Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
1
MESSAGING METHOD AND SERVER
Technical field
The present invention relates to a messaging method.
The present invention also relates to a corresponding
messaging server, and to a computer program product
comprising code for performing a corresponding method.
Technical background
In the field of cellular communications, the ability
to communicate via both voice and messaging has become
very popular, and a number of communication standards
have been defined. One such standard is the global system
for mobile communications (GSM), defined by the European
Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI). Within the
GSM standard, a supplementary messaging service has been
defined, known as a short message service-(SMS). A
further evolvement of the SMS standard is the more recent
multimedia message service (MMS) standard. MMS messaging
supports the transmission and reception of more complex
and memory hungry media, such as video sequences and
higher quality images.
A problem with both SMS and MMS messaging is that a
mobile phone user generally has to perform a large number
of steps to compose an SMS/MMS message. When for example
composing a MMS message comprising a video sequence, the
video sequence has to be recorded, stored locally onto
the mobile phone, and appended.to the MMS message, before
the MMS message can be sent to an intended recipient.
A proposed solution to the tedious and time
consuming compilation of SMS/MMS messages is disclosed in
US 2004/0019487. A user is able to compose, send and
retrieve SMS or MMS messages using a multi-modal
interface (e.g. a grammar-based speech engine, a touch
screen, or a similar input device), which allows the user
to compile the SMS/MMS message with significantly less
~.~.: . - ~.a = , - .r..=;,_.. < _ - - _ _a _ _
,. _ ,_ .. . , .. . . . ..:T 3 ., _ : 1 ._ .. _ .. _.....
.-.t,...~-
. . . . .;.-..
..:-,. .
... ... .,...-.
._s:.,.- ....,. ~ ~ - .
. . ., ... ..,... + -
. . . . .. = . .. . . .. ; :' L. v = ... . <.. .. .. ...`4"~
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
2
effort in a fraction of the time required by conventional
methods.
However, such a system is not suitable for use in a
general mobile phone, as the multi-modal furictionalities
consumes a large amount of memory and computational
power, resulting in implementation issues in mobile
phones with limited memory and processing power.
Furthermore, a mobile device using for example a grammar-
based speech engine is generally limited to only one
language, resulting in expensive customizations when
releasing new mobile phone models spanning different
languages.
Object of the invention
There is therefore a need for an improved method for
providing a mobile messaging service, and more
specifically that overcome or at least alleviates the
problem with implementation issues in mobile phones with
limited memory and processing power.
Summary of the invention
The above object is met by a novel messaging method
as defined in claim 1, and a corresponding messaging
server as defined in claim 7. The appended sub-claims
define advantageous embodiments in accordance with the
present invention.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is
provided a messaging method for a communication network,
comprising the steps of receiving a request from a first
communication device for sending a video message intended
for a second communication device, transmitting a video
message initiation to the first communication device,
receiving a live feed video signal from the first
communication device, storing the received video signal
as a video message, for each video message transmitting a
notification of the video message to the second
communication device, and upon receipt of a request from
_ . s .. . ., ._.:, ~, .
..,:.
. . . ;:...
-a._ , , .:.,. ,_ , ~ . .... ...., , _ ..;,,::~.. . , .
_ . . . . . __.,.. .-. ..:.-~ ...:......:.:...: : _ :........
_, . .
-:t: .-. :.. . :.i.;r-~.....- ._. ~: ~
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
3
the second communication device for receiving the video
message, transmitting the video message to the second
communication device.
In the context of the present invention, the
expression "live feed video signal" is understood to mean
a video sequence that is streamed from or to a
communication device. Thus, according to the invention,
the video message is not stored locally onto the
communication device, except some smaller caching that
might be necessary due to implementation constrains of
the communication method or device used. Therefore, the
memory constrains for the communication devices can be
set much lower than according to prior art.
