Mass multimedia messaging

• US 7,890,586 B1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kefalas, Anastasios L., McNamara, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz; Asad M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Survillo; Oleg
• Application Number:
  US10/994,518
• Time in Patent Office: 2,275 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles

Abstract

A method and system of mass multimedia messaging in a system having a service provider and a plurality of subscriber communication terminal types supported by the service provider, wherein at least some of the subscriber terminal types have differing messaging capabilities and differing message format requirements. The method includes adaptation and handling of a mass multimedia message, and mass multimedia message notification. The system may use a retrieval platform and a processing platform. The retrieval platform may pre-adapt the message into adapted content messages for the terminal types supported by the service provider, and generate unique message identifiers for each adapted content message. The processing platform may format message notifications for the subscriber terminal addresses based on each terminal'"'"'s messaging capabilities, with each notification containing one of the unique message identifiers selected by reference to the subscriber terminal type.

Claims

1. A method of providing mass multimedia message notification in a system including a service provider and a plurality of terminal types supported by the service provider, wherein at least some of said terminal types have differing messaging capabilities, said method comprising:

receiving from a content provider a list of subscriber terminal addresses to which message notifications for a mass multimedia message are to be sent, and unique message identifiers for a plurality of adapted content messages of the mass multimedia message;

obtaining subscriber terminal type information and subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information for each subscriber address, the terminal type information including at least a hardware display size, an operating system version, and audio and video encoders supported by each terminal;

formatting message notifications for each subscriber terminal address based on said subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information, each message notification including one of said unique message identifiers selected by reference to said subscriber terminal type information, wherein the unique message identifier is used in conjunction with a DNS address of a retrieval server platform to facilitate retrieval of the plurality of adapted content messages by the subscriber terminals;

sending said formatted message notifications to said subscriber terminal addresses;

receiving, at the retrieval server platform, requests for each of the plurality of adapted content messages from subscriber terminals in response to sending said formatted message notifications, each request containing an address for the requesting subscriber terminal, unique message identifier, and the DNS address;

sending said each adapted content message to the requesting subscriber terminal addresses;

generating a promotional identifier associated with said mass multimedia message;

returning said promotional identifier to said content provider through said retrieval server platform;

communicating retrieval information to a reporting server platform each time an adapted content message is retrieved by a subscriber terminal;

at said reporting server platform, tallying retrieval information for each retrieved adapted content message from said plurality of adapted content messages of the multimedia message in a report associated with said promotional identifier; and

periodically publishing said report to said content provider through said reporting server platform, the report including the tallied retrieval information for the plurality of adapted content messages retrieved by said each subscriber terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining subscriber terminal type information and subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information includes:

requesting said subscriber terminal type information and subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information for each subscriber terminal from a subscriber information database using said subscriber terminal addresses; and

receiving said subscriber terminal type information and subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information for each subscriber terminal from said subscriber information database.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information includes information as to whether each subscriber terminal is SMS capable, WAP Push capable, or MMS capable, wherein said step of formatting message notifications further comprises:

determining if the subscriber terminal is capable of receiving MMS messages;

if it is determined that the subscriber terminal is capable of receiving MMS messages, then formatting the message notification as a MMS WAP Push notification;

if it is determined that the subscriber terminal is not capable of receiving MMS messages, then determining if the subscriber terminal is capable of receiving WAP Push messages;

if it is determined that the subscriber terminal is capable of receiving WAP Push messages, then formatting the message notification as a WAP Push notification; and

if it is determined that the subscriber terminal is not capable of receiving WAP Push messages, then formatting the message notification as an SMS message.

4. A method of mass multimedia message adaptation and handling in a system including a service provider and a plurality of terminal types supported by the service provider, wherein at least some of said terminal types have differing message format requirements, said method comprising:

receiving a multimedia message from a content provider;

adapting said multimedia message into a plurality of adapted content messages, wherein each of the plurality of adapted content messages corresponds to a different supported terminal type, each of the supported terminal types being determined using terminal format requirements information, the terminal format requirements including at least a hardware display size, an operating system version, and audio and video encoders supported by each terminal;

generating a unique message identifier for each of said plurality of adapted content messages of said multimedia message, wherein the unique message identifier is used in conjunction with a DNS address of a retrieval server platform to facilitate retrieval of the plurality of adapted content messages by a plurality of subscriber terminals;

