U.S. patent number RE46,759 [Application Number 14/745,963] was granted by the patent office on 2018-03-20 for transmission of multimedia messages between mobile station terminals.
This patent grant is currently assigned to INTELLECTUAL VENTURES I LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is Intellectual Ventures I LLC. Invention is credited to Sami Ala-Luukko, Jussi Koski.
United States Patent |
RE46,759 |
Ala-Luukko , et al. |
March 20, 2018 |
Transmission of multimedia messages between mobile station
terminals
Abstract
A method and a system for transmitting messages containing
multimedia information or content that enables transmission and
communication of multimedia messages between subscribers connected
to telecommunication systems of different system operators. The
inventive system includes a first mobile station terminal from
which a multimedia message is sent, a second mobile station
terminal that is the intended recipient of the multimedia message,
a digital mobile network, a first multimedia message server for
receiving a multimedia message from the first mobile station
terminal, a first address database associated with the first
multimedia message server, a second multimedia message server for
receiving the multimedia message from the first multimedia message
server, an IP network for carrying communications between the first
and second multimedia message servers, and a second address
database associated with the second multimedia message server.
Inventors: |
Ala-Luukko; Sami (Helsinki,
FI), Koski; Jussi (Berlin, DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Intellectual Ventures I LLC |
Wilmington |
DE |
US |
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Assignee: |
INTELLECTUAL VENTURES I LLC
(Wilmington, DE)
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Family
ID: |
8555569 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/745,963 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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13442417 |
Apr 9, 2012 |
RE44540 |
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11400073 |
Apr 6, 2006 |
RE43306 |
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PCT/FI00/00969 |
Nov 6, 2000 |
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Reissue of: |
10135161 |
Apr 30, 2002 |
6718168 |
Apr 6, 2004 |
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Reissue of: |
10135161 |
Apr 30, 2002 |
6718168 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Nov 5, 1999 [FI] |
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19992399 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M
3/5307 (20130101); H04L 61/45 (20220501); H04L
12/146 (20130101); H04L 12/14 (20130101); H04L
51/58 (20220501); H04L 61/00 (20130101); H04L
61/10 (20130101); H04L 69/329 (20130101); H04W
88/184 (20130101); H04L 51/10 (20130101); H04L
51/066 (20130101); H04L 69/16 (20130101); H04L
51/48 (20220501); H04M 2207/18 (20130101); H04M
3/5322 (20130101); H04M 2203/4536 (20130101); H04M
3/537 (20130101); H04L 51/224 (20220501) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
15/173 (20060101); H04L 29/08 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;709/225 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 817 443 |
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Jan 1998 |
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EP |
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WO-97/08906 |
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Mar 1997 |
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WO |
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WO 97/08906 |
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Mar 1997 |
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WO |
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WO-98/19438 |
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May 1998 |
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WO |
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WO-99/56445 |
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Nov 1999 |
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WO |
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WO-99/61966 |
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Dec 1999 |
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WO |
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Other References
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.
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Primary Examiner: Tarae; Michelle
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
.Iadd.More than one reissue application has been filed for the
reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,168. The reissue applications are
the present application, application Ser. Nos. 14/047,213 (now RE
45,584), 13/442,417 (now RE 44,540), 11/400,073 (now RE 43,306),
and 11/603,355 (now RE 41,491). Application Ser. No. 11/400,073 is
a reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,168, and application Ser. Nos.
11/603,355 and 13/442,417 are both continuation reissue
applications. .Iaddend.This application is a .[.continuation.].
.Iadd.Continuation Reissue Application of U.S. application Ser. No.
14/047,213, filed Oct. 7, 2013 (now RE 45,584, which is a
Continuation Reissue of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/442,417, filed
Apr. 9, 2012 (now RE 44,540), which is a Continuation Reissue
Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/400,073, filed Apr. 6,
2006 (now RE 43,306), which is a Reissue of U.S. application Ser.
No. 10/135,161, filed Apr. 30, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,168),
which is a Continuation .Iaddend.of .[.PCT/F100/00969.].
.Iadd.PCT/FI00/00969, .Iaddend.filed Nov. 6, 2000.Iadd., which
claims priority to Finland Patent Application Number 19992399,
filed Nov. 5, 1999, all of which are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.Iaddend..
