an IP address.

Telephone gateway C communicates with internet gateway BIP through an IP connection in node P. The situation shown for real room A01 applies to real rooms A02 and A03 as well.

Figure 5 shows the functional block structure of server B for chat SMS text messages in Figure 4, containing the blocks marked with BA, BI, BH, BD, BE (01...06), BF (01, 02, 03), BL, BG (01, 02, 03) and BC (01, 02) meaning:

BA - HANDLING TX/RX TEXT MESSAGES - PROCESSING REQUESTS TO SEND SMS TEXT MESSAGES:

BA 01) FROM NICK TO ANOTHER NICK

BA 02) FROM NICK TO PUBLIC DISPLAY

BIB - GATEWAY INTERNET www.xxx.xx

BH - WEB GRAPHIC INTERFACE - HANDLING INSERTION OF DATA BD - HANDLING LOGON/LOGOFF REAL ROOM, ISSUE OF PRESENCE CODE

BE - HANDLING ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SYSTEM:

BE 01 - REQUEST BLACKLIST NICKS ON/OFF

BE 02 - REQUEST STATUS NICK

BE 03 - REQUEST ADDRESS REAL ROOM

BE 04 - REQUEST STATUS CREDIT NICK BE 05 - REQUEST LISTS ENABLED NICKS

BE 06 - REQUEST STATUS NICK ON/OFF

BF - CHECK ON SMS TEXT MESSAGE SYNTAX:

BF 01. a - CHECK SYNTAX REGISTRATION / ENABLEMENT

BF 01.b - SMS TEXT MESSAGE FROM NICK TO NICK / SMS

TEXT MESSAGE FROM NICK TO DISPLAY BF 01.c BLACKLIST NICK on/off - NICK STATUS on/off LIST NICKS

- ADDRESS REAL ROOM - CREDIT STATUS - NICK

STATUS BF 02.a - ERROR SYNTAX IN SMS TEXT MESSAGES

BF 02.b - USER NOT ENABLED

BF 03 - CHECK ON SYNTAX IN SMS TEXT MESSAGES

BL - HANDLING DESPATCH SMS TEXT MESSAGES - SECTION DESPATCH SMS TEXT MESSAGES TO (SMS TEXT MESSAGE GATE- WAY NUMBER)

BG - DATA BASE OF SYSTEM:

BG 01 DATABASE ADMIN LEVEL / PERSONAL DATA /CREDIT BG 02 DATABASE USER LEVEL/ PERSONAL DATA/ CREDIT / STATUS BG 03 DATA BASE CLIENT LEVEL ^⁰^ ^1} - PERSONAL DATA /

CREDIT/ STATUS

BC - MANAGEMENT USER STATUS:

BC 01 - PROCEDURE FOR REGISTERING NEW USER

BC 02 - PROCEDURE FOR ENABLEMENT AND RECOGNITION OF PRESENCE

NOTE 1. From the standpoint of handling the chat service via SMS text message in real rooms, subject of the invention, the term client applies both to the individual user with mobile terminal who requests the service, and to the managers of real rooms who, for their own convenience, provide it with a local terminal and a display. To avoid confusion, however, the term client will only be used to indicate the joint managers of the service in the real rooms. In Figure 5 the blocks use storage zones accessible in reading and writing to the processing unit of server B (not shown) through a bus 30. Interaction between single server blocks and between them and the rest of the system, will be explained below. Figure 6 shows the display AD and the functional block structure of the local terminal AT in Figure 4. Display AD comprises three displays each connected to the internet by the switch 21 and having its own IP address. The local terminal AT comprises the blocks marked ATA, ATB, ATC and BI, their meanings being as follows:

ATA - REAL ROOM ENABLEMENT AND REQUEST PRESENCE CODE ATB - MANAGEMENT SMS TEXT MESSAGE DISPLAY

ATC - GRAPHIC INTERFACE DISPLAY

BIL - INTERNET GATEWAY http://IP

Blocks ATB and ATA send their processed information to the graphic interface ATC and are also connected to the BIL internet gateway.

