Inter-carrier messaging service providing phone number only experience

Abstract

A phone number only messaging experience is provided in an Inter-Carrier Messaging System service. Subscriber to subscriber digital messages containing user data are routed between carrier's networks using an Inter-Carrier messaging module with appropriate MIN/carrier/carrier routing look-up capabilities. Digital messages containing user data (e.g., short messages, email, digital messages in general, etc.) may be sent to a subscriber in another carrier's network addressed only with a phone number. If the recipient is outside of the sender's carrier network, the Inter-Carrier messaging module of the Inter-Carrier service provider (ICSP) determines the appropriate carrier for the recipient, appends the appropriate syntax to the digital message containing user data to allow internet protocol (IP) or other standardized communication techniques between message service centers of the two carriers, and routes the digital message containing user data to the destination carrier. The recipient in the other carrier's network may reply back to the ICSP's sender using only the subscriber's directory number.

1 . In a message distribution center, a phone number only experience provided by: 
 a database associating subscriber MIN numbers with servicing carriers;    a database associating carriers with routing syntax; and    an inter-carrier messaging module to receive a digital message with user data payload addressed with only a MIN number, to perform a lookup in said database associating subscriber MIN numbers and in said database associating carriers with routing syntax, and to add routing syntax determined from said lookup to said MIN number.    
     
     
         2 . In a message distribution center according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said digital message with user data payload is an e-mail.    
     
     
         3 . In a message distribution center according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said database associating subscriber MIN numbers with servicing carriers and said database associating carriers with routing syntax are in a common database.    
     
     
         4 . In a message distribution center according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said MIN is a phone number.    
     
     
         5 . In a message distribution center according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said digital message with user data payload is an e-mail.    
     
     
         6 . In a message distribution center according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said message distribution center forms a store and forward messaging platform.    
     
     
         7 . A method of providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving an initial digital message containing user data addressed to a MIN only;    associating a carrier providing service to said MIN;    formulating a new digital message containing said user data and newly addressed to said MIN with a syntax associated with said carrier providing service to said MIN; and    routing said new digital message containing said user data.    
     
     
         8 . The method of providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said initial digital message containing said user data is an e-mail.    
     
     
         9 . The method of providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said new digital message containing said user data is an e-mail.    
     
     
         10 . The method of providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said MIN is a phone number.    
     
     
         11 . The method of providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said phone number only addressed digital message containing user data is received at, and said new digital message containing user data is routed from, a service bureau.    
     
     
         12 . The method of providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said MIN is a phone number.    
     
     
         13 . The method of providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said MIN with said added syntax associated with said carrier providing service to said MIN forms a routable address.    
     
     
         14 . The method of providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said routable address is an e-mail address.    
     
     
         15 . Apparatus for providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber, comprising: 
 means for receiving an initial digital message containing user data addressed to a MIN only;    means for associating a carrier providing service to said MIN;    means for formulating a new digital message containing user data including a body of said initial digital message containing user data and newly addressed to said MIN with a syntax associated with said carrier providing service to said MIN; and    means for routing said new digital message containing user data.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said initial digital message containing user data is an e-mail.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said new digital message containing user data is an e-mail.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said MIN is a phone number.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said phone number only addressed digital message containing user data is received at, and said new digital message containing user data is routed from, a service bureau.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said MIN is a phone number.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus for providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said MIN with said added syntax associated with said carrier providing service to said MIN forms a routable address.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus for providing a phone number only experience to a subscriber according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said routable address is an e-mail address.