Optimized MMS architecture for application-to-person and person-to-application messaging

• US 8,046,013 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Shilei, Roberts, Brandie
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US12/129,385
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A system provides Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) to mobile stations through a wireless communication network for person-to-person traffic and traffic to/from an application. The network may include a plurality of Multimedia Messaging Service Centers (MMSCs) coupled to the wireless communication network for MMS communication between two mobile stations, and between a mobile station and an application during call origination mode operations. A second MMSC coupled to the wireless communication network, provides MMS communications between mobile stations and one or more applications during call termination mode operations. In a mobile origination mode operation, the second MMSC concentrates signaling from the first MMSCs and forwards received MMS data, and in a mobile termination mode operations, the second MMSC delivers MMS data to a destination mobile station without forwarding the MMS data to one of the first MMSCs.

Claims

1. A system for providing Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) to mobile stations through a wireless communication network, the network comprising:

a plurality of first Multimedia Messaging Service Centers (MMSCs) coupled to the wireless communication network, wherein each first MMSC provides MMS communication between a first mobile station and a second mobile station and supports MMS communication between mobile stations and application servers; and

a second MMSC coupled to the wireless communication network, wherein the second MMSC provides MMS communications between mobile stations and application servers, wherein;

(a) the second MMSC is coupled to the first MMSCs;

(b) the second MMSC is dedicated to application-specific MMS traffic;

(c) in a mobile origination mode, the second MMSC concentrates traffic by;

receiving MMS messages intended for the application servers from the mobile stations via the first plurality of MMSCs, and forwarding the received MMS messages to the application servers, and

receiving responsive MMS messages from the application servers, and forwarding the received responsive MMS messages to the first plurality of MMSCs; and

(d) in a mobile termination mode, the second MMSC receives MMS messages from the application servers and delivers each of the received MMS messages to a destination mobile station without forwarding the received MMS messages to any of the first MMSCs.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first MMSCs are coupled to each other via an Internet Protocol (IP) Network and communicate with each other via the IP Network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second MMSC is coupled to the application servers via an Internet connection.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communicating with the at least one database uses one or more message communications conforming to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).

4. A system for providing Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) to mobile stations through a wireless communication network, the network comprising:

a plurality of first Multimedia Messaging Service Centers (MMSCs) coupled to the wireless communication network, wherein each first MMSC provides MMS communication between a first mobile station and a second mobile station and supports MMS communication between mobile stations and one or more applications;

a second MMSC coupled to the wireless communication network, wherein the second MMSC provides MMS communications between mobile stations and one or more applications, wherein;

(a) the second MMSC is coupled to the first MMSCs;

(b) the second MMSC is dedicated to application-specific MMS traffic;

(c) in a mobile origination mode, the second MMSC concentrates traffic by;

receiving MMS data intended for the one or more applications from the mobile stations via the first plurality of MMSCs, and forwarding the received MMS data to the one or more applications, and

receiving MMS data from the one or more applications, and forwarding the received MMS data to the first plurality of MMSCs;

(d) in a mobile termination mode, the second MMSC receives MMS data from the one or more applications and delivers the MMS data to a destination mobile station without forwarding the MMS data to any of the first MMSCs; and

at least one database containing subscriber records for mobile stations of subscribers to MMS service, wherein the first MMSCs and the second MMSC communicate with the at least one database to obtain relevant data from a subscriber record associated with the mobile stations.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the communicating with the at least one database uses one or more message communications conforming to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the first MMSCs are coupled to each other via an Internet Protocol (IP) Network and communicate with each other via the IP Network.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the second MMSC is coupled to the one or more applications via an Internet connection.