Figure 7 shows the functional block structure of the GRAPHIC INTERFACE DISPLAY ATC contained in the local terminal AT in Figure 6. This structure contains two functional blocks named ATC 01 and ATC 02. The ATB block receives SMS text messages to visualize by means of SMS TEXT MESSAGE RECEPTION functionality and reads the information for correct visualization through READING DISPLAY SETTING functionality. Setting information is sent to block ATC 02 where two types of display are offered: LED (Light Emitting Diode) and VIDEO. There are specific parameters for each of these, such as: quality of representation, screen size measured in lines or inches, allocation of the IP address. Definitive information on display setting is transferred to the MESSAGE FORMATTING block included in ATC 02 that formats the SMS text message according to the setting information and sends it, correctly formatted, to display AD through ENTER functionality.

An explanation will now be given of the various chat SMS text message procedures handled by server B and connected to the local TR terminals in the real rooms, starting with the procedure to register the service implemented as shown in Figure 8 (see description above). Of the three methods explained: 1) through the server's website; 2) through a local terminal; 3) by SMS text message, only method 2 implies the presence of a potential user in the real room. In all three cases the syntax of the SMS text message for registration must contain: phone number of the mobile terminal, nickname (six characters), age, own sex, sex sought.

For registration procedure by SMS text message only, Figure 9 gives an example of its time stages through the network and among the various internal functional blocks to server B and to node P. The sequence originated in an SMS text message requesting registration to the chat SMS text message service from the mobile terminal TR 01 (but it could be from any mobile TR terminal wherever situated) to the phone number NUM.TEL.M of Gateway C, and ends with an SMS text message confirming registration sent to the user who owns mobile terminal TR 01. Inside node P, the telephonic gateway C sends the content of the SMS text message to the IP address www.yvy.vy of the internet gateway BIP. The syntax of the SMS text message requesting registration to the chat service in the real rooms is: "info" + enter, where info represents the following details: phone number of the mobile terminal, nickname, age, own sex, sex sought, also marked in the last block in Figure 8. Gateway BIP sends the content of the request message to Gateway BIB of server B where block BF checks the syntax and, if there is an error, issues a notification of error to block BL while, if the syntax is correct, the content of the SMS text message, expressed in syntax for registration, reaches block BC 01. The letter checks to see if by chance the user is already registered. If not, block BC 01 registers the user and sends a request for notification (Notification R) to block BL which, in turn, sends an SMS text message to gateway BI notifying completion of registration, to be forwarded to gateway C and from there to the registered user's terminal TR 01. Syntax for the SMS text message confirming registration is: nick registered. In the event of an error in syntax, block BL sends an SMS text message in the reverse direction along the path shown in the figure, to notify terminal TR 01 of the error.

Figure 10 explains the logon procedure between local terminal AT to server B followed by the operator in real room A01 when open to the public. The purpose of this procedure is to obtain a new presence code CPS to be shown on the central display AD. Through local terminal AT the operator formulates a request to logon to the chat SMS text message service addressed to server B that includes a password for checking purposes. Prior to forwarding the request, the ATA functionality of the local AT terminal, checks to see if there is a software registered at server B, and this only happens if the manager of the real room is also a client of the chat SMS text message service. If the software has been registered, ATA functionality of terminal AT sends the request to logon through its own gateway BIL. The request reaches the BH 02 of server B through the BIB gateway where the password is checked to ensure that the message is authentic. If authentic, logon status is declared for real room AOl; if not authentic, a notification of error in LOG-authenticity is issued to block ATA from where the request originated. The information on enablement for room A01 is transferred to module BD which disenables from the chat SMS text message service all the nicknames still granted enablement by the last CPS allotted to real room A01, and issues a new CPS presence code. The new CPS is returned to block ATB at terminal AT where it is read and sent to graphic interface ATC and from there to display AD to be seen by everyone present in room A01. At this point those who intend using the chat SMS text message service in real room A01 can request enablement with the new CPS.

