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.

Claims

.[.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

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) 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

(3) 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

(4) 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.

(5) 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.

(6) 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.