Abstract:
An apparatus and method for message communications addressing includes a system for addressing message communications to selected recipients, each of whom employ at least one of a plurality of disparate messaging services, the system including a messaging services database having different common address portion data elements associated with the corresponding disparate messaging services, and an interface processor for receiving and translating selected recipient identification information in accordance with the database to form communications addresses corresponding to each selected recipient; where the corresponding method for addressing message communications to selected recipients includes associating a username with at least one of the disparate messaging services, associating each of the disparate messaging services with a corresponding common address portion data element, selecting a username as a recipient of a message, translating the selected username into at least one corresponding messaging address in accordance with the associated messaging service and its corresponding common address portion data element, and transmitting the message to the corresponding messaging address for each selected recipient.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/360,185 (Atty. Docket No. 02P03310US/8706-583), entitled “Address Directory System Supporting Message Communication,” filed Feb. 27, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to electronic communications and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for addressing message communications. In typical message communications systems, a communications carrier receives incoming messages and transmits the messages to its own subscribers.  
           [0003]    Unfortunately, each carrier generally has its own messaging system, and there is no consolidated system and related directory capability currently available. Email systems can provide the messaging function, but there is no simplified administration or end-user functionality associated with these systems. For example, each address for each device of each user must currently be entered manually by administrators and/or end-users. End-users must also retrieve or create individual address strings for each device of each recipient when sending a message. In addition, there is no mechanism for easy and structured creation and retrieval of an integrated address directory.  
           [0004]    Accordingly, what is needed is a method and apparatus for addressing message communications to several subscribers of disparate messaging systems.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    These and other drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art are addressed by an apparatus and method for addressing message communications.  
           [0006]    An apparatus for message communications addressing includes a system for addressing message communications to selected recipients, each of whom employ at least one of a plurality of disparate messaging services, the system including a messaging services database having different common address portion data elements associated with the corresponding disparate messaging services, and an interface processor for receiving and translating selected recipient identification information in accordance with the database to form communications addresses corresponding to each selected recipient.  
           [0007]    A corresponding method for addressing message communications to selected recipients includes associating a username with at least one of the disparate messaging services, associating each of the disparate messaging services with a corresponding common address portion data element, selecting a username as a recipient of a message, translating the selected username into at least one corresponding messaging address in accordance with the associated messaging service and its corresponding common address portion data element, and transmitting the message to the corresponding messaging address for each selected recipient.  
           [0008]    These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The present disclosure teaches a method and apparatus for addressing message communications in accordance with the following exemplary figures, in which:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 shows a block diagram for a message communications addressing system according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 shows a block diagram for an addressable hand-held message communications apparatus usable in accordance with the system of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 shows a block diagram for a messaging computer server usable in accordance with the system of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 4A and 4B show an Administrator&#39;s Text-Messaging Service Setup interface screen in accordance with FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 shows an Administrator&#39;s User Profile Setup interface screen in accordance with FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 shows an End-User Interface screen in accordance with FIG. 1; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 shows an End-User Interface integrated with an exemplary Health Enterprise Dashboard screen in accordance with FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    The present disclosure relates to electronic communications and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for addressing message communications. Embodiments of the present disclosure include messaging computer servers usable in message communications systems.  
         [0018]    A preferred embodiment message communications addressing system comprises a web-based product that consolidates existing text messaging and short message service (“SMS”) services from wireless and paging carriers, and presents a simplified graphical user interface for practical everyday use by organizations on their intranet and/or Internet web sites.  
         [0019]    As shown in FIG. 1, a message communications system  100  includes addressable message communications devices  110 , such as, for example, mobile cellular telephone embodiments. The addressable communications devices  110  are each connected in signal communication to a base station  112  via the customary wireless links. Each base station  112 , in turn, is connected in signal communication with a cellular network  114 . A computer server  116 , such as, for example, a server residing with a messaging service provider, is connected in signal communication with the cellular network  114 . The computer server  116  is further connected in signal communication with an internet  118 .  
         [0020]    An end-user interface  120  is connected in signal communication with the computer server  116  via the internet  118 . The internet  118  is further coupled to email devices  122 . The computer server  116  is further coupled to a paging network  124 , which, in turn, is coupled to paging devices  126 . Thus, a communications path is formed between the end-user interface  120  and the computer server  116 , as well as from the end-user interface  120  to each of the mobile devices  110 , the email devices  122  and the paging devices  126 .  
