FR2938994A1 - Multimedia service message processing method for telephone, involves detecting criteria satisfied by multimedia service message, creating short service message, and sending short service message to destination of multimedia service message - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves detecting criteria satisfied by a multimedia service message (MMS), and creating a short service message, where the criteria are presence of a text (TXT) having length (L) larger than a threshold length (TH), in the multimedia service message. The short service message is sent to a destination i.e. client, of the multimedia service message. A validation request for creating the short service message is controlled. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a device for processing a multimedia service message, comprising a criteria detection unit (2) a method for receiving a short service message (3) a device for receiving a short service message comprising a multimedia service message creating unit (4) a computer program comprising instructions for performing a method for processing a multimedia service message (5) a computer program comprising instructions for performing a method for receiving a short service message.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention lies in the field of telecommunication networks and more particularly in the field of messaging services. Two main messaging services are currently known, namely the Short Message Service (SMS) and the Multimedia Message Service (MMS). The SMS messaging service, defined by the GSM 03.40 telephony standard, allows a user to transmit short text messages, with a maximum size of between 70 and 160 characters depending on the language and the associated coding (7, 8 or 16 bits per second). character). By language extension, an "SMS" also refers to a message sent by the SMS service. In known manner, when the user of an SMS messaging client enters a message whose size is greater than the aforementioned maximum size, this message is automatically segmented and sent to its recipient by several SMS, each containing a header containing the segmentation information necessary for its reconstruction by the recipient. In this case we speak of "long SMS" or "SMS concatenated". Unlike the SMS service, the MMS multimedia messaging service, previously standardized by the 3GPP ("3rd Generation Partnership Project") and the OMA ("Open Mobile Alliance"), allows the transmission of messages with purely textual content. multimedia messages (image content, audio, video, rich text ...). By language extension, an "MMS" also refers to a message transmitted by the MMS service. The size of the MMS can reach several tens, or even several hundred kilobytes, this size limit being fixed by the telecommunications operators. Currently, the SMS and MMS messaging services are completely independent and solicit equipment different from the telecommunication network (SMSC / MMSC server for example).

Similarly, to support both services, the user terminals must incorporate two applications, an SMS client and an MMS client, their two user interfaces for creating, composing and sending a message being different.

In general, the purpose of the invention is to unify these two services so as to simplify the management of short service messages and multimedia service messages, both from the point of view of the user and from the point of view of the user. operator.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method of processing a multimedia service message comprising: a step of detecting at least one criterion fulfilled by this message; a step of creating at least one short service message; and a step of sending the short service message (s) to at least one recipient of the multimedia service message. Correlatively, the invention relates to a device for processing a multimedia service message comprising: means for detecting at least one criterion fulfilled by this message; means for creating at least one short service message; and means for sending the short service message (s) to at least one recipient of the multimedia service message. Thus, in general, the invention proposes a method and a device for automatically creating a short service message, from a multimedia service message, when the multimedia message fulfills at least one determined criterion. In a particular embodiment, the aforementioned criterion is the presence, in the multimedia service message, of a text of a length greater than a threshold length, the invention making it possible to send this text to the addressee in a short message. or in several concatenated short messages. In other words, the invention makes it possible, in this embodiment, to convert a multimedia message into one or more short messages as soon as the text contained in the multimedia message has a length greater than a threshold length.

This particular embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable when the multimedia message is purely textual. But it also applies, as explained below, when the multimedia message also includes a non-textual multimedia object.

The threshold length may advantageously be chosen so that the cost (for the operator and / or the user) of sending the short message or messages is less than the cost of sending the multimedia message. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the criterion is the presence, in the multimedia service message, of a multimedia object incompatible with the processing capabilities of at least one recipient of this message. This is particularly the case when a recipient of a multimedia message including a non-textual multimedia object happens to be an SMS client. The invention then makes it possible to send to this or these recipient (s) a short message (or several concatenated short messages) whose text can be: a predefined text independent of the text contained, if necessary, in the short message ; or a text obtained from the text included in the multimedia message, for example the text in its entirety, or a summary constituted by the first characters of this text, so as to have a textual content lower than the maximum size. In a particular embodiment of the invention, a multimedia service message including at least part of the original multimedia message is sent to at least one recipient of the original multimedia message, in addition to the message or messages (s). ) short). In particular, when the original multimedia message comprises text and a non-textual multimedia object, this embodiment of the invention makes it possible to send the text to the recipient by a short message and the multimedia object by a multimedia message. . In a particular embodiment of the invention, the processing method comprises a control step capable of enabling or preventing the creation, and therefore the sending, of the short message or messages.