Furthermore, as the storage of the video message is
not done locally onto the communication device, the video
messaging method according to the present invention uses
a limited amount of the communication devices processing
power, thus lowering the computational capacity
constrains for the communication devices. It is therefore
possible to implement the method according to the present
invention even in an environment where communication
devices with limited memory and processing power are
used.
According to the invention, a notification of the
video message is generally always transmitted to the
second communication device after the live feed video
signal is stored as a video message. When receiving the
video message notification, the user of the second
communication device is instructed how to retrieve and
view the video message. If the user of the second
communication device decides to receive the video
message, it is as an alternative possible to store the
video message locally onto the second communication
device.
Another advantage with the present invention is that
the tedious and time consuming compilation steps
preformed according to prior art, for compiling for
,..,, , .
,,, ,.. .. .
, ..
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
4
example a MMS message, can be omitted. The user of a
communication device instead only has to send a request
for sending a video message to an intended communication
device, after which the user will be invited, by means of
the video message initiation, to record a video sequence
which will be delivered to the intended communication
device. This is especially advantageous in the case where
the user of the communication device is a novice user
having limited knowledge of how to handle a communication
device, or where the user has limited reading and writing
skills. Furthermore, it will according to the present
invention be simple to implement a large plurality of
different languages, for example for inviting a user to
record a video sequence, as language related execution
steps do not have to be implemented locally onto the
communication device. Another further advantage with the
present invention is flexibility, as functions programmed
into an end-user device cannot be changed easily, whilst
server based menus can be updated/modified based on user
behavior.
The request for sending a video message can
comprises information about the intended receiving second
communication device. The request might also be appended
with a control command that for example contains
information about the type of message that a user wants
to send (i.e. video message), delivery options, etc.
Also, the control command might be a reply command, such
as in a case where the user of the second communication
device wants to reply to the video message sent from the
user of the first communication device. In such a case,
the user of the second communication device might be
invited to reply to the video message, for example after
receiving/viewing the video message, and at that point
send a request for sending a video message, where the
request has an appended reply command. Thereafter, the
first and second communication devices "swaps place",
such that the steps indicated to comprise interactions
~+,., _._ ..ii l.a.__"s .. , cTta3:~...-....:n= ...............: ....
..__.,.._....._......
_. i`.i <i., ,:= l _ _ ~?' :l t.~.~nt:, ,.
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
with the first communication device are preformed by the
second communication device, and vice versa.
Preferably, the messaging method is performed by a
messaging server. Also, at least one of the communication
5 devices is a mobile terminal, such as a mobile telephone,
a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a wireless laptop, or
a similar device. Accordingly, the communication between
the mobile terminals and the messaging server is
preferably preformed over a mobile communication network.
In an embodiment, the video message initiation is a
video prompt. The video prompt might be transmitted from
the messaging server to the first communication device as
a live feed video prompt. Alternatively, the video prompt
might be pre-stored onto the communication device (such
as for example in the case with an intelligent client
implemented onto a communication device), whereby the
video message initiation is a command that trigger the
pre-stored video prompt. Such a command may alternatively
trigger a GUI of the first communication device to invite
the user to record the video sequence.
In another embodiment, the stored video message
comprises an audio portion and a video portion, and the
video message transmitted to the second communication
device only comprises the audio portion of the video
message. This is especially advantageous when dealing
with mobile terminals adapted to different communication
standards. An example is the case where the transmitting
first communication device is a 3G mobile phone, and the
receiving second communication device is a 2G mobile
phone. Here, it is necessary to only deliver the voice
portion of the video message as the 2G mobile phone might
be incapable of displaying a video sequence.
Accordingly, it is possible to automatically select
if the delivered video message should only include the
audio portion, allow the user of the second communication
device to select if he wants to receive only the audio
portion, and/or inform the user of the first
. = ..,
. , = t;; t % '. ,+ i + ih.
