Patent ID: 7043264

Claim:
A process for a robust data delivery system between a server and a mobile client using the Short Message Service (SMS) and General Packet Radio System (GPRS) communication services, comprising the steps of: providing service preference setting means on said mobile client for allowing any of a user and a messaging provider to set preferences on said mobile client for any of: a service coverage estimation that balances SMS and GPRS service coverage estimations for said mobile client, and service selection preferences that are expressed using a balance of cost of service and reliability of service; receiving a message on said mobile client from said server; wherein said message is sent by said server using either the SMS or GPRS services; wherein said mobile client checks the status of its SMS and GPRS signals; providing signal selection means on said mobile client for weighing said preference settings and said SMS and GPRS signal statuses to decide whether to answer said server using SMS or GPRS; wherein if said signal selection means selects GPRS, then said mobile client answers said server using GPRS; and wherein if said signal selection means selects SMS, then said mobile client answers said server using SMS.