System and method of message delivery in a wireless communication network

1. A method of operating a router system in a communication system which includes a host service, the router system, and a mobile device configured to operate in a wireless network which is connected to the router system, the method comprising:

receiving at the router system a message from a host service, the message being intended for delivery to the mobile device via the wireless network, the message including at least:

an indication field which includes a return packet indication on whether to send a return packet to the host service;

an identifier field which includes an identifier which identifies the mobile device;

a payload field which includes a payload of the message;

in response to receiving the message:

examining the return packet indication in the message;

responsive to the return packet indication being set to a first setting and the message not being delivered to the mobile device, sending to the host service a return packet which indicates that the message is not being delivered to the mobile device; and

responsive to the return packet indication being set to a second setting and the message not being delivered to the mobile device, then not sending to the host service the return packet which indicates that the message is not being delivered to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

delivering the message to the mobile device via the wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message further includes a message identifier field comprising a message identifier associated with the message.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the payload comprises data to be delivered to an application of the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the payload is for one of an e-mail, an SMS message, an instant message, and Internet web browsing data.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the router system is connected to the host service over the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a status associated with the message indicates an availability or unavailability associated with the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the return packet includes the payload of the message.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host service comprises one of an instant messaging server or an e-mail server.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephone.

11. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium;

computer instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium;

the computer instructions being executable by at least one processor of a router system to:

receive at the router system a message from a host service, the message being intended for delivery to a mobile device, the message including at least:

an indication field which includes a return packet indication on whether to send a return packet to the host service;

an identifier field which includes an identifier which identifies the mobile device;

a payload field which includes a payload of the message;

in response to receiving the message:

examine the return packet indication in the message;

responsive to the return packet indication being set to a first setting and the message not being delivered to the mobile device, send to the host service a return packet which indicates that the message is not being delivered to the mobile device; and

responsive to the return packet indication being set to a second setting and the message not being delivered to the mobile device, then not send to the host service the return packet which indicates that the message is not being delivered to the mobile device.

12. A router system which is configured to:

receive a message from a host service, the message being intended for delivery to a mobile device via a wireless network, the message including at least:

an indication field which includes a return packet indication on whether to send a return packet to the host service;

an identifier field which includes an identifier which identifies the mobile device;

a payload field which includes a payload of the message;

in response to receiving the message:

examine the return packet indication in the message;

responsive to the return packet indication being set to a first setting and the message not being delivered to the mobile device, send to the host service a return packet which indicates that the message is not being delivered to the mobile device; and

responsive to the return packet indication being set to a second setting and the message not being delivered to the mobile device, then not send to the host service the return packet which indicates that the message is not being delivered to the mobile device.

13. The router system of claim 12 , which is further configured to:

deliver the message to the mobile device via the wireless network.

14. The router system of claim 12 , wherein the message further includes a message identifier field comprising a message identifier associated with the message.

15. The router system of claim 12 , wherein the payload comprises data to be delivered to an application of the mobile device.

16. The router system of claim 12 , wherein the payload is for one of an e-mail, an SMS message, an instant message, and Internet web browsing data.

17. The router system of claim 12 , wherein the router system is connected to the host service over the Internet.

18. The router system of claim 12 , wherein a status associated with the message indicates an availability or unavailability associated with the mobile device.

19. The router system of claim 12 , wherein the return packet includes the payload of the message.

20. The router system of claim 12 , wherein the host service comprises one of an instant messaging server or an e-mail server.