sending message notifications to subscriber terminal addresses;

receiving, at the retrieval server platform, requests for said each of the plurality of adapted content messages from subscriber terminals in response to sending said message notifications, each request containing an address for the requesting subscriber terminal, unique message identifier, and the DNS address;

sending said each adapted content message to the requesting subscriber terminal addresses;

generating a promotional identifier associated with said multimedia message;

returning said promotional identifier to said content provider through said retrieval server platform;

communicating retrieval information to a reporting server platform each time an adapted content message is retrieved by a subscriber terminal;

at said reporting server platform, tallying retrieval information for each retrieved adapted content message from said plurality of adapted content messages of the multimedia message in a report associated with said promotional identifier; and

periodically publishing said report to said content provider through said reporting server platform, the report including the tallied retrieval information for the plurality of adapted content messages retrieved by each terminal of said each terminal type.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said terminal format requirements information is stored in a user agent profiles database, further including obtaining said terminal format requirements information for terminal types supported by the system from said user agent profiles database.

6. The method of claim 4, further including adapting said multimedia message into a default adapted content message for a default terminal type using default terminal format requirements information, and generating a unique message identifier for said default adapted content message.

7. The method of claim 4, further including receiving an order to replace or cancel said multimedia message or to replace or cancel at least one parameter associated with said multimedia message, said order containing said promotional identifier.

8. The method of claim 4, further including:

receiving a request for said report; and

publishing said report in response to said request for said report.

9. A method of mass multimedia messaging in a system including a service provider and a plurality of terminal types supported by the service provider, wherein at least some of said terminal types have differing messaging capabilities and differing message format requirements, said method comprising:

receiving a multimedia message and a list of subscriber terminal addresses from a content provider;

adapting said multimedia message into a plurality of adapted content messages, wherein each of the plurality of adapted content messages corresponds to a different supported terminal type, each of the supported terminal types being determined using terminal format requirements information for the terminal types supported by the service provider, the terminal format requirements including at least a hardware display size, an operating system version, and audio and video encoders supported by each terminal;

generating a unique message identifier for each of the plurality of adapted content messages of said multimedia message, wherein the unique message identifier is used in conjunction with a DNS address of a retrieval server platform to facilitate retrieval of the plurality of adapted content messages by the subscriber terminals;

formatting message notifications for each subscriber terminal address based on subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information, each message notification including one of said unique message identifiers, selected by reference to subscriber terminal type information, and the DNS address of the retrieval server platform;

sending said formatted message notifications to said subscriber terminal addresses;

receiving, at the retrieval server platform, requests for said each of the plurality of adapted content messages from subscriber terminals in response to sending said formatted message notifications, each request containing an address for the requesting subscriber terminal, unique message identifier, and the DNS address;

sending said each adapted content message to the requesting subscriber terminal addresses;

generating a promotional identifier associated with said multimedia message;

returning said promotional identifier to said content provider through said retrieval server platform;

communicating retrieval information to a reporting server platform each time an adapted content message is retrieved by a subscriber terminal;

at said reporting server platform, tallying retrieval information for each retrieved adapted content message from said plurality of adapted content messages of the multimedia message in a report associated with said promotional identifier; and

periodically publishing said report to said content provider through said reporting server platform, the report including the tallied retrieval information for the plurality of adapted content messages retrieved by said each subscriber terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information includes information as to whether each subscriber terminal is SMS capable, WAP Push capable, or MMS capable, wherein said step of formatting each message notification further comprises:

determining if the subscriber terminal is capable of receiving MMS messages;

if it is determined that the subscriber terminal is capable of receiving MMS messages, then formatting the message notification as a MMS WAP Push notification;

if it is determined that the subscriber terminal is not capable of receiving MMS messages, then determining if the subscriber terminal is capable of receiving WAP Push messages;

if it is determined that the subscriber terminal is capable of receiving WAP Push messages, then formatting the message notification as a WAP Push notification; and

if it is determined that the subscriber terminal is not capable of receiving WAP Push messages, then formatting the message notification as an SMS message.

11. The method of claim 9, further including adapting said multimedia message into a default adapted content message for a default terminal type using default terminal format requirements information.

