Bidirectional Group Text Messaging via Provisioned Number
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing group text messaging systems face challenges in facilitating bidirectional communication, managing member identities, and ensuring security, particularly in managing member entry and exit, and providing reliable and structured communication.
Innovation Solution
A bidirectional group texting system where a group owner provisions a unique telephone number for the group, allowing text messages to be sent and received without revealing member identities to each other, with the group owner managing membership and using this number for message forwarding, enhancing security and reducing the need for members to know each other's identities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If member identities are hidden from all recipients, then security is improved and confidential information protection is enhanced, but bidirectional communication capability deteriorates as members cannot send messages to the group or other members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that receives messages from members and distributes them to the appropriate recipients. The server acts as a mediator that enables bidirectional communication without requiring members to have direct access to each other's identities or phone numbers, thus maintaining security while enabling communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the communication function into two separate components: message transmission (handled by the server) and identity management (handled separately). This allows members to communicate through the server without exposing their identities to each other, resolving the contradiction between security and communication capability.
2Reliability
If a provisioned phone number is used for group messaging, then member identity privacy is protected and security is enhanced, but the complexity of system setup and management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that manages the provisioned phone number and handles all message routing. Individual members do not need to manage or know about the provisioned number, as the server abstracts this complexity away from them, maintaining privacy protection while reducing individual member burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the group's communication identity (provisioned phone number) into a single centralized entity managed by the server, rather than requiring each member to manage their own identities. This consolidation simplifies the overall system architecture despite the added server functionality.
3Ease of operation
If traditional SMS protocols are used for group messaging, then ease of use is maintained, but reliability and security deteriorate due to lack of structured communication and delivery confirmation
Solution Approach 1:
The server implements feedback mechanisms by providing delivery confirmations to members when their messages are successfully transmitted to the group. This feedback loop enhances reliability by confirming message delivery while maintaining the simplicity of the messaging interface for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The server mediates between traditional SMS protocols and the need for structured communication by maintaining message queues, tracking delivery status, and providing confirmation feedback, thereby enhancing reliability without requiring members to directly implement complex protocols.
4Reliability
If all group members are listed in the 'to' field, then message delivery to all members is ensured, but tracking and management becomes difficult and security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that manages the distribution list, replacing the need to manually list all members in the 'to' field. The server handles member tracking, addition, and removal centrally, ensuring messages reach all current members while simplifying management and enhancing security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service mechanisms where the server automatically updates the distribution list based on current group membership, eliminating the need for manual tracking by members and reducing management complexity while maintaining reliable delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A bidirectional group text messaging system is disclosed having a group owner that initiates a group by obtaining a provisioned telephone number, the group owner establishes a list of group members using identifying information for each group member, text messages from any group member are sent to the provisioned telephone number and from that provisioned telephone number sent to each group member, wherein the group members' identifying information is not available to any other group member except the group owner. The group owner may add and delete members at any time. Further, a text message sourced from a group member may be prevented from being sent to the sourcing member. In addition, a billing member can create logic sets to calculate a value prior to the message being transmitted to each group member.