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
6
communication device that the second communication device
is incapable of displaying a video sequence, such that
the user can take appropriate measures. Furthermore, it
would be possible to only include still images extracted
from the video portion of the video message when
providing the video message to the second communication
device.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if the notification
of the video message is in the form of an SMS message, an
MMS message, a WAP-push message, or a similar
standardized message. In such a case, the SMS message at
least contains instructions of how to retrieve the video
message, such as the address to the messaging server
storing the video message.
According to another aspect of the present invention
there is provided a messaging server for a communication
network, the messaging server comprising means for
receiving a request from a first communication device for
sending a video message intended for a second
communication device, means for transmitting a video
message initiation to the first communication device,
means for receiving a live feed video signal from the
first communication device, means for storing the
received video signal as a video message, means for, for
each video message, transmitting a notification of the
video message to the second communication device, and
means for upon receipt of a request from the second
communication device for receiving the video message,
transmitting the video message to the second
communication device.
The messaging server provides for, in a similar
manner as describe above, a user with limited knowledge
of messaging to transmit a video message to an intended
recipient in a more convenient manner than according to
prior art.
Furthermore, the messaging server as described above
might together with at least a first and a second
. .. .r. ,_ .... r...;,~., = ....~. a
L....-. _. ,, i..%:'~..:~:: T=~... i1:i_c ......... ........_.._. .._.
...._v........ .._......
._...,õ. ;..:.- õ-. ... _ _- .
. , . ,. ..-. .. ! t
. .::.'._: A,_;..- ..._ _ ... _, .... _ .. . -. . . . : .. .
... . ` . t - _
__f'=".a.. . .~ . .... ' . ,. . ~ . 1 C ,. .,..,
. .. ..... . . w.._t:.::. .-. :'-.;.
... '....';.= .... õ .. .... --
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
7
communication device form part of a mobile communication
system.
Additionally, the above-mentioned and other objects
of the present invention are achieved through a computer
program adapted to run on a messaging server according to
the present invention.
According to a still further aspect of the present
invention there is provided a computer program product
comprising a computer readable medium having stored
thereon computer program means for causing a computer to
provide a messaging service, wherein the computer program
product comprises code for receiving a request from a
first communication device for sending a video message
intended for a second communication device, code for
transmitting a video message initiation to the first
communication device, code for receiving a live feed
video signal from the first communication device, code
for storing the received video signal as a video message,
code for transmitting a notification of the video
message, for each video message, to the second
communication device, and code for upon receipt of a
request from the second communication device for
receiving the video message, transmitting the video
message to the second communication device.
The computer is preferably a messaging server, and
the computer readable medium is one of a removable non-
volatile random access memory, a hard disk drive, a
floppy disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a similar computer
readable medium known in the art.
Brief description of the drawings
These and other aspects of the present invention
will now be described in more detail, with reference to
the appended drawings showing currently preferred
embodiments of the invention, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a mobile
communication system comprising a plurality of mobile
a,..= ., ., .-.,,;= ... ,_~~;:~.
~.... _._-..:> ,._ .. .
......-
^.. . : ,.~, .; ,.;. ~_ , .=: . ''* r ' r =. .- .
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
8
terminals and a messaging server adapted to perform a
messaging method according the present invention; and
Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the method
steps according the present invention.
Detailed description of the preferred embodiments '
The present invention will now be described more
fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying
drawings, on which currently preferred embodiments of the
invention are shown. This invention may, however, be
embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;
rather, these embodiment are provided for thoroughness
and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the
invention to the skilled addressee.
Referring now to the drawings and to figure 1 in
particular, there is depicted a mobile communication
system 100 comprising two base stations 102, 104 in
connection with a messaging server 106. Each of the base
stations 102, 104 are each connected with two different
mobile terminals 108, 110, and 112, 114, respectively.
