Motorola Mobility, Inc. v. Apple, Inc.

Filing 218

AFFIDAVIT signed by : Jill Ho. re 217 Response in Opposition to Motion Declaration of Jill Ho in Support of Apple's Opposition (D.E. 217) by Apple, Inc. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Exhibit G, # 8 Exhibit H, # 9 Exhibit I, # 10 Exhibit J, # 11 Exhibit K, # 12 Exhibit L)(Pace, Christopher)

Exhibit K

111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
US00637716lBl

United States Patent

(10)

Gromelski et al.

(12)

(45)

Patent No.:
US 6,377,161 Bl
Date of Patent:
Apr. 23, 2002

(54)

METHOD AND APPARATUS IN A WIRELESS
MESSAGING SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING
AN EXCHANGE OF ADDRESS
INFORMATION

(75)

Inventors: Lisa Jane Gromelski, Fort Worth, TX
(US); Gregory Lewis Cannon,
Boynton Beach, FL (US)

(73)

Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US)

( *)

Notice:

(21)

Appl. No.: 09/132,447

* cited by examiner

(22)

Filed:

(51)

Int. CI?

Primary Examiner-William Trost
Assistant Examiner-Marlean Milord
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm~. Louis Breeden; Roland
K. Bowler II

(52)
(58)

5,604,492
5,697,060
5,794,144
5,850,594
5,864,298
5,974,300
6,011,976
6,018,657
6,023,230
6,055,229
6,069,886
6,081,202
6,087,956
6,118,980
6,125,262
6,144,313

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.c. 154(b) by 0 days.

Aug. 11, 1998

H04Q 7/00; H04Q 1/30;
G08B 5/22
U.S. CI.
340/7.45; 340/7.2; 340/7.21;
455/458; 455/420; 455/567; 455/412
455/31.3, 31.1,
Field of Search
455/31.2,32.1,38.4,412,415,458,466,
567,564,419,420; 340/825.44, 7.2, 7.21,
7.45; 709/245, 217

(56)

Abdul-Halim
340/825.44
Akahane
455/38.1
Comer et al.
455/426
Cannon et al.
455/31.3
Vogel
340/825.44
LaPorta et al.
455/31.2
Cannon et al.
455/31.3
Kennedy, III et al.
455/426
Dorenbosch et al. .. 340/825.44
Dorenbosch et al.
370/313
Dorenbosch
340/825.44
Dorenbosch
340/825.44
Helferich
340/825.44
Dorenbosch et al.
455/31.3
Hymel
455/38.3
Nakato
340/825.44

ABSTRACT

A first portable messaging unit (PMU) (122) sends (502)
address information to a second PMU through a wireless
messaging system, and the second PMU receives (504) the
address information. In response, the second PMU makes a
check (506) of whether information identical to the address
information is stored in its address book (230) and then
processes (508-516) the address information in a predetermined manner dependent upon the result of the check.

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

* 7/1992 Tsukamoto
* 1/1994 Higuchi et al.
* 9/1996 Mizikovsky

2/1997
12/1997
8/1998
12/1998
1/1999
10/1999
1/2000
1/2000
2/2000
4/2000
5/2000
6/2000
7/2000
9/2000
9/2000
11/2000

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

(57)

References Cited

5,128,981 A
5,276,729 A
5,559,860 A

A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A

379/58
379/58
379/58

20 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
502

FIRST PORTABLE MESSAGING UNIT (PMU) SENDS
ADDRESS INFORMATION TO SECOND PMU
THROUGH WIRELESS MESSAGING SYSTEM

504
SECOND PMU RECEIVES ADDRESS INFORMATION

506
SECOND PMU CHECKS ADDRESS BOOK TO DETERMINE
WHETHER INFORMATION IDENTICAL TO THE ADDRESS
INFORMATION IS STORED IN ADDRESS BOOK

508
IS IT >-Y'-----

--,

?