         [0021]    Turning to FIG. 2, an addressable message communications apparatus is generally indicated by the reference numeral  200 . The addressable communications apparatus  200  may be embodied, for example, in a mobile cellular telephone according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The communications apparatus  200  includes at least one processor or Central Processing Unit (“CPU”)  202  in signal communication with a system bus  204 . A Read Only Memory (“ROM”)  206 , a Random Access Memory (“RAM”)  208 , a display adapter  210 , an Input/Output (“I/O”) adapter  212 , and a user interface adapter  214  are also in signal communication with the system bus  204 .  
         [0022]    A display unit  216  is in signal communication with the system bus  204  via the display adapter  210 , and a keypad  222  is in signal communication with the system bus  204  via the user interface adapter  214 . The apparatus  200  also includes a wireless communications device  228  in signal communication with the system bus  204  via the I/O adapter  212 , or via other suitable means as understood by those skilled in the art.  
         [0023]    As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, alternate embodiments of the communications apparatus  200  are possible. For example, alternate embodiments may store some or all of the data or program code in registers located on the processor  202 .  
         [0024]    Turning now to FIG. 3, a messaging computer server is indicated generally by the reference numeral  300 . The server  300  includes at least one processor or CPU  302  in signal communication with a system bus  304 . A ROM  306 , a RAM  308 , a display adapter  310 , an I/O adapter  312 , and a user interface adapter  314  are also in signal communication with the system bus  304 .  
         [0025]    A display unit  316  is in signal communication with the system bus  304  via the display adapter  310 . A data storage unit  318 , such as, for example, a magnetic or optical disk storage unit or database, is in signal communication with the system bus  304  via the I/O adapter  312 . A mouse  320 , a keyboard  322 , and an eye tracking device  324  are also in signal communication with the system bus  304  via the user interface adapter  314 .  
         [0026]    The server  300  also includes a communications adapter  328  in signal communication with the system bus  304 , or via other suitable means as understood by those skilled in the art. The communications adapter  328  enables the exchange of data between the server  300  and a network, for example.  
         [0027]    As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, alternate embodiments of the service provider computer server  300  are possible, such as, for example, embodying some or all of the computer program code in registers located on the processor chip  302 . Given the teachings of the disclosure provided herein, those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art will contemplate various alternate configurations and implementations of elements of the server  300  while practicing within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.  
         [0028]    As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, an Administrator&#39;s Text-Messaging Service Setup interface screen is indicated generally by the reference numeral  400 . The interface  400  includes a service provider directory block  410 , several mobile phone service provider information blocks  412  and paging service provider information blocks  414 . The service provider directory block  410  includes first entries  416  for mobile phone service providers, and second entries  418  for paging service providers. Any one of the entries  416  and  418  is individually selectable for editing or deleting. In addition, new entries may be made to the service provider directory block  410 .  
         [0029]    The mobile phone service provider information blocks  412  each include a service carrier name  420 , an address suffix  422  and a maximum message length  424  permitted by that particular mobile phone carrier. Likewise, the paging service provider information blocks  414  each include a service carrier name  426 , an address suffix  428  and a maximum message length  430  permitted by that particular paging carrier.  
         [0030]    Turning to FIG. 5, an Administrator&#39;s User Profile Setup interface screen is indicated generally by the reference numeral  500 . The Administrator&#39;s User Profile Setup interface screen  500  includes a user name field  510 , a devices selection  512 , a mobile phone carrier selection  514  and a paging carrier selection  516 . The Administrator&#39;s User Profile Setup interface screen  500  further includes a mobile phone number field  518 , an alphanumeric pager number field  520  and a user email address field  522 . In addition, the interface screen  500  provides a save button  524  as well as a clear button  526  for saving or clearing, respectively, all fields and selections on the interface screen  500 .  
         [0031]    Turning now to FIG. 6, an End-User Interface screen is indicated generally by the reference numeral  600 . The End-User Interface screen  600  includes a sender name field  610 , a recipient name selection pull-down menu  612 , and an optional manual address field  614 . The interface screen  600  further includes a text-capable mobile phone selection box  616 , an alphanumeric pager selection box  618  and an email selection box  620 . A message box  622  is provided for entry of the message, while a character counter display box  624  displays the number of characters remaining before the lowest character limit of the selected mobile phone, pager and/or email is reached for at least one of the selected usernames. The interface screen  600  further provides a send message button  626  for sending the message and a clear all fields box  628  for clearing all entries and selections from the interface screen  600 .  