Figure 11 explains the request procedure for enablement to use the chat SMS text message service in real room A01, followed by the user in possession of mobile TR 01 and personally present in that real room and so able to see the presence code illuminated on the public display AD. The same procedure is applied to other real rooms and to other users there present. The user in question sends an SMS text message from his own mobile TR 01 to the gateway number NUM.TEL.M. using the following syntax: "presence code" + enter. The SMS text message follows the path shown in the figure and reaches block BF where the syntax is checked and, if found correct, the SMS text message in "enablement" syntax reaches block BC 02 where it is processed as illustrated in Figure 12. If the syntax was incorrect block BF issues a notification of error to block BL which, in turn, produces an SMS text message notifying TR 01 direct of the error in syntax.

Referring to Figure 12, block BC 02 checks to see if the user is registered but also if already enabled to use the service. If, as expected, the user is not already enabled, block BC 02 checks to see if the CPS presence code is valid. If the user is not registered, notification (a) is sent to block BL requesting NICK registration. If the user is already enabled nothing further is done. If the user has entered an incorrect presence code, notification (c) of incorrect presence code is sent to block BL. If the user is registered, but not enabled, and has entered a valid presence code, enablement is granted with the chosen NICK and a notification (b) of NICK enablement is sent to block BL. According to the notification received, block BL prepares an SMS text message and sends it to mobile terminal TR 01 following the path shown in Figure 11. Notification (a) gives rise to SMS text message (2) "Nick not registered"; notification (b) to SMS text message (1) "Nick enablement granted"; and notification (c) to SMS text message (3) "Incorrect presence code". The nick status of those who have received an SMS text message (1) is that of "IN ROOM ONLINE" in Figure 3.

Figure 13 shows the transmission procedure from enabled NICK TR 01 to enabled NICK TR 02, both in real room A01. This procedure is also valid in the status of OUT ROOM ON LINE. Syntax of the SMS text message sent is that shown between round brackets and includes the nickname of the addressee. The SMS text message reaches server B following the path shown in the figure. Block BF checks the syntax and, if correct, the content of the SMS text message in "nick to nick" syntax reaches block BA 01 where it is processed as shown in Figure 13A while, if the syntax is incorrect, block BF sends a notification of error to block BL that, in turn, produces an SMS text message notifying terminal TR 01 of the error in syntax. Referring to Figure 13 A, block BA 01 checks to see if the sender NICK TR 01 has sufficient credit for sending a new SMS text message and, if not, sends a notification (d) of insufficient credit to block BL; if the contrary, BA 01 formats an chat SMS text message for addressee NICK TR 02 and sends it to block BL. In either case the SMS text message reaches addressee NICK following the path shown in the figure.

Figure 14 shows transmission procedure from enabled NICK TR 01 to public display AD, both in real room A01. The syntax of the SMS text message sent comprises the SMS text message itself + enter and differs from the previous syntax by omitting addressee NICK. The SMS text message reaches server B along the path shown in the figure. Block BF checks the syntax and, if correct, the content of the SMS text message in "nick to PUB" syntax reaches block BA 02 where it is processed as shown in Figure 14A; if the syntax is incorrect block BF issues an notification of syntax error to block BL which, in turn, produces an SMS text message notifying terminal TR 01 the error in syntax. Referring to Figure 14 A, block BA 02 checks to see if local terminal AT in real room A01 is still in logon status and, if not, sends a notification (e) of logout status to block BL; if the status is still logon, BA 02 proceeds to format the SMS text message for public display AD and sends it to block BL. If the status is logout, block BL prepares an SMS text message of notification (e) which goes to terminal TR 01 by the path shown. If the status is logon, block BL prepares an SMS text message with the content of the message for public display AD and sends it to block ATB by the path shown. Block ATB transfers the content to block ATC from where it goes to public display AD.