~:::::::::::i-c~!~--

,

: SECOND PMU STORES :
, ADDRESS INFORMATION '
IN ADDRESS BOOK
:
:
'- -

-

-

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-

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-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-. -

-

-

-

-

-

I

516
SECOND PMU STORES ADDRESS INFORMATION IN RECENT
ADDRESSES LOCATION OF MEMORY, WHICH RETAINS
ADDRESS INFORMATION SENT IN A PREDETERMINED
NUMBER OF MOST RECENTLY RECEIVED TRANSMISSIONS

u.s. Patent

Apr. 23, 2002

Sheet 1 of 3

US 6,377,161 Bl

122
122

122

122

PMU

122
PMU

PMU

118
~

r--------

-------------------------,
116
116

116
BASE
STATION

BASE
STATION

BASE
STATION

CONTROLLER

101
~-----------------------------------\---------------

110

'-102

I

PUBLIC
COMPUTER

SWITCHED
TELEPHONE

I....
~_- ...

NETWORK

111

117

FIG.l

TELEPHONE

J

I

u.s.

Patent

US 6,377,161 Bl

Sheet 2 of 3

Apr. 23, 2002

r--------------------

\~

,,-- 208

204

I

: PROCESSING SYSTEM ,
:
,
1":',
1 ,
,
PROCESSOR
,
,

RECEIVER

I

21 6

~1 8

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DISPLAY
ALERT

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KEYBOARD

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TRANSMITIER ;

I CLOCK:

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~209

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USER IIF

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206

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222

SELECTIVE CALL ADDRESS

.-/224
--"'226

MESSAGE PROCESSING
RECEIVED ADDRESS INFO

I

122

MEMORY

--- 228

I
I
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FIG. 2

~~30
~232

DUPLICATE CHECKER
ADDRESS BOOK

I

I

I

RECENT ADDRESSES

I
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l-/234
l-/

TOKEN DEFINITION

I
I

I

I

310

"-

\1
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BASE
STATION
INTERFACE

114

....
-

p

"- 336

112

FIG. 3

I 1-

312 "\
COMPUTER

t

"-304

I CLOCK

PROCESSING
SYSTEM

-

....

p

NETWORKI
INFC

("314

MASS MEDIUM
SUBSCRIBER
DATABASE
MESSAGE
PROCESSING
ADDRESS INFO
MODIFICATION
TOKEN
DEFINER

\.318

V 320
V 322
l/324

V

328

101

u.s. Patent
400

FIG. 4

Apr. 23, 2002

r

402

r

404

US 6,377,161 Bl

Sheet 3 of 3

r

406

r

408

r

ROUTING
INFO

SYNC CONTROL NAME USERID

r 412

410

PROTOCOL
INDICATOR

502
FIRST PORTABLE MESSAGING UNIT (PMU) SENDS
ADDRESS INFORMATION TO SECOND PMU
THROUGH WIRELESS MESSAGING SYSTEM

504
SECOND PMU RECEIVES ADDRESS INFORMATION

506
SECOND PMU CHECKS ADDRESS BOOK TO DETERMINE
WHETHER INFORMATION IDENTICAL TO THE ADDRESS
INFORMATION IS STORED IN ADDRESS BOOK

508
Y

-------------,

510
SECOND PMU GENERATES
PROMPT INQUIRING WHETHER
USER WISHES TO STORE
ADDRESS INFORMATION

.,- 518

.-------------_£_------.
SECOND PMU STORES
I
I

I
I

ADDRESS INFORMATION
L IN ADDRESS BOOK

I
I

I
I

I

~------I

I

I

I
I

514
SECOND PMU STORES ADDRESS
INFORMATION IN ADDRESS BOOK

516
SECOND PMU STORES ADDRESS INFORMATION IN RECENT
ADDRESSES LOCATION OF MEMORY, WHICH RETAINS
ADDRESS INFORMATION SENT IN A PREDETERMINED
NUMBER OF MOST RECENTLY RECEIVED TRANSMISSIONS

FIG. 5

US 6,377,161 B1
1

2

METHOD AND APPARATUS IN A WIRELESS
MESSAGING SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING
AN EXCHANGE OF ADDRESS
INFORMATION

predetermined manner selected in response to whether information identical to the second address information is stored
in the address book.
Another aspect of the present invention is a controller in
a wireless messaging system for facilitating an exchange of
address information between first and second portable messaging units. The controller comprises a base station interface for receiving the address information from the first
portable messaging unit and for sending the address information to the second portable messaging unit, and a processing system coupled to the base station interface for
processing the address information. The processing system
is programmed to modify the address information before
sending the address information to the second portable
messaging unit.

5

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to wireless communication systems, and more specifically to a method and apparatus in a wireless messaging system for facilitating an
exchange of address information.

