Patent ID: 6944273
Filing Date: 2005-09-13
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for sending a message having a recipient field identifying one of a plurality of receiving devices, wherein each receiving device has a different format than the other receiving devices, each said receiving device coupled to at least one of a data-centric network and a telephony-centric network, the apparatus comprising: a message server configured to translate the message into a plurality of formats, each format compatible with one of the receiving devices specified in the recipient field; a data-centric network link, coupled to said message server, configured to transmit the message over the data-centric network; a telephony-centric network link, coupled to said message server, configured to transmit the message over the telephony-centric network; wherein, if the receiving device is addressed by accessing an internet protocol address over the data-centric network, then said message server delivers the translated message to the receiving device over the data-centric network via the data-centric network link; and wherein, if the receiving device is addressed by a telephone number via the telephony-centric network, then said message server delivers the translated message to the receiving device over the telephony-centric network via the telephony-centric network link.