9. A Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC), wherein the MMSC is dedicated to application-specific traffic, the MMSC comprising:

an interface for packet communication via a wireless communication network, for Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) communications with mobile stations served by the wireless communication network;

an interface for packet communication with application servers;

a service center processor having message and program storage, coupled to the interfaces,

wherein execution of a program causes the service center processor to operate the MMSC to provide functions of;

concentrating MMS communications with the application servers, in a mobile origination mode, by;

receiving MMS messages intended for the application servers from the mobile stations via a plurality of other MMSCs not dedicated to application-specific MMS traffic, and forwarding the received MMS messages to the application servers, and

receiving responsive MMS messages from the servers, and forwarding the received responsive MMS messages to the other MMSCs; and

receiving MMS messages, in a mobile termination mode, from the application servers and delivering each of the MMS messages to a destination mobile station without forwarding the MMS messages to any of the other MMSCs.

10. The MMSC of claim 9, wherein the MMS communicates with the application servers via an Internet connection.

11. A Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC), wherein the MMSC is dedicated to application-specific traffic, the MMSC comprising:

an interface for packet communication via a wireless communication network, for Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) communications with mobile stations served by the wireless communication network;

an interface for packet communication with one or more applications;

a service center processor having message and program storage, coupled to the interfaces,

wherein execution of a program causes the service center processor to operate the MMSC to provide functions of;

concentrating MMS communications with the one or more applications, in a mobile origination mode, by;

receiving MMS data intended for the one or more applications from the mobile stations via a plurality of other MMSCs not dedicated to application-specific MMS traffic, and forwarding the received MMS data to the one or more applications, and

receiving MMS data from the one or more applications, and forwarding the received MMS data to the other MMSCs; and

receiving MMS data, in a mobile termination mode, from the one or more applications and delivering the MMS data to a destination mobile station without forwarding the MMS data to any of the other MMSCs,

wherein the MMSC communicates with at least one database to obtain relevant data from a subscriber record of the mobile stations, the database containing subscriber records for mobile stations of subscribers to MMS service.

12. The MMSC of claim 11, wherein the communicating with the at least one database uses one or more message communications conforming to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).

13. The MMSC of claim 11, wherein the MMSC is coupled to the one or more applications via an Internet connection.

14. A computer program product, comprising at least one non-transitory machine readable storage medium and executable code transported by the at least one tangible machine readable storage medium, wherein execution of the code by at least one programmable processor of a Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC) dedicated to application-specific MMS traffic in a wireless communication system causes the at least one programmable processor to perform functions in support of providing Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) communications with mobile stations served by the wireless communication system, the functions comprising:

a function which concentrates MMS communications with application servers, in a mobile origination mode, by;

receiving MMS messages intended for the application servers from the mobile stations via a plurality of other MMSCs not dedicated to application-specific MMS traffic, and forwarding the received MMS messages to the application servers, and

receiving responsive MMS messages from application servers, and forwarding the received responsive MMS messages to the plurality of other MMSCs; and

a function which receives MMS messages, in a mobile termination mode, from the application servers and delivers each of the MMS messages to a destination mobile station without forwarding the MMS messages to any of the other MMSCs.

15. A computer program product, comprising at least one non-transitory machine readable storage medium and executable code transported by the at least one tangible machine readable storage medium, wherein execution of the code by at least one programmable processor of a Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC) dedicated to application-specific MMS traffic in a wireless communication system causes the at least one programmable processor to perform functions in support of providing Multimedia Messaging Service MMS communications with mobile stations served by the wireless communication system, the functions comprising:

a function which concentrates MMS communications with the one or more applications, in a mobile origination mode, by;

receiving MMS data intended for one or more applications from the mobile stations via a plurality of other MMSCs not dedicated to application-specific MMS traffic, and forwarding the received MMS data to the one or more applications, and

receiving MMS data from the one or more applications, and forwarding the received MMS data to the plurality of other MMSCs;

a function which receives MMS data, in a mobile termination mode, from the one or more applications and delivers the MMS data to a destination mobile station without forwarding the MMS data to any of the other MMSCs; and

a function which communicates with at least one database to obtain relevant data from a subscriber record of the mobile stations, the database containing subscriber records for mobile stations of subscribers to MMS service.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the function which communicates with the at least one database uses one or more message communications conforming to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).