Short-range wireless system and method for multimedia tags

• US 7,340,214 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2002
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hamberg, Max
• Primary Examiner(s): Phu; Sanh D.
• Application Number:
  US10/073,200
• Time in Patent Office: 2,211 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 370/238, 370/328, 709/204
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A short-range wireless system and method is disclosed to store and transfer a new type of multimedia data construct called a tag. A user can write text, create a voice clip and append it to the text, take a digital picture and append it to the text, to create a multimedia file as the content of a tag. The creation or modifying of the multimedia file can be done in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device or off line and then stored in the mobile device. The multimedia file is then incorporated into the tag or it can be referenced by a pointer in the tag. The multimedia file is artistic expression of the user and the tag uniquely associates the user'"'"'s identity with the multimedia file by prohibiting alteration of the content after the user completes its creation. A content-originator flag (CFG) value in the tag is set to “false” during the period when the user is creating or modifying the tag'"'"'s content. When the user completes editing the content of the tag, the content-originator flag (CFG) value is set to true, thereby freezing the content. The tag includes the user'"'"'s ID, such as his/her international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or mobile station ISDN number (MSISDN). Subsequent viewers of the content can make a copy of the content and can then modify it, but they cannot authentically attribute the modified copy to the original user. The system can be implemented as a wireless personal area network (PAN) such as provided in the Bluetooth Standard or a wireless local area network (LAN) such as provided in the IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Standard and the HIPERLAN Standard.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct,

wherein the device is programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices; and

a long-range wireless circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits.

2. The system of claim 1, which further comprises:

an editing program in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device to enable the user to write text, create an audio record or an image record and append it to the text, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag.

3. The system of claim 2, which further comprises:

said editing program incorporating the multimedia message into the electronic tag.

4. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct;

wherein the device is programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

a long-range wireless circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits; and

an editing program in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device to enable the user to write text, create an audio record or an image record and append it to the text, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag;

said editing program referencing the multimedia message by a pointer contained in the electronic tag.

5. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the device programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices; and

an editing program in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device to enable the user to write text, create an audio record or an image record and append it to the text, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag, said editing program uniquely associating in the electronic tag, the user'"'"'s identity with the multimedia message by prohibiting alteration of the message content after the user completes its creation.

6. The system of claim 5, which further comprises:

said editing program setting a content-originator flag (CFG) value in the electronic tag to “

false”

during the period when the user is creating the message content.

7. The system of claim 6, which further comprises:

said editing program setting a content-originator flag (CFG) value in the electronic tag to “

true”

when the user completes editing the content of the message, thereby freezing the content to prevent subsequent viewers from authentically attributing any modification of the content to the original user.

8. The system of claim 7, which further comprises:

said editing program writing a hop count value of zero into the electronic tag when the original user has created the content.

9. The system of claim 8, which further comprises:

a tag uploading program in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device for incrementing the hop count value when the user uploads the electronic tag to the server and writes the tag in association with the virtual wall data construct.

10. The system of claim 9, which further comprises:

a tag downloading program in the server for incrementing the hop count in an electronic tag whenever a user downloads a copy of the tag from the server.

11. The system of claim 8, which further comprises:

a tag transmitting program in the in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device for incrementing the hop count by one when the user sends a copy of the electronic tag to another user'"'"'s short range wireless device.

12. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the device programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices; and

a cellular telephone circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a telephone infrastructure network to other cellular telephones.

13. The system of claim 12, which further comprises:

said short-range wireless devices are implemented as wireless personal area network (PAN) devices.

14. The system of claim 12, which further comprises:

said short-range wireless devices are implemented as Bluetooth devices.

15. The system of claim 12, which further comprises:

said short-range wireless devices are implemented as IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN devices.

16. The system of claim 12, which further comprises:

said short-range wireless devices are implemented as HIPERLAN devices.

17. The system of claim 12, which further comprises:

said multimedia message can be created or modified off line and then stored in the user'"'"'s mobile device.

19. The system of claim 12, which further comprises:

an editing program in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device to enable the user to write text, create an audio record or an image record and append it to the text, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag; and

said editing program including the user'"'"'s international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or mobile station ISDN number (MSISDN) in the tag.

20. The system of claim 12, which further comprises:

said server is connected to a Bluetooth access point located at a frequent gathering place, such as a famous landmark, a shopping center, a school, or a home.

21. The system of claim 12, which further comprises:

said mobile short-range wireless device is programmed to enable the user to create tags that contain multimedia messages that are typically aphorisms, notes, jokes, and the like.

22. The system of claim 21, which further comprises:

said multimedia messages may be previously prepared or spontaneously create.

