SMS to IM Message Conversion Gateway

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current SMS and IM systems operate independently, leading to communication issues, especially in commercial environments with poor cellular service, and SMS messages sent to employee phones may be lost or overlooked due to storage and accessibility concerns.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for federating communications between SMS and IM networks by converting messages into a unified format, allowing seamless transmission between the two systems, using gateways and federation application programming interfaces to translate messages between SMS and IM protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If SMS messages are sent to employee telephones, then communication can reach employees outside the enterprise environment, but messages may be lost or overlooked due to storage and accessibility issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage delivery reliabilityVSAvoidmessage loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an SMS gateway as an intermediary component that receives SMS messages from the cellular network and converts them into IM messages. This gateway acts as a mediator between the SMS and IM systems, ensuring that messages are not lost in the SMS system but rather transferred to the more reliable IM system for storage and delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the SMS message storage and delivery mechanism with an IM-based mechanism. Instead of relying on the cellular network's SMS storage (which is prone to loss), the system substitutes it with enterprise IM system storage, which provides better message management, retrieval, and delivery tracking capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If SMS and IM systems operate independently, then each system can function with its own protocol, but communication between the two systems is problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem independenceVSAvoidcommunication ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The SMS gateway serves as an intermediary that enables communication between the independent SMS and IM systems. It receives messages in SMS format, converts them to IM format, and forwards them to the IM system, thereby bridging the two independent systems without requiring them to change their fundamental protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the message format parameter during transmission. The gateway transforms messages from SMS format (with its specific protocol and structure) into IM format (with different protocol and structure), allowing the message to be compatible with the target system while maintaining the independence of both systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If messages are converted between SMS and IM formats, then communication can occur across different networks, but the conversion process adds system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-network communicationVSAvoidconversion system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The SMS gateway consolidates the conversion functionality into a single intermediary component rather than requiring complex integration logic distributed across multiple systems. This centralized approach manages the conversion complexity in one place, making the overall system more maintainable despite the added functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2756688B1System and method for short message services to instant messaging conversion
Publication Date: 2019.11.27 VAIL SYSTEMS INC
  • EP2756688B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2756688B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2756688B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

Implementations of the present disclosure involve a system and method for federating communications between a first network that transmits and receives messages formatted in a first format and a second network that transmits and receives messages formatted in a second format. The system and method are configured to receive a message from the first network formatted in the first format. The system then converts the message into a unified format that may be sent to the second network. After receiving the message in the unified format, the message may then be converted into the format of the second network and sent on the second network like any other message on the second network.