Figure 15 shows the logout procedure for local terminal AT followed by server B. The procedure is requested by the operator (joint manager of the chat SMS text message service) in real room A01 shortly before it closes. The CPS presence code remains valid for an optional length of time but which does not last beyond the moment when the room reopens to the public. Through local terminal AT the operator formulates a request for logout from the chat SMS text message service addressed to server B, including a password for verification. ATA functionality of local terminal AT forwards the request by means of its own gateway BIL. The request for logout through gateway BIB reaches the BH 02 functionality of server B that checks the password to verify authenticity of the message. If the password is correct, the status of real room A01 is declared as "LOGOUT TIME ON" (Figure 3). This information is passed to module BD that switches the status of all nicks enabled by the present CPS to "OUT ROOM ON LINE", after which it sends an SMS text message to display AD stating "Real room closed". The SMS text message is returned to block ATA of terminal AT where it is read and sent on to ATB functionality; from there it goes to graphic interface ATC for transfer to display AD where it is shown to all the users still present in room A01. At expiration of the optional period of validity of the present CPS in the status of "LOGOUT TIME ON" in real room A01, BH 02 functionality of server B changes the status to "LOGOUT TIME OFF" (Figure 3). This information is transferred to module BD which changes the status of all the nicks enabled by the present CPS into "Out room off line" . The present CPS is therefore no longer valid.

Figure 16 shows request procedure for the list of enabled nicks in any real room, for example that of requester code AOL To apply this procedure the user must be registered but not necessarily enabled to use the chat SMS text message service in any particular real room. Such a request is obviously of greater interest when the user has just become enabled to use the chat SMS text message service and needs to know the nicknames available in that room in order to start conversations in anonymity. Later, when he has exhausted the possibilities of conversation by SMS text message, he may want to seek new partners for conversation elsewhere. In that case he should choose another real room in the neighbourhood and, before leaving his present real room, request the list of nicks enabled in the chosen room to discover those of potential interest; otherwise he could try in another locality. The syntax "list?" + enter for the SMS text message requesting the list of nicks does not specify the code of the real room which means that the list is the same as that for room A01 for which NICK TR 01 has obtained enablement to use the service associated to the presence code shown on the local display. The syntax "list A03?" would give rise to an enquiry as to the NICKS present in room A03. The reply given by server B is an SMS text message containing ten nicknames chosen at random among those enabled in the room subject of the enquiry; if this were not enough, it would only be necessary to repeat the enquiry to obtain a further ten. The criterion of random choice is beneficial in that it avoids tedious enquiries in alphabetical order, and increases the effect of surprise which in itself is a feature of the whole service. To operate the random method for each group of ten nicks after the first, two criteria can be applied: a first consists in making a choice among all the enabled nicks in the real room including those previously supplied; a second consists in eliminating from the search those nicks already supplied. The first criteria is of most benefit to the manager, the second to the users. As in the case of the previous "message sequence charts", the SMS text messages requesting the list of nicks reaches server B along the path shown in the figure. Block BF checks the syntax and, if correct, the content of messages in "LIST" syntax reaches block BE 05 while, if the syntax is incorrect, block BF issues a notification of error to block BL. Block BE 05 makes a random reading of ten nicks among all those enabled in room A01, compiles the list of nicks read and sends the list to block BL by an SMS text message of notification. Block BL sends the SMS text message of notification with the ten nicks read to mobile terminal TR 01 following the path indicated in the figure.