Claims
What is claimed is:
.[.1. A method of transmitting a multimedia message from a first
mobile station terminal of a sender to a second mobile station
terminal of an intended recipient of the multimedia message,
comprising the steps of: transmitting the multimedia message from
the first mobile station terminal to a first multimedia message
server that receives the multimedia message from the first mobile
station terminal via a mobile telecommunication network; saving the
received multimedia message on the first multimedia message server
in a mailbox of the sender; identifying, from the received
multimedia message, address information of a second multimedia
message server, optionally by utilizing a first database associated
with the first multimedia message server; creating, at the first
multimedia message server, an e-mail message based on the received
multimedia message; transmitting the created e-mail message from
the first multimedia message server to the second multimedia
message server for receipt by the second multimedia message server;
creating a new multimedia message based on the e-mail message
received by the second multimedia message server; saving the
created new multimedia message on the second multimedia message
server in a mailbox of the recipient; identifying, at the second
multimedia message server, address information of the second mobile
station terminal, optionally by utilizing a second database
associated with the second multimedia message server; and sending,
from the second multimedia message server to the second mobile
station terminal via the mobile communication network, a
notification of the new multimedia message that has been saved by
the second multimedia message server..].
.[.2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of creating an
e-mail message further comprises creating an e-mail message based
on the multimedia message by coding the multimedia message into an
e-mail message in MIME format..].
.[.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first database comprises a
first address database containing information correlating DNS
addresses and MSISDN numbers of the first and second multimedia
message servers..].
.[.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second database comprises
a second address database correlating MSISDN numbers and e-mail
addresses of mobile subscribers associated with the second
multimedia message server..].
.[.5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting the
multimedia message from the first mobile station terminal further
comprises transmitting the multimedia message using a browser-type
interface in the first mobile station terminal..].
.[.6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
retrieving the new multimedia message from the second multimedia
message server onto the second mobile station terminal using a
browser-type user interface in the second mobile station
terminal..].
.[.7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
encrypting the created e-mail message to be transmitted to the
second multimedia message server..].
.[.8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting the
created e-mail message from the first multimedia message server to
the second multimedia message server further comprises transmitting
the created e-mail message using SMTP protocol..].
.[.9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
generating a billing ticket based on the multimedia message..].
.[.10. A system for transmitting a multimedia message in a
telecommunication network from a first mobile station terminal of a
sender to a second mobile station terminal of an intended recipient
of the multimedia message, said system comprising: a second
multimedia message server; a first multimedia message server
operable for receiving the multimedia message from the first mobile
station terminal, for saving the received multimedia message, for
transforming the received multimedia message into an e-mail message
and for sending the e-mail message to the second multimedia message
server; a first address database associated with the first
multimedia message server for maintaining address information of
plural multimedia message servers of the telecommunication network;
an IP network for transmitting the e-mail message from the first
multimedia message server to the second multimedia message server;
said second multimedia message server being operable for receiving
the e-mail message from the first multimedia message server, for
transforming the received e-mail message into a new multimedia
message, for saving the new multimedia message and for sending to
the second mobile station terminal a notification of the saved new
multimedia message; and a second address database associated with
the second multimedia message server for maintaining address
information of subscribers associated with the second multimedia
message server..].
.[.11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a coder for
coding the received multimedia message into MIME format..].
.[.12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first address database
contains information correlating DNS addresses and MSISDN numbers
of the plural multimedia message severs..].
.[.13. The system of claim 10, wherein the second address database
contains information correlating MSISDN numbers and e-mail
addresses of subscribers associated with the second multimedia
message server..].
.[.14. The system of claim 10, wherein the first mobile station
terminal includes a browser-type user interface..].
.[.15. The system of claim 10, wherein the second mobile station
terminal includes a browser-type user interface..].
.[.16. The system of claim 10, further comprising an encrypter for
encrypting the e-mail message to be sent from the first multimedia
message server to the second multimedia message server..].
