A messaging system (11) for conveying messages between a host server (15)
and a client (13a) that is part of a GSM network and a method therefor.
The GSM network includes an SMS facility to convey messages between its
clients using an SMSC (25), each wireless client having a network
identifying number (NIN) associated with it to uniquely identify the
client within the GSM network. Each message comprises a message packet
(43) including the address (49) of an intended recipient, the address
(47) of the sender of the message and the message itself (51). The host
server (15) may be selectively connected to a plurality of different
client types (13) via the Internet (19) to convey messages therebetween.
Each client has a client identifying number (CIN) associated with it to
uniquely identify it to the host server (15). The host server (15) and
the SMSC (25) are interconnected by the Internet (19) or another computer
network to provide for communications therebetween. One of the clients
(13) of the host server (15) is a wireless client (13a) and has its CIN
corresponding to its NIN. The host server (15) has an access code (AC) to
uniquely identify it to the SMSC (25) and a unique identification number
(UIN) ascribed to: (i) a prescribed action performed by it, and (ii) an
entity that is the subject of the prescribed action. The messages sent in
message packet (43) between the host server (15) and the wireless client
(13a) in connection with a particular prescribed action and entity
include: (i) a combination of the AC and the UIN ascribed to the
particular action and entity as the address of the host server (15); and
(ii) the NIN as the address of the wireless client. The SMSC (25) also
uses the AC in the address of the intended recipient or the sender to
recognize messages sent to or received from the host server (15) and
routs the messages accordingly.