KR100899132B1 - System and method for informing a sender of content adaptation and message failure issues - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method are provided for controlling the content of a message sent from a transmitting device to a receiving device. When a message is sent from the transmitting device, it is determined whether the receiving device can display the message without adapting the content of the message. If the receiving device can display the message without adapting the content of the message, the receiving device displays the message. If the receiving device cannot display the message without adaptation of the content of the message, the transmitting device is informed that the message cannot be displayed on the receiving device without adapting the content of the message. The receiving device may also be informed which parts cannot be displayed by the receiving device, and instructions may be provided so that the receiving device cannot display the message at all if the message is to be adapted.

Description

System and method for informing a sender of content adaptation and message failure issues

The present invention generally relates to the field of multimedia messaging systems. In particular, the present invention relates to multimedia messaging systems that support complex content items and forms.

Multimedia messaging systems have become very popular in recent years. Traditionally, individuals have used multimedia messaging systems to send basic text messages to other individuals on the network. But more recently, individuals have begun to transmit much more complex types of information. This can include, for example, text using graphics, digital photos, audio files, video files, as well as personalized fonts and styles. These types of information can be transmitted through devices such as portable telephones, personal digital assistants, handheld computers, and other devices.

As the capabilities of multimedia messaging systems have substantially expanded, many new issues have been raised for users of such systems. For example, although newer devices often include both the ability to send and receive this type of "complex" multimedia messages, most older devices and many newer, less expensive devices still lack their messaging capabilities. Extremely limited, it provides the user with the ability to send and receive limited text messages without any styling or attachment. These more "limited" devices also often cannot transmit or receive information beyond some size.

The above limitations can cause serious compatibility issues for users of both simple and complex devices. For users of older and / or simpler devices with limited capabilities, he or she may not even be able to access large and / or complex multimedia messages. Additionally, although these devices or their service systems may include the ability for the user to at least view the text of some complex multimedia messages, specialized styling, formatting and attachments that may have been included by the multimedia message sender. Will be removed from the multimedia message and the recipient may not even notice that attachments have been included in the message. Changing the content and / or format of the message, often referred to as content adaptation, creates a number of difficulties for both the sender and the receiver of the message.

For users of more complex devices, the user may not be aware that the intended recipient of complex multimedia messages has limited capabilities for his or her device, which is an advanced feature that will never be accessed by the recipient. Results in a significant wasted effort in generating multimedia messages. If the sender has prepared a fancy presentation, especially for the recipient, converting and / or stripping portions of it may make it virtually unrecognizable or else it would not even be worth sending the presentation from the beginning. You can change it until you feel it.

Moreover, in some cases the sender of the complex multimedia message may not even be informed about the limited recipient capabilities after the multimedia message has been sent. Many devices include a user agent profile (UAProf), XML or an extended markup language file describing the device's capabilities. However, even with UAProf support, the sender of a message does not have the ability to even estimate the receiver's capabilities before the message is sent. This causes a clear problem for both parties, because the receiver cannot receive the expected message and the sender may not know that the message failed to reach the recipient. Moreover, even if a small portion (such as text alone) arrives at the recipient's device for access, the sender may not know that formats and styles have been removed or that attachments to the files may not be accessible. have.

One attempt to overcome some of the above drawbacks uses the Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC) to send a report to the original multimedia message sender discussing the status of the transmitted multimedia message. Included doing. For example, one traditional system causes the MMSC to automatically send one of the following pieces of information about a transmitted multimedia message to the multimedia message sender: "expired", "searched", "deny" "," Deferred "," Unrecognized "," Indeterminate "," Send ", and" Cannot arrive ". Although providing the sender with this very basic information about the status of the transmitted multimedia message, these single-word information messages do not greatly assist the sender in understanding potential problems. In addition, these information messages may not only have been transmitted (if any) parts of the transmitted multimedia message without removal and / or conversion, but also parts of the transmitted multimedia message should have been converted and / or removed before arriving at the recipient. All you have to do is tell them you may. Information about content adaptation may be very relevant to the multimedia message sender and important content may have been discarded during the adaptation process. It may be important for the multimedia message sender to know whether all content has arrived at the receiver immediately, even if the discarded content may be made available to the user later, for example via an alternative receiver device.