10

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Two-way wireless messaging systems are becoming
increasingly popular. Such systems allow confirmation of
message receipt, as well as two-way text communication,
electronic mail access, and even Internet access. A
keyboard-equipped portable messaging unit can even send a
text message to another portable messaging unit, when the
unique address of the receiving unit is known to the user of
the sending unit or stored in an address book of the sending
unit.
Unfortunately, when the unique address of the receiving
unit is not known to the user of the sending unit or stored
therein, the process breaks down, and communication cannot be established until the unique address of the receiving
unit is established.
Thus, what is needed is a method and apparatus in a
wireless messaging system for facilitating an exchange of
address information between first and second portable messaging units. The method and apparatus preferably will
provide the ability for portable messaging units that have
communicated once with one another, to easily re-establish
communications with one another at a later time.

15

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
20

25

30

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
35

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of the present invention is a method in a
wireless messaging system for facilitating an exchange of
address information between first and second portable messaging units. The method comprises the steps of sending the
address information from the first portable messaging unit to
the second portable messaging unit through the wireless
messaging system, and receiving the address information by
second portable messaging unit. The method further comprises the steps of checking, by the second portable messaging unit in response to the receiving step, whether
information identical to the address information is stored in
an address book of the second portable messaging unit; and
processing the address information, by the second portable
messaging unit, in a predetermined manner selected in
response to the checking step.
Another aspect of the present invention is a portable
messaging unit in a wireless messaging system for facilitating an exchange of address information. The portable messaging unit comprises a transmitter for sending first address
information to another portable messaging unit through the
wireless messaging system, and a processing system
coupled to the transmitter for controlling the portable messaging unit. The portable messaging unit further comprises
a receiver coupled to the processing system for receiving
second address information from another portable messaging unit. The processing system is programmed to check, in
response to receiving the second address information,
whether information identical to the second address information is stored in an address book of the portable messaging unit; and to process the second address information in a

FIG. 1 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary
wireless messaging system in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary
portable messaging unit in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary
controller in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a message content diagram in accordance with
the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram depicting operation of the
exemplary wireless messaging system in accordance with
the present invention.

40

45

50

55

60

65

Referring to FIG. 1, an electrical block diagram depicts an
exemplary wireless messaging system in accordance with
the present invention comprising an infrastructure portion
102 including a controller 112 and a plurality of conventional base stations 116, the communication system also
including a plurality of portable messaging units (PMUs)
122. The base stations 116 preferably communicate with the
PMUs 122 utilizing conventional radio frequency (RF)
techniques, and are coupled by conventional communication
links 114 to the controller 112, which controls the base
stations 116.
The hardware of the controller 112 is preferably a combination of the Wireless Messaging Gateway (WMGTM)
Administrator! paging terminal, and the RF-Conductor! ™
message distributor manufactured by Motorola, Inc. The
software of the controller 112 is modified in accordance with
the present invention, as described further below. The hardware of the base stations 116 is preferably a combination of
the RF-Orchestra! transmitter and RF-Audience! ™ receivers manufactured by Motorola, Inc. The PMUs 122 are
preferably similar to PageWriter™ 2000 data messaging
units, also manufactured by Motorola, Inc., and have software modified in accordance with the present invention. It
will be appreciated that other similar hardware can be
utilized as well for the controller 112, the base stations 116,
and the PMUs 122.
Each of the base stations 116 transmits RF signals to the
PMUs 122 via an antenna 118. The base stations 116
preferably each receive RF signals from the plurality of
PMUs 122 via the antenna 118. The RF signals transmitted
by the base stations 116 to the PMUs 122 (outbound
messages) comprise selective call addresses identifying the
PMUs 122, and data messages originated by a caller, as well

