IE83600B1 - Transmission of MMS Messages - Google Patents

Description

Transmission of MMS Messages INTRODUCTION Field of the Invention The Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) as defined by 3GPP, and ETSI for example provides a means for mobile devices to create, transmit, receive and play messages containing multimedia content, such as images, audio, and video. As currently formulated, there is a requirement on a subscriber originating such a multimedia message that all of the multimedia content incorporated in the message be resident on the mobile device and transmitted over the air to the Multimedia Messaging Service Centre (MMSC).

Prior Art Discussion Even with the higher bandwidths provided by 3"‘ generation ("3G") networks, the above procedure will restrict the range of multimedia content which can be originated by a subscriber, especially for example video content. In addition, the mobile device will have limited storage capacity, which again restricts the range of content that can be stored or used for messaging purposes.

PCT Patent Specification No. WO98/ 32272 (BT) describes a method and apparatus for structured message requests for a platform which bridges the Internet and a PST N telecommunications network. A single message request can be sent to the platform where it is used to send common message content to a plurality of destinations.

Objectives of the Invention The invention is directed towards providing for more optimum use of mobile network bandwidth for sending multimedia messages.

Another objective is to allow more versatility for a user when sending multimedia messages, without limitations imposed by the mobile device being used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is provided an MMSC comprising means for receiving an MMS message from a sender subscriber mobile device and for delivering the message to a recipient subscriber mobile device, characterised in that the MMSC further comprises means for:- identifying a reference to a multimedia object in the received MMS message, retrieving a multimedia object corresponding to the reference, including said multimedia object in the MMS message prior to delivery, maintaining a storage area clipboard for the sender subscriber, and for storing the multimedia object in the storage area clipboard, and receiving the multimedia object from the sender subscriber mobile device during a management access mode.

In one embodiment, the reference comprises an initial string indicating that it is a reference to a multimedia object, and a subsequent string comprising an address for the multimedia object.

In one embodiment, the MMSC comprises means for, under sender subscriber instructions, adding and deleting multimedia objects in the management access mode.

In another embodiment, the MMSC comprises means for, under sender subscriber instructions, editing multimedia objects in the management access mode.

In a further embodiment, the MMSC comprises means for allowing the sender subscriber to browse multimedia objects in the storage area clipboard and for downloading references for selected multimedia objects to the sender subscriber’s mobile device.

In another aspect, the invention provides a mobile device comprising means for sending an MMS message containing references to an actual multimedia object.

In one embodiment, the mobile device comprises means for browsing a clipboard to identity a multimedia object and for downloading a reference for the multimedia object for inclusion in an MMS message.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a method for delivering an MMS message from a sender device to a recipient device, in which the sender device forwards a message to an MMSC and the MMSC forwards a message to the recipient device, characterised in that, the sender device includes a reference to a multimedia object in the message forwarded to the MMSC, the MMSC retrieves the multimedia object and includes it in the message forwarded to the recipient device, and the MMSC retrieves the multimedia object from a storage area associated with the MMSC. the MMSC, in a management mode, receives the multimedia object from the sender device and stores it for later use.

In a further embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of the MMSC adding, deleting, or editing multimedia objects stored in a storage area under instructions from the sender device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:- Fig. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating steps for forwarding an MMS message; Fig. 2 is a message sequence diagram for the method.

Description of the Embodiments Referring to Fig. l in an initial registration phase 10 a subscriber is allocated a storage area on an MMSC by the network operator. The area is called a "Clipboard" or "Album". The Clipboard has a file structure for storage of multi-media GVIM) objects associated with the subscriber.

Subsequently, in a MM content management phase 20, 21 the subscriber has management access to the Clipboard for adding/ deleting/ editing MM objects such as images, audio, or video objects. This is performed using a Web—based interface on the mobile device and sending the objects to the sender personal Clipboard storage area. Upon receipt of the multimedia storage request, the MMSC extracts the multimedia objects and stores in the Clipboard. The MMSC performs these steps operating in a management mode. The objects may then be edited or deleted.

