SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

• US 20060232663A1
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Any Corner LLC
• Original Assignee: Any Corner LLC
• Inventors: Bodhanwala, Homi, Gandhi, Darius A.
• Application Number:
  US11/279,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20060232663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114

Abstract

A Multimedia Messaging Services system enables multimedia communication using handheld devices. For example, a handheld device comprising a barcode scanner can be configured to provide various multimedia communication capabilities such as two-way real-time audio, email, text messaging, image and video messaging, and so forth, which can be provided over a non-cellular data network. A development platform can enable the development of software applications for multimedia communications across various handheld device types using a device agnostic programming interface.

Claims

1. A handheld multimedia communications system, comprising:

a first handheld device comprising a barcode scanner; and

a second handheld device, wherein the first and second handheld devices are configured to provide real-time voice communication between them.

2. A handheld multimedia communications system of claim 1, wherein the first and second handheld devices are configured to provide push-to-talk capabilities.

3. A handheld multimedia communications system of claim 1, further comprising:

a server configured to receive a first multimedia message from the second handheld device, store the first multimedia message, and, when the first handheld device connects to the server or immediately if the first handheld is already connected to the server, deliver the first multimedia message to the first handheld device.

4. A handheld multimedia communications system of claim 3, wherein the first multimedia message is an audio message, and wherein the first handheld device is further configured to automatically play the first multimedia message upon delivery.

5. A handheld multimedia communications system, comprising:

a first handheld device comprising the Windows CE operating system; and

a second handheld device, wherein the first and second handheld devices are configured to provide real-time voice communication between them.

6. A handheld multimedia communications system of claim 5, wherein the second handheld device comprises the Windows CE operating system.

7. A handheld multimedia communications system of claim 5, wherein the second handheld device comprises the Pocket PC operating system.

8. A handheld multimedia communications system of claim 5, wherein the second handheld device comprises the Symbian operating system.

9. A handheld multimedia communications device, comprising:

a barcode scanner;

an image capture component configured to capture a first image;

an image markup component configured to modify the first image; and

a network component configured to transmit the modified first image.

10. A handheld communications device, comprising:

a barcode scanner; and

a voice communications component configured to provide half-duplex voice communications.

11. A handheld communications device of claim 10, wherein the voice communications component is further configured to provide push-to-talk capabilities.

12. A handheld communications device of claim 10, further comprising:

an electronic mail component configured to provide electronic mail capabilities.

13. A handheld communications device of claim 10, wherein the voice communications component is further configured to provide full-duplex voice communications.

14. A handheld communications device of claim 13, wherein the voice communications component is further configured to provide push-to-talk capabilities.

15. A handheld communications device of claim 13, further comprising:

an image capture component configured to capture a first image;

an image markup component configured to modify the first image, and

wherein the electronic mail component is further configured to transmit the modified first image.

16. A handheld communications device of claim 13, further comprising:

an electronic mail component configured to provide electronic mail capabilities.

17. A handheld communications device of claim 16, further comprising:

an instant messaging component configured to provide instant messaging capabilities.

18. A handheld communications device, comprising:

a voice communications component configured to provide half-duplex voice communications over a data network.

19. A handheld communications device of claim 18, wherein the voice communications component is further configured to provide push-to-talk capabilities over a data network.

20. A handheld communications device of claim 18, further comprising:

an electronic mail component configured to provide electronic mail capabilities over a data network.

21. A handheld communications device of claim 18, wherein the voice communications component is further configured to provide full-duplex voice communications over a data network.

22. A handheld communications device of claim 21, wherein the voice communications component is further configured to provide push-to-talk capabilities over a data network.

23. A handheld communications device of claim 21, further comprising:

an electronic mail component configured to provide electronic mail capabilities over a data network.

24. A multimedia communications server, comprising:

a media distribution center configured to distribute static media sent between a first user connected to the server and a second user connected to the server;

a media store configured to store the static media sent between the first user and the second user;

a streaming media engine configured to deliver live media sent between the first user and the second user;

a session manager configured to maintain session data relating to the interconnection of the first user and the second user; and

a system database configured to store the session data.

25. A multimedia communications server of claim 24, further comprising:

an inter-server communication manager configured to interconnect the server with a second multimedia communications server and allow the first user to communicate with a third user connected to the second server.

26. A method for multimedia communications over handheld devices, comprising:

transmitting and receiving real-time voice communications between a first handheld device and a second handheld device, wherein the first handheld device comprises a barcode scanner.

27. A multimedia communications development platform configured to assist in the development of mobile device applications that are device agnostic, comprising:

development modules configured to enable the development of device agnostic applications that are compatible with any of a plurality of mobile device types;

production modules for each of the plurality of mobile device types configured to enable multimedia communications between the plurality of mobile device types for device agnostic applications developed using the development modules; and

a server configured to enable multimedia communications between the plurality of mobile device types for device agnostic applications developed using the development modules, wherein the production modules and server are further configured to interact with each other.