Abstract:
A mobile communication device includes a receiver, a buffer, a memory, an identifier, and a deleting module. The receiver is used for receiving short message service messages. The buffer is used for storing the short message service messages temporarily. The memory is used for storing a plurality of contact records. The identifier is used for identifying the short message service messages based on the contact records. The deleting module is used for deleting the short message service messages from the buffer if the short message service messages don&#39;t pass the identifying action. A mobile communication method is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to mobile communication devices and methods, and more particularly to a mobile communication device and a mobile communication method for preventing spam messages. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), notebook computers, and so on, are now configured to transmit and receive text messages, such as short message service (SMS) messages. SMS is a popular and convenient service available on most mobile communication devices that permits sending of short messages between mobile communication devices. SMS was originally designed as part of the global system for mobile communications (GSM) digital mobile phone standard, but is now available on a wide range of networks, including third generation (3G) networks. 
         [0005]    However, as the popularity of the mobile communication devices continue to rise, SMS messaging is widely used as a retail advertising medium. In fact, some of the SMS services offer automated messages sent on a regular basis, bringing news, weather, financial information, sporting event scores, and other information. As such, SMS subscribers may find themselves a constant target of unwanted SMS messages, often referred to as spam messages. The spam messages may be a nuisance to mobile subscribers and may also increase traffic on the network. 
         [0006]    Therefore, improvements for a mobile communication device and a mobile communication method are needed in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiency. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A mobile communication device includes a receiver, a buffer, a memory, an identifier, and a deleting module. The receiver is used for receiving short message service messages. The buffer is used for storing the short message service messages temporarily. The memory is used for storing a plurality of contact records. The identifier is used for identifying the short message service messages based on the contact records. The deleting module is used for deleting the short message service messages from the buffer if the short message service messages don&#39;t pass the identifying action. A mobile communication method is also disclosed. 
         [0008]    Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a mobile communication device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a plurality of contact records stored in the mobile communication device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a process flow diagram illustrating a mobile communication method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe a preferred embodiment of the present mobile communication device and a preferred embodiment of the present mobile communication method. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a mobile communication device  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is used to transmit and receive useful short message service (SMS) messages, and to prevent spam messages. The mobile communication device  100  has a unique mobile identification number (MIN) assigned by mobile service providers after a subscriber of the mobile communication device  100  purchases mobile telecom services from the mobile service providers. 
         [0014]    In the embodiment, an incoming SMS message, received by the mobile communication device  100 , ordinarily includes a source phone number, a message, a destination MIN etc. However, if this is the first time the mobile communication device  100  receives the incoming SMS message, the message of the incoming SMS message only contains the destination MIN. If the destination MIN carried in the message of the incoming SMS message is the same as the unique MIN of the mobile communication device  100 , the mobile communication device  100  transmits a confirmation message to a source of the incoming SMS message. Subsequently, the mobile communication device  100  will receive another SMS message including a source phone number, a normal message, the destination MIN etc. 
         [0015]    The mobile communication device  100  includes a transmitter  104 , a receiver  106 , a buffer  108 , an identifier  110 , a controller  112 , a deleting module  114 , a display  116 , and a memory  118 . The transmitter  140  is used for transmitting an SMS message, and the receiver  106  is used for receiving the incoming SMS message. The buffer  108  is used for storing incoming SMS messages temporarily. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the memory  118  is used for storing a plurality of contact records  010 . Each contact record  010  records information, such as a contact name  011 , a contact phone number  012 , a destination MIN  014 , sent message history  016 , previous received message history  018 , and other information  020 . A value of the sent message history  016  and the previous received message history  018  may be an index number of “0” and “1” to represent a success or a failure respectively. 
         [0017]    The identifier  110  is used for reading the sent message history  016  and the previous received message history  018 , and comparing the unique MIN of the mobile communication device  100  with the source MIN of the incoming SMS message. The controller  112  is used for controlling the identifier  110 , the deleting module  114 , and the display  116 . 
         [0018]    In operation, when the mobile communication device  100  receives the incoming SMS message, the incoming SMS message is stored temporarily in the buffer  108 . The identifier  110  searches the memory  118  for the contact record with the contact phone number matching the source phone number of the incoming SMS message. If the contact phone number is not found, the deleting module  114  deletes the incoming SMS message from the buffer  108 . If the contact phone number is found, the identifier  110  reads the received message history of the contact record with the contact phone number. If the index number of the received message history is “1”, that is, this is not the first time that the mobile communication device  100  receives the incoming SMS message, the display  116  displays the incoming SMS message. If the index number of the received message history is “0”, that is, this is the first time that the mobile communication device  100  receives the incoming SMS message, the identifier  110  continues to compare the unique MIN of the mobile communication device  100  with the destination MIN carried in the incoming SMS message. 
         [0019]    If the unique MIN of the mobile communication device  100  and the destination MIN carried in the incoming SMS message are the same, the transmitter  104  transmits the confirmation message and updates the index number of the sent message history  016  to be “1”. If the unique MIN of the mobile communication device  100  is different from the destination MIN carried in the incoming SMS message, the deleting module  114  deletes the incoming SMS message from the buffer  108 . 
         [0020]    As mentioned above, the mobile communication device  100  uses the buffer  108  to store the incoming SMS message temporarily, and uses the identifier  110  to identify the incoming SMS message based on the contact records  010  before displaying the incoming SMS message. The incoming SMS message is deleted as a spam message if the identification operation is failed. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a mobile communication method for preventing spam messages in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes the following steps. 
         [0022]    The receiver  106  receives an incoming SMS message (step S 302 ). 
         [0023]    The buffer  108  stores the incoming SMS message temporarily (step S 304 ). 
         [0024]    The identifier  110  searches the memory  118  for a contact phone number that matches the source phone number carried in the incoming SMS message (step S 306 ). If the contact phone number is found in the memory  118 , the procedure of the mobile communication method goes to step S 308 . If the contact phone number is not found, the procedure goes to step S 314 . 
         [0025]    The identifier  110  identifies the previous received message history  018  corresponding to the contact phone number (step S 308 ). If the index number of the previous received message history  018  is “0”, the procedure goes to step S 310 . If the index number of the previous received message history  018  is “1”, the procedure goes to step S 316 . 
         [0026]    The identifier  110  compares the unique MIN of the mobile communication device  100  with the destination MIN of the incoming SMS message (step S 310 ). If the unique MIN of the mobile communication device  100  and the destination MIN of the incoming SMS message are the same, the procedure goes to step S 312 . If the unique MIN of the incoming SMS message is different from the destination MIN of the mobile communication device  100 , the procedure goes to step S 314 . 
         [0027]    The transmitter  104  transmits the confirmation message and updates the index number of the sent message history  016  to be “1” (step S 312 ). 
         [0028]    The deleting module  114  deletes the incoming SMS message from the buffer  108  (step S 314 ). 
         [0029]    The display  116  displays the incoming SMS message (step S 316 ). 
         [0030]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.