         [0032]    As shown in FIG. 7, an End-User Interface integrated with an exemplary Health Enterprise Dashboard screen is indicated generally by the reference numeral  700 . The dashboard  700  includes an end-user interface portion  702 . The interface portion  702  includes a sender name field  710  that is automatically filled with the name of the dashboard user in this exemplary embodiment. The interface portion  702  further includes a recipient name selection pull-down menu  712 , a text-capable mobile phone selection box  716 , an alphanumeric pager selection box  718  and an email selection box  720 . A message box  722  is provided for entry of the message, while a character counter display box  724  displays the number of characters remaining before the lowest character limit of the selected mobile phone, pager and/or email is reached for at least one of the selected recipient usernames.  
         [0033]    Thus, the present disclosure teaches a method and apparatus for addressing message communications. It shall be understood by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art that embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in any messaging communications system. In particular, preferred embodiments are contemplated for use with cellular telephones, wireless pagers and internet email.  
         [0034]    Exemplary embodiment message communications addressing systems are preferably structured as self-contained applets and/or plug-ins, which can be hosted on a central computer server or embedded into multiple web sites and/or application programs. The applets may also be used on personal mobile devices, such as, for example, devices running Windows CE or PocketPC 2000 operating systems.  
         [0035]    In operation, the administrator is responsible for the initial population of the user directory with known service providers, as well as recipient&#39;s device and unique address representative numbers, such as, for example, an identification (“ID”) number or phone number.  
         [0036]    Thus, to register messaging services, one step is to populate the system with a list of carrier and pager services, such as, for example, AT&amp;T, VoiceStream, SkyTel, and the like that provide text messaging services. A default list is provided with the system. Each service profile registers the name, a suffix comprising the standard part of the Internet address that identifies the carrier and service to which messages are to be directed, and a maximum character limit for messages transmitted via each such service. The system is also usable for Internet based messaging services such as those of AOL, MSN and Yahoo, for example.  
         [0037]    The administrator can add, edit, or delete users and their profile information. To add a user, the administrator enters the user&#39;s name as it is to appear for selection by the end-users. The devices that are available for messaging are selected for each user, and may include, for example, one or more of phone, pager, and/or email devices. For each device, a carrier and service is selected from a pull-down list, which has been created and/or maintained from the above-described service registration step. The list is only available, as may be indicated by highlighting or other suitable means as known in the art, if the device has been checked or selected. If the administrator is entering a list of users and comes across a user with a new carrier or service, the administrator can select “Add New” from the carrier/service list to be linked to the “Service Registration” function. Once a device and service is selected, the area field for entering the user specific phone number, pager number, and/or primary email address becomes active.  
         [0038]    The end-user interface can be accessed in one or more of the following ways: as a standalone URL-based web application, as an embedded applet on an existing web site, or as an embedded function within an application. For the exemplary Health Enterprise Dashboard, this function is integrated into the personalized homepage of a Dashboard user. This integration streamlines the creation of the user profile and any fields required to be filled in by the end-user, such as, for example, the From and/or Message fields.  
         [0039]    In particular embodiments, the end-user would first enter a From user name. For integrated systems such as for the Dashboard, for example, this field automatically defaults to the host system logon name. The end-user may override this default name in alternate embodiments.  
         [0040]    The recipient is selected from a pull-down list. If the recipient is not in the list, or if the device is not registered in the system, the end-user can manually enter the entire recipient address, including the proper suffix for the targeted device. When a recipient is selected from the pull-down list, a list of devices for that specific recipient is presented, such as a phone, a pager, and/or an email. The end-user then selects the desired device(s) to which the message is to be sent. The interface processor  302  of FIG. 3 combines the recipient&#39;s user identification information with the common address portion data element of the messaging service corresponding to the selected device to form a user specific communications address.  
         [0041]    For example, referring back to FIGS. 4B, 5 and  7 , when Dr. Barclay completes a logon to the Dashboard application, Dr. Barclay&#39;s user identification information defaults to information corresponding to that derived in response to Dr. Barclay&#39;s Dashboard logon. Thus, Dr. Barclay need not reenter his/her own user identification information. When Dr. Barclay prepares a text message to Dr. Pettine in the “Text-Message Central” window  702 , he/she might select Dr. Pettine&#39;s “Alpha-Pager” device checkbox  718 . If Dr. Pettine&#39;s user identification information as entered in the user form  500  includes the alphanumeric pager service “SkyTel SkyWord” in box  516 , and a pager or address representative number such as “8005551234” in box  520 , then the number “8005551234” corresponding to Dr. Pettine&#39;s user identification information would be combined with the common address portion entered as the address suffix  428  in the paging service provider window  414  for “SkyTel SkyWord”. Thus, the address suffix  428  corresponding to the domain pointer “@SkyTel.com” would be combined to form the user specific communications address “8005551234@SkyTel.com”.  