Preferably, this control step takes into account configuration parameters, which may include in particular: a parameter for activating / deactivating the conversion of multimedia messages into short messages when the size of the multimedia message is greater than a threshold length; ; - this threshold length itself; a parameter for defining whether the aforementioned conversion must be systematic, or subject to the explicit agreement of the user, for example via a dialog box presented in particular on the screen of the terminal.

In one embodiment, the configuration parameters are initially set by the operator or the terminal manufacturer. In one embodiment, at least one of these parameters can be modified by the operator or by the user, locally or remotely.

The particular advantages and characteristics of the treatment device according to the invention are the same as those of the treatment method according to the invention and will not be recalled here. The invention also relates to a terminal comprising a processing device as mentioned above.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a method of receiving a short service message comprising: a step of creating at least one multimedia service message comprising at least the content of the short service message; and a step of sending the multimedia service message to at least one recipient of the short service message. Correlatively, the invention relates to a device for receiving a short service message comprising: means for creating at least one multimedia service message comprising at least the content of the short service message; and means for sending the multimedia service message to at least one recipient of the short service message. According to this second aspect, the invention enables the conversion of a short message into a multimedia message. In a particular embodiment, the content of the multimedia message comprises the content of at least two short messages intended for the same recipient.

In one embodiment, the reception method according to the invention uses the segmentation information contained in the short messages to identify those which must be concatenated in the same multimedia message.

In one embodiment, the creation of the multimedia message includes inserting a multimedia object into this multimedia message. Thus, the invention makes it possible, for example, to insert, in the multimedia message, an image associated with the sender of the short message, extracted for example from a directory. The particular characteristics and advantages of the receiving device are identical to those of the reception method according to the invention and will not be recalled here. The invention also relates to a terminal comprising a receiving device as mentioned above. The invention in these two aspects (conversion of multimedia service messages into short service messages and conversion of short service messages into multimedia service messages) can also be implemented in a messaging service platform. Accordingly, the invention also provides a messaging service platform comprising: a multimedia message processing device as mentioned above; or - a device for receiving short messages as mentioned above; or - a multimedia message processing device and a short message receiving device as mentioned above. In a particular embodiment, the various steps of the processing method and / or the reception method are determined by instructions from one or more computer programs. Accordingly, the invention also relates to a computer program on an information medium, this program being capable of being implemented in a processing device, a terminal, a service platform, or more generally in a computer , this program comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of the steps of a treatment method as described above. The invention also relates to a computer program on an information carrier, this program being capable of being implemented in a receiving device, in a terminal, in a service platform or more generally in a computer, this program comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of a reception method as described above. These programs can use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other form desirable shape. The invention is also directed to a computer-readable information carrier, and having instructions from at least one of the computer programs mentioned above. The information carrier may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or a magnetic recording means, for example a floppy disk or a hard disc. On the other hand, the information medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means. The program according to the invention can be downloaded in particular on an Internet type network. Alternatively, the information carrier may be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the method in question.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description given below, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment thereof devoid of any limiting character. In the figures: FIG. 1 represents, in flowchart form, the main steps of a processing method according to the invention, in one particular embodiment; - Figure 2 shows schematically a processing device according to the invention in a particular embodiment; FIG. 3 represents, in flowchart form, the main steps of a reception method according to the invention in a particular embodiment; - Figure 4 shows schematically a receiving device according to the invention in a particular embodiment; - Figures 5 and 6 show two terminals according to the invention in particular embodiments; and FIG. 7 represents a platform according to the invention in a particular embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the main steps of a method of processing a multimedia service message according to the invention. It is assumed here that the invention is implemented in the context of unified messaging, and the method of processing begins, in this example, with a step E5 of receiving an MSG message of any type intended for a plurality of recipients D ;, where i = 1 to N. The content of this message (payload) is referenced CONT. During a step E10, are searched among those recipients whose address is the address of an MMS client, for example a telephone number. In this example, it will be assumed that the addresses where i = 1 to K are actually MMS client addresses. During a step E15, the message MSG is sent to the other recipients where i = K + 1 to N, according to the protocol determined from the format of their addresses. In the embodiment described here, during an E20 test, it is determined whether the CONT content of the message is a pure TXT text, such content being able to be sent as a short service message, possibly concatenated . If this is the case, the result of the E20 test is positive. This test is followed by an E22 test, in which it is checked whether the length of the TXT text is greater than a threshold TH defined by default or by configuration. If this is not the case, the conversion must not be performed, and the multimedia message is sent without conversion to the recipients where i = 1 to K, during a step E30. In the embodiment described here, if the length of the text TXT is greater than the threshold TH, it is verified, during a control step E25, whether configuration parameters are programmed to: - parameterize the non-conversion of the multimedia message in short message; - set the automatic conversion of the multimedia message into a short message; or - set this conversion after the user's consent. In the first case, the control test E25 is followed by the step E30 already described during which the multimedia message is sent to the recipients where i = 1 to K, conventionally, without conversion. In the third case, a request is sent to the user during step E25 to validate or not the conversion of multimedia messages into short messages. If the user refuses the conversion, the multimedia message is sent to the recipients where i = 1 to K, as previously described, in step E30.

