Integrated Messaging

Abstract

An system, apparatus, and methods for integrated messaging are disclosed. The apparatus may include a user interface engine, an authorization module and a messaging module. The user interface engine receives input describing a recipient and a message to be received by the recipient. The authorization module generates an authorization signal indicating whether the recipient is authorized to exchange messages via a group messaging engine. The authorization module is coupled to the user interface engine to receive the input describing the recipient. The messaging module selectively transmits the message for dispatch to a user device of the recipient via the group messaging engine or a fallback messaging service based at least in part on the authorization signal. The messaging module is coupled to the authorization module to receive the authorization signal and coupled to the user interface engine to receive the input describing the recipient and the message.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving message data corresponding to a message to send to a recipient user device;   outputting the message for delivery to the recipient user device using a primary network connection and a primary messaging protocol;   determining whether the message is deliverable to the recipient user device using the primary network connection and primary messaging protocol; and   responsive to determining that the message is not deliverable to the recipient user device using the primary network connection and primary messaging protocol, outputting the message for delivery to the recipient user device using a fallback network connection and a fallback messaging protocol.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the message is not deliverable to the recipient user device using the primary network connection and native messaging protocol comprises determining that the primary network connection is not available for delivering the message to the recipient user device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining that the primary network connection is not available for delivering the message to the recipient user device comprises determining that the primary network connection is at least one of inactive, intermittent, and unreliable. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the message is not deliverable to the recipient user device using the primary network connection and primary messaging protocol comprises determining that the message was not successfully delivered to the recipient user device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining that the message was not successfully delivered to the recipient user device comprises determining that a confirmation of delivery of the message has not been received. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary network connection comprises an email server and the primary messaging protocol is an email protocol. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary network connection comprises a social network server and the primary messaging protocol is a protocol for exchanging messages between users of a social network. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary network connection comprises a group messaging server for exchanging messages between users of a messaging group and the primary messaging protocol is a group messaging protocol. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fallback network connection comprises a mobile network. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fallback messaging protocol comprises a text messaging protocol. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fallback messaging protocol comprises at least one of SMS, MMS, XMS, and instant messaging protocol. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the primary network connection and fallback network connection are selected based on a configurable setting of at least one of the recipient user device and a user device that outputs the message for delivery to the recipient user device. 
     
     
         13 . A system, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform functions that comprise:
 receiving message data corresponding to a message to send to a recipient user device; 
 outputting the message for delivery to the recipient user device using a primary network connection and a primary messaging protocol; 
 determining whether the message is deliverable to the recipient user device using the primary network connection and primary messaging protocol; and 
 responsive to determining that the message is not deliverable to the recipient user device using the primary network connection and primary messaging protocol, outputting the message for delivery to the recipient user device using a fallback network connection and a fallback messaging protocol. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein determining that the message is not deliverable to the recipient user device using the primary network connection and native messaging protocol comprises determining that the primary network connection is not available for delivering the message to the recipient user device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein determining that the message is not deliverable to the recipient user device using the primary network connection and primary messaging protocol comprises determining that the message was not successfully delivered to the recipient user device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the primary network connection comprises an email server and the primary messaging protocol is an email protocol. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the primary network connection comprises a social network server and the primary messaging protocol is a protocol for exchanging messages between users of a social network. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the primary network connection comprises a group messaging server for exchanging messages between users of a messaging group and the primary messaging protocol is a group messaging protocol. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fallback network connection comprises a mobile network. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fallback messaging protocol comprises a text messaging protocol.