         [0042]    In some embodiments, the interface processor  302  of FIG. 3 may encrypt the user specific communications address so that such information may not be copied for use outside of the system. As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, a destination selection  620  of a primary email address may correspond to a user specific communications address such as a universal resource locator (“URL”), an internet protocol (“IP”) address, an address representative number and/or a domain name. Where the selected common address portion data element identifies an address portion as URL data beginning with an “@” symbol, the end string may include a typical end string, such as, for example, an ending of “.com”, “.net”, “.co”, “.biz”, “.info”, “.name”, a “.(country code)” string, and the like. In some embodiments, the “@” symbol of the common address portion data element may be omitted or excluded during entry and storage of the address suffix  422 , and applied, if required, only at the time of combining the recipient&#39;s user identification information with the common address portion data element of the messaging service corresponding to the selected device to form a user specific communications address.  
         [0043]    The end-user enters the message to be sent to the selected device(s). As the end-user enters the message, a countdown of characters remaining is shown. The countdown starts with the maximum message length value entered during service setup. If multiple devices are selected, the device with the lowest maximum message length value is used. If the end-user does not select a recipient from the list, but manually enters the entire address, “unknown” is displayed in the Characters Remaining field.  
         [0044]    Thus, embodiments of the message communications addressing system provide a streamlined messaging system for front-ending any existing Internet-accessible text messaging service. The system may be employed in any industry with a desire to streamline text-messaging functionality to their constituents. For healthcare organizations, global portal sites, any web-based intranet or Internet web sites, or any application develop that desires to embed this messaging function, the function may be incorporated in a user interface application and ASP service. These and other embodiments provide a structured and simplified way for administrators to manage the online directory of users&#39; text messaging devices, while providing the end-users with a consolidated directory and intuitive messaging system for communicating with their constituents.  
         [0045]    Thus, a message communications addressing system is a single integrated system that provides text messaging and SMS communications utilizing multiple devices and service providers. Embodiments facilitate the entry and maintenance of online recipient directory entries by using “suffixes” of known services. Proper message addresses are identified by user and device, details of which are stored in an online directory. Preferred embodiments utilize existing carrier messaging services, gateways, and communication infrastructure accessible via the Internet, thereby eliminating the need to re-create and maintain multiple messaging infrastructures. An additional advantage is that system embodiments eliminate the need for the end-user to know the exact email address of the desired recipient&#39;s messaging device.  
         [0046]    While not limited to healthcare, applicability in the healthcare enterprise system includes streamlined communication between physicians, nurses, emergency personnel, lab technicians, home health care specialists, and the like. Preferred embodiments are built with industry-standard technology, such as, for example, Java programming language applets, to be integrated into any web site, portal, application, mobile device or service. Preferred embodiments may be used under various operating systems including Microsoft Windows®, PocketPC®, WinCE® and wireless access protocol (“WAP”).  
         [0047]    Thus, preferred embodiments for addressing message communications in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure provide one access point for all text messaging systems by utilizing a single user directory that is customizable by the administrator. Such embodiments, which may be easily integrated into any intranet or Internet web site, include dynamic web page displays for device choices and parameters based upon previous user selections. In alternate embodiments, message communications addressing systems can integrate with existing email, LDAP and/or other directories to further reduce the number of user directories. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, this functionality is integrated with a Health Enterprise Dashboard user profile directory to reduce administrative data entry and account management.  
         [0048]    These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure may be readily ascertained by one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein. It is to be understood that the teachings of the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software, firmware, special purpose processors, or combinations thereof.  
         [0049]    The teachings of the present disclosure are preferably implemented as a combination of hardware and software. Moreover, the software is preferably implemented as an application program tangibly embodied on a program storage unit. The application program may be uploaded to, and executed by, a machine comprising any suitable architecture. Preferably, the machine is implemented on a computer platform having hardware such as one or more Central Processing Units (“CPUs”), a Random Access Memory (“RAM”), and Input/Output (“I/O”) interfaces. The computer platform may also include an operating system and microinstruction code. The various processes and functions described herein may be either part of the microinstruction code or part of the application program, or any combination thereof, which may be executed by a CPU. In addition, various other peripheral units may be connected to the computer platform such as an additional data storage unit and an output unit.  
         [0050]    It is to be further understood that, because some of the constituent system components and steps depicted in the accompanying drawings may be implemented in software, the actual connections between the system components or the process function blocks may differ depending upon the manner in which the present disclosure is programmed. Given the teachings herein, one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art will be able to contemplate these and similar implementations or configurations of the present disclosure.  
         [0051]    Although illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.