When the multimedia service message or MMS message has to be converted into a short service message or SMS, either systematically or after the user has agreed, the test E25 is followed by a step E40 during which one or more is created. SMS, the content of this (s) SMS being obtained by segmentation of textual content TXT MMS. This (s) SMS is (are) sent to the recipients where i = 1 to K, during a step E45. We have described, with reference to steps E20 to E45, the processing of a purely textual MMS, in a particular embodiment of the invention.

In the case where the MMS is not purely textual, the test E20 is followed by an E50 test during which it is verified that the content of the MMS is valid, that is to say composed of one or more objects ( s) OBJ multimedia and possibly text TXT. If this is not the case, an error is generated during a step E52.

If the content CONT of the MMS is validated, the test E50 is followed by a step E55 during which is checked whether the recipients D ;, where i = 1 to K, have the capacity to receive the object (s) OBJ multimedia contained in the MMS. It will be assumed in this example that only the recipients D i, where i = 1 to L, have this capability.

For those recipients where i = 1 to L, is checked, during a control step E60, according to the configuration parameters, if, where appropriate, the text TXT must be converted to SMS. If this is not the case, the control step E60 is followed by a step E65 during which the MMS is sent to the recipients D ;, where i = 1 to L, in a conventional manner When the configuration parameters (systematic authorization or subject to the agreement of the user) require the conversion of text TXT SMS, the control step E60 is, in this example, followed by: - a step E70 during which is created a service message MMS2 multimedia with OBJ multimedia objects; and a step E75 in which is created one or more SMS containing the purely textual part TXT of the MMS. The SMS or SMS and the multimedia service message MMS2 are sent to the recipients D ;, where i = 1 to L, during a step E80. For recipients D ;, where i = L + 1 to N, which do not have the capacity to receive OBJ multimedia objects contained in the MMS, is or are created (step E85), in this embodiment , one or more SMS, whose TXT2 content is constituted by: - a predefined message; or at least part of the TXT text contained in the MMS. The different SMS thus obtained are sent to the recipients D ;, where i = L + 1 to N, during a step E90. FIG. 2 represents an MMS multimedia service message processing device 35 according to the invention in a particular embodiment.

In this example, the processing device 100 has the hardware architecture of a computer. It comprises in particular a processor 101, a rewritable non-volatile memory 102 and a read only memory 103, this or these memory (s) constituting an information carrier for containing a computer program according to the invention able to implement the method of treatment described above with reference to Figure 1. This processing device 100 has a unit 107 for receiving an MMS.

