Method of relaying an electronic message to a handheld electronic device beyond the coverage area of a wireless network

Abstract

A method of transmitting an electronic message to a handheld electronic device that is outside the coverage area of a wireless network having at least one Access Point. The method includes: attempting to wirelessly transmit the electronic message from the network to the handheld electronic device through the wireless access point; wirelessly transmitting the electronic message from the wireless access point to a peer handheld electronic device that is within communication range of the access point; and wirelessly transmitting the electronic message from the peer handheld electronic device to the handheld electronic device when the peer handheld electronic device is within communication range of the handheld electronic device.

1 . In a system including a network and at least one wireless access point in electronic communication with said network, wherein a handheld electronic device and a plurality of peer handheld electronic devices are registered with said system, a method for transmitting a message to said handheld electronic device when said handheld electronic device is not within communication range of said at least one wireless access point, comprising:
 attempting to wirelessly transmit said message from said network to said handheld electronic device through said at least one wireless access point;   wirelessly transmitting said message from said at least one wireless access point to one or more of peer handheld electronic devices that are within communication range of said at least one wireless access point; and   wirelessly transmitting said message from at least one of said one or more of said peer handheld electronic devices to said handheld electronic device when said at least one of said one or more of said peer handheld electronic devices is within communication range of said handheld electronic device.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising deleting said message from said one or more peer handheld electronic devices after a predetermined time interval. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising deleting said message from said one or more peer handheld electronic devices after said message has been transmitted to said handheld electronic device. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said one or more of said peer handheld electronic devices store up to a predetermined number of additional messages, each of said additional messages being intended for a corresponding additional handheld electronic device registered with said network. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said handheld electronic device and said one or more peer handheld electronic devices are each assigned an identifier, and wherein said message includes said identifier that corresponds to said handheld electronic device. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more of said peer handheld electronic devices comprises a first peer handheld electronic device and one or more additional peer handheld electronic devices, wherein said at least one of said one or more of said peer handheld electronic devices is said first peer handheld electronic device, and wherein the method further comprises preventing transmission of said message from said one or more additional peer handheld electronic devices to said handheld electronic device after said message has been transmitted to said handheld electronic device from said first peer handheld electronic device. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising preventing transmission of said message from said network to said handheld electronic device through said at least one wireless access point when said handheld electronic device is within a communication range of said at least one wireless access point after said message has been transmitted to said handheld electronic device from said at least one of said one or more of said peer handheld electronic devices. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when said handheld electronic device is in communication range of said at least one wireless access point, the method further comprises transmitting a signal from said handheld electronic device to said network through said at least one wireless access point and in response to receiving said signal, updating a message list in said network showing that said message has been delivered to said handheld electronic device. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising responsive to updating said message list, stopping all attempts to transmit said message from said network to said handheld electronic device. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the second wirelessly transmitting step, transmitting a signal from said handheld electronic device to said at least one of said one or more of said peer handheld electronic devices, said signal instructing said at least one of said one or more of said peer handheld electronic devices to initiate said second wirelessly transmitting step. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said message is encrypted. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when a first one of said one or more of said handheld electronic devices is within communication range of an additional one of said peer handheld electronic devices, the method further comprises wirelessly transmitting said message from said first one of said one or more of said peer handheld electronic devices to said additional one of said peer handheld electronic devices, and wherein said second wirelessly transmitting step comprises wirelessly transmitting said message from at least one of said one or more of said peer handheld electronic devices or said additional one of said peer handheld electronic devices to said handheld electronic device. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when said at least one of said one or more peer handheld electronic devices is in communication range of said at least one wireless access point after said message has been wirelessly transmitted to said handheld electronic device from said at least one of said one or more of said peer handheld electronic devices, said method further comprises transmitting a signal from said at least one of said one or more of said peer handheld electronic devices to said network through said at least one wireless access point, and in response to receiving said signal, updating a message list in said network showing that said message has been delivered to said handheld electronic device. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising responsive to updating said message list, stopping all attempts to transmit said message from said network to said handheld electronic device.