Figure 17 illustrates the manual request procedure of server B followed by the user in possession of mobile terminal TR 01 to get an answering SMS text message giving the status of connection (in relation to the chat SMS text message service) of a NICK target indicated as TR 02. Both TR 01 and TR 02 can be located anywhere in the network so long as they are registered. The answering SMS text message contains one of the three possible statuses of the nick target: 1) Nick TR 02 out room; 2) Nick TR 02 in room (ABCD); 3) Nick TR 02 logoff. Status 1) means that Nick TR 02 is somewhere adjacent to a real room, this room, in turn, being in the status of LOGOUT TIME ON and he is therefore in the temporary status of OUT ROOM ON LINE; in this case, the code of the real room is rightly not indicated because the room is closed and the service will shortly terminate. Status 2) means that Nick TR 02 is enabled in the real room the identification code of which is ABCD, in this case he can be reached. From a purely commercial point of view, code ABCD also identifies the client of the manager of the chat SMS text message service who sponsors the service at his own premises. There must be absolutely no confusion between code ABCD and the presence code temporarily allotted to the premises for enablement of the nicks present there and consequently for authentication of their SMS text messages in relation to the chat service. If, in the status of in-room (ABCD), ABCD is the code of the room at that moment occupied by Nick TR 01, conversation by SMS text message with Nick TR 02 can begin at once. But if code ABCD indicates another real room, and if Nick TR 01 decides to search for Nick TR 02 in any case because he particularly wants to, he could start a process of disconnection from room A01, once again ask server B for the address of the real room corresponding to code ABCD, move himself to that real room, request enablement with the CPS read on the display in that room and finally send an anonymous SMS text message to Nick TR 02. For the sake of simplicity the disconnection procedure is not explained as it is the reverse of the procedure requesting enablement already described in Figure 11 ; there is only a change in the syntax of the SMS text message requesting disconnection and in that of the SMS text message of confirmation which respectively become: "CPS logoff + enter, and "Nick disenabled". In status 3) Nick TR 02 cannot be reached.

The procedure for manual enquiry into the status of Nick TR 02 is initiated by Nick TR 01 who sends a request SMS text message to telephonic gateway number NUM.TEL.M. in syntax: "nick TR 02 ?" + enter. The SMS text message reaches server B following the path shown in the figure. Block BF checks the syntax and, if correct, the content of the SMS text message in syntax "S.NICK" reaches block BE 02 where it is processed as shown in Figure 17A . If the syntax is incorrect, block BF notifies the error to block BL which, in turn, produces an SMS text message notifying the syntax error direct to terminal TR 01. Referring to Figure 17 A, block BE 02 checks to see if nick TR 02 is registered and, if there is no registration, sends notification (f) "Nick not found" to block BL, but if Nick is registered, BE 02 reads the status of Nick TR 02 by database BG 02 and formats an SMS text message giving the status indicated and sends it to block BL as notification (g). In both cases the SMS text message of notification reaches Nick TR 01 following the path shown in Figure 17.

The automatic enquiry procedure into the status of a nick differs from manual enquiry by the different syntaxes used; for instance: "nick TR 02 ???" + enter, and because every time the initially questioned nick (TR 02) changes status, notification of the new status, namely one of the three given above, is sent to the requester.

Server B sends an SMS text message notifying the nick concerned of all the requests for information on his status. That nick can then initiate a procedure to blackout his status, so that whenever other nicks ask for it, server B will reply by SMS text message stating "nick status not available". Blackout procedures will be explained in relation to blacklists. Figure 18 explains the enquiry procedure to server B that a registered user - for example TR 01, wherever he is the network, for instance in room A01, and if registered - must follow to obtain server B's answer by SMS text message giving the name and geographical address of a real room whose identification code is ABCD. This type of enquiry requires a knowledge of the individual codes of the main real rooms (such as any premises or discotheque) in a certain area. Full information may be obtained from a local terminal, or visualized in rotation on the centralized display and, being codified, it takes up little storage space in a mobile.

The enquiry procedure for the address of a room ABCD is initiated by Nick TR 01 who sends an SMS text message of enquiry to gateway telephone number NUM.TEL.M. in the following syntax: "ABCD ?" + enter. The SMS text message reaches server B following the path indicated in the figure. Block BF checks the syntax and, if correct, the content of the SMS text message in syntax "ADD.LOC" reaches block BE 03 where it is processed as shown in Figure 18A; if incorrect, block BF issues a notification of error to block BL that, in turn, sends an SMS text message notifying terminal TR 01 direct of the syntax error. Referring to Figure 18A, block BE 03 checks to see if the ABCD code corresponds to that for identifying a real room (or a client) and, if not, sends notification (h) "address not found" to block BL; if however the code is valid, it takes a reading from database BG 03 to obtain the name and address of the real room and sends this to block BL as notification (i). In both cases block BL formats the data received, prepares an SMS text message for notification and sends it to requester TR 01 by the path shown in the figure.

