SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCORPORATING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT INTO A MESSAGE HANDLED BY A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20100041422A1
• Filed: 07/22/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wormald, Christopher R., Balsillie, James Laurence, Mallick, Martyn Henri
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1089 by adding media; by removing media
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Multimedia content can be incorporated into a message handled by a mobile device with minimum invasiveness by utilizing linking mechanisms that are visually identifiable with certain content and can reveal the multimedia content, e.g. an advertisement, upon selection. This may be done by examining content in the message handled by a mobile device and matching portions of the message with predetermined criteria such as keywords or phrases. Upon finding matches, corresponding multimedia content is associated with a respective portion of the message content and access to the multimedia content is enabled through selection of a linking mechanism that is visually identifiable with the respective portion of the message. The message is modified to include such linking mechanisms such that upon viewing the modified message, a user may reveal the multimedia content by selecting the linking mechanism.

Claims

1. A method for incorporating multimedia content into a message handled by a mobile device, said method comprising:

examining content in a message being handled by a mobile device to determine if one or more portions of said content in said message match predetermined criteria;

for each match, identifying multimedia content to be associated with the corresponding one of said one or more portions of said message, said multimedia content configured to be accessed through selection of said corresponding one of said one or more portions of said content; and

modifying said message to include, for each match, a linking mechanism visually identifiable with said corresponding one of said one or more portions, wherein selection of said linking mechanism reveals said corresponding multimedia content.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said multimedia content comprises advertising content.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined criteria comprises keywords or phrases.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said linking mechanism comprises a hyperlink applied to corresponding ones of said keywords or phrases.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method is performed at said mobile device.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method is performed at an intermediary node wherein said modifying occurs on incoming messages prior to being received by said mobile device and occurs on outgoing messages subsequent to being sent by said mobile device.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said message is any one or more of an email message, a text message, a multi-media message, a peer-to-peer message, an instant message or a mobile TTY message.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said modifying comprises incorporating additional multimedia content in said message that is visible in said message.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising wherein upon closing said message, if said additional multimedia content has not been viewed according to predetermined criteria, displaying said additional multimedia content for a predetermined period.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising incorporating multiple layers of multimedia content by enabling one layer of multimedia content to be displayed when a focus is placed on said portion and enabling another layer of multimedia content to be displayed upon selection of said linking mechanism or upon selection of said one layer of multimedia content.

11. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for performing the method according to claim 1.

12. A mobile device comprising a display, one or more input mechanisms, a processor, a message application and a memory, said memory storing computer executable instructions for incorporating multimedia content into a message handled by said message application, said instructions including instructions for:

examining content in a message being handled by a mobile device to determine if one or more portions of said content in said message match predetermined criteria;

for each match, identifying multimedia content to be associated with the corresponding one of said one or more portions of said message, said multimedia content configured to be accessed through selection of said corresponding one of said one or more portions of said content; and

modifying said message to include, for each match, a linking mechanism visually identifiable with said corresponding one of said one or more portions, wherein selection of said linking mechanism reveals said corresponding multimedia content.

13. The mobile device according to claim 12 wherein said multimedia content comprises advertising content.

14. The mobile device according to claim 12 wherein said predetermined criteria comprises keywords or phrases.

15. The mobile device according to claim 14 wherein said linking mechanism comprises a hyperlink applied to corresponding ones of said keywords or phrases.

16. The mobile device according to claim 12 wherein said message is any one or more of an email message, a text message, a multi-media message, a peer-to-peer message, an instant message or a mobile TTY message.

17. The mobile device according to claim 12 wherein said modifying comprises incorporating additional multimedia content in said message that is visible in said message.

18. The mobile device according to claim 17 further comprising wherein upon closing said message, if said additional multimedia content has not been viewed according to predetermined criteria, said mobile device is configured for displaying said additional multimedia content for a predetermined period.

19. The mobile device according to claim 12 further configured for incorporating multiple layers of multimedia content by enabling one layer of multimedia content to be displayed when a focus is placed on said portion and enabling another layer of multimedia content to be displayed upon selection of said linking mechanism or upon selection of said one layer of multimedia content.

20. A server device for incorporating multimedia content into a message handled by a mobile device, said server device comprising a memory storing computer executable instructions for:

examining content in a message being handled by a mobile device to determine if one or more portions of said content in said message match predetermined criteria;

for each match, identifying multimedia content to be associated with the corresponding one of said one or more portions of said message, said multimedia content configured to be accessed through selection of said corresponding one of said one or more portions of said content; and

modifying said message to include, for each match, a linking mechanism visually identifiable with said corresponding one of said one or more portions, wherein selection of said linking mechanism reveals said corresponding multimedia content.