12. The method of claim 9, further including receiving an order from said content provider to replace or cancel said multimedia message or to replace or cancel at least one parameter associated with said multimedia message, said order containing said promotional identifier.

13. The method of claim 9, further including:

receiving a request for said report from said content provider; and

publishing said report to said content provider in response to said request for said report.

14. A system for mass multimedia messaging by a service provider, wherein the service provider supports communication terminal types having differing messaging capabilities and differing message format requirements, and wherein a content provider provides a multimedia message and a list of subscriber terminal addresses to which the service provider is to deliver the message, said system comprising:

a retrieval server computer platform including at least one central processing unit (CPU), the retrieval server computer platform that performs;

adapting said multimedia message into a plurality of adapted content messages, wherein each of the plurality of adapted content messages corresponds to a different supported terminal type, each of the supported terminal types being based on terminal format requirements information for the terminal types supported by said service provider, the terminal format requirements including at least a hardware display size, an operating system version, and audio and video encoders supported by each terminal;

generating a unique message identifier for each of the plurality of adapted content messages of said multimedia message, wherein the unique message identifier is used in conjunction with a DNS address of the retrieval server computer platform to facilitate retrieval of the plurality of adapted content messages by the subscriber terminals;

generating a promotional identifier associated with said multimedia message;

returning said promotional identifier to said content provider;

a processing server computer platform including at least one central processing unit (CPU) and in communication with said retrieval server computer platform, said processing platform that performs;

formatting message notifications for each subscriber terminal address based on subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information, each message notification including one of said unique message identifiers selected by reference to subscriber terminal type information and the DNS address of the retrieval server platform; and

sending said formatted message notifications to said subscriber terminal addresses;

the retrieval server computer platform further performing;

receiving requests for each of the plurality of adapted content messages from subscriber terminals in response to sending said formatted message notifications, each request containing an address for the requesting subscriber terminal, unique message identifier, and the DNS address; and

sending said each adapted content message to the requesting subscriber terminal addresses; and

a reporting server platform including at least one CPU that performs;

tallying retrieval information for each retrieved adapted content message from said plurality of adapted content messages of the multimedia message in a report associated with said promotional identifier, wherein retrieval information is communicated from the retrieval server computer platform each time an adapted content message is retrieved by a subscriber terminal; and

periodically publishing said report to said content provider, the report including the tallied retrieval information for the plurality of adapted content messages retrieved by said each subscriber terminal.

15. The system of claim 14, further having a user agent profiles database relating supported terminal type information with terminal format requirements information, and an adaptation engine computing device for adapting multimedia messages for supported terminal types, said adaptation engine computing device in communication with said user agent profiles database and said retrieval server computer platform, said adaptation engine computing device for:

receiving said multimedia message from said retrieval server platform;

obtaining terminal format requirements information for terminal types supported by said service provider from said user agent profiles database;

adapting said multimedia message into a plurality of adapted content messages corresponding to each supported terminal type using said terminal format requirements information; and

returning said plurality of adapted content messages and corresponding terminal type identifiers to said retrieval server platform.

16. The system of claim 14, further having a subscriber information database relating subscriber terminal address information with subscriber terminal type information and subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information, said subscriber information database being in communication with said processing server computer platform, such that said processing server computer platform is able to obtain said subscriber terminal type information and said subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information from said subscriber information database.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method of mass multimedia messaging in a system including a service provider and a plurality of terminal types supported by the service provider, wherein at least some of said terminal types have differing messaging capabilities and differing message format requirements, where said method comprises:

receiving a multimedia message and a list of subscriber terminal addresses from a content provider;

adapting said multimedia message into a plurality of adapted content messages, wherein each of the plurality of adapted content messages corresponds to a different supported terminal type, each of the supported terminal types being determined using terminal format requirements information for the terminal types supported by the service provider, the terminal format requirements including at least a hardware display size, an operating system version, and audio and video encoders supported by each terminal;

generating a unique message identifier for each of the plurality of adapted content messages, wherein the unique message identifier is used in conjunction with a DNS address of a retrieval server platform to facilitate retrieval of the plurality of adapted content messages by the subscriber terminals;