Therefore, it would be desirable to develop a system and method that overcomes the above difficulties while maintaining improvements in functionality that is being continuously implemented in multimedia messaging systems.

The present invention relates to the sender of a message, in particular a multimedia message, as well as the ability to know more about the potential problems involved with the transmission of the message, as well as to control the adaptation of the message and / or what adaptation takes place. Provide the ability to obtain information. This provides the sender with a number of advantages that were not previously available. For example, the present invention gives the sender higher control over the message, while at the same time giving the user the ability to adapt the message depending on the capabilities of the recipient device.

The present invention includes a system and method for providing a multimedia message sender with additional information about the status of a recently transmitted multimedia message. The system includes the use of information in the form of a header or other mechanism as to whether the message can be translated and / or partially removed for the receiving device. In addition, the systems and methods of the present invention include providing additional information to the message sender as to the nature and consequences of the potential adaptation of the original message, as well as why the message could not be delivered. The invention also relates to a computer program and a module for implementing the functions described herein.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention, together with the configuration and method of operation of the present invention, together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like reference numerals throughout the several views described below. When taken collectively, it will become apparent from the following detailed description.

1 is a diagram of a multimedia messaging system network including a plurality of devices for sending and receiving messages in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flow chart illustrating a process relating to a method for processing a message depending on whether the receiving device can accept the message without change or adaptation and whether the message can be accepted in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. to be.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for determining whether a receiving device can accept a message without alteration or adaptation, and when the decision cannot be made.

4 is a flow chart illustrating a process for notifying a transmitting device of a successful transmission of a message and of the required adaptation level.

5 is a front view of a typical portable device capable of operating as a transmitting device in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

1 illustrates a general multimedia messaging network 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The multimedia messaging network 100 is configured to allow communication between the transmitting device 110 and the receiving device 120, as well as other secondary devices 160. In an embodiment of the invention, when a message is transmitted, the message moves from the sending device 110 to a multimedia messaging service center 130 (MMSC), which in turn sends the message to the receiving device. Send to 120. 1 is generally direct and illustrates the transmission between the transmitting device 110, the multimedia messaging service center 130, and the receiving device 120. In practice, however, the transmission of the messages will normally occur via various local exchanges, generally indicated at 140 and 150.

5 illustrates a sample transmission apparatus 110 that may be used in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The transmitting device 110 may take any form in fact and is not limited to one particular type of mechanism. The transmitting device 110 of FIG. 5 includes a main body 500 in which a memory unit 510 and a processor 520 are included. In addition to the display 540, a plurality of input buttons 530 are provided. The transmitting device 110 may include a wired connection 560 or a wireless connection 550, such as a USB or IEEE connection, for transmitting and receiving messages. The memory unit 510 and the processor 520 may be used to generate a message to be sent.

According to one embodiment of the invention, in order to ultimately provide additional control over the transmitting device via the message to be transmitted to the receiving device 120, a new header field is added to the M- for the transmitting device 110. It is added to the send.req protocol data unit (PDU). The header indicates what content adaptation the multimedia messaging service center 130 is allowed to perform on the message being transmitted. If the header indicates that content adaptation is not allowed, the multimedia messaging service center 130 determines whether the receiving device 120 can receive the message without adaptation. The answer to this question is sent back to the sending device 110 using the M-Send.conf PDU. The transmitting device 110 can then inform the user whether the message can be transmitted in a form that has not been completely changed. Although the use of the header as described herein is one method of use, computer software programs including various systems and / or computer code may be used by those skilled in the art to achieve similar results.

2 is a diagram illustrating a method in which the transmitting device 110, the multimedia messaging service center 130, and the receiving device 120 interact according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 illustrates a simple case where both the transmitting device 110 and the receiving device 120 belong to the same multimedia messaging service center 130. In many cases, the transmitting device 110 and the receiving device 120 belong to different multimedia messaging service centers 130. In step 210, the user transmits a message from the transmitting device 110 to the multimedia messaging service center 130. In step 220, the multimedia messaging service center 130 determines whether the M-Send.req PDU includes a header to allow the message to be adapted or changed. If the header permits such a change, in step 230 the multimedia messaging service center changes the message as necessary and sends the message to the receiving device 120 in step 230. The changes are based on the capabilities of the receiving device 120 in UAProf. It should also be noted that when the transmitting device 110 and the receiving device 120 belong to different multimedia messaging service centers 130, the processing shown in FIG. 2 will occur at the recipient's multimedia messaging service center. .