Figure 19 explains the enquiry procedure to server B on residual credit followed by a registered user, for example TR 01, wherever he may be in the network, such as in room A01, to obtain an SMS text message of reply from server B stating the remaining credit available to him expressed in the number of SMS text messages still available. A distinction must be made between the usual telephone credit on the SIM card belonging to TR 01 - accrued against payment made to the provider of the mobile radio service: TIM, Vodafone or others - and the credit for the anonymous chat SMS text message service in the real rooms, accrued against payment to the manager of that service in one of the ways in use. To be entitled to use the anonymous chat SMS text message service in the real rooms, the user must obviously possess both forms of credit. Having established this point, the procedure for ascertaining remaining credit is initiated by Nick TR 01 who sends an SMS text message in syntax "credit ?" + enter to telephonic gateway NUM.TEL.M. This SMS text message reaches server B following the path shown in the figure. Block BF checks the syntax and, if correct, the content of the SMS text message in syntax "CREDIT" reaches block BE 04 where the credit remaining to Nick TR 01 is read; if the syntax is incorrect block BF issues a notification of error to block BL. Information on remaining credit is transferred to block BL where an SMS text message is prepared and sent to notify TR 01 following the path indicated in the figure.

Figures 20 and 21 show the procedures respectively to blacklist-on and blacklist- off a registered nick, for example nick TR 02 wherever he is in the network, perhaps in the same real room, A01, as requester nick TR 01. The blacklist consists of unwelcome nicks with whom any communication is prohibited, probably after receipt of SMS text messages of an unseemly content. Blacklist-on for a certain nick means putting the nick mentioned in the request SMS text message on the blacklist. Blacklist-off means taking the nick, mentioned in the request SMS text message, off the blacklist. Referring to Figure 20, the blacklist-on request procedure for nickxxx is initiated by Nick TR 01 who sends to telephonic gateway NUM.TEL.M a request SMS text message in syntax: "blacklist-on nick TR 02" + enter. The SMS text message reaches server B following the path shown in the figure. Block BF checks the syntax and, if correct, the content of the SMS text message in syntax "B.LIST" reaches block BE 01 /A where it is processed as explained in Figure 20 A. If there is an error in the syntax, block BF issues a notification of error to block BL which, in turn, sends an SMS text message direct to terminal TR 01 notifying him of an error in syntax. Referring to Figure 20 A, block BE 01 /A checks if nick TR 02 is registered and, if there appears to be no registration, sends notification 0) "Nick not found" to block BL; if nick is registered, BE 01/A puts Nick TR 02 on the blacklist and informs block BL by notification (k). In both cases the SMS text message of notification reaches Nick TR 01 following the path indicated in Figure 20. SMS text message (k) states: "blacklist-on (ok) nick TR 02".

In Figure 21 the procedure to request blacklist-off nickxxx is initiated by Nick TR 01 by an SMS text message to the number of telephonic gateway NUM.TEL.M. in syntax "blacklist-off nick TR 02" + enter. The SMS text message reaches server B following the path indicated in the figure. Block BF checks the syntax and, if correct, the content of the SMS text message in syntax "B.LIST" reaches block BE 01/A where it is processed as explained in Figure 20A while, if the syntax is incorrect, block BF issues a notification of error to block BL which, in turn, sends an SMS text message notifying terminal TR 01 direct of the error in syntax. Referring to Figure 21A, block BE 01/A checks to see if nick TR 02 is registered and if no registration is found, sends notification (1) "nick not found" to block BL. If nick is registered, it takes Nick TR 02 off the blacklist and informs block BL by notification (m). In both cases the SMS text message of notification reaches Nick TR 01 following the path shown in Figure 20. SMS text message notification (k) is as follows: "blacklist off (ok) nick TR 02".