.Iadd.17. A method comprising: receiving a message at a first
server associated with a first mobile operator, wherein the message
includes content sent from a mobile station associated with the
first mobile operator and destined for a recipient mobile station
associated with a second mobile operator; identifying an address of
a second server based upon address information from the received
message, wherein the second server is associated with the recipient
mobile station; converting, using a processor, the received message
into a multimedia message for delivery to the second server;
transmitting the multimedia message to the second server associated
with the recipient mobile station; and sending a notification of
receipt of the multimedia message at the second server to the
recipient mobile station..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least part of the
multimedia message is sent to the recipient mobile
station..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least part of the
multimedia message is sent to the recipient mobile station based on
available features of the recipient mobile station..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The method of claim 17, further comprising saving the
multimedia message in a mailbox at the second server..Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. The method of claim 20, wherein the notification includes
information about the multimedia message being stored in the
mailbox..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating a
billing ticket based on the multimedia message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting the
multimedia message to the recipient mobile station comprises
transmitting the multimedia message using a browser-type interface
in the first mobile station terminal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. The method of claim 17, wherein the message received at
the first server is configured according to a Simple Message
Transfer protocol (SMTP) and Internet Protocol..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. The method of claim 17, wherein the message received at
the first server includes a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions
(MIME) formatted message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. The method of claim 17, wherein the recipient mobile
station includes a browser-type user interface..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having
instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:
instructions to receive a message at a first server associated with
a first mobile operator, wherein the message includes content sent
from a mobile station associated with the first mobile operator and
destined for a recipient mobile station associated with a second
mobile operator; instructions to identify an address of a second
server based upon address information from the received message,
wherein the second server is associated with the recipient mobile
station; instructions to convert the received message into a
multimedia message for delivery to the second server; instructions
to transmit the multimedia message to the second server associated
with the recipient mobile station; and instructions to send a
notification of receipt of the multimedia message at the second
server to the recipient mobile station..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27,
wherein at least part of the multimedia message is sent to the
recipient mobile station..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28,
wherein the at least part of the multimedia message is sent to the
recipient mobile station based on available features of the
recipient mobile station..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27,
further comprising instructions to save the multimedia message in a
mailbox at the second server..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30,
wherein the notification includes information about the multimedia
message being stored in the mailbox..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30,
further comprising instructions to generate a billing ticket based
on the multimedia message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. A system comprising: one or more processors configured
to: receive a message at a first server associated with a first
mobile operator, wherein the message includes content sent from a
mobile station associated with the first mobile operator and
destined for a recipient mobile station associated with a second
mobile operator; identify an address of a second server based upon
address information from the received message, wherein the second
server is associated with the recipient mobile station; convert the
received message into a multimedia message for delivery to the
second server; transmit the multimedia message to the second server
associated with the recipient mobile station; and send a
notification of receipt of the multimedia message at the second
server to the recipient mobile station..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. The system of claim 33, wherein at least part of the
multimedia message is sent to the recipient mobile
station..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. The system of claim 34, wherein the at least part of the
multimedia message is sent to the recipient mobile station based on
available features of the recipient mobile station..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. The system of claim 35, wherein the one or more
processors are further configured to save the multimedia message in
a mailbox at the second server..Iaddend.
.Iadd.37. The system of claim 33, wherein the one or more
processors are further configured to generate a billing ticket
based on the multimedia message..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to telecommunications. In
particular, the invention is directed to methods and apparatus for
transmitting messages containing multimedia information or content
between mobile station communication terminals.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of short messages for effecting communication between
mobile stations of wireless telecommunication networks has become
extremely common among wireless network subscribers over the past
several years. Each such short message can have a maximum length of
up to 160 characters. The transmission of short messages does not
require that the mobile station be switched on since, if the mobile
station cannot be reached at the time that the short message is
sent, the message is saved to the short message service centre. The
short message service centre retains the saved message for a period
of several days and, when the mobile station to which the message
has been directed is activated within the access range of the
mobile network, the saved message is then transmitted to the
activated mobile station. Such short messages may be transmitted
either within the range or boundaries of the same cell or to other
cells by means of the standard roaming features of mobile stations.
Today these short messages are most typically, although not
exclusively, transmitted in GSM (i.e. Global System for Mobile
Communications) networks.
As is known, short messages may currently only be used for sending
text-form, i.e. plaintext, messages. By virtue of the rapid
development of technology, however, consumers will in the near
future demand and be offered the ability to send and receive
multimedia short messages consisting of a variety of different
media components. But multimedia messages have not heretofore been
standardized in any effective manner, so that whatever solutions
are offered are likely to be operator and/or device-manufacturer
specific. This will either in effect prevent the transmission of
multimedia messages between the mobile stations of or serviced or
supported by different system operators or manufacturers, or
alternatively require the use of difficult and expensive
implementations to enable such transmissions.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly the desideratum of the present invention to
provide methods and apparatus that eliminate, or at least
significantly alleviate, the difficulties and drawbacks of the
prior art, including those described hereinabove.
