FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2005

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTION 10 AND RULE 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“Network Based SMS Backup System”

APPLICANTS:
Name : TeleDNA Communications Pvt. Ltd.
Address : No 23 & 24, 2nd Floor, AMR Tech Park, Hosur Road Bangalore. PIN 560068

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-

FIELD OF INVENTION
[001]This invention relates to mobile communications, and more particularly to Short messaging Service in mobile communications.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[002]Short Messaging Service (SMS) has been around for long and there has been a tremendous increase of SMS as a mode of communication. As such SMS service has become very popular and lot of important, secret and confidential information is disseminated through this channel of information. Any loss of this information may cause lot of inconvenience and threat to the business and also the privacy of the personal information may be compromised. The networks systems enabling the SMS service do not maintain a backup of the SMS. The handsets also have the limitation of storing a limited number of sent SMS.
OBJECT OF INVENTION
[003]The principal object of this invention is to facilitate the Network Based Backup for the SMS which are sent by the mobile subscribers.
[004]This invention also allows the users to view and retrieve their backed up sent SMS as and when they wish.
[005]This also provides the facility to manage these backed up SMS by allowing the users to forward these SMS to another mobile number or a set of mobile numbers or to an email address or a list of email addresses or to delete.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION
[006]Accordingly the invention provides a system comprising of a ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module which is characterized to receive all the sent SMS and keeping a backup of these SMS for future use by the user.
[007]Using this invention, the Telecom Operator can provide a mobile subscriber with the ability to back up the all of their sent SMS at a centralised place and allows them to access these as per their wish.
[008]User could take any of the following actions on these backed up SMS:
a) Forward to another mobile number or a set of mobile numbers.
b) Forward to a single email address or list of email addresses.
c) Delete the SMS(s).
[009]These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0010]This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0011]FIG. 1 illustrates a ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ system and communication network components, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0012]FIG. 2 illustrates system components of ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ service to users, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0013]FIGs. 3 and 4 illustrate the flow charts depicting sequence of steps in ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ system, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0014]The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0015]The embodiments herein achieve ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ functionality among users by incorporating systems and methods thereof. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[0016]A ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ system receives the Mobile Originated SMS (MO-SMS) message from the home network Short Messaging Service Center (SMSC). The ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ service could be subscribed by sending an SMS/Email or any other means. ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module connects to the SMSC using Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) interface to receive the copy of SMS from the SMSC and also connects to SMSC to send the subscribe/un-subscriber requests received from the Home Operator mobiles.
[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module and the communication network components, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The system comprises a Short Message Service Center (SMSC) 101, ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module 102, a network 103 and a plurality of users i.e. user 104 and user 105.
[0018]Several users 104 and 105 can employ ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ service by subscribing for this service on their mobile device.
[0019]The network 103 acts as a medium for communication between users 104, 105 and the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module 102.
[0020]The ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module 102 is responsible for organizing, maintaining the user preferences and handling the MO-SMSs originated from users 104 and 105. ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module 102 can send a request to SMSC to subscribe the requestor for the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ facility. The details of the user 104 may be stored in the subscription profile module against the Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN). The SMSC 101 interfaces with sub modules of ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module 102 (i.e. directly to subscription profile module 201 and to Graphical User Interface module 202 via SMSC Interface Module 203).
[0021]The IN server 106 is a network server that is responsible for maintaining the account settings of the user 104. On the request of the SMSC, the IN server 104 checks the account details of the user 104, to know if the user is a pre-paid user.
[0022]In an embodiment, SMSC 101 may employ Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) V3.4 protocol to interface with the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module 101.
[0023]FIG. 2 illustrates a ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module and internal subsystems, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module 101 comprises of three sub-modules: a subscription profile module 201, a Graphical User Interface module 202 and a SMSC interface module 203. The subscription profile module 201 integrates with the SMSC 101 directly to send the subscription related information and to set the flag on/off for this service on the SMSC 101, for the user 104 who may have subscribed for the ‘Network Backup SMS Service’. Graphical User Interface module 202 interfaces with the SMSC via SMSC Interface Module 203 and allows the user 104 to check the SMS backed up at the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module using his/her login details. The user 104 could take further actions on these backed up SMS like forwarding to an email address or a list of email addresses or to a mobile number or to set of mobile numbers or delete etc.
[0024]FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting sequence of ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ process, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The user receives (301) a promotional message, word-of-mouth or an advertisement from print or electronic media or by any other means, indicating the availability of the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ service. The promotional message (SMS or Email or Call) may be sent by the network operator. If the user 104 is interested in subscribing to the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ service, he/she sends (302) a response message (SMS or Email or Call) to the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module requesting for subscription. The response message sent by the user may be in the form of a SMS or Email or Call. Further, on receiving the subscription request, the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module 102 interfaces with the IN server 106 to check for account details of the user 104. The IN server 106 makes a check (303) if the user is a pre-paid user. If the user 104 is a pre-paid user, the IN server 106 checks (304) his account balance to determine if the user 104 has sufficient balance in his account to access network based SMS backup service. If the user 104 does not have sufficient balance, the user 104 is informed (310) that the subscription request could not be granted. On the other hand, if the user 104 is a post-paid user or a pre-paid user with sufficient balance in his account, the user 104 is charged (305) for the subscription to the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ service. If the user is a pre-paid user with sufficient balance in his account, then the fees for the subscription to the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ service is deducted from the account of the user 104. If the user is a post-paid user, then the fees for the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ service are incorporated into his monthly billing statement. Once the user has been charged, the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module 102 creates (306) a user profile for the user 104 and sends a request to SMSC to set the network based SMS backup service flag to ON. Also, informs the user of the successful subscription for the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ service by sending (307) a confirmation message with the URL and the login details to login to the Graphical User Interface module to check the backed up SMS. Post that the user 104 could start using the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ service as per his/her preferences and take actions on the backed up SMS like forwarding to another mobile or to email Id or even deleting these SMS. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 3 may be omitted.
[0025]FIG.4 is a flowchart depicting sequence of steps by which the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ gets the SMS from the SMSC.
[0026]When the SMSC 101 receives an SMS from the user 104 (401), it immediately sends a copy of the SMS to the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module over SMPP interface if the user is provisioned for this service (402). The user 104 could login into his account with the login/password sent to him earlier at the time of subscription to this service and check the backed up SMS and take actions like forwarding/deleting these SMS (403). In an embodiment, the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ module may be implemented to enhance the utilization of the SMSC functionalities with network operators. In an example, network operators providing Mobile communication services can offer the ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ as a value added service for their customers.
[0027]The embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented through at least one software program running on at least one hardware device and performing network management functions to control the network elements. The network elements shown in Fig. 1 and 2 include blocks which can be at least one of a hardware device, or a combination of hardware device and software module. The embodiment disclosed herein describes a method for ‘Network Based SMS Backup’ service in mobile device. Therefore, it is understood that the scope of the protection is extended to such a program and in addition to a computer readable means having a message therein, such computer readable storage means contain program code means for implementation of one or more steps of the method, when the program runs on a server or mobile device or any suitable programmable device. The hardware device can be any kind of portable device that can be programmed. The device may also include means which could be e.g. hardware means like e.g. an ASIC, or a combination of hardware and software means, e.g. an ASIC and an FPGA, or at least one microprocessor and at least one memory with software modules located therein. The method embodiments described herein could be implemented partly in hardware and partly in software. Alternatively, the invention may be implemented on different hardware devices, e.g. using a plurality of CPUs.
[0028]The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

