Network-specific transcoding of MMS content

• US 8,200,259 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Kupsh, Jerry, Roberts, Brandie P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Addy, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US12/235,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20100075699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/413, 4554141-4144, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 455/466, 455/566, 455/567, 709/206, 709/203, 709/246, 715/239, 715/249, 715/744, 715/746, 348/441, 370/328.338, 370/352, 370/355
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

A method may include receiving a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message from a sending device, the MMS message being addressed to a terminating device. A notification may be sent to the terminating device that the MMS message is available. A user agent profile may be received from the terminating device, the user agent profile including a network indicator to indicate the type of network currently servicing the terminating device. It may then be determined if transcoding of the MMS message is required based on the type of network indicated in the user agent profile and attributes of the MMS message.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a device, a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message from a sending device, the MMS message being addressed to a terminating device;

sending, by the device, a notification to the terminating device that the MMS message is available;

receiving, by the device and in response to the notification, a user agent profile string from the terminating device, the user agent profile string including a model identifier of the terminating device and a network indicator that indicates a type of network currently servicing the terminating device;

retrieving, by the device, stored information associated with the type of network indicated by the user agent profile string, the information including at least one of a message size limit or a message format restriction;

determining, by the device, if transcoding of the MMS message is required based on at least one of the model identifier or the type of network indicated in the user agent profile string and attributes of the MMS message;

transcoding, by the device and in response to determining that transcoding is required, the MMS message into an appropriate format for delivery by accessing the retrieved information;

sending the transcoded MMS message to the terminating device;

receiving another MMS message addressed to the terminating device;

storing, in response to determining that transcoding is required, the other MMS message;

receiving, from the terminating device, information indicating that the type of network, currently servicing the terminating device, can support the other MMS message; and

sending, in response to receiving the information, the other MMS message to the terminating device.

2. The method of claim 1, where the MMS message includes an image file and where transcoding the MMS message comprises:

transcoding the image file from a higher resolution image to a lower resolution image.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying requirements associated with delivering MMS messages over the type of network indicated in the user agent profile string.

4. The method of claim 1, where determining if transcoding of the MMS message is required is further based on requirements of the network indicated in the user agent profile string.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a message to at least one of the terminating device or the sending device to indicate that MMS messaging service is not supported for the MMS message on the type of network indicated in the user agent profile string.

6. The method of claim 1, where the model identifier further includes identifiers for a range of device models.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing an IP protocol session between the terminating device and a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC).

8. The method of claim 1, where the type of network indicated by the network indicator is one of a 2G mobile network or a 3G mobile network.

9. A method performed by a mobile device, comprising:

receiving, by the mobile device, a notification from a multimedia messaging service (MMS) portal that a first MMS message is available to be delivered;

establishing, by the mobile device, an internet protocol (IP) session with the MMS portal;

determining, by the mobile device and in response to the notification, a first type of network coverage currently servicing the mobile device;

sending, by the mobile device and to the MMS portal, a first response that includes a user agent profile string for the mobile device, the user agent profile string including a model identifier of the mobile device and a first network indicator that indicates the first type of network coverage currently servicing the mobile device;

receiving, by the mobile device and from the MMS portal, the first MMS message in a transcoded format adapted for at least one of the model identifier or the type of network coverage included in the user agent profile string;

receiving, by the mobile device, a second notification from the MMS portal that a second MMS message is available to be delivered;

sending, by the mobile device, a second response that includes an updated user agent profile string, the updated user agent profile string including a second network indicator that is different than the first network identifier, the second network indicator indicating a second type of network coverage servicing the mobile device, the second type of network being different than the first type of network; and

receiving, by the mobile device and from the MMS portal, the second MMS message in a format adapted for the network coverage included in the updated user agent profile string.

10. The method of claim 9, where the first network indicator indicates a 2G mobile network or a 3G mobile network.

11. The method of claim 9, where the first network indicator indicates a particular type of code division multiple access (CDMA) network.

12. The method of claim 9, where the model identifier further includes identifiers for a range of device models.

13. The method of claim 9, where determining the first type of network coverage currently servicing the mobile device comprises:

requesting network coverage information from a device management entity of a network service provider associated with mobile device.

14. A system, comprising:

a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) to;

receive a MMS message addressed to a terminating device,

send a notification to the terminating device that an MMS message is available,

receive, in response to the notification, a user agent profile string from the terminating device, the user agent profile string including a model identifier of the terminating device and a network identifier indicating a type of network coverage currently servicing the terminating device, retrieve stored information associated with the type of network indicated by the user agent profile string, the information including at least one of a message size limit or a message format restriction, and

determine if transcoding of the MMS message is required based on at least one of the model identifier or the type of network indicated in the user agent profile string and attributes of the MMS message; and

a transcoder to;

transcode, in response to the MMSC determining that transcoding is required, the content of the MMS message into an appropriate format by accessing the retrieved information,

the MMSC being further to;

receive another MMS message addressed to the terminating device;

store, in response to determining that transcoding is required, the other MMS message;

receive, from the terminating device, information indicating that the type of network, currently servicing the terminating device, can support the other MMS message; and

send, in response to receiving the information, the other MMS message to the terminating device.

15. The system of claim 14, where the MMSC is further to send the transcoded MMS message to the terminating device.

16. The system of claim 14, where the model identifier further includes identifiers for a range of device models.

17. A system, comprising:

means for receiving a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message from a sending device, the MMS message being addressed to a terminating device;

means for sending a notification to the terminating device that an MMS message is available;

means for receiving, in response to the notification, a profile string of the terminating device, the profile string including a model identifier of the terminating device and a network indicator that indicates the type of network currently servicing the terminating device;

means for retrieving stored information associated with the type of network indicated by the profile string, the information including at least one of a message size limit or a message format restriction;

means for determining if transcoding of the MMS message is required based on at least one of the model identifier or the type of network indicated in the profile string and attributes of the MMS message;

means for transcoding, in response to determining that transcoding is required, the MMS message into an appropriate format for delivery by accessing the retrieved information;

means for receiving another MMS message addressed to the terminating device;

means for storing, in response to determining that transcoding is required, the other MMS message;

means for receiving, from the terminating device, information indicating that the type of network, currently servicing the terminating device, can support the other MMS message; and

means for sending, in response to receiving the information, the other MMS message to the terminating device.

18. The system of claim 17, where the model indicator further includes identifiers for a range of device models.