If the M-Send.req PDU header does not allow the message to be modified, the multimedia messaging service center 130 may receive, process, and display the message in a manner that the receiving device 120 does not change. Determine if there is. This occurs at step 240. If the receiving device 120 can receive, process and display the message without change, the multimedia messaging service center 130 forwards the message to the receiving device 120 in step 250 for such processing and display. send. With substantially the same result, it is also possible for step 240 to occur before the multimedia messaging service center 130 determines whether the M-Send.req PDU includes a header to allow a message to be adapted or changed.

In one particular embodiment of the present invention and as also shown in FIG. 2, the system of the present invention can automatically send a message that is not adapted to the secondary device, shown at 160 in FIG. 1, if necessary. This can be accomplished through the use of an individual address field in the M-Send.req PDU. A separate address field may be added for the secondary address and the MMSC may be configured to use the separate address field as discussed herein.

As discussed above, if the M-Send.req PDU includes a header indicating that no adaptation should occur at the receiving device 120, the multimedia messaging service center 130 may request that the receiving device ( 120 determines whether the message can be received in an unadapted form, as shown at 240 in FIG. 2. If the receiving device 120 cannot receive the message in an unadapted form, the multimedia messaging service center 130 sends an individual address to the M-Send.req PDU to send the message to the secondary address. Determine if the field exists. This is indicated at 260 in FIG. 2. If no such replacement address exists, then at 270 the multimedia messaging service center 130 informs the transmitting device 110 that the message cannot be delivered to the receiving device 120 without modification. On the other hand, if there is a replacement address, as shown in step 280, the multimedia messaging service center 130 determines whether the secondary device 160 can accept the message without modification. This can be done using the UAProf of the secondary device in a manner similar to that discussed herein with respect to the primary receiving device. If the secondary device 160 cannot accept the message, then in step 310 the multimedia messaging service center 130 may not be able to forward the message to the receiving device 120 or the secondary device without modification. To the transmitter 110. If the secondary device is able to accept, process and display the message without change, in step 290 the multimedia messaging service center 130 sends the message to the secondary device 160 corresponding to the replacement address. do. In one embodiment of the invention, the multimedia messaging service center 130 also informs the transmitting device 110 that the message is being redirected so. The secondary device 160 then displays the message in step 300.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the transmitting device 110 is notified of the change of direction after the message is sent to the secondary device 160. However, these two steps may occur in the reverse order but at the same time. If the message cannot be sent in an unadapted form to the original secondary device 160, there may be a series of secondary devices 160 such that an attempt can be made to send the message to other devices. have. The address of the secondary device or the addresses of the series of secondary devices may be entered by the user in a manner similar to the manner in which the user enters the address of the primary receiving device.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the M-Send.req PDU header may indicate that having a changed message only for the secondary device 160 may be accepted, in which case such a determination would not be necessary. The message may be sent to the secondary device 160 regardless of a potential change.

The individual address field may also be used if the receiving device 120 is not multimedia messaging system-capable. The individual address may be an e-mail account or other device address owned by the same individual as the person who owns the receiving device 120. At the same time, the transmitting device 110 may also be informed that the message has been sent to the secondary device 160.

Alternatively and depending on the service provided, a default location, such as a server or e-mail address, in a network with Internet access may be used in place of the secondary device if the unchanged message can be sent. If the sending device 110 does not inhibit the change and the message requires a change, the changed message may be sent to the receiving device 120 and, depending on the provided service, the unchanged message May be sent to the default address.