The skilled addressee understands that it is possible to
include more than the illustrated number of mobile
terminals and base stations. The mobile terminals 108,
110, 112, 114 may be different types of mobile terminals,
such as for example a combination of mobile phones,
personal computers, laptops, PDAs (Personal Digital
Assistants), and other communication devices with a user
interface and a capability of connecting to one of the
base stations 102, 104. Generally, a communication device
used in a mobile communication system 100 according to
the present invention comprises a camera, such as a video
camera, for recording a video sequence.
Generally, the connections between the mobile
terminals 108, 110, and 112, 114 and the base stations
102, 104, and the connections between the base stations
102, 104 and the messaging server 106 are wireless
:........:.:..:. ... ...
....
.,...::-....... . . :.:.:,; : . - x
_... -. >.. . . ... rn
,. õ .
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
9
connections, such as a mobile communication network
configured in accordance to the GSM or CDMA (Code
Division Multiple Access) standard. Another example ca-n
be a WiFi/GSM combination, GSM/WiFi (WiMAX, UWB, etc.) or
a WiFi adapted IP network
As understood by the skilled addressee, it is of
course possible to apply the invention in a mobile
communication system 100 configured to conform with
different wireless communication standards. Furthermore,
the connection between the base stations 102, 104 and the
messaging server 106 can be wired communications, in a
similar manner as a connection between the messaging
server 106 and a PSTN 116 (Publicly Switched Telephone
Network). Alternatively, the messaging server 106 can be
connected directly to a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN
(Wide Area Network), or the Internet.
According to the present embodiment, the messaging
server 106 comprises means for performing a messaging
method according to the present invention. The messaging
method is described in more detail below in relation to
figure 2.
Furthermore, the messaging server 106 can comprise
processing means (not shown) such as a controller
including a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a
programmable digital signal processor or another
programmable device. The processing means can also be
provided by a multi purpose server computer. As an
alternative, a messaging server 106 can be incorporated
with one or both of the base stations 102, 104, and
adapted to use the processing means included in a base
station for performing the messaging method.
By way of example, the operational steps Sl - S8
preformed in a mobile communication system 100 for
sending a video message from a communication device to
another communication device, e.g. between mobile
terminal 110 and mobile terminal 112, are illustrated in
figure 2.
, _. ~ . :; .. , r.a..,... .a . ,
, ..
. , . .
, . .. . _.. , t. .. ..
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
In step S1, the messaging server 106 awaits-a
request from the mobile terminal 110 for sending a video
message to an intended recipient, i.e. the mobile
terminal 112. When the messaging server 106 receives the
5 request, information comprised in the request is
extracted and analyzed by the messaging server. In one
implementation, the user of the mobile terminal 110 can
simply include a prefix preceding the mobile phone
number of the intended recipient (i.e. mobile terminal
10 112). If for example the mobile phone number of the
recipient is `0707-555666', and the prefix is `*', the
complete request transmitted from the mobile terminal 110
to the messaging server 106 is simply `*0707-555666'. In
this case, the messaging server recognize the prefix,
`*', stores the mobile phone number of the recipient,
`0707-555666', and proceeds to step S2. The request might
also include a control command regarding e.g. delivery
options, etc.
In step S2, the messaging server 106 transmits a
video message initiation in the form of a video prompt to
the mobile terminal 110 in response to the received
request. As mentioned above, the video message initiation
can also, or instead, activate a user interface of the
mobile terminal 110, or trigger a pre-stored video prompt
stored locally onto the mobile terminal 110, such as for
example with an intelligent client implemented onto a
communication device. Such an intelligent client might be
implemented using for example platform independent
technology, such as Java or similar. Furthermore, it
would be possible to include more information with the
video prompt, such as for example short commercial video
advertisements, or similarly. Alternatively, an audio
message and optionally a still image can be transmitted
to the mobile terminal 110. The video prompt preferably
includes a short, 5 - 10 seconds, instruction to the user
of the mobile terminal 110 on how to record a video
sequence.
___ ,.. .. ..:5 ~ a. . . . . ~7_..~...._ . ...,... .... . . ... .. . ... ....
.... .
