Forwarding electronic messages based on source information

Abstract

The invention provides a method of transmitting electronic messages in a computer environment. The preferred embodiment receives an electronic message addressed to a telephone number and determines an instant message identifier associated with the telephone number. In response to the determination that an instant message identifier associates with the telephone number, it is further determined whether an instant message receiver is available to receive messages addressed to the instant message identifier. In response to a determination that an instant message receiver is available to receive instant messages addressed to the instant message identifier, the electronic message is forwarded as an instant message addressed to the instant message identifier. In response to a determination that an instant message receiver is available to receive instant message addressed to the instant message identifier, electronic message is sent to a mobile device at the telephone number in response to a determination that no instant message receiver is available to receive instant messages addressed to the instant message identifier.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving an electronic message from a first user;   identifying source information of the electronic message, the source information associated with the first user;   determining, using at least one processor, to forward the electronic message to a second user based on the identified source information; and   forwarding the electronic message to the second user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a user preference associated with the second user;   identifying a telephone number associated with the second user; and   sending the electronic message to the telephone number according to the user preference.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, at a first time, that the electronic message could not be forwarded to the second user; and   storing the electronic message in a media storage.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 determining, at a second time subsequent to the first time, that the electronic message could be forwarded to the second user; and   forwarding the electronic message to a telephone number associated with the second user.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a telephone number associated with the second user; and   sending the electronic message to the telephone number associated with the second user.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 identifying an instant message identifier associated with the second user; and   sending the electronic message to the instant message identifier associated with the second user.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a first computing device associated with the second user;   identifying a second computing device associated with the second user; and   sending the electronic message to the first computing device and the second computing device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first computing device comprises a mobile phone and the second computing device comprises a desktop computer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic message comprises a Short Message Service message. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source information comprises at least one of a source address of the electronic message, a username of the first user, a telephone number associated with the first user, or an instant message identifier associated with the first user. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 receiving an electronic message from a first mobile device;   identifying source information of the electronic message;   identifying a user preference that specifies forwarding of electronic messages based on source information of electronic messages;   determining, using at least one processor, to forward the electronic message based on the identified source information as applied to the identified user preference; and   forwarding the electronic message to a second mobile device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein forwarding the electronic message to the second mobile device comprises sending at least a portion of the content of the electronic message to an email address associated with the second mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein forwarding the electronic message to the second mobile device comprises sending at least a portion of the content of the electronic message to an instant message identifier associated with the second mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the user preference specifies that all electronic messages should be forwarded except for electronic messages from one or more specified source telephone numbers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first mobile device and the second mobile device comprise a mobile phone. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
 receive an electronic message from a first user; 
 identify source information of the electronic message, the source information associated with the first user; 
 determine to forward the electronic message to a second user based on the identified source information; and 
 forward the electronic message to the second user. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
 determine, at a first time, that the electronic message could not be forwarded to the second user; and   store the electronic message in a media storage.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
 determine, at a second time subsequent to the first time, that the electronic message could be forwarded to the second user; and   forward the electronic message to a telephone number associated with the second user.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
 identify a first computing device associated with the second user;   identify a second computing device associated with the second user; and   send the electronic message to the first computing device and the second computing device.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to delete at least a portion of the electronic message prior to forwarding the electronic message to the second user.