Figures 22 and 23 show the procedure for respectively requesting status-off and status-on for a registered nick; for example nick TR 02 wherever he may be in the network, such as in the same real room, A01, as requester nick TR 01. As previously stated, the status-off procedure enables the requester to prohibit transmission of information concerning his own status to a certain nickname who requests it. Status-on cancels this prohibition. Referring to Figure 22, the procedure for requesting status-off for nickxxx is initiated by Nick TR 01 who sends a request SMS text message to the number of telephonic gateway NUM.TEL.M. in syntax "status-off nick TR 02" + enter. The SMS text message reaches server B following the path indicated in the figure. Block BF checks the syntax and, if correct, the content of the message in syntax "S.NICK" reaches block BE 01 where it is processed as shown in Figure 22 A while, if incorrect, block BF issues a notification of error to block BL which, in turn, produces an SMS text message notifying the incorrect syntax direct to terminal TR 01. Referring to Figure 22A, block BE 01/A checks to see if Nick TR 02 is registered, and if he appears as unregistered, send notification (n) "Nick not found" to block BL; if nick is registered, it cancels despatch of information on the status of Nick TR 01 to Nick TR 02 and informs block BL by notification (o). In both cases the notifying SMS text message reaches Nick TR 01 following the route indicated in Figure 20. The notification (o) SMS text message is as follows: "status-off (ok) nick TR 02".

Referring to Figure 23, the procedure for requesting status-on nickxxx is begun by Nick TR 01 who sends to the number of telephonic gateway NUM.TEL.M. a request in syntax "status on nick TR02" + enter. The SMS text message reaches server B following the path shown in the figure. Block BF checks the syntax and, if correct, the content of the SMS text message in syntax "S.NICK" reaches block BE 01 where it is processed as shown in Figure 23 A while, if the syntax is incorrect, block BF issues a notification of error to block BL which, in turn, produces an SMS text message notifying the syntax error direct to terminal TR 01. Referring to Figure 23 A, block BE 01 checks to see if nick TR 02 is registered and, if there appears to be no registration, sends notification (p) "Nick not found" to block BL; if however the nick is registered, block BE 01 resumes despatch of status information on Nick TR 01 to Nick TR 02 and sends notification (q) to block BL. In both cases the SMS text message of notification reaches Nick TR 01 following the path shown in Figure 20. SMS text message (o) is as follows: "status-on (ok) nick TR 02".

Some alterations can obviously be made, to the description given of a preferred example of realizing the invention, by an expert in the field without thereby departing from its sphere of operation as will be clear from the following claims.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Method for operating a chat service by sending and receiving short text messages through the Short Message Service (SMS), hereinafter called SMS text messages, within circumscribed areas, hereinafter called real rooms (STR1, STR2, STR3), included in the area (3) covered by the radio signal of a mobile radio network (1,2,4,5) connected to a linking node (6) hereinafter called a gateway (6), between the mobile radio network and a server (7) that handles the chat service in a network of real rooms, characterized in that it includes the following steps:

a) linking several fixed terminals (8, 9, 10) to the server (7), each terminal being situated in a real room set up in an area separated from other possible geographical areas in which the respective real rooms non-communicating one with another have been set up;

the server then executing these steps:

b) receiving SMS text messages requesting registration to the chat service, each SMS text message including the telephone number of the mobile terminal (11, 12, 13) of the requester and at least one nickname unique in the network of real rooms;

c) producing for each real room a unique and temporary authentication code for the SMS text messages relevant to the chat service and passing on said authentication codes to the fixed terminals (8, 9, 10) located in the respective real rooms to be made available to the registered users present in that room; d) receiving the SMS text messages requesting enablement to use the chat service sent by registered users, and granting such enablement to those registered users whose request SMS text messages include a valid temporary authentication code;

e) receiving the SMS text messages sent through the gateway (6) on behalf of users enabled to use the chat service and, for each real room (STR1, STR2, STR3):

- checking to see if the nickname of the receiver stated in each authenticated

SMS text message corresponds to an enabled user in that real room or if the SMS text message is public; - if the check is affirmative, repeating dispatch of the content of each authenticated SMS text message to the gateway (6) for forwarding to the telephone number of the mobile terminal (11, 12, 13) corresponding to the nickname of the receiver, masking the telephone number of the sender, or else,

- forwarding, after adequate sifting, the content of each public SMS text message to at least one centralized visualising device (8b, 9b, 10b).