When the processing device 100 is implemented in a service platform, this unit 107 is an MMS communication module known to those skilled in the art for receiving an MMS message from a telecommunications network. [Note: "MMS communication module" refers to the low-level software module of a terminal or service platform responsible for sending and receiving MMS messages. The conversion module is inserted between this communication module and the higher layers of the mail client with its HMIs. When the processing device is implemented in a terminal, the unit 107 receives the MMS from the application of the terminal called "MMS client" (or a unified messaging application) of this terminal. The processing device 100 comprises means 105 for sending SMS on the telecommunications network RT or to an application of the terminal called "SMS client". In the exemplary embodiment described here, the rewritable non-volatile memory 102 includes a zone MSG_ZONE for containing MMS or SMS messages and a table T_CFG for storing configuration parameters.

In the example described here, the processing device 100 receives the configuration data D_CONF (transmitted by a TERM terminal) via a port 104, via a local network R1 (USB type, Bluetooth, WiFi, ...) or remote (for example Internet type). Upon receipt of this configuration data D_CONF, the processor 101 updates the T_CFG table of the rewritable non-volatile memory 102.

In the embodiment described here, the read-only memory 103 comprises three computer modules, namely: an SMS client referenced C_SMS; an M_CTRL control module adapted to take into account the configuration data to allow or not the conversion of an MMS into an SMS; and an M_DET module for detecting whether the MMS fulfills the conversion criteria. Specifically, when the device 100 receives an MMS by its unit 107, it transfers this MMS in the MSG_ZONE zone, and, if the detection module M_DET detects that this SMS must be converted, it instructs the SMS client C_SMS to convert the MMS. MMS message in SMS as described previously with reference to Figure 1, this (s) SMS being sent (s) on the telecommunication network RT or to a local SMS client 15 by the sending means 105 of the device. FIG. 3 represents, in flowchart form, the main steps of a reception method according to the invention. During a first step, it is assumed that one or more SMSs are received, these SMS including, where appropriate, segmentation information (SMS concatenated). In the embodiment described here, during a step F20, an MMS is created whose content is the concatenation of the contents of the SMS messages received in step F10, intended for the same recipient. In the particular embodiment described here, a multimedia object OBJ is inserted in the MMS, in this example an image associated with the sender of these SMSs. The MMS is sent to the SMS recipient during a step F30. Figure 4 schematically shows a receiving device according to the invention. In the embodiment described here, this device 200 has the hardware architecture of a computer. It comprises a processor 201, a nonvolatile RAM and rewritable 202 and a read only memory 203, this or these memory (s) 35 constituting a support for a computer program according to the invention whose main steps have been previously described with reference to FIG. 3. In a manner similar to that described with reference to FIG. 2, the reception device 200 comprises means 204 for receiving D_CONF configuration data from a local or remote network R1, and in its rewritable non-volatile memory 202, a zone MSG_ZONE for storing MMS or SMS and a configuration table T_CFG updated by the processor 201 according to the configuration data D_CONF.

The receiving device 200 comprises an entity 205 for receiving SMS, either from a local SMS client, or from a telecommunications network RT. It also comprises means 207 for sending MMS either on a telecommunication network RT or to an MMS client of the terminal. In the embodiment described here, the memory 203 comprises the following modules: an MMS client referenced C_MMS; an M_CFG configuration module able to authorize or not the conversion of the MMS into SMS, according to the configuration data D_CONF; and an M_CTRL control module able to create an MMS from one or more SMSs, by analyzing their segmentation information and possibly one or more multimedia objects OB).

When the reception device 200 receives one or more SMS messages, it stores them in the message area MSG_ZONE, checks the configuration data, and gives instructions to the client C_MMS to create the MMS, the latter being sent on the telecommunication network. RT or to a local MMS client by the sending means 207 of the device.

FIG. 5 represents a terminal 10 according to the invention, this latter comprising a processing device 100 according to the invention. In the embodiment described here, the device 10 comprises a man-machine interface IFiM by which the user can enter the following configuration data D_CONF: - L: size of the text of an MMS from which it must be converted to one or more SMS; conversion parameter: systematic / subject to the explicit authorization of the user; and - CONT content input area of the MMS message. In this embodiment, the SMS or SMS created by the device 100 are transmitted on the telecommunications network RT. FIG. 6 schematically represents another terminal 20 according to the invention, the latter comprising a receiving device 200 according to the invention. The latter receives, by its reception means 205, one or more SMSs from a telecommunication network RT. The terminal 20 comprises an HMI human-machine interface for displaying the content of the MMS at the output of the unit 207. FIG. 7 schematically represents a messaging services platform according to the invention.