US 6,377,161 B1

3

4

as commands originated by the controller 112 for adjusting
operating parameters of the radio communication system.
The RF signals preferably transmitted by the PMUs 122 to
the base stations 116 (inbound messages) comprise
responses that include scheduled messages, such as positive
acknowledgments (ACKs) and negative acknowledgments
(NAKs), and unscheduled messages, such as registration
requests.
The controller 112 preferably is coupled by telephone
links 101 to a public switched telephone network (PSTN)
110 for receiving selective call message originations therefrom. Selective call originations comprising data messages
from the PSTN 110 can be generated, for example, from a
conventional telephone 111 or a conventional computer 117
coupled to the PSTN 110. The over-the-air protocol utilized
for outbound and inbound messages is preferably selected
from Motorola's well-known FLEXTM family of digital
selective call signaling protocols. These protocols utilize
well-known error detection and error correction techniques
and are therefore tolerant to bit errors occurring during
transmission, provided that the bit errors are not too numerous. It will be appreciated that other suitable protocols can
be used as well.
FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary
PMU 122 in accordance with the present invention. The
PMU 122 comprises an antenna 204 for intercepting an
outbound message and for transmitting an inbound message.
The antenna 204 is coupled to a conventional receiver 208
for receiving the outbound message and coupled to a conventional transmitter 209 for transmitting the inbound message. The receiver 208 and the transmitter 209 are coupled
to a processing system 206 for processing the outbound and
inbound messages and for controlling the PMU 122 in
accordance with the present invention. A user interface 214
preferably is also coupled to the processing system 206 for
interfacing with a user. The user interface 214 comprises a
conventional display 216 for displaying the inbound and
outbound messages, a conventional alert element 218 for
alerting the user when the outbound message arrives, and a
conventional keyboard 220 for generating the inbound message and for controlling the PMU 122. A conventional clock
207 is also coupled to the processing system 206 for
supporting time keeping requirements of the PMU 122.
The processing system 206 comprises a conventional
processor 210 and a conventional memory 212. The memory
212 comprises software elements and other variables for
programming the processing system 206 in accordance with
the present invention. The memory 212 preferably includes
a selective call address 222 to which the PMU 122 is
responsive. In addition, the memory 212 includes a message
processing program 224 for programming the processing
system 206 to process messages through well-known techniques. The memory 212 further comprises a location for
received address information 226 for enabling the PMU 122
to send a message to another PMU 122 associated with the
received address information 226. The memory 212 also
includes a duplicate checker program 228 for programming
the processing system 206 to check, in response to receiving
the address information 226, whether information identical
to the address information 226 is stored in an address book
230. The memory 212 further comprises space for recent
addresses 232. This memory space retains address information sent in N most recently received transmissions, where
N is a predetermined integer, e.g., 20. In addition, the
memory 212 includes a token definition program 234 for
programming the processing system 206 to cooperate with
the controller 112 to define a token that will represent a
portion of the address information.

FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram depicting an exemplary controller 112 in accordance with the present invention. The controller 112 comprises a network interface 318
for receiving a message from a message originator via the
telephone links 101. The network interface 318 is coupled to
a processing system 310 for controlling and communicating
with the network interface 318. The processing system is
coupled to a base station interface 304 for controlling and
communicating with the base stations 116 via the communication links 114. The processing system 310 is also
coupled to a conventional clock 336 for providing a timing
signal to the processing system 310. The processing system
310 comprises a conventional computer 312 and a conventional mass medium 314, e.g., a magnetic disk drive, programmed with information and operating software in accordance with the present invention. The mass medium 314
comprises a conventional subscriber database 320 for storing profiles defining service for subscribers using the system. The mass medium 314 further comprises a message
processing element 322 for processing messages through
well-known techniques.
The mass medium 314 also includes an address information modification program 324 for programming the processing system 310 to modify the address information
received from a first PMU 122 before sending the address
information to a second PMU 122. In addition, the mass
medium 314 includes a token definer program 328 for
programming the processing system to cooperate with the
PMU 122 to define a token that will represent a portion of
the address information, and to send the portion of the
address information as that token. It will be appreciated that
the wireless messaging system can include a plurality of
networked controllers 112. In that case, the address information may have to pass from one controller 112 to another
through the network interface 318 to reach the second PMU
122, depending upon the location of the second PMU 122
relative to the first PMU 122.
FIG. 4 is a message content diagram 400 in accordance
with the present invention. The diagram 400 begins with a
synchronization signal 402 for synchronizing a receiver,
e.g., the receiver 208, with a transmitter, e.g., a transmitter
of the base station 116. The synchronization signal 402 is
preferably followed by control information 404 for defining
predetermined parameters of the address information message which follows, e.g., message type, recipient's address,
and message length. The address information message comprises a user's name 406, e.g., John Smith, a user identification 408 for uniquely identifying the user, e.g., PIN #
1234567, routing information 410 for defining how to route
a message to the user, e.g., @skytel.com, and a protocol
indicator 412 for defining a protocol to use for sending the
message to the user, e.g., email.
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram 500 depicting operation of the
exemplary wireless messaging system in accordance with
the present invention. The flow begins when the processing
system 206 of a first PMU 122 accesses its messaging
processing program 224 and sends (502) address information to a second PMU 122 through the wireless messaging
system. Preferably, the address information comprises a
return address for routing a message to the first PMU 122.
Alternatively, the address information can comprise at least
one address stored in the address book 230 of the first PMU
122. Preferably, in response to a predetermined user key
sequence on the keyboard 220, the address information is
sent in a packet similar to that described in the diagram 400,
through well-known techniques for addressing and sending
inbound and outbound messages. It will be appreciated that

