Communication system for electronic messages

• US 6,275,849 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1998
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Ludwig, Reiner
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDELMAN, BRADLEY E
• Application Number:
  US09/071,041
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104, 707/103, 707/501, 707/513, 709/207, 709/206, 709/213, 709/201, 711/202-209
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/42 Bus transfer protocol, e.g. handshake; Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/167 using a common memory, e.g. mailbox
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/24 in which the allocation is indicated by an address the different channels being transmitted sequentiallyH04J3/17 takes precedence; in computers G06F12/00, G06F13/00 code multiplex systems H04J13/00; selecting techniques H04Q; relay systems H04B7/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/54 Store-and-forward switching systems packet switching systems H04L45/00, H04L47/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 13/16 of transmitters, e.g. code-bars, code-discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• 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 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A communication system for transmitting electronic messages is disclosed. The communication system includes a plurality of data processing devices and a data network for transmission of the electronic messages. The electronic messages include an assignment data block, in addition to text data, image data, audio data and the like. The assignment block includes specific assignments between particular data segments or blocks of the electronic message, such as image, text and/or audio, such that interrelation between particular segments/blocks of the data can be transmitted in a simple manner and be used for subsequent display or reproduction of the message.

Claims

1. A communication system for electronic messages, comprising:

a plurality of data processing devices, each data processing device comprising a central processing means, storage means, input means and display means;

a data network for data transmission of electronic messages, controlled by the central processing means of a first data processing device, to a second data processing device;

wherein

an electronic message includes data blocks;

the central processing means of the second data processing device analyzes the electronic message and stores the data blocks, included in the electronic message, in the storage means and displays or reproduces the data blocks, as controlled by the input means;

an assignment data block is included with the transmission of the electronic message, including at least one assignment instruction specifying an assignment between a first data block or data segment and at least one second data block or data segment of the electronic message;

the central processing means, of the second of data processing device, parses the electronic message into respective data blocks using indicator data sequences, and stores said data blocks in respective storage means; and

the central processing means, of the second of data processing device, analyzes said assignment data block and, based on the analysis, generates a list of assignments between storage locations in which data blocks or data segments of the electronic message are stored.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic message includes at least one of the group consisting of at least one text data block, at least one image data block, and at least one audio data block.

3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the assignment data comprises and assignment between a data segment or data block and said application program.

4. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the central processing means are arranged to mark data segments or data blocks displayed on the respective display means which are linked with other data segments or data blocks.

5. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the central processing means are arranged to mark audio data segments or audio data blocks, reproduced by respective play back means, which are linked with other data segments or data blocks by means of a tone signal, a change of pitch or other audible signal.

6. The communication system according to claim 5, wherein the central processing means are arranged to display assigned data segments or data blocks on the display means and/or reproduce said data via the play back means upon selection of a marked data segment or data block, controlled by the respective input means and according to the assignments of the generated assignment.

7. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein image data blocks consist of image sequences.

8. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic message includes at least one data block comprising an application program.

9. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing means can process electronic messages according to the MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) standard together with the SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) or according to another known standard.

10. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic message, with exception of the assignment data block, corresponds to the MIME or X.420 or to another known standard for electronic messages.