In the exemplary embodiment described here, this platform has the hardware architecture of a computer. It comprises a processor 501, a rewritable non-volatile memory 502 and a read-only memory 503, for example of the ROM type. This platform also includes a WEB server 504 for receiving D_CONF configuration data from a TERM client connected to the platform via the Internet. The rewritable non-volatile memory 502 includes a zone for storing SMS or MMS and a configuration table T_CFG updated by the processor 501 on receiving the D_CONF data.

The platform 50 includes means 5050 (respectively 5051) for sending and receiving SMS (respectively MMS) on and from a telecommunication network RT. In the exemplary embodiment described here, the read-only memory 503 comprises a SMS client C_SMS, a MMS client C_MMS and a control module M_CTRL. The M_CTRL control module is adapted, in this embodiment, to: analyze the segmentation information of the SMSs received from the telecommunications network RT and, if necessary, give instructions to the MMS client C_MMS to create an MMS message to from the content of these SMS; - to check, whether the configuration parameters of the D_CONF chosen by the operator, allow or not the conversion of MMS to SMS; to detect, if the conditions of the conversion (for example presence of a multimedia object or text length greater than a threshold) of the content of an MMS must lead to such a conversion; and - when the conversion has to be carried out, instruct the SMS clients C_SMS to create one or more SMS from the text contained in the MMS.

Claims (15)

REVENDICATIONS1. A method of processing a first multimedia service message comprising: - a step (E35, E55) of detecting at least one criterion filled by said first multimedia service message; a step (E40, E75, E85) of creating at least one short service message; and a step (E45, E80, E90) of sending said short service message to at least one recipient of said first multimedia service message. 2. Processing method according to claim 1, wherein: said criterion (E35) is the presence, in said first multimedia service message, of a text (T) CT) of length (L) greater than a length; threshold (TH), - said text (TXT) being sent (E45) to said recipient in at least one short service message. The processing method according to claim 1, wherein said short message comprises at least a portion of content of said first multimedia service message. 4. Processing method according to claim 1 comprising a step (E65, E80) of sending a second multimedia service message comprising at least part of the content of said first multimedia service message to at least one recipient of said first message of multimedia service. 5. Processing method according to claim 1 comprising a control step (E25, E60) adapted to control a request for validation of the creation of said short service message. 6. Device (100) for processing a multimedia service message comprising: means (M_DET) for detecting at least one criterion fulfilled by said multimedia service message; means (M_C) for creating at least one short service message; and means (105) for sending at least one short service message to at least one recipient of said first multimedia service message. Terminal (10) having a treatment device according to claim 6. 8. A method of receiving a short service message comprising: - a step (F20) of creating at least one multimedia service message comprising at least the content of said short service message; and a step (F30) of sending said multimedia service message to at least one recipient (D) of said short service message. 20 9. Reception method according to claim 8, characterized in that said multimedia service message comprises the content of at least several short service messages for said recipient. The receiving method according to claim 8, characterized in that said creating step (F20) further includes inserting a non-textual multimedia object (OBJ) into said multimedia service message. 11. Device (200) for receiving a short service message comprising: means (M_C) for creating at least one multimedia service message comprising at least the content of said short service message; and means (207) for sending said multimedia service message to at least one recipient of said short service message. 35 Terminal (20) having a receiving device (200) according to claim 11. Messaging service platform (50) comprising at least one device for processing a multimedia service message according to claim 6, or a device for receiving a short service message according to claim 11. A computer program comprising instructions for performing the steps of the method of processing a multimedia service message according to any one of claims 1 to 5 when said program is executed by a computer (100, 10, 50 ). A computer program comprising instructions for performing the steps of the method of receiving a short service message according to any one of claims 8 to 10 when said program is executed by a computer (200, 20, 50). ).