One issue that may actually be raised includes the possibility that the receiving device 120 will not use the same multimedia messaging service center 130 as the transmitting device 110. In this case, determining whether content adaptation is necessary may not be possible at the moment of message transmission. In this case, the transmitting device 110 may still be notified whether content adaptation occurs once the receiving device 120 processes the message. 3 shows the process for the determination. As discussed above, in step 210, the user transmits a message from the transmitting device 110 to the multimedia messaging service center 130. In step 220, the multimedia messaging service center 130 determines whether the M-Send.req PDU includes a header to allow the message to be adapted or changed. If the multimedia messaging service center 130 is unable to determine whether the receiving device 120 can accept, process and display the message without modification, in step 225 the message is sent to the message recipient's multimedia messaging service. Sent to a center, the multimedia messaging service center performing the steps discussed herein and shown in FIG.

The invention also includes the use of a new "reason" field in the multimedia messaging system delivery report sent to the sending device 110 after the message has been sent to the receiving device 120. The process for accomplishing this task is shown generally in FIG. 4. 4 shows a process for determining the capabilities of the receiving device 120 and the process of separately providing this type of information from the results thereof, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, it will be understood that the processes shown in FIGS. 2-4 can be easily implemented simultaneously as a single process for the transmitting device 110 and the receiving device 120.

As shown in FIG. 4, in step 400, the transmitting device 110 transmits a message to the multimedia messaging service center 130. In step 410, the multimedia messaging service center 130 processes and modifies the message as needed depending on the capabilities of the receiving device 120. The message is then sent to the receiving device 120, where the message is displayed to the user of the receiving device 120 if possible. In step 430, information regarding the transmitted message is transmitted back to the transmitting device 110, including at least one of a plurality of messages in the multimedia messaging system delivery report sent back to the transmitting device 110. The delivery report is generated by the recipient's multimedia messaging service center 130.

If the entire message could be displayed on the receiving device 120 without adaptation or change, a multimedia messaging service system delivery report is sent to the transmitting device 110 stating that no content adaptation was needed at step 440. . However, if the message cannot be displayed in any form even to the recipient, a multimedia messaging system delivery report informing the user of the transmitting device 110 of the reason why the message transmission failed in step 450 is performed by the transmitting device ( 110). The multimedia messaging service delivery report indicates that the receiving device 120 did not support the content, that the message was too large, that the receiving device address was not determined or that the receiving device 120 received the multimedia messaging. You can provide information such as the fact that you did not support the system. This type of information assists the user of the transmitting device 110 in determining why the message could not be sent on the receiving device 120 and possibly assists the user in changing his behavior in the sending messages. .

If only some adaptation or change, the message could be displayed on the receiving device 120, to the transmitting device 110 providing information on the changes for which a multimedia messaging system delivery report was needed in step 460 Is sent. Information sent back to the transmitting device 110 may include, but is not limited to, information as to whether minor or important adaptations were needed, the type of content that had to be removed from the message, and the amount of material that had to be removed from the message. Does not. This type of information can be particularly useful for users sending multimedia messages with large file sizes, as often occurs when audio and / or video files are included. In many cases, users of portable devices are billed depending on the size of the messages sent, and users billed in this way do not transmit video files if they cannot be received by any other recipients. This can save you a considerable amount of money.

In one embodiment of the invention, any of the information provided in the delivery report may be optional, and the user of the transmitting device 110 may determine what information he or she wants to know.

The system and method of the present invention provide much more control over the integrity of the transmission than was conventionally available to the sender of the multimedia message. If the user believes that it is important that the message does not change in any form, he or she may simply reject the ability to change the message. In addition, the present invention provides more information to the sender of the message if the message was not ultimately successfully delivered in exactly the same form in which it was originally intended. The invention may in fact be incorporated into any type of supportable module and may take the form of a computer software program programmed to carry out the functions described herein.

While showing some embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the invention and the foregoing description of specific examples and embodiments are provided by demonstration and are not limiting. For example, instead of incorporating a non-modifying command into the M-Send.req PDU, it may also be sent separately from the PDU. It is also possible to include a "partial change" command so that some type of information may be removed and changed while other types of information may not be so changed or adapted. Therefore, many changes and modifications within the scope of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the invention includes all such changes and modifications.

