Inter-Modal Messaging Gateway for Email SMS Facsimile Conversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication technologies do not allow seamless inter-modal messaging between email, SMS, and facsimile services due to differences in network protocols and addressing formats, preventing users from easily converting messages between these platforms.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for inter-modal messaging communication that receives an electronic mail message, determines if it is multi-modal, separates portions for different distribution modes, and transmits these portions using SMS and facsimile services, establishing conversations and utilizing short codes to maintain communication across platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If e-mail messages are addressed to SMS recipients using traditional addressing methods, then communication between email and SMS is not possible, but the patent enables addressing e-mail to SMS recipients using phone numbers in the To field
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway server as an intermediary between email systems and SMS networks. This gateway receives emails addressed to phone numbers, converts them into SMS messages, and delivers them to the appropriate mobile devices. The gateway acts as a mediator that translates between different communication protocols and addressing formats, enabling cross-platform messaging without requiring changes to existing email or SMS infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables a single email system to serve multiple communication modes (email, SMS, and integrated messaging). The messaging system can handle traditional email addresses, phone numbers, and unified messaging addresses, allowing users to communicate across different platforms using a single interface. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptable to various communication needs while maintaining a consistent user experience.
2Adaptability or versatility
If messages are transmitted across different communication modes (email, SMS, facsimile), then communication flexibility is improved, but network protocol and addressing format differences prevent seamless inter-modal messaging
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway server serves as a protocol mediator that converts between email protocols (SMTP, POP3, IMAP) and SMS protocols. It handles address format translation between email addresses, phone numbers, and unified messaging addresses. The gateway also manages message format conversion, ensuring that emails can be delivered as SMS messages and vice versa, thereby enabling seamless inter-modal communication despite protocol differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes message parameters based on the destination and communication mode. When an email is addressed to a phone number, the system changes the message format from email to SMS, adjusts the character encoding, and modifies the delivery protocol. Similarly, when converting SMS to email, the system changes the addressing format, message structure, and protocol used for transmission. These parameter changes enable flexible inter-modal communication while managing the complexity through automated conversion rules.
3Reliability
If SMS messaging is used for communication, then reachability is improved, but the lack of full QWERTY keyboard makes messaging more difficult compared to e-mail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a unified messaging system that combines the reachability of SMS with the ease of email composition. Users can access the email interface with full QWERTY keyboard on their mobile devices, allowing them to compose messages easily while maintaining the ability to reach recipients via SMS. The system automatically routes messages through the appropriate channel based on the recipient's availability and preferences, providing both reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway server mediates between the email composition interface and SMS delivery mechanism. It allows users to compose messages using email clients with full keyboards, then automatically converts and delivers them as SMS messages to mobile devices. This intermediary function preserves the ease of email composition while achieving the reliability of SMS delivery, resolving the contradiction between input difficulty and message reachability.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If conversation mode is enabled for SMS messages, then communication continuity is improved, but additional conversation attributes and short code management increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges email conversation management with SMS conversation tracking in a unified system. The gateway maintains conversation state across both email and SMS channels, allowing users to switch between modes while preserving conversation context. Conversation attributes such as participant lists, message history, and status are consolidated in a single database, reducing the complexity of managing separate conversation systems for each communication mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway provides universal conversation management that works across email, SMS, and integrated messaging modes. A single conversation can span multiple communication channels, with the gateway automatically managing the transition between modes. The conversation management system handles short code assignment, message routing, and state tracking in a unified manner, reducing complexity by providing a multi-functional solution rather than separate systems for each mode.
Data Source
AI summary
Inter-modal messaging communication is described. In one embodiment, a method of communication includes receiving an electronic mail message to be distributed and determining whether the electronic mail message is a multi-modal distribution message. Respective portions of the message may be separated for each mode of distribution. The separated portions may represent portions to be delivered by SMS messaging and facsimile, for example. The method further includes the steps of transmitting a short message comprising the short message portion of the mail message and establishing a conversation comprising conversation attributes. The conversation attributes are referenced, in certain aspects, to maintain a conversation between an originator of the received electronic mail message and a distribution address of short message portion of the mail message. For example, upon receipt of a short message in reply, the short message may be forwarded to an originator of the conversation.