Multimedia message center and telecommunication device for accessing stored multimedia messages

• US 7,519,379 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gigaset Communications GmbH (Gigaset AG)
• Original Assignee: Gigaset Communications GmbH (Gigaset AG)
• Inventors: Nieder, Stefan, van de Logt, Marco, Ratermann, Albert, Goertz, Werner, Schulte, Thomas, Lang, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US10/535,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20060109836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/466, 455/406
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0051 where the data service is a multimedia messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/123 where the packet-switched network is an Internet Protocol Multimedia System-type network

Abstract

A multimedia message service center and telecommunication device for accessing deposited multimedia messages. The forwarding and receipt of multimedia messages transmitted in networks that are configured for the Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) independent of the communication between the networks and the infrastructure and the topology of the respective network from any transmitter to any addressee. A dial-in information (EWI) is indirectly or directly sent to the telecommunication device in addition to a communication message (MN) sent indirectly or directly e.g. via a short message center and/or an additional multimedia message center to the telecommunication device (ETKG) in response to a multimedia message (MMN) destined for a telecommunication device (ETKG) and deposited in the multimedia message center (MMNDZ). This dial-in information (EWI) tells the telecommunication device where to dial in to be able to access the multimedia message (MMN) addressed to the telecommunication device. The telecommunication device then accesses, in accordance with the dial information (EWI), the multimedia message service center (MMNDZ) or a depository (HLS) associated with the multimedia message service center (MMNDZ) and collects the multimedia message (MMN).

Claims

1. A method for delivering a multimedia message to a telecommunication device configured as a multimedia message sync, comprising:

transmitting the multimedia message to a multimedia message service center, configured as a multimedia message source for the delivery of the multimedia message to the telecommunication device;

storing the multimedia message;

sending from the multimedia message service center a notification message directly or indirectly to the telecommunication device, to inform the telecommunication device of the stored multimedia message;

sending dial-in information from the multimedia message service center directly or indirectly to the telecommunication device, informing the telecommunication device where it must dial in to, in order to be able to access the stored multimedia message; and

accessing the multimedia message service center or a storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center from the telecommunication device according to the dial-in information, in order to collect the multimedia message,

wherein the notification message is inserted into a wireless application protocol push message and the wireless application protocol push message is inserted into a short message configured as a short message service message, the short message being sent on the instruction of the multimedia message service center from a short message service center to the telecommunication device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the multimedia message service center controls utilization of the storage unit in respect of storage of multimedia messages using the dial-in information.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein access to the multimedia message service center or the storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center takes place according to the dial-in information via a dial-in node.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein access to the multimedia message service center or the storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center takes place via a telecommunication connection or via an Internet connection according to the TCP/IP protocol.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein in that in the multimedia message, the notification message and the dial-in information are transmitted via a fixed network or a mobile network.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein audio, video and/or text data is transmitted with the multimedia message.

7. A method for delivering a multimedia message to a telecommunication device configured as a multimedia message sync, comprising:

transmitting the multimedia message to a multimedia message service center, configured as a multimedia message source for the delivery of the multimedia message to the telecommunication device;

storing the multimedia message;

sending from the multimedia message service center a notification message directly or indirectly to the telecommunication device, to inform the telecommunication device of the stored multimedia message;

sending dial-in information from the multimedia message service center directly or indirectly to the telecommunication device, informing the telecommunication device where it must dial in to, in order to be able to access the stored multimedia message; and

accessing the multimedia message service center or a storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center from the telecommunication device according to the dial-in information, in order to collect the multimedia message,

wherein the multimedia message service center transmits information about the multimedia message stored in the multimedia message service center to a further multimedia message service center, the further multimedia message service center sending the notification message and the dial-in information directly or indirectly to the telecommunication device on the basis of the transmitted information.

