Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-03
2001-05-29
Rao, Seema S. (Department: 2732)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
C340S870030, C455S466000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239719
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method for time-stamping a message based on the location of the message recipient. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method for determining the location of an intended message recipient and adjusting a received time-stamp to reflect a time associated with the location at which the intended recipient is located.
It is known to provide message services in communication systems. An example of one such message service is referred to as the short message service (SMS) available on the PCS cellular network operating under the IS-136 protocol (TIA/EIA/IS-136.1-A October, 1996; TIA/EIA/IS-136.2 October 1996). In such a network the cellular subscriber can receive data packets containing messages wherever the cellular subscriber is located. The IS-136 standard states that the message transmitted to the subscriber should include some time-stamp indicating when the message was received. However, there is no indication in the standard that the time-stamp should at all be correlated to the time zone where the cellular subscriber is located when he or she receives the message. The message could be time-stamped in accordance with the time zone in which the message is first received for distribution to the cellular subscriber. This could create confusion for the intended recipient when the message is sent out in relation to the present time for the subscriber. For instance, assume the message center is in one time zone, e.g., Pacific Standard, and the message is received at 1 p.m. in that time zone. Further assume that the cellular subscriber is in a second time zone, one hour ahead of the first time zone (Mountain Standard). Thus, the message was received at the message center at 2 p.m. Mountain time. If the message is delivered to the cellular subscriber at 2:15 p.m. in the second time zone but shows a message time-stamp of 1 p.m., reflecting the first time zone, then the cellular subscriber is confused as to when the message was actually received at the message center. It would be beneficial if this confusion could be avoided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention avoids the confusion that can arise when a message is received in a message center in a time zone different from that of the intended message recipient. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a message center receives and notes the time of receipt at the message center in accordance with the time zone in which the message center is located. The message center then determines the location of the intended message recipient. The message center determines the time zone of that location and translates the received time into the time zone of the intended recipient.
In an embodiment in the communications area, a message center receives a message and a recipient identifier. The message center translates the identifier into a mobile identification number. The mobile identification number is then used to query a home location register to determine the location of the mobile switching center servicing the subscriber. Once the mobile switching center is determined, its location can be derived from a database. This location will have an associated time zone in which the mobile switching center is located. The time that the message center received the message will be translated to the time zone for the mobile switching center. As a result, the cellular subscriber using that switching center will receive an indication of the received time of the message in terms of the time zone corresponding to the location at which the subscriber is located.
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European Search Report, for Application No. EP 98 30 4082, completed 22 March 1999 (1 sheet).
AT&T Wireless Services Inc.
Rao Seema S.
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