Patent ID: 8019362
Filing Date: 2011-09-13
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A system for facilitating the use of short message service (SMS) short codes, comprising: a Universal Short Code (USC) Administrator (UA) including a centralized database configured to store a list of SMS short codes each being respectively employable as a destination address for SMS messages, the centralized database further including information with respect to a temporary assignment of a selected short code from the list to an Application Provider (AP) the selected short code having been specifically requested by the AP for a specified duration of time, wherein the AP is sent a positive acknowledgement that the selected SMS short code has been assigned to the AP; the UA being in communication with a network facilitator (NF) such that when an SMS message, addressed to the selected short code, is received, a routing query is sent to the UA irrespective of a wireless carrier (WC) from which the SMS message was initiated such that the SMS message is routed to the AP to which the short code is temporarily assigned.