2. Method as in claim 1, characterized in that, at step b), the SMS text messages requesting registration are sent by requesters direct to the network address (IP ADD.O) of the server (7) .

3. Method as in claim 1, characterized in that, at step b), SMS text messages requesting registration formulated by requesters are sent to the server (7) through the fixed terminal (8, 9, 10) of the real room in which a requester may be.

4. Method as in claim 1, characterized in that, at step b), the SMS text messages requesting registration are SMS text messages formulated in established syntax sent by requesters to a telephone number (NUM.TEL.M) allocated to the gateway (6) by the provider of the telephone service, said SMS text messages being automatically forwarded to the server (7).

5. Method as in any one claim from 1 to 4, characterized in that, at step a), the server (7) allocates to each real room (STR1, STR2, STR3) an identification code

(A01, A02, A03) and sends it to the fixed terminal (8, 9, 10).

6. Method as in any one claim from 1 to 5, characterized in that, at step b), the server (7) checks to see that the syntax and data contained in the SMS text message requesting registration comply with established rules and, if so, sends an SMS text message to the respective senders notifying them that registration has been made.

7. Method as in any one claim from 1 to 6, characterized in that, at step c), the temporary authentication code is made available by presenting it through said centralized visualising device (8b, 9b, 10b).

8. Method as in any one claim from 1 to 6, characterized in that, at step c), the temporary code of authentication is made available automatically by the fixed terminal (8, 9, 10) that includes it in the SMS text messages requesting enablement forwarded to the server (7) on behalf of registered requesters, linking it to the nicknames read by a card in possession of registered users by means of at least one batch reading station present in the real room (STR1, STR2, STR3). 9. Method as in any one claim from 1 to 6, characterized in that, at step c), the temporary authentication code is made available automatically by the fixed terminal (8,

9, 10) that includes it in the SMS text messages requesting enablement forwarded to the server (7) on behalf of registered requesters, linking it to the nicknames stored in passive RFID devices worn by the respective registered users.

10. Method as in any one claim from 1 to 9, characterized in that any registered user can send to the server (7) an SMS text message of enquiry characterized by its own syntax and receive from the server one of the following items of information:

the list of all the nicknames enabled to use the service in one real room corresponding to the identification code supplied by the requester;

- the list of all the nicknames enabled to use the service in the same real room as that which contains the nickname of the requester;

the present status of a nickname in relation to any real room;

- the variation in the status of a nickname;

- the address of a real room corresponding to a given identification code of said room;

the remaining credit available to the service.

11. Method as in any one claim from 1 to 9, characterized in that any registered user can send the server an SMS text message in syntax for inclusion of a nickname in a blacklist of nicknames, communication of which is prohibited.

12. Method as in claim 10, characterized in that any registered user can send the server (7) an SMS text message asking the server not to reply to questions concerning the status of said user in relation to a certain nickname that has made the request.

13. Method as in any claim from 1 to 9, characterized in that an enabled user can send the server (7) an SMS text message in syntax for cancellation of enablement allowing him to transfer to another real room (STRl, STR2, STR3) where enablement to use the service can be requested.

14. System for operating a chat service by sending and receiving short text messages through the Short Message Service (SMS), hereinafter called SMS text messages, within circumscribed areas, hereinafter called real rooms (STRl, STR2, STR3) included in the area (3) covered by the radio signal of a mobile radio network (1, 2, 4, 5) comprising:

a linking node (6), hereinafter called a gateway (6), connected to the mobile radio network and to an IP server (7) that manages the chat service in the real rooms,

the system being characterized in that it also includes:

a number of fixed terminals (8, 9, 10) situated in respective real rooms separated and non-communicating one with another, said fixed terminals being connected to the server (7) to form a star-type intranet;

- a number of displays (8b, 9b, 10b) connected to their respective fixed terminals for visualising in each real room a unique code of defined duration, produced by the server (7) to authenticate anonymous chat SMS text messages originated in that real room relating to nicknames situated in the same real room and enabled to use the chat service, each anonymous chat SMS text message being associated to a nickname unique in the intranet.