32. The system of claim 12, which further comprises:

said mobile device automatically transferring a tag to the server when they are within communications range.

18. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct;

wherein the device is programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

a long-range wireless circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits; and

an editing program in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device to enable the user to write text, create an audio record or an image record and append it to the text, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag;

said editing program uniquely associating the user'"'"'s identity with the multimedia message, as an originating user;

said editing program setting a content-originator flag (CFG) value in the tag to “

false”

during a period when the user is creating or modifying the message content;

said editing program setting the content-originator flag (CFG) value to “

true”

, thereby making permanent the association of the message content with the user'"'"'s identity, when the user completes editing the message;

whereby subsequent viewers of the content can make a copy of the content, but they cannot authentically attribute the modified copy to the originating user.

23. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct;

wherein the device is programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

a long-range wireless circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits; and

an editing program in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device to enable the user to write text, create an audio record or an image record and append it to the text, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag;

said editing program writing a hop count value of zero into the tag when the original user has created the content in the mobile device;

said mobile device incrementing the hop count if the user uploads the tag to the server;

said server incrementing the hop count when a later user downloads a copy of the tag from the server.

24. The system of claim 23, which further comprises:

said mobile device incrementing the hop count if the user sends a copy of the tag to another user.

25. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct;

wherein the device is programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

a long-range wireless circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits; and

an editing program in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device to enable the user to write text, create an audio record or an image record and append it to the text, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag;

said editing program writing a person-to-person flag (PFG) in the tag, indicating that the tag has been only transferred from person to person and has not been downloaded from the server.

26. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct;

wherein the device is programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

a long-range wireless circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits; and

an editing program in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device to enable the user to write text, create an audio record or an image record and append it to the text, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag;

said editing program freezing the content of the tag so that later viewers cannot attribute a modification of the content to the original user.

27. The system of claim 26, which further comprises:

said editing program appending to the tag a message authentication code (MAC) hash value on the content of the tag and a digital signature of the originating party.

28. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct;

wherein the device is programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

a long-range wireless circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits; and

a cellular telephone coupled to said mobile device, to transmit the multimedia content of a tag over a cellular telephone network to cellular telephones capable of receiving multimedia files.

29. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct;

wherein the device is programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

a long-range wireless circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits; and

said mobile device sends a tag to recipient'"'"'s mobile device in a “

tag delivery”

mode, wherein the sending device transfers a copy of the tag in the sender'"'"'s device, causing the hop count to be incremented by one in the copy of the tag received by the recipient'"'"'s mobile device.

30. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct;

wherein the device is programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

a long-range wireless circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits; and

said mobile device sends a tag to recipient'"'"'s mobile device in a “

tag give-away”

mode, wherein the sending device transfers the tag currently in the sender'"'"'s device, causing the hop count to remain unchanged in the tag received by the recipient and the sender'"'"'s device keeps a copy of the tag, and the copy in the sender'"'"'s device has its ho count incremented by one.

31. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct;

wherein the device is programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

a long-range wireless circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits; and

said mobile device automatically transferring a tag to another mobile device when they are within communications range.

33. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct;

wherein the device is programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

a long-range wireless circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits; and

said mobile device automatically transferring a tag to another mobile device when they are within communications range, as a “

tag worm”

, wherein the tag automatically propagates from one mobile device to another mobile device.

34. A system, comprising:

a server programmed to store electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server;

a short-range wireless access point connected to the server, the access point located at a place;

a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct;

wherein the device is programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to the access point for association with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

a long-range wireless circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits; and

said server being located in the user'"'"'s home, as a “

personal or family tag storage”

.

35. The system of claim 34, which further comprises:

said short-range wireless devices are implemented as wireless personal area network (PAN) devices.

36. The system of claim 34, which further comprises:

said short-range wireless devices are implemented as Bluetooth devices.

37. A server for a short-range wireless network, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor storing a computer program to be executed by said processor to perform the steps of;

storing electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server coupled to a short-range wireless access point located at a place;

receiving an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message from a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create the electronic tag data construct; and

associating the received electronic tag data construct with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

said wireless device including circuits for forwarding content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits;

wherein the multimedia message includes at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct.

38. A server coupled to a short-range wireless network, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor storing a computer program to be executed by said processor to perform the steps of;

storing electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in the server connected to a short-range wireless access point located at a place;

receiving an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message from a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create the electronic tag data construct; and

associating the received electronic tag data construct with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

said wireless device including circuits for forwarding content of the multimedia message over a telephone infrastructure network to other cellular telephones.

