Archive control for text messages

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling how text messages are archived. A system identifies a text message for delivery over a mobile network, and identifies protection information for controlling archiving of the text message. The system inserts the protection information in the text message, and transmits the text message with the protection information towards a destination. The same or another system, such as a message center, receives the text message, and identifies the protection information inserted in the text message. The receiving system further identifies an end user associated with the text message, and identifies privacy policies provisioned for the end user. The receiving system then processes the privacy policies and the protection information to determine if the text message is authorized to be archived, such as in an archive server.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a network interface configured to receive a text message; and   a controller configured to identify protection information inserted in the text message, wherein the protection information controls archiving of the text message;   the controller is configured to identify an end user associated with the text message, to identify privacy policies provisioned for the end user, to process the privacy policies and the protection information to determine whether the text message is authorized to be archived in an archive server for long-term storage, and to store a copy of the text message in the archive server responsive to a determination that archiving is authorized.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the controller is configured to block the copy of the text message from being stored in the archive server responsive to a determination that archiving is not authorized. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the controller is configured to identify the protection information inserted in user data of the text message. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein:
 the controller is configured to identify the protection information in an Information Element (IE) of a User Data Header (UDH) in the user data. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the protection information includes a protection class which is a category of text messages that share a similar type of content. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein:
 the protection information includes a protection level indicating a degree of protection desired for text messages in the protection class. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the protection information includes a source of the text message. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the protection information includes a destination of the text message. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the protection information includes a time of day. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the network interface and the controller are implemented in a message center that facilitates delivery of the text message. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 receiving a text message through a network interface;   identifying, at a controller, protection information inserted in the text message, wherein the protection information controls archiving of the text message;   identifying, at the controller, an end user associated with the text message;   identifying, at the controller, privacy policies provisioned for the end user;   processing, at the controller, the privacy policies and the protection information to determine whether the text message is authorized to be archived in an archive server for long-term storage; and   storing a copy of the text message in the archive server responsive to a determination that archiving is authorized.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 blocking the copy of the text message from being stored in the archive server responsive to a determination that archiving is not authorized. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein identifying protection information inserted in the text message comprises:
 identifying the protection information inserted in user data of the text message. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein identifying the protection information inserted in user data of the text message comprises:
 identifying the protection information in an Information Element (IE) of a User Data Header (UDH) in the user data. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the protection information includes a protection class which is a category of text messages that share a similar type of content. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein:
 the protection information includes a protection level indicating a degree of protection desired for text messages in the protection class. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the protection information includes a source of the text message. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the protection information includes a destination of the text message. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the protection information includes a time of day. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the network interface and the controller are implemented in a message center that facilitates delivery of the text message.