Multimedia message content adaptation

• US 6,795,711 B1
• Filed: 10/07/1999
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Sivula, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gary, Erika
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US09/414,178
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/422, 455/466, 455/553, 455/554, 455/557, 455/445, 455/412, 455/413, 455/558, 455/426, 709/219, 709/206, 709/207, 709/217, 713/202
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Adaptation of special content messages between mobile telephones of different capabilities is carried out by a special application service center that receives a special content message from an originating mobile station and, in response thereto, sends a short message using the existing short message service to an addressed terminating mobile station with a notification of the nature of the intended special content message, as well as an indication of an alternative method of receiving the special content message if the terminating mobile station is not capable of processing the special content message, for instance, a URL which the user can consult using his personal computer over the internet. If the terminating mobile station is capable of receiving the special content message, it signals the special application service center which, after authentication, then forwards the special content message to the terminating mobile station for processing.

Claims

1. Method for use by a mobile station in a mobile communications system in receiving a service from an application service center, comprising the steps of:

the mobile station receiving a short message;

the mobile station determining whether the short message indicates that a special application is required in the mobile station and, if not, processing the short message as a short message and, if so, determining whether the special application is supported in the mobile station and, if not, processing the short message as a short message and, if so, requesting an application service center to provide a service usable according to the special application;

the mobile station receiving the service in the form of a special content message from the application service center; and

the mobile station processing the special content message according to the special application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the short message is a Short Message Service (SMS) message employing bandwidth of signaling channels for transmitting short text messages substantially similar to paging messages.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the short message is processed by the mobile station as a normal short message only if the short message is a normal short message or if the short message is indicative of an application that the mobile station determines is not supported by the mobile station.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein if the short message is indicative of an application, then the short message indicates an alternative method for the user to obtain the service from a service resource.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the service resource is a resource that is also identifiable when requesting the application service center to provide the service usable according to the special application.

2. Method for use by an application service center in providing a special content message provided by an originating mobile station in a mobile communications system to a terminating mobile station in the system, comprising the steps of:

the center receiving the special content message from the originating mobile station with a request to send the special content message to the terminating mobile station and providing a short message to the terminating mobile station with a part of the short message indicating that a special application is required in the terminating mobile station to fully process the special content message and with a textual part of the short message for use by the terminating mobile station in the event that the special application is not supported by the terminating mobile station;

the center receiving a request from the terminating mobile station that the special content message be sent, if the special application is supported in the terminating mobile station; and

the center sending the special content message to the terminating mobile station in response to the request from the terminating mobile station or in the absence of the request from the terminating mobile station, posting the special content message on an internet web page accessible according to the textual part of the short message.

3. Method for use in a mobile communications system including an application service center for providing a special content message provided by an originating mobile station of the system to a terminating mobile station of the system, said method comprising the steps of:

the center receiving the special content message from the originating mobile station with a request to send the special content message to the terminating mobile station and providing a short message to the terminating mobile station with a part of the short message indicating that a special application is required in the terminating mobile station to fully process the special content message and with a textual part of the short message for use by the terminating mobile station in the event that the special application is not supported by the terminating mobile station;

the terminating mobile station receiving the short message;

the terminating mobile station determining whether the short message indicates that a special application is required in the terminating mobile station and, if not, processing the short message as a short message and, if so, determining whether the special application is supported in the terminating mobile station and, if not, processing the short message as a short message and, if so, sending a request to the application service center to provide the special content message;

the center receiving the request from the terminating mobile station that the special content message be sent;

the center sending the special content message to the terminating mobile station;

the terminating mobile station receiving the special content message from the application service center; and

the terminating mobile station providing the special content message to the user according to the special application.

4. Mobile station for use in a mobile communications system for receiving a service from an application service center, comprising:

means for receiving a short message;

means for determining whether the short message indicates that a special application is required in the mobile station and, if not, processing the short message as a short message and, if so, determining whether the special application is supported in the mobile station and, if not, processing the short message as a short message and, if so, requesting that the application service center provide a special content message for processing in the mobile Station according to the special application;

means for receiving the special content message from the application service center; and

means for providing the special content message to a user of the mobile station according to the special application.

5. Application service center for use in providing a special content message requested or provided by an originating mobile station in a mobile communications system to a terminating mobile station in the system, comprising:

means for receiving the special content message from the originating mobile station with a request to send the special content message to the terminating mobile station;

means for providing a short message to the terminating mobile station with a part of the short message indicating that a special application is required in the terminating mobile station to fully process the special content message and with a textual part of the short message for use by the terminating mobile station in the event that the special application is not supported by the terminating mobile station;

means for posting said special content message to a web page accessible according to said short message in said event;

means for receiving a request from the terminating mobile station that the special content message be sent, if the special application is supported in the terminating mobile station; and

means for sending the special content message to the terminating mobile station.

6. Mobile communications system, comprising:

an originating mobile station for providing a special content message with a destination address;

a terminating mobile station with the destination address provided by the originating mobile station for receiving the special content message;

an application service center for receiving the special content message from the originating mobile station with a request to send the special content message to the terminating mobile station, the center for providing a short message to the terminating mobile station with a part of the short message indicating that a special application is required in the terminating mobile station to fully process the special content message and with a textual part of the short message for use by the terminating mobile station in the event hat the special application is not supported by the terminating mobile station and including means for posting said special content message to a web page accessible according to said short message in said event;

wherein the terminating mobile station includes means for receiving the short message, means for determining whether the short message indicates that a special application is required in the terminating mobile station and, if not, processing the short message as a short message and, if so, determining whether the special application is supported in the terminating mobile station and, if not, processing the short message as a normal short message and, if so, sending a request to the application service center to provide a service usable according to the special application;

the center having means for receiving the request from the terminating mobile station that the special content message be sent, as well as means for sending the special content message to the terminating mobile station;

wherein the terminating mobile station has means for receiving the special content message from the application service center, as well as means for providing the special content message to a user of the terminating mobile station according to the special application.