It is a particular object of the invention to provide a method and
a system that enable the ready transmission of messages containing
multimedia information or content between different
telecommunication system operators or providers.
Broadly described, in the present invention a multimedia message is
created and transmitted in a telecommunication network. The created
multimedia message is sent from the first mobile station terminal,
the sent message from the first terminal is further transmitted
onward toward its ultimate destination (such as a second mobile
station terminal), a notification informing of the multimedia
message that has been sent is transmitted to the intended recipient
second mobile station terminal, and the multimedia message is
retrieved by and onto the second mobile station terminal device. As
used herein, the term "multimedia message" is intended to denote a
message which advantageously consists of or includes a plurality of
different media components or content, such as an image, voice,
text and/or graphics.
More particularly, and in accordance with the invention, a
multimedia message addressed to an intended recipient is sent from
the first mobile station terminal of the initiating sender to a
first multimedia message server (with which the first mobile
station is at least then associated) using the mobile communication
network. The sent multimedia message is received by and saved on
the first multimedia message server in the mailbox of the sender.
If necessary, address information of a second multimedia message
server (with which the second mobile station terminal of the
intended recipient is associated) is located or identified using a
first address database associated with or accessible by the first
multimedia message server. An e-mail message based on the saved
multimedia message is then created, and the created e-mail message
is transmitted from the first multimedia message server to the
second multimedia message server using an IP (Internet Protocol)
network. A multimedia message based on the received e-mail message
is then created using the second multimedia message server and is
saved on the second multimedia message server in the mailbox of the
intended second mobile terminal recipient; if necessary, the
address of the second terminal device can be located or identified
using a second address database associated with or accessible by
the second multimedia message server. A notification informing the
intended recipient of the multimedia message that has been stored
by the second multimedia message server is then sent from the
second multimedia message server to the second terminal device
using the mobile communication network. If necessary--such as where
the intended recipient of them message has no mailbox on the second
multimedia message server--the multimedia message may be created or
stored in a mailbox of its own on the second multimedia message
server. Multimedia message servers may be implemented as separate
units, or integrated with already-existing network components, as
for example short message servers. The invention may be applied, by
way of illustration, to a digital mobile network such as a GSM
network, and the IP network may for example be any
telecommunication network that utilizes or supports the IP
protocol, such as the public Internet network.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, the e-mail message
based on the multimedia message content may be created by coding
the multimedia message content into an e-mail message in MIME
format, as for example so that the text portion of the content
serves as the plaintext message body and other portions of the
multimedia message content are sent as one or more attachments to
the text portion. MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions)
format, as is well known, permits the combining and transmission of
attachments to typically text-based e-mail messages.
In some embodiments of the invention, information that correlates
the DNS (Domain Name Server) addresses and MSISDN (Mobile
Subscriber ISDN) numbers of multimedia message servers of the
network(s) is maintained in the first address database.
Similarly, information that correlates the MSISDN numbers and
e-mail addresses of subscribers associated with or served by the
second multimedia message server may be maintained in the second
address database.
It is also contemplated that, in some embodiments of the invention,
the multimedia message may be sent from the originating first
mobile station terminal using a browser-type user interface that is
incorporated or accessible in the terminal device of the initiating
or sending subscriber. Such a browser-type user interface may
advantageously been implemented using WAP (Wireless Access
Protocol) technology.
The multimedia message may similarly be retrieved on the second
mobile station terminal of the destination or receiving subscriber
using a browser-type user interface incorporated or accessible in
the second terminal device. This browser-type user interface may
likewise be advantageously implemented using WAP technology.
In some embodiments of the invention, the e-mail to be transmitted
is first encrypted, for which purpose any suitable encrypting
device or application, and any convenient encryption scheme such as
the well-known PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) system, may be used. The
e-mail message may also be transmitted using SMTP (Simple Message
Transfer Protocol).
It is further contemplated that, in some embodiments, a billing
ticket based on the multimedia message may be generated.