Subsequently, a MMS message is sent to a recipient in a phase comprising steps 30 to 36. In step 30 the subscriber uses her mobile device to browse the contents of the Clipboard, and in step 31 selects an object. This is performed using a WAP or equivalent browser on the mobile device, with the objects presented in thumbnail format with identifying reference codes.

In step 32 the mobile device, under subscriber instructions, creates an MMS message and includes the reference of a selected MM object in the MMS message. The reference is a sequence of characters in a pre-defined format/ protocol for indicating that it references a Clipboard MM object, followed by the MM object reference code.

The mobile device interface for steps 30 to 32 may allow integrated MM object selection and addition of references to the MMS message using a presentation such as that of the "drag—and drop" type.

As indicated by the decision step 33, steps 30 to 32 are repeated for each subsequent MM object for the MMS message being prepared.

In step 34 the MMS message is transmitted to the MSC. Upon receipt, the MMSC recognises the Clipboard references and substitutes the actual MM objects in place of In step 36 the MMSC delivers the MMS message, incorporating the actual MM objects. the references in step 35.

Referring to Fig. 2 signal flows for the method are illustrated. The sender device ("Agentl") uploads an object in a POST message, and subsequently a reference is returned by the MMSC. The created message with references is sent to the MMSC, upon which the MMSC uses a GET command to fetch the actual objects. The referenced objects are then used to deliver the MMS message.

It will be appreciated that the method allows a sender device to choose from a wide range of multimedia objects, without any limitation imposed by the storage capacity of the mobile device. It also allows optimum use of network bandwidth for sending messages. It will also be appreciated that the MMSC delivery phase is completely conventional as seen by the receiving device and so no modification of the receiving device is required and it does not need to be aware of how the message was generated.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims (1)

1.Claims An MMSC comprising means for receiving an MS message from a sender subscriber mobile device and for delivering the message to a recipient subscriber mobile device, characterised in that the MMSC further comprises means for:— identifying a reference to a multimedia object in the received MMS message, retrieving a multimedia object corresponding to the reference, and including said multimedia object in the MMS message prior to delivery, maintaining a storage area clipboard for the sender subscriber, and for storing the multimedia object in the storage area clipboard, and receiving the multimedia object from the sender subscriber mobile device during a management access mode. An MMSC as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference comprises an initial string indicating that it is a reference to a multimedia object, and a subsequent string comprising an address for the multimedia object. An MMSC as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the MMSC comprises means for, under sender subscriber instructions, adding and deleting multimedia objects in the management access mode. An MMSC as claimed in claim 3, wherein the MMSC comprises means for, under sender subscriber instructions, editing multimedia objects in the management access mode. An MMSC as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the MMSC comprises means for allowing the sender subscriber to browse multimedia objects in the storage area clipboard and for downloading references for selected multimedia objects to the sender subscriber’s mobile device. A mobile device comprising means for sending an MMS message containing references to an actual multimedia object. A mobile device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mobile device comprises means for browsing a clipboard to identity a multimedia object and for downloading a reference for the multimedia object for inclusion in an MMS message. A method for delivering an MMS message from a sender device to a recipient device, in which the sender device forwards a message to an MMSC and the MMSC forwards a message to the recipient device, characterised in that, the sender device includes a reference to a multimedia object in the message forwarded to the MMSC, the MMSC retrieves the multimedia object and includes it in the message forwarded to the recipient device, and the MMSC, in a management mode, receives the multimedia object from the sender device and stores it for later use. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the MMSC retrieves the multimedia object from a storage area associated with the MMSC. A method as claimed in claims 8 or 9, wherein the method comprises the further steps of the MMSC adding, deleting, or editing multimedia objects stored in a storage area under instructions from the sender device. A computer program product comprising software code for completing an MMSC as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 when executing on a digital computer. An MMSC substantially as described with reference to the drawings. A mobile device substantially as described with reference to the drawings. A method for delivering an MMSC message substantially as described with reference to the drawings.