Method and apparatus for providing mobile-to-mobile video capability to a network

• US 20050095981A1
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Benco, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,439,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing mobile-to-mobile video capability to a network. More particularly, this development is directed to a system that facilitates the transmission of video data from one mobile station (e.g. wireless phone) to another mobile station (e.g. another wireless phone). It also provides user control of the transmission to accommodate the preferences of the called party relative to receipt of the data.

Claims

1. A system to provide transmission of video data from a first mobile station to a second mobile station in a network, the system comprising:

a call recognition module operative to recognize a call from the first mobile station to the second mobile station as including the video data and, if the video data is present, validating the second mobile station as capable of receiving the video data and determining a delivery preference for the second mobile station;

a storage module operative to have stored therein the video data;

an announcement module operative to selectively prompt, based on the delivery preference, the second mobile station if the second mobile station is validated, receive a response to the prompt from the second mobile station and selectively forward the response; and

,

a control module operative to store the video data in the storage module upon recognition, receive the response from the prompt module and, based on the response, perform at least one of maintaining the video data in the storage module, deleting the video data from the storage module, and forwarding the video data to the second mobile station.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the call recognition module validates the second mobile station by performing a look-up operation on a mobile subscriber database.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the storage module is a first-in, first-out buffer.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the prompt comprises a ringing tone.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the prompt comprises an announcement.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the response comprises at least one of a rejection of the video data, a request for immediate delivery of the video data, and a request for delayed delivery of the video data.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a call origination module operative to originate, based on the delivery preference, a subsequent call to the second mobile station to selectively prompt, based on the delivery preference, the second mobile station if the second mobile station is validated, receive the response to the prompt from the second mobile station and selectively forward the response to the control module.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the announcement module provides a signal to the first mobile station that delivery will be blocked if the call recognition module does not validate the second mobile station.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control module deletes the video data from the storage module if the call recognition module does not validate the second mobile station.

10. A method for transmitting video data from a first mobile station to a second mobile station in a network, the method comprising:

recognizing a call from the first mobile station to the second mobile station as including the video data;

if the video data is present, validating the second mobile station as capable of receiving the video data and determining a delivery preference for the second mobile station;

storing the video data in a storage module;

selectively prompting, based on the delivery preference, the second mobile station if the second mobile station is validated;

receiving a response to the prompt from the second mobile station; and

,

based on the response, performing at least one of maintaining the video data in the storage module, deleting the video data from the storage module, and forwarding the video data to the second mobile station.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the validating of the second mobile station comprises performing a look-up operation on a mobile subscriber database.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the prompting comprises providing a ringing tone.

13. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the prompting comprises providing an announcement.

14. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the response comprises initiating at least one of a rejection of the video data, a request for immediate delivery of the video data, and a request for delayed delivery of the video data.

15. The method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising:

originating, based on the delivery preference, a subsequent call to the second mobile station;

selectively prompting, based on the delivery preference, the second mobile station if the second mobile station is validated;

receiving the response to the prompt from the second mobile station; and

, selectively forwarding the response to the control module.

16. The method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising providing a signal to the first mobile station that delivery will be blocked if the second mobile station is not validated.

17. The method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising deleting the video data from the storage module if the second mobile station is not validated.

18. A system for transmitting video data from a first mobile station to a second mobile station in a network, the system comprising:

means for recognizing a call from the first mobile station to the second mobile station as including the video data;

means for validating the second mobile station as capable of receiving the video data and determining a delivery preference for the second mobile station;

means for storing the video data in a storage module;

means for selectively prompting the second mobile station if the second mobile station is validated;

means for receiving a response to the prompt from the second mobile station; and

, means for performing, based on the response, at least one of maintaining the video data in the storage module, deleting the video data from the storage module, and forwarding the video data to the second mobile station.

19. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the response comprises at least one of a rejection of the video data, a request for immediate delivery of the video data, and a request for delayed delivery of the video data.

20. The system as set forth in claim 18 further comprising:

means for originating, based on the delivery preference, a subsequent call to the second mobile station;

means for selectively prompting, based on the delivery preference, the second mobile station if the second mobile station is validated;

means for receiving the response to the prompt from the second mobile station; and

, means for selectively forwarding the response to the control module.

21. The system as set forth in claim 18 further comprising means for providing a signal to the first mobile station that delivery will be blocked if the second mobile station is not validated.

22. The system as set forth in claim 18 further comprising means for deleting the video data from the storage module if the second mobile station is not validated.