Method and apparatus for providing a wireless portable communcation device with the ability to selectively display picture and video images

• US 20090163191A1
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel A. Henderson
• Original Assignee: Daniel A. Henderson
• Inventors: Henderson, Daniel A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile

Abstract

Unwanted picture or video images are inhibited from being displayed by wireless communication devices based on the identity of the message originator, be that identity a phone number, an e-mail address, a website, a blocked message originator identification signal, the absence of a message originator identifier associated with the wireless picture message, or an electronic serial number of the message originator'"'"'s device.

Claims

1. A system for preventing unwanted pictures from being displayed on a wireless device comprising:

A storage unit for storing user preference data associated with acceptable picture message originators;

A receiver unit for receiving pictures with associated source identification data;

an analyzing unit for analyzing said received source identification data and comparing it against said user preference data associated with acceptable picture message originators; and

,

a filter for preventing an unwanted picture from being transmitted to a wireless device, said unwanted picture being identified as being from a source not in said preference data, whereby picture spam is prevented from being displayed on said wireless device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said filter inhibits said transmission when no associated source identification data is available or when said associated source identification data has been blocked.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said picture and said associated source identification data source is first transmitted to a message center and wherein said filter is connected to said message center.

3. A system for preventing unwanted pictures from being displayed on a wireless device comprising:

a storage unit for storing user preference data associated with acceptable picture message originators;

a receiver unit for receiving a picture with associated source identification data;

an analyzing unit for analyzing said received source identification data and comparing it against said user preference data associated with acceptable picture message originators; and

,

a filter for preventing an unwanted picture from being displayed at a wireless device, said unwanted picture being identified as being from a source not in said preference data.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said filter inhibits said display when no associated source data is available.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said wireless device includes a wireless picture frame.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein said wireless device includes a wireless phone.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein said wireless device includes a personal digital assistant.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein said wireless device includes a computer with a wireless connection.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein said wireless picture and said associated source identification data is transmitted over a wireless network and wherein said analyzing unit includes a message center that operates as part of said wireless network, whereby unwanted pictures are identified at said message center.

11. The system of claim 3, wherein said wireless device includes said analyzing unit, whereby unwanted pictures are identified at said wireless unit.

12. A method for processing incoming pictures with associated source identification data in a wireless message system so as to eliminate the display of unwanted pictures, comprising:

identifying source identification data associated with a picture sent by a message originator;

analyzing the source identification data and comparing it against user preference data;

selectively presenting the picture to the display of a portable wireless communication device of a message recipient, but only as a result of a match between the source identification data and the user preference data, thus to eliminate display of an unwanted picture.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the analyzing step occurs at a message center coupled to the picture message system and wherein the selective presentation of the picture includes a wireless transmission from the message center to the portable wireless communication device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the analyzing step occurs at the portable wireless communication device and wherein the selective presentation of the picture includes the display of the picture received at the portable wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a match between the source identification data and the user preference data causes the message center to transmit at least one of the picture received and the associated source identification data.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the picture and the associated source identification data is stored at the message center for later retrieval by the message recipient.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the picture includes at least one of the following:

picture data

iconographic data

logo data

data representative of a message originator

photo image data

video image data; and

other graphic image data

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the picture includes at least one of the following:

picture data

iconographic data

logo data

data representative of a message originator

photo image data

video image data; and

other graphic image data

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the picture includes at least one of the following:

picture data

iconographic data

logo data

data representative of a message originator

photo image data

video image data; and

other graphic image data

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the picture includes at least one of the following:

picture data

iconographic data

logo data

data representative of a message originator

photo image data

video image data; and

other graphic image data

21. A message center adapted to receive pictures with associated source identification data in a picture message system, configured to:

receive and store pictures and associated source identification data from a message originator;

receive and store user preference data from a message recipient to predetermine which message originators they wish to receive picture messages from;

compare the source identification data with the stored user preference data; and

,

selectively wirelessly transmit at least one of the picture and the associated source identification data to a portable wireless communication device when a match is determined between the source identification data and the stored user preference data.

22. The message center of claim 21, wherein the picture message system includes a video message center and wherein the picture includes video.

23. The message center of claim 21, wherein the source identification data is at least one of data representative of a telephone number, an email address associated with a message originator, and alpha-numeric data.

24. The message center of claim 21, wherein the source identifier information includes a dot corn address.

25. The message center of claim 24, wherein the source identifier information includes a website address.

26. A wireless communication device adapted to selectively display wireless pictures, including:

a receiver adapted to receive a wireless picture message over a wireless connection, said wireless picture message including a picture and associated source identification data;

a memory that stores user preference data entered by a message recipient to determine which message originators they wish to receive said pictures from;

a display, and;

a controller coupled to said display that compares said associated source identification data with said stored user preference data and selectively displays at least one of said received picture and said associated source identification data on said display when a match is determined between said received source identification data and said stored user preference data.

27. The wireless communication device of claim 26, wherein said source identification data includes at least one of data representative of a telephone number, an email address associated with a message originator, and other alpha-numeric data.

28. The wireless device of claim 26, wherein said source identification data includes a dot corn address.

29. The wireless device of claim 26, wherein said source identification data includes a website address.

30. The wireless communication device of claim 26, wherein said wireless picture includes video.

31. The wireless communication device of claim 26, wherein said selective display includes a display inhibitor for preventing the display of said picture message if no associated source identification data is available.

34. The wireless communication device of claim 26, wherein said wireless picture message includes video.

36. The wireless communication device of claim 26, wherein said wireless communication device includes a wireless phone.

37. The wireless communication device of claim 26, wherein said wireless communication device includes a personal digital assistant.

38. The wireless communication device of claim 26, wherein said wireless communication device includes a computer with a wireless connection.

39. The wireless communication device of claim 26, wherein said wireless communication device includes a wireless picture frame.

32. A wireless communication device adapted to selectively not display wireless picture messages, including:

a receiver adapted to receive a wireless picture message over a wireless connection, the message including a picture and associated source identification data;

a memory that stores user preference data entered by a message recipient to determine which message originators they do not wish to receive picture messages from;

a display, and;

a controller coupled to the display that compares the received source identification data with the stored user preference data and prevents display of at least one of the received picture and the associated source identification data on the display when a match is determined between received source identification data and the stored user preference data.

33. The wireless communication device of claim 32, wherein said source identification data comprises at least one of data representative of a telephone number, an email address associated with a message originator, and other alpha-numeric data.

35. The wireless communication device of claim 32, wherein said wireless picture message includes video.

40. The wireless communication device of claim 32, wherein said wireless communication device includes a wireless phone.

41. The wireless communication device of claim 32, wherein said wireless communication device includes a personal digital assistant.

42. The wireless communication device of claim 32, wherein said wireless communication device includes a computer with a wireless connection.

43. The wireless communication device of claim 32, wherein said wireless communication device includes a wireless picture frame.

44. The wireless communication device of claim 32, wherein said selective display includes a display inhibitor for preventing the display of said picture message if no associated source identification data is available.

45. The wireless communication device of claim 32, wherein said source identification data includes a dot corn address.

46. The wireless communication device of claim 32, wherein said source identification data includes a website address.