The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 24, 2013
Filed:
Sep. 08, 2012
Fulvio Cenciarelli, Suwanee, GA (US);
Coulter C. Henry, Marietta, GA (US);
Fulvio Cenciarelli, Suwanee, GA (US);
Coulter C. Henry, Marietta, GA (US);
AT&T Mobility II LLC, Atlanta, GA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and methods for communicating text messages to the recipients' communication devices utilizes multiple communication modes, including, but not limited to, network-based and non-network based communication modes or methods. Generally, the network-based communication mode utilizes a messaging communication network to communicate text messages over relatively large distances and the non-network-based communication mode utilizes a proximity communication transport mechanism to communicate text messages over relatively small distances. The non-network communication transport mechanism includes, for example, the Bluetooth proximity communication transport mechanism and/or the unlicensed free radio spectrum. The apparatus is operable in either of the communication modes or in an auto-select communication mode in which the apparatus initially attempts to communicate text messages via a proximity communication transport mechanism and if unsuccessful, subsequently communicates text messages via a messaging communication network. The apparatus is configurable to operate in any of the communication modes.