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

US 6,377,161 B1

5

6

the processing system 310 of the controller 112 can access
wireless messaging system for facilitating an exchange of
the address information modification program 324 to modify
address information between first and second PMUs. The
the address information or add new information, e.g., routmethod and apparatus advantageously provides the ability
ing information, to the address information.
for PMUs that have communicated once with one another, to
Alternatively, the controller 112 can access the subscriber 5 easily re-establish communications with one another at a
later time. In addition, the present invention advantageously
database 320 and generate the complete address information
allows address information in the address book of one PMU
packet in response to a command from the PMU 122, along
to be transferred to the address book of another PMU, under
with the normally-supplied address code of the PMU 122. It
user control.
will be appreciated that, as a further alternative, the address
information can be generated automatically by the PMU 122 10
Many modifications and variations of the present invenor by the controller 112 without requiring a user key
tion are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is
sequence. In addition, for frequently used address
to be understood that, within the scope of the appended
information, a token can replace at least a portion of the
claims, the invention can be practiced other than as specifiaddress information. The token is preferably defined by the
cally described herein above.
controller 112 in cooperation with the first and second PMUs 15
What is claimed is:
122 through accessing the token definer program 328 and
1. A method in a wireless messaging system for facilitatthe token definition program 234. It will be appreciated that,
ing an exchange of address information between first and
alternatively, the token can be unknown to the first PMU
second portable messaging units, the method comprising the
122, and the controller 112 can replace, with the token, at
steps of:
least a portion of the address information sent by the first 20
sending the address information from the first portable
PMU 122 before forwarding the address information to the
messaging unit to the second portable messaging unit
second PMU 122.
through the wireless messaging system;
In step 504, the second PMU 122 receives the address
receiving the address information by the second portable
information. In response, the second PMU 122 accesses the
messaging unit;
duplicate checker program 228 and checks 506 its address 25
checking, by the second portable messaging unit in
book 230 to determine whether information identical to the
response to the receiving step, whether information
received address information is stored in the address book
identical to the address information is stored in an
230. In checking for identical information, all parts of the
address book of the second portable messaging unit;
address information, e.g., the name, user identifier, routing
and
information, and protocol indicator are checked. If any part 30
processing the address information, by the second porof the address information differs from that in the address
table messaging unit, in a predetermined manner
book 230, the received address information is determined
selected in response to the checking step.
not to be identical. If information identical to the received
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step
address information is stored in the address book 230, after
comprises the step of
step 508, the second PMU 122 does nothing further with the 35
storing the address information in the address book, when
address book 230, and the flow moves to step 516, where the
no information identical to the address information is
second PMU stores the address information in the space for
stored in the address book.
recent addresses 232, which retains address information sent
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step
in a predetermined number of most recently received transcomprises the steps of:
mISSIons.
40
generating a prompt inquiring whether a user of the
If, on the other hand at step 508 the address book 230 does
second portable messaging unit wishes to store the
not have information identical to the received address
address information, when no information identical to
information, then the second PMU 122 preferably generates
the address information is stored in the address book;
510 a prompt on the display 216 inquiring whether the user
and
wishes to store the received address information. At step 45
storing the address information in the address book, in
512, if the user responds affirmatively, the processing system
response to an affirmative response to the prompt by the
206 of the second PMU 122 stores, i.e., appends, 514 the
user.
received address information in the address book 230 for
4. The method of claim 1,
future use. If, on the other hand, at step 512 the user
wherein the address information includes a name identiresponds negatively, then the processing system 206 skips 50
fying a user of the first portable messaging unit, and
step 514. In either case, the flow then moves to step 516,
wherein the checking step comprises the step of checking
where the second PMU 122 stores the address information
whether the name is stored in the address book.
in the location for recent addresses 232. It will be appreci5. The method of claim 1,
ated that, alternatively, at steps 510 and 512 the user can be
wherein the address information includes a unique user
allowed to select among appending the address information 55
identifier identifying a user of the first portable mesto the address book 230, replacing a selected address book
saging unit, and
entry with the address information, or taking no action.
wherein the checking step comprises the step of checking
As an alternative to the prompted store just described,
whether the unique user identifier is stored in the
when at step 508 information identical to the received
address book.
address information is found not to be stored in the address 60
6. The method of claim 1,
book 230, the second PMU 122 can automatically store 518
the received address information in the address book 230
wherein the address information includes routing information for routing a message to the first portable
and then proceed to step 516. This alternative is simple to
messaging unit, and
execute, but is deemed not to be as user-friendly as the
preferred operation described in the preceding paragraph. 65
wherein the checking step comprises the step of checking
Thus, it should be clear from the preceding disclosure that
whether the routing information is stored in the address
the present invention provides a method and apparatus in a
book.