39. The server of claim 38, which further comprises:

said wireless device enabling the user to write text, create a voice clip and append it to the text, or take a digital picture and append it to the text using an editing program, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag.

40. The server of claim 39, which further comprises:

said editing program incorporating the multimedia message into the electronic tag.

41. The server of claim 39, which further comprises:

said editing program referencing the multimedia message by a pointer contained in the electronic tag.

42. A program product for a server coupled to a short-range wireless network, comprising:

a computer readable medium containing program code;

program code in said computer readable medium for storing electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in a server connected to a short-range wireless access point located at a place;

program code in said computer readable medium for receiving an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message from a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create the electronic tag data construct;

program code in said computer readable medium for associating the received electronic tag data construct with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

said mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable the user to write text, create a voice clip and append it to the text, or take a digital picture and append it to the text, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag; and

said mobile short-range wireless device programmed to uniquely associate in the electronic tag, the user'"'"'s identity with the multimedia message by prohibiting alteration of the message content after the user completes its creation.

43. The program product of claim 42, which further comprises:

said editing program setting a content-originator flag (CFG) value in the electronic tag to “

false”

during the period when the user is creating the message content.

44. The program product of claim 43, which further comprises:

said editing program setting a content-originator flag (CFG) value in the electronic tag to “

true”

when the user completes editing the content of the message, thereby freezing the content to prevent subsequent viewers from authentically attributing any modification of the content to the original user.

45. The program product of claim 44, which further comprises:

said editing program writing a hop count value of zero into the electronic tag when the original user has created the content.

46. The program product of claim 45, which further comprises:

said mobile short-range wireless device programmed to increment the hop count value when the user uploads the electronic tag to the server and writes the tag in association with the virtual wall data construct.

47. The program product of claim 46, which further comprises:

said mobile short-range wireless device programmed to increment the hop count in an electronic tag whenever a user downloads a copy of the tag from the server.

48. The program product of claim 47, which further comprises:

said mobile short-range wireless device programmed to increment the hop count by one when the user sends a copy of the electronic tag to another user'"'"'s short range wireless device.

49. A method for a short-range wireless network, comprising:

storing electronic tag data constructs in association with a virtual wall data construct stored in a server connected to a short-range wireless access point located at a place;

receiving an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of the user and associated with a multimedia message from a mobile short-range wireless device programmed to enable its user to create the electronic tag data construct;

associating the received electronic tag data construct with the virtual wall data construct in the server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

enabling the user to write text, create a voice clip and append it to the text, or take a digital picture and append it to the text, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag; and

writing a person-to-person flag (PFG) in the tag, indicating that the tag has been only transferred from person to person and has not been downloaded from the server.

50. A mobile short-range wireless device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, programmed to enable creating an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of a user and associated with a multimedia message, the multimedia message including at least one of an audible data and a digital image file incorporated into the electronic tag data construct, wherein the memory is further programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to an access point for association with a virtual wall data construct in a server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices, and wherein the memory is further programmed to forward content of the multimedia message over a long-range wireless network to long-range wireless receiving circuits.

51. A mobile short-range wireless device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, programmed to enable creating an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of a user and associated with a multimedia message, the memory further programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to an access point for association with a virtual wall data construct in a server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices; and

a cellular telephone circuit in the user'"'"'s mobile short-range wireless device capable of sending multimedia messages, to forward content of the multimedia message over a telephone infrastructure network to other cellular telephones.

52. The device of claim 51, which further comprises:

an editing program in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device to enable the user to write text, create an audio record or an image record and append it to the text, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag.

53. The device of claim 52, which further comprises:

said editing program incorporating the multimedia message into the electronic tag.

54. The device of claim 52, which further comprises:

said editing program referencing the multimedia message by a pointer contained in the electronic tag.

62. The device of claim 51, which further comprises:

said short-range wireless devices are implemented as wireless personal area network (PAN) devices.

63. The device of claim 51, which further comprises:

said short-range wireless devices are implemented as Bluetooth devices.

64. The device of claim 51, which further comprises:

said short-range wireless devices are implemented as IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN devices.

65. The device of claim 51, which further comprises:

said short-range wireless devices are implemented as HIPERLAN devices.

55. A mobile short-range wireless device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, programmed to enable creating an electronic tag data construct containing an identity of a user and associated with a multimedia message, the memory further programmed to send the electronic tag data construct over a short-range wireless link to an access point for association with a virtual wall data construct in a server to enable viewing the electronic tag by other users with short-range wireless viewing devices;

an editing program in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device to enable the user to write text, create an audio record or an image record and append it to the text, to create a multimedia message as the content of an electronic tag;

said editing program uniquely associating in the electronic tag, the user'"'"'s identity with the multimedia message by prohibiting alteration of the message content after the user completes its creation.