formatting message notifications for each subscriber terminal address based on subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information, each message notification including one of said unique message identifiers, selected by reference to subscriber terminal type information, and the DNS address of the retrieval server platform;

sending said formatted message notifications to said subscriber terminal addresses;

receiving, at the retrieval server platform, requests for said each of the plurality of adapted content messages from subscriber terminals in response to sending said formatted message notifications, each request containing an address for the requesting subscriber terminal, unique message identifier, and the DNS address;

sending said each adapted content message to the requesting subscriber terminal addresses;

generating a promotional identifier associated with said multimedia message;

returning said promotional identifier to said content provider through said retrieval server platform;

communicating retrieval information to a reporting server platform each time an adapted content message is retrieved by a subscriber terminal;

at said reporting server platform, tallying retrieval information for each received adapted content message from said plurality of adapted content messages in a report associated with said promotional identifier; and

periodically publishing said report to said content provider through said reporting server platform, the report including the tallied retrieval information for the plurality of adapted content messages.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium having executable instructions for performing a method of providing mass multimedia message notification in a system including a service provider and a plurality of terminal types supported by the service provider, wherein at least some of said terminal types have differing messaging capabilities, where said method comprises:

receiving from a content provider a list of subscriber terminal addresses to which message notifications for a mass multimedia message are to be sent, and unique message identifiers for a plurality of adapted content messages of the mass multimedia message;

obtaining subscriber terminal type information and subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information for each subscriber address, the terminal type information including at least a hardware display size, an operating system version, and audio and video encoders supported by each terminal;

formatting message notifications for each subscriber terminal address based on said subscriber terminal messaging capabilities information, each message notification including one of said unique message identifiers selected by reference to said subscriber terminal type information, wherein the unique message identifier is used in conjunction with a DNS address of a retrieval server platform to facilitate retrieval of the plurality of adapted content messages by the subscriber terminals;

sending said formatted message notifications to said subscriber terminal addresses;

receiving, at the retrieval server platform, requests for each of the plurality of adapted content messages from subscriber terminals in response to sending said formatted message notifications, each request containing an address for the requesting subscriber terminal, unique message identifier, and the DNS address;

sending said each adapted content message to the requesting subscriber terminal addresses;

generating a promotional identifier associated with said mass multimedia message;

returning said promotional identifier to said content provider through said retrieval server platform;

communicating retrieval information to a reporting server platform each time an adapted content message is retrieved by a subscriber terminal;

at said reporting server platform, tallying retrieval information for each received adapted content message from said plurality of adapted content messages in a report associated with said promotional identifier; and

periodically publishing said report to said content provider through said reporting server platform, the report including the tallied retrieval information for the plurality of adapted content messages.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method of mass multimedia message adaptation and handling in a system including a service provider and a plurality of terminal types supported by the service provider, wherein at least some of said terminal types have differing message format requirements, where said method comprises:

receiving a multimedia message from a content provider;

adapting said multimedia message into a plurality of adapted content messages, wherein each of the plurality of adapted content messages corresponds to a different supported terminal type, each of the supported terminal types being determined using terminal format requirements information for the terminal types supported by the service provider, the terminal format requirements including at least a hardware display size, an operating system version, and audio and video encoders supported by each terminal;

generating a unique message identifier for each of said plurality of adapted content messages of said multimedia message, wherein the unique message identifier is used in conjunction with a DNS address of a retrieval server platform to facilitate retrieval of the plurality of adapted content messages by a plurality of subscriber terminals;

sending message notifications to subscriber terminal addresses;

receiving, at the retrieval server platform, requests for said each of the plurality of adapted content messages from subscriber terminals in response to sending said message notifications, each request containing an address for the requesting subscriber terminal, unique message identifier, and the DNS address;

sending said each adapted content message to the requesting subscriber terminal addresses;

generating a promotional identifier associated with said multimedia message;

returning said promotional identifier to said content provider through said retrieval server platform;

communicating retrieval information to a reporting server platform each time an adapted content message is retrieved by a subscriber terminal;

at said reporting server platform, tallying retrieval information for each received adapted content message from said plurality of adapted content messages in a report associated with said promotional identifier; and

periodically publishing said report to said content provider through said reporting server platform, the report including the tallied retrieval information for the plurality of adapted content messages.