US 6,377,161 B1
7

8

7. The method of claim 1,
wherein the address information includes a protocol indicator for indicating a protocol that is to be used for
routing a message to the first portable messaging unit,
and
wherein the checking step comprises the step of checking
whether the protocol indicator is stored in the address
book.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step
comprises the step of
sending at least a portion of the address information as a
token shared between the wireless messaging system
and the first and second portable messaging units.
9. The method of claim 1,
wherein the sending step comprises the step of sending to
the second portable messaging unit a return address for
routing a message to the first portable messaging unit.
10. The method of claim 1,
wherein the sending step comprises the step of sending to
the second portable messaging unit at least one address
stored in the address book of the first portable messaging unit.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising in the
second portable messaging unit the step of
storing the address information in a memory which retains
the address information sent in N most recently
received transmissions, N being a predetermined integer.
12. A portable messaging unit in a wireless messaging
system for facilitating an exchange of address information,
the portable messaging unit comprising:
a transmitter for sending first address information to
another portable messaging unit through the wireless
messaging system;
a processing system coupled to the transmitter for controlling the portable messaging unit;
a receiver coupled to the processing system for receiving
second address information from another portable messaging unit,
wherein the processing system is programmed to:
check, in response to receiving the second address
information, whether information identical to the second address information is stored in an address book of
the portable messaging unit; and
process the second address information in a predetermined manner selected in response to whether information identical to the second address information is
stored in the address book.
13. The portable messaging unit of claim 12, wherein the
processing system is further programmed to
store the second address information in the address book,
when no information identical to the second address
information is stored in the address book.
14. The portable messaging unit of claim 12, wherein the
processing system is further programmed to:

generate a prompt inquiring whether a user of the portable
messaging unit wishes to store the address information,
when no information identical to the second address
information is stored in the address book; and
store the second address information in the address book,
in response to an affirmative response to the prompt by
the user.
15. The portable messaging unit of claim 12, wherein the
processing system is further programmed to
store the second address information in a memory which
retains address information sent in N most recently
received transmissions, N being a predetermined integer.
16. A controller in a wireless messaging system for
facilitating an exchange of address information between first
and second portable messaging units, the controller comprising:
a base station interface for receiving the address information from the first portable messaging unit and for
sending the address information to the second portable
messaging unit; and
a processing system coupled to the base station interface
for processing the address information, wherein the
processing system is programmed to
modify the address information before sending the
address information to the second portable messaging
unit.
17. The controller of claim 16, wherein the processing
system is further programmed to
cooperate with the first and second portable messaging
units to define a token that will represent a portion of
the address information; and
send the portion of the address information to the second
portable messaging unit as the token.
18. A method for exchanging address information
between portable messaging units, comprising:
receiving portable messaging unit address information at
a portable messaging unit;
determining at the portable messaging unit whether
address information identical to the address information received is already stored in an address book of the
portable messaging unit; and
storing the address information in the address book if no
information identical to the address information is
already stored in the address book.
19. The method of claim 18, generating a storage prompt
at the portable messaging unit if no information identical to
the received address information is already stored in the
address book; and storing the received address information
in the address book in response to an affirmative input at the
storage prompt.
20. The method of claim 18, storing received address
information in a memory which retains address information
sent in a predetermined integer number of recently received
transmissions.

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