8. A method for delivering a multimedia message to a telecommunication device configured as a multimedia message sync, comprising:

transmitting the multimedia message to a multimedia message service center, configured as a multimedia message source for the delivery of the multimedia message to the telecommunication device;

storing the multimedia message;

sending from the multimedia message service center a notification message directly or indirectly to the telecommunication device, to inform the telecommunication device of the stored multimedia message;

sending dial-in information from the multimedia message service center directly or indirectly to the telecommunication device, informing the telecommunication device where it must dial in to, in order to be able to access the stored multimedia message; and

accessing the multimedia message service center or a storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center from the telecommunication device according to the dial-in information, in order to collect the multimedia message, wherein upon receipt of the dial-in information sent by the multimedia message service center, the telecommunication terminal verifies the dial-in information before access takes place as a function of said verification.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the dial-in information is verified automatically on the basis of an exclusion list with excluded dial-in information, an authorization list with authorized dial-in information or a special list with generally applicable rules for permitted dial-in information.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the dial-in information is verified in dialog with the user of the telecommunication device such that the dial-in information is displayed acoustically or visually to the user and said user must then confirm the displayed dial-in information before access takes place.

11. A multimedia message service center for delivering a multimedia message to a telecommunication device configured as a multimedia message sync, comprising:

a central control unit that controls an operational and functional processes in the multimedia message service center;

means for generating notification messages assigned to the central control unit, which generate a notification message relating to the multimedia message that has arrived in the central control unit;

means for generating dial-in information assigned to the central control unit to inform the telecommunication device where it must dial in to, in order to be able to access the stored multimedia message;

a send device (SEE) for sending notification messages, wherein the send device sends the dial-in information received via a connection to the central control unit in addition to the notification message directly or indirectly to the telecommunication device, so that the telecommunication device can access the multimedia message service center or the storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center according to the dial-in information, to collect the multimedia message,

wherein the notification message is inserted into a wireless application protocol push message and the wireless application protocol push message is inserted into a short message configured as a short message service message and the multimedia message service center is connected to a short message service center, so that on the instruction of the multimedia message service center the short message is sent from a short message service center to the telecommunication device.

12. The multimedia message service center according to claim 11, wherein the central control unit is configured such that utilization of the storage unit in respect of storage of the multimedia messages can be controlled using the dial-in information.

13. The multimedia message service center according to claim 11, wherein the central control unit and at least one storage unit are assigned a common dial-in node or a respective common dial-in node, via which the telecommunication device accesses the multimedia message service center or the storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center according to the dial-in information.

14. The multimedia message service center according to claim 11, wherein the multimedia message service center or the storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center is connected via a telecommunication connection or Internet connection according to the TCP/IP protocol to the telecommunication device.

15. The multimedia message service center according to claim 11, wherein the multimedia message service center is assigned to the fixed network or the mobile network.

16. The multimedia message service center according to claim 11, wherein the multimedia message has audio, video and/or text data.

17. A multimedia message service center for delivering a multimedia message to a telecommunication device configured as a multimedia message sync, comprising:

a central control unit that controls an operational and functional processes in the multimedia message service center;

means for generating notification messages assigned to the central control unit, which venerate a notification message relating to the multimedia message that has arrived in the central control unit;

means for generating dial-in information assigned to the central control unit to inform the telecommunication device where it must dial in to, in order to be able to access the stored multimedia message;

a send device (SEE) for sending notification messages, wherein the send device sends the dial-in information received via a connection to the central control unit in addition to the notification message directly or indirectly to the telecommunication device, so that the telecommunication device can access the multimedia message service center or the storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center according to the dial-in information, to collect the multimedia message,

wherein the send device and the central control unit are configured such that information about the multimedia message and the dial-in information are transmitted to a further multimedia message service center, the further multimedia message service center sending the notification message and the dial-in information directly or indirectly to the telecommunication device on the basis of the transmitted information.

18. A telecommunication device for accessing multimedia messages stored in at least one storage unit of a multimedia message service center, comprising:

a central control device for controlling the operational and functional processes in the telecommunication device;

a collection device for collecting messages and/or information, which is connected to the central control device;

a receiver for receiving a notification message sent directly or indirectly from the multimedia message service center to the telecommunication device, which is connected to the central control device and forwards the notification message to the central control device to inform the telecommunication device of a multimedia message stored in the multimedia message service center for the telecommunication device;

identification means assigned to the central control device which is configured such that dial-in information received by the receiver in addition to the notification message and forwarded to the central control device is identified, informing the telecommunication device where it must dial in to, in order to be able to access the stored multimedia message, wherein the collection

device and the central control device with the assigned identification means are configured such that the central control device accesses the multimedia message service center or the storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center via the collection device using the dial-in information, to collect the multimedia message,

wherein the telecommunication device can be connected directly or indirectly to a further multimedia message service center, which sends the notification message and dial-in information directly or indirectly to the telecommunication terminal on the instruction of the multimedia message service center, in which the multimedia message is stored.

