Automatic delivery of messages

Abstract

Using components such as intermediate short message service service centers and active subscriber identity systems, it is possible to deliver a message to a subscriber at a number different from the number which was entered by the message's sender at the time the message was sent. These components can also be used to deliver the message in the event that the sender is unavailable at the time the message is originally sent. Communications between components can be performed in a variety of manners, including using proprietary IP protocols, and the components can be configured to take responsibility for retrying message delivery by providing a delivery confirmation once the message reaches them, rather than providing delivery confirmation once it reaches its ultimate recipient.

1 . A machine comprising:
 a. a processor;   b. a network interface in communication with the processor; and   c. a memory in communication with the processor;   wherein:   a. the memory has stored thereon a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, are operable to cause a set of acts to be performed;   b. the set of acts comprising:
 i. parsing a message received via the network interface into:
 1) a message body; 
 2) a message sender comprising a first MSISDN; and 
 3) a message recipient comprising a second MSISDN associated with a subscriber, wherein the subscriber is associated with a plurality of MSISDNs; 
 
 ii. in response to receiving the message, sending a delivery confirmation for the message; 
   c. sending the delivery confirmation takes place before providing the message to the message recipient; and   d. the message is a store and forward message.   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the message is an SMS message. 
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein:
 i. the message is sent to the machine using SS7 signaling; and   ii. the set of acts additionally comprises sending the message body to a second machine using IP signaling.   
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery confirmation is sent regardless of whether any of the MSISDNs associated with the subscriber is active. 
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a. the set of acts comprises:
 receiving, from a database, an active MSISDN from the plurality of MSISDNs associated with the subscriber; and 
 ii. sending a second message to a second machine; 
   b. the second message comprises:
 i. the message body; 
 ii. the message sender; and 
 iii. the active MSISDN. 
   
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 5 , wherein:
 a. the set of acts comprises:
 i. receiving a third message from the active MSISDN; 
 ii. sending a fourth message to a third machine; 
   b. the third message comprises:
 i. a second message body; 
 ii. the active MSISDN; and 
 iii. the first MSISDN; 
   c. the fourth message comprises:
 i. the second message body; 
 ii. the first MSISDN; and 
 iii. the second MSISDN; 
   d. the third message is a second SMS message sent as a reply to the message.   
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 a. parsing a message received via a network interface into:
 i. a message body; 
 ii. a message sender comprising a first MSISDN; and 
 iii. a message recipient comprising a second MSISDN associated with a subscriber, wherein the subscriber is associated with a plurality of MSISDNs; 
   b. based on execution, by a processor, of a set of instructions stored in a memory, responding to the message by sending a delivery confirmation for the message;   wherein sending the delivery conformation for the message takes place before providing the message to the message recipient; and   wherein the message is a store and forward message.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the message is an SMS message. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 i. the message is sent from a remote machine to the network interface using SS7 signaling; and   ii. the method additionally comprises sending the message body to a second remote machine using IP signaling.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the delivery confirmation is sent regardless of whether any of the MSISDNs associated with the subscriber is active. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a. the method comprises:
 i. receiving, from a database, an active MSISDN from the plurality of MSISDNs associated with the subscriber; and 
 ii. sending a second message to a remote machine; 
   b. the second message comprises:
 i. the message body; 
 ii. the message sender; and 
 iii. the active MSISDN. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 a. the method comprises:
 i. receiving a third message from the active MSISDN; 
 ii. sending a fourth message to a second remote machine; 
   b. the third message comprises:
 i. a second message body; 
 ii. the active MSISDN; and 
 iii. the first MSISDN; 
   c. the fourth message comprises:
 i. the second message body; 
 ii. the first MSISDN; and 
 iii. the second MSISDN; 
   d. the third message is a second SMS message sent as a reply to the message.   
     
     
         13 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions operable to configure a computer to perform a set of acts comprising:
 a. receiving, via a network interface, a message comprising:
 i. a message body; 
 ii. a message sender comprising a first MSISDN; and 
 iii. a message recipient comprising a second MSISDN associated with a subscriber, wherein the subscriber is associated with a plurality of MSISDNs; 
   b parsing the message;   c. responding to the message by sending a delivery confirmation for the message;   wherein the set of instructions is operable to configure the computer to send the delivery confirmation for the message before the message is provided to the message recipient; and   wherein the message is a store and forward message.   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the message is an SMS message. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein:
 i. the message is received from a remote machine which sent the message using SS7 signaling; and   ii. the set of acts additionally comprises sending the message body to a second remote machine using IP signaling.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are operable to configure the computer to send the delivery confirmation regardless of whether any of the MSISDNs associated with the subscriber is active. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a. the set of acts comprises:
 i. obtaining an active MSISDN from the plurality of MSISDNs associated with the subscriber; and 
 ii. sending a second message to a remote machine; 
   b. the second message comprises:
 i. the message body; 
 ii. the message sender; and 
 iii. the active MSISDN. 
   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein:
 a. the set of acts comprises:
 i. receiving a third message from the active MSISDN; 
 ii. sending a fourth message to a second remote machine; 
   b. the third message comprises:
 i. a second message body; 
 ii. the active MSISDN; and 
 iii. the first MSISDN; 
   c. the fourth message comprises:
 i. the second message body; 
 ii. the first MSISDN; and 
 iii. the second MSISDN; 
   d. the third message is a second SMS message sent as a reply to the message.