ESMS Capabilities

• Collection of Email
• Parsing of received messages
• Checking for invalid format
• Checking for unknown numbers
• Checking for blocked number
• Checking for blocked Email addresses
• Checking for special commands
• Storage of user data in a database
• Storage of system setting in a database
• Sending of SMS messages
• Sending of Email
• Logging of transactions
• Saving of messages that fail to transfer to the service provider
• Direct entry of SMS messages
• Sending multiple SMS messages from a single Email

Here is some more detail on some of the above:

Blocking

It is possible for any registered user to specify Email addresses which the user does not want to receive messages from. In the event of a blocked Email address trying to contact a user, the gateway will not deliver the SMS and send a message back to the originator.

Blocking may also be done on a system level. This allows for an Email address, entire domain or mobile number to be blocked from sending or receiving through the gateway.

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Logging

Each registered user has an associated log file. This contains information relating to transactions performed on that users behalf by the gateway.

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Special Commands

Currently, only the two following commands are supported:

• HELP

  This returns information about using the gateway.

  ACCOUNT

  This will return the log file associated with the user having the Email address of the sender.

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Sending an SMS

SMS messages are sent using a serial interface. This may be via a modem or to any other equipment that accepts serial data. The sequence of commands is managed by a script. These scripts currently only support ASCII data.

The number of services (different methods of sending an SMS) is only limited by the available memory of the host PC. Services are chosen by matching the requested number with a list of dial codes which are associated with each script. Macros for the senders Email address, recipients mobile number and message text are available for use within the scripts.

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Storage of System Data

The system database contains information like POP3 username, administrators Email address, gateway name etc. In all messages sent out by the gateway special macros can be used, which are replaced by the information stored in the database. This enables, for example, the administrators Email address to be changed easily. Changing it in the system database will also change it in all messages sent out by the gateway.

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Sending Email

The gateway will send Emails in reply to invalid messages, or special commands. All of these messages are stored as plain text files and may be edited. The macros described above may be used to ensure that contact information is always correct.

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User Data

The user database stores the following information about registered users:

• Name
• Address
• Fixed phone numbers
• Mobile phone numbers
• FAX numbers
• Email addresses
• Blocked Email addresses
• Blocked mobile number
• Number of messages sent
• Number of messages received

The current restriction on the number of phone numbers or Email addresses for each field is 65535.

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Saving of Failed Messages

If a message fails to send due to an error in transferring it to the service provider, the message is saved on disk and loaded the next time the gateway is activated.

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Direct Entry of SMS Messages

This allows the administrator to send SMS messages directly from the gateway.

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Sending multiple SMS messages from a single Email

This allows the user to send to several mobiles from one Email. This feature is called Mult-E-Mail.

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