19. The telecommunication device according to claim 18, wherein the dial-in information is inserted into the notification message.

20. The telecommunication device according to claim 18, wherein the notification message is inserted into a short message configured as a short message service message and the telecommunication device is connected to a short message service center, which sends the short message to the telecommunication device on the instruction of the multimedia message service center.

21. The telecommunication device according to claim 18, wherein the notification message is inserted into a wireless application protocol push message and the wireless application protocol push message is inserted into a short message configured as a short message service message and the telecommunication device is connected to a short message service center, which sends the short message to the telecommunication device on the instruction of the multimedia message service center.

22. The telecommunication device according to claim 18, wherein the central control device is connected via the collection device to a dial-in node, via which the multimedia message service center or the storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center is accessed according to the dial-in information.

23. The telecommunication device according to claim 18, wherein the central control device is connected via the collection unit and via a telecommunication connection or via an Internet connection according to the TCP/IP protocol to the multimedia message service center or the storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center, via which access takes place.

24. The telecommunication device according to claim 18, wherein the telecommunication device is a fixed network or mobile network device, in particular a cordless mobile unit.

25. The telecommunication device according to claim 18, wherein the multimedia message has audio, video and/or text data.

26. A telecommunication device for accessing multimedia messages stored in at least one storage unit of a multimedia message service center, comprising:

a central control device for controlling the operational and functional processes in the telecommunication device;

a collection device for collecting messages and/or information, which is connected to the central control device;

a receiver for receiving a notification message sent directly or indirectly from the multimedia message service center to the telecommunication device, which is connected to the central control device and forwards the notification message to the central control device to inform the telecommunication device of a multimedia message stored in the multimedia message service center for the telecommunication device;

identification means assigned to the central control device which is configured such that dial-in information received by the receiver in addition to the notification message and forwarded to the central control device is identified, informing the telecommunication device where it must dial in to, in order to be able to access the stored multimedia message, wherein the collection device and the central control device with the assigned identification means are configured such that the central control device accesses the multimedia message service center or the storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center via the collection device using the dial-in information, to collect the multimedia message and

verification means assigned to the central control device that is configured to form a functional unit with the identification means such that after identification of the dial-in information sent by the multimedia message service center and received by the receiver, the dial-in information is verified, before access by the central control device takes place as a function of this verification.

27. The telecommunication device according to claim 26, wherein a keyboard, electro-acoustic converter and display device assigned to the central control device are present, which form a functional unit with the central control device and the verification means, said functional unit being configured such that verification of the dial-in information takes place in dialog with the user of the telecommunication device such that the dial-in information is displayed acoustically or visually to the user and said user must then confirm the displayed dial-in information, before access by the central control device takes place.

28. A telecommunication device for accessing multimedia messages stored in at least one storage unit of a multimedia message service center, comprising:

a central control device for controlling the operational and functional processes in the telecommunication device;

a collection device for collecting messages and/or information, which is connected to the central control device;

a receiver for receiving a notification message sent directly or indirectly from the multimedia message service center to the telecommunication device, which is connected to the central control device and forwards the notification message to the central control device to inform the telecommunication device of a multimedia message stored in the multimedia message service center for the telecommunication device;

identification means assigned to the central control device which is configured such that dial-in information received by the receiver in addition to the notification message and forwarded to the central control device is identified, informing the telecommunication device where it must dial in to, in order to be able to access the stored multimedia message, wherein the collection

device and the central control device with the assigned identification means are configured such that the central control device accesses the multimedia message service center or the storage unit assigned to the multimedia message service center via the collection device using the dial-in information, to collect the multimedia message, and

a storage device assigned to the central control device which forms a functional unit with the verification means, said functional unit being configured such that verification of the dial-in information takes place automatically based on an exclusion list with excluded dial-in information stored in the storage device, an authorization list with authorized dial-in information stored in the storage device or a special list with generally applicable rules for permitted dial-in information stored in the storage device.