STATEMENT OF CLAIMS

What is claimed is:
1. A system for enabling a service to backup of a Short Messaging Service (SMS) sent by a user in a mobile network, said system comprising of atleast one means adapted to:-
Performing actions on said SMS, if said user is a subscriber to said service; wherein said actions comprise at least one of
Take a backup of said SMS;
Forward a copy of said SMS to predefined email address;
Forward a copy of said SMS to a predefined list of email addresses;
Forward a copy of said SMS to a predefined Mobile number; and
Forward a copy of said SMS to a list of predefined mobile numbers.

2. The system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system is configured to check if said is a subscriber of said service by interfacing with an Intelligent Network (IN) server to check account details of said user.

3. The system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system is configured to use Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) as interface to receive said SMS from the Short Messaging Service Center (SMSC).

4. The system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said list of pre-defined email addresses and said pre-defined email address are provided by said user.

5. The system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said list of pre-defined mobile numbers and said pre-defined mobile numbers are provided by said user.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system is further adapted to enable said user to access said backed up SMS, after authenticating said user.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said system is further adapted to permit said user to perform at least one of
viewing said backed up SMS;
deleting said backed up SMS;
forwarding said backed up SMS to a mobile number;
forwarding said backed up SMS to a list of mobile numbers;
forwarding said backed up SMS to an email address;
forwarding said backed up SMS to a list of email addresses; and
enabling/disabling backing up of said SMS.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises of following sub systems:-
Subscription Module;
Graphical User Interface module; and
SMSC Interface module.

Dated this 26th February 2010

Mr. Nishant Kewalramani
Patent Agent