Patent ID: 7701969

Claim:
A gateway comprising: an interface to a packet network; an interface to a mobile network; a processor for performing protocol translation for messages communicating between the packet and the mobile networks connected to the interfaces; wherein the processor comprises a presence management function for detecting and maintaining presence information of users in the packet network, and for mapping a presence state of users in the packet network to a form used in the mobile network; and the gateway comprises a message routing function and a message delivery management function for controlling delivery of a message to the packet network if the presence management function determines presence of a destination user device in the packet network, and wherein the message delivery management function comprises means for extending store and forward message delivery capability of the mobile network to the packet network by: checking the presence of the destination user device in the packet network, and if present transferring the message to the packet network, and if not present or message transfer fails for any other reason setting a flag; if the destination user device is subsequently present in the packet network, detecting that the flag has been set and notifying an originating mobile network entity to trigger said entity to attempt message delivery again; and wherein the presence management function sends a notification signal to notify said mobile network entity if a user in the packet network is the intended recipient of a message awaiting delivery; and wherein the notification signal specifies in a dynamic manner search criteria to be used by said mobile network entity ranging from a direct match criterion to a partial match criterion.