Claims (33)

delete delete delete delete delete A method for controlling the content of a message sent from a sending device to a receiving device, the method comprising: Transmitting a message from the transmitting device together with information about the adaptability of the message; Determining whether the receiving device can display the message without adapting the content of the message; If the receiving device can display the message without adapting the content of the message, causing the receiving device to display the message; And If the receiving device is unable to display the message without adaptation of the content of the message, informing the transmitting device that the message cannot be displayed on the receiving device without adapting the content of the message. As The method, Transmitting an address for a secondary device from the transmitting device; If the receiving device is unable to display the message without adaptation of the content of the message, determining whether the secondary device can display the message without adaptation of the content of the message; And If the secondary device is capable of displaying the message without adaptation of the content of the message, causing the secondary device to display the message. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising informing the transmitting device that the message has been sent to the secondary device if the secondary device can display the message without adapting the content of the message. How to. 7. The transmitting device according to claim 6, wherein if the secondary device cannot display the message without adaptation of the content of the message, the transmitting device indicates that the message cannot be displayed on the secondary device without adaptation of the content of the message. The method further comprises the step of informing. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of preventing the message from being displayed on the secondary device if the secondary device cannot display the message without adaptation of the content of the message. delete delete delete delete delete A computer readable medium comprising a computer program for controlling the content of a message transmitted from a transmitting device to a receiving device, the computer program comprising: Computer code for transmitting a message from the transmitting device with information about the adaptability of the message; Computer code for determining whether the receiving device can display the message without adapting the content of the message; Computer code for transmitting the message to the receiving device if the receiving device can display the message without adapting the content of the message; And Computer code for informing the transmitting device that the message cannot be displayed on the receiving device without the adaptation of the content of the message, if the receiving device cannot display the message without the adaptation of the content of the message. , The computer program, Computer code for transmitting an address for a secondary device from the transmitting device; Computer code for determining if the secondary device is capable of displaying the message without adaptation of the content of the message if the receiving device is unable to display the message without adaptation of the content of the message; And And if the secondary device is capable of displaying the message without adaptation of the content of the message, further comprising computer code for transmitting the message to the secondary device. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the computer program notifies the transmitting device that the message was sent to the secondary device without adaptation when the secondary device can display the message without adaptation of the content of the message. And a computer code for a computer readable medium. 16. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the computer program is adapted to display the message on the secondary device without adaptation of the content of the message if the secondary device cannot display the message without adaptation of the content of the message. And computer code for informing the transmitting device that no transmission is possible. 18. The computer program of claim 17, further comprising computer code for preventing the message from being displayed on the secondary device if the secondary device cannot display the message without adaptation of the content of the message. A computer-readable medium, characterized in that. delete A system for controlling the content of a message sent over a network, the system comprising: A transmitting device comprising computer software for transmitting the message together with information about the adaptability of the message; A service device in communication with the transmitting device; And A receiving device for receiving the message, Upon transmission of the message from the transmitting device to the service device, the service device determines whether the receiving device can display the message without adapting the content of the message, and the service device determines that the message is the message of the message. Informing the transmitting device whether it cannot be displayed on the receiving device without adapting content, The transmitting device comprises computer code for transmitting an address for a secondary device, If the receiving device cannot display the message without adapting the content of the message, the service device determines whether the secondary device can display the message without adapting the content of the message, and the secondary If the device is capable of displaying the message without adaptation of the content of the message, the service device sends the message to the secondary device for display of the message. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete An apparatus for transmitting a message to a receiving apparatus through a service apparatus, the apparatus comprising: main body; A memory unit operatively connected to the main body, Computer code for instructing the service device to determine whether the receiving device can display the message without adaptation of the content of the message; If the receiving device cannot display the message without adapting the content of the message, causing the service device to inform the transmitting device that the message cannot be displayed on the receiving device without adapting the content of the message. A memory unit containing computer code for; A processor operatively coupled to the memory unit; And Means for delivering a message generated by the processor and the memory unit to the receiving device, The memory unit, Computer code for transmitting an address for a second device from the sending device; If the receiving device cannot display the message without adaptation of the content of the message, the computer for instructing the service device to determine whether the secondary device can display the message without adaptation of the content of the message. code; And And if the secondary device is capable of displaying the message without adapting the content of the message, further comprising computer code for transmitting the message to the secondary device. delete delete delete delete delete

Images