56. The device of claim 55, which further comprises:

said editing program setting a content-originator flag (CFG) value in the electronic tag to “

false”

during the period when the user is creating the message content.

57. The device of claim 56, which further comprises:

said editing program setting a content-originator flag (CFG) value in the electronic tag to “

true”

when the user completes editing the content of the message, thereby freezing the content to prevent subsequent viewers from authentically attributing any modification of the content to the original user.

58. The device of claim 57, which further comprises:

said editing program writing a hop count value of zero into the electronic tag when the original user has created the content.

59. The device of claim 58, which further comprises:

a tag uploading program in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device for incrementing the hop count value when the user uploads the electronic tag to the server and writes the tag in association with the virtual wall data construct.

60. The device of claim 59, which further comprises:

a tag downloading program in the server for incrementing the hop count in an electronic tag whenever a user downloads a copy of the tag from the server.

61. The device of claim 58, which further comprises:

a tag transmitting program in the in the user'"'"'s short-range wireless device for incrementing the hop count by one when the user sends a copy of the electronic tag to another user'"'"'s short range wireless device.

66. A program product for use in a short-range wireless communications network and in a long-range wireless communications network, for communicating a multimedia signal, comprising:

a computer readable medium containing program code;

program code in said computer readable medium for generating a short-range wireless tag signal for transmission in said short-range wireless network;

program code in said computer readable medium for generating a header signal in said tag signal, including an identity of a user;

program code in said computer readable medium for generating a multimedia message signal in said tag signal;

program code in said computer readable medium for sending said short-range wireless tag signal in said short-range wireless network; and

program code in said computer readable medium for extracting said multimedia message signal from said short-range wireless tag signal to enable sending said multimedia message signal in said long-range wireless communications network;

wherein said header signal prohibits alteration of the message content after a user completes its creation.

67. The program product of claim 66, further comprising:

said short-range wireless tag signal associating with a virtual wall data construct in a server receiving said short-range wireless tag signal;

whereby said short-range wireless tag signal can be viewed by users with short-range wireless viewing devices.

68. The program product of claim 66, further comprising:

said multimedia message signal including text, an audio record or an image record append to the text, creating a multimedia message as the content of the electronic tag signal.

69. The program product of claim 66, further comprising:

said header signal including a content-originator flag (CFG) value of “

false”

during a period when a user is creating the message content.

70. The program product of claim 69, further comprising:

said header signal including a content-originator flag (CFG) value of “

true”

when the user completes editing the content of the message, thereby freezing the content to prevent subsequent viewers from authentically attributing any modification of the content to the original user.

71. A method for use in a short-range wireless communications network and in a long-range wireless communications network, for communicating a multimedia signal, comprising:

generating a short-range wireless tag signal for transmission in said short-range wireless network;

generating a header signal in said tag signal, including an identity of a user;

generating a multimedia message signal in said tag signal;

sending said short-range wireless tag signal in said short-range wireless network; and

extracting said multimedia message signal from said short-range wireless tag signal to enable sending said multimedia message signal in said long-range wireless communications network;

wherein said header signal includes a hop count value of zero when an original user has created the content.

72. A method for use in a short-range wireless communications network and in a long-range wireless communications network, for communicating a multimedia signal, comprising:

generating a short-range wireless tag signal for transmission in said short-range wireless network;

generating a header signal in said tag signal, including an identity of a user;

generating a multimedia message signal in said tag signal;

sending said short-range wireless tag signal in said short-range wireless network; and

extracting said multimedia message signal from said short-range wireless tag signal to enable sending said multimedia message signal in said long-range wireless communications network;

wherein said header signal includes a hop count value greater than zero when a user uploads the electronic tag to a server and writes the tag in association with a virtual wall data construct.

73. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

said header signal including an incremented hop count value whenever a user downloads a copy of the tag from the server.

74. A method for use in a short-range wireless communications network and in a long-range wireless communications network, for communicating a multimedia signal, comprising:

generating a short-range wireless tag signal for transmission in said short-range wireless network;

generating a header signal in said tag signal, including an identity of a user;

generating a multimedia message signal in said tag signal;

sending said short-range wireless tag signal in said short-range wireless network; and

extracting said multimedia message signal from said short-range wireless tag signal to enable sending said multimedia message signal in said long-range wireless communications network;

wherein said header signal includes a hop count value greater than zero when a user sends a copy of the electronic tag to another user'"'"'s short range wireless device.