System and method providing multimedia messaging in communication networks

• US 20040117459A1
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Fry, George
• Application Number:
  US10/316,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117459A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for a network having multimedia messaging service (MMS) capability allowing downloading of one or more multimedia messages (MMs) from a server to a client. The client and/or the server is capable of generating commands for suspending and resuming downloading of the multimedia message. When the client or server generates a command for suspending a current downloading of a multimedia message, the server suspends the downloading of the multimedia message, and a marker is generated for marking the position of suspending the multimedia message. When the client or server generates a command for resuming the suspended downloading of the multimedia message, the server resumes the downloading from the position of suspending marked by the marker. The client when receiving additional subsequent portions of the multimedia message after generating a marker for marking the position of suspending the multimedia message, stores these additional subsequent portions of the multimedia message, generates a new marker pointing to the end of the received additional subsequent portions of the multimedia message, and stores the new marker.

Claims

1. A method for a network including multimedia messaging service capability allowing downloading of one or more multimedia messages from a server to a client, comprising:

at least one of the client and the server generates commands for suspending and resuming downloading of the multimedia message;

when the client or server generates a command for suspending a current downloading of a multimedia message, the server suspends the downloading of the multimedia message, and a marker is generated for marking the position of suspending the multimedia message; and

when the client or server generates a command for resuming the suspended downloading of the multimedia message, the server resumes the downloading from the position of suspending marked by the marker.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

when the downloading is suspended, the client and the server generate markers for marking the position of suspending the multimedia message, and store the markers.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

the client when receiving additional subsequent portions of the multimedia message after generating the marker, stores the additional subsequent portions of the multimedia message, generates a new marker pointing to the end of the received additional subsequent portions of the multimedia message, and stores the new marker.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the client when generating or receiving a command for resuming the suspended downloading of the multimedia message, transmits the marker, or the client generates the new marker and transmits the new marker to the server, and the server resumes the downloading from the position indicated by the transmitted marker.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

an entire message is transmitted in a form of segments, and the marker is placed at a defined location relative to boundaries of received segments.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein:

the defined location relative to the boundaries is the location of the boundary at the end of the last completely received segment.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the server and the client releases network resources for transmission when receiving a command for suspending the downloading of a multimedia message.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the client is a mobile client and includes an input for inputting suspend and resume commands.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the downloading is effected via a wireless channel.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the downloading is effected via a non-wireless channel.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the server is a network component disposed between a multimedia message (MM) server and the client.

12. A system including multimedia messaging service capability allowing downloading of one or more multimedia messages from a server to a client, comprising:

at least one of the client and the server generates commands for suspending and resuming downloading of the multimedia message;

when the client or server generates a command for suspending a current downloading of a multimedia message, the server suspends the downloading of the multimedia message[,] and at least one of the client and server generates a marker for marking the position of suspending the multimedia message; and

when the client or server generates a command for resuming the suspended downloading of the multimedia message, the server resumes the downloading from the position of suspending marked by the marker.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein:

when the downloading is suspended, the client and the server generate markers for marking the position of suspending the multimedia message and store the markers.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein:

the client stores, when receiving additional subsequent portions of the multimedia message after generating the marker, the additional subsequent portions of the multimedia message, to generate a new marker pointing to an end of the received additional subsequent portions of the multimedia message, and stores the new marker.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein:

the client transmits, when generating or receiving a command for resuming the suspended downloading of the multimedia message, the marker, or the client generates the new marker and transmits the new marker to the server, and the server resumes the downloading from the position indicated by the transmitted marker.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein:

an entire message is transmitted in a form of segments and the marker is placed at a defined location relative to the boundaries of the received segments.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein:

the defined location relative to the boundaries is the location of the boundary at the end of the last completely received segment.

18. A system according to claim 12, wherein:

at least one of the server and client release network resources for transmission when receiving a command for suspending the downloading of a multimedia message.

19. A system according to claim 12, wherein:

the client is a mobile client and includes an input for inputting suspend and resume commands, and the downloading is effected via a wireless channel.

20. A system according to claim 12, wherein:

the system effects the downloading via a non-wireless channel.

21. A system according to claim 12, wherein:

the server is a network component disposed between a multimedia message (MM) server and the client.

22. A client including multimedia messaging service capability allowing downloading of one or more multimedia messages from a server to the client, wherein:

the client generates commands for suspending and resuming downloading of the multimedia message;

the client generates, when generating or receiving a command for suspending a current downloading of a multimedia message, a marker for marking the position of suspending the multimedia message; and

the client transmits the marker to the server when the suspended downloading of the multimedia message is to be resumed.

23. A client according to claim 22, wherein:

the client is stores, when receiving additional subsequent portions of the multimedia message after generating the marker, the additional subsequent portions of the multimedia message, to generate a new marker pointing to the end of the received additional subsequent portions of the multimedia message, and stores the new marker.

24. A client according to claim 23, wherein:

the client transmits, when generating or receiving a command for resuming the suspended downloading of the multimedia message, the new marker to the server for resuming the downloading from the position indicated by the transmitted marker.

25. A client according to claim 22, wherein:

the client releases network resources for transmission after generating or receiving a command for suspending the downloading of a multimedia message.

26. A client according to claim 22, wherein:

the client is a mobile client and includes an input for inputting suspend and resume commands.

27. A server including multimedia messaging service capability allowing downloading of one or more multimedia messages from the server to a client, wherein:

the server generates commands for suspending and resuming downloading of the multimedia message; and

the server generates, when generating or receiving a command for suspending a current downloading of a multimedia message, a marker for marking the position of suspending the multimedia message.

28. A server according to claim 27, wherein:

the server compares the generated marker with a marker received from the client when a suspended downloading of the multimedia message is to be resumed, and resumes the downloading from the position marked by the marker received from the client when the compared marker should be different.

29. A server according to claim 27, wherein the server releases network resources after suspending the downloading of a multimedia message.