As compared with prior art methods and systems, the present
invention renders it advantageously possible to send multimedia
messages between the systems and mobile stations and subscribers of
different telecommunication system operators. Since the invention
utilizes existing, well-known and widely-available e-mail
practices, it is particularly easy to implement and to expand its
use throughout and among telecommunication systems. Moreover, the
inventive methods and apparatus can utilize the public Internet and
thus do not require the design or construction of dedicated
connections between the multiple multimedia message servers. The
optional use of encryption further assures that information
security is not endangered.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description considered in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood,
however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of
illustration and not as definition of the limits of the invention,
for which reference should be made to the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system constructed and
arranged for the transmission of multimedia messages in accordance
with the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for the transmission of
multimedia messages in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting, by way of example, the
components of an illustrative system configured in accordance with
the present invention. As seen in FIG. 1, the system comprises an
originating first mobile station terminal MSA from which the
multimedia message is sent, an intended recipient second mobile
station terminal MSB to which the multimedia message is directed
and by which it is ultimately received, and a digital mobile
network GSM. The inventive system further includes a first
multimedia message server SMSCA operable for receiving and saving
the multimedia message from the first mobile station terminal MSA,
for transforming the received message into an e-mail message, and
for sending the transformed e-mail message to a second multimedia
message server SMSCB; a first address database DBA for maintaining
address information for the multimedia message servers and which is
arranged as a part of, or for association with or access by or
otherwise in conjunction with the first multimedia message server
SMSCA; an Internet Protocol network IP for transmitting the e-mail
message from the first multimedia message server SMSCA to a second
multimedia message server SMSCB; the second multimedia message
server SMSCB for transforming (or re-transforming) the e-mail
message received from the first multimedia message server SMSCA
into a multimedia message, for saving the transformed multimedia
message and for sending a notification of receipt to the second
terminal device MSB of the multimedia message that it has received
and stored for eventual transmission to the second terminal device
MSB; and a second address database DBB for maintaining address
information for mobile subscribers associated with the second
multimedia message server SMSCB and arranged as a part of, or for
association with or access by or otherwise in conjunction with the
second multimedia message server SMSCB. In addition, the FIG. 1
system of the invention comprises a coder MIME for encoding the
multimedia message into an e-mail message in MIME format, and an
encrypter or encrypting device or application PGP for encrypting
the e-mail message to be transmitted by the first multimedia
message server SMSCA to the second multimedia message server SMSCB.
The first mobile station terminal MSA may include a browser-type
user interface WAPA, and the second mobile station terminal MSB may
similarly include a browser-type user interface WAPB.
The flow chart of FIG. 2 depicts, by way of example, a method in
accordance with the present invention for sending a multimedia
short message between two different telecommunication systems
operators via an IP network. Initially, the user of the originating
first mobile station terminal writes or creates a short message
(block 21), and the short message is transmitted from the first
mobile station terminal to the first short message service centre
or server (block 22). In the short message service centre, the
short message is temporarily saved to the mailbox of the sender
(block 23), and a billing ticket is sent to the database (block
24). The destination address of the short message may for example
be of the form +358400123456@mmm.operator.com. and, based on the
designated country code and operator code, i.e. +358400 in this
example, the e-mail server of the intended recipient is identified
(block 25). To identify or correlate the country code, operator
code and address of the e-mail server, a database is maintained in
or otherwise associated with or accessible by the first short
message service centre. The message is transmitted via the IP
network to the server of (i.e. associated with) the intended
recipient (block 26). During the period of the data transfer,
multimedia information in the message is coded by a multipurpose
Internet mail extension (i.e. MIME) and, to effect the transfer, a
simple message transfer protocol (i.e. STMP) is employed. The
specified destination address of the message is further examined at
the receiving server, which is itself provided or associated with a
database by which the specified address
(+358400123456@mmm.operator.com) of the message can be transformed
into an e-mail message address format identifying the intended
recipient, such as FirstName.FamilyName@mmm.operator.com (block
27). The message is then saved to the electronic mailbox of the
recipient (block 28); if however there is no electronic mailbox for
the recipient, then a new electronic mailbox is created. A billing
ticket, based on the message that is transmitted to the server that
sent the message, is created (block 29), and the intended recipient
of the message is then sent the entire message or a part of the
message (block 210). The message transmission type is selected
based on the available features of the terminal device of the
recipient and the network.
While there have been shown and described and pointed out
fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred
embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions
and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the
methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation,
may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the
spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that
all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which
perform substantially the same function in substantially the same
way to achieve the same result are within the scope of the
invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or
elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection
with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be
incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form
or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the
intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope
of the claims appended hereto.
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