^
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
11
In step S3, upon being presented with the video
prompt, the user of the mobile terminal 110 records the
video message, and the video message is transmitted to
the messaging server 106 that receives the video sequence
as a live feed video signal. The video sequence is not
stored locally onto the mobile terminal 110, but is
instead transmitted directly to the messaging server 106.
However, in some cases it might be necessary to cache a
small portion of the video signal onto the mobile
terminal 110. The size of such a cache memory comprised
in a mobile terminal could be adapted in accordance with
the communication method used by the mobile communication
system 100.
In step S4, the video signal transmitted from the
mobile terminal 110 to the messaging server 106 is stored
onto the messaging server 106. For the purpose of storing
a plurality of video messages, and other information, the
messaging server 106 is provided with a computer writable
media, such as a hard-drive or similar writable media as
known by the skilled addressee. The server generally
organizes the video message from the mobile terminal 110
together with the related control command and the mobile
phone number of the intended recipient. The organization
is preferably done using a database structure.
In step S5, the messaging server 106 transmits a
notification of the stored video message to the intended
recipient, i.e. mobile terminal 112. The messaging server
106 generally always transmits a notification to the
mobile terminal 112. However, communication errors might
of course, as understood by the skilled addressee, stop
the notification from arriving at the mobile terminal
112. The notification of a video message is preferably
sent as an SMS message, an SMS message, an MMS message, a
WAP-push message, or a similar standardized message, and
preferably at least includes information on how to
receive the video message. Alternatively, the type of
method used for delivering a notification of a video
.. ... ~s ~. : : _ . . , _r i . ~ . . ....... <.. . . . ,.. ,
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
12
message can depend on the control command provided by the
user of the mobile terminal 110.
In step S6, the messaging server 106 awaits a
request from the mobile terminal 112 for receiving the
video message stored onto the messaging server 106. A
user of the mobile terminal 112 is given the option to
ignore the notification message. If the user of the
mobile terminal 112 ignores, or similarly, the
notification message, the messaging server completes in
step S8. However, if the user of the mobile terminal 112
instead follows the instructions in the notification
message, and sends a request to the messaging server 106
for receiving the video message, the messaging server
continues to step S7.
In step S7, the messaging server 106 transmits the
video message to the mobile terminal 112. The video
message is transmitted as a streaming video signal, such
as a live feed video signal. Thus, it is not necessary to
store the video message locally onto the mobile terminal
112. However, it might be possible to give the user of
the mobile terminal 112 the option to store the video
message locally onto the mobile terminal 112. As
described in relation to step S2, it would be possible to
include a short commercial video advertisement with the
delivered video message.
After the complete video message is transmitted to
the mobile terminal 112, or the user of the mobile
terminal 112 decides to end the reception/downloading of
the video message, or due to communication errors, the
messaging server completes in step S8.
However, it is possible to provide the user= of the
mobile terminal 112 with the option to reply to the video
message. In such a case the user of the mobile terminal
112 provides a new request for transmitting a new video
message to a new intended recipient (i.e. mobile terminal
110 when replying to the video message). It would also be
possible to include multiple recipients when replying to
. , ,
.:: .,. . .,. , ,.:..
. . , . ._. a . ... . .. . . .,
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
13
a video message, or generally when transmitting a video
message. Furthermore, it can be possible to forward a
video message, and perform similar functions with the
video message as when sending an email message.
In conclusion, there is according to the present
invention provided a messaging method, in a communication
network, between a first communication device and a
second communication device. The video message is
generally not stored locally onto the communication
device (except for a small caching), resulting in the
possibility to lower memory and processing constrains
associated with the communication device.
It is important to note that while the present
invention has been described in the context of a
messaging server method, the skilled addressee will
appreciate that the processes of the present invention
are capable of being distributed in the form of a
computer readable medium of instructions and a variety of
forms and that the present invention applies equally
regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media
actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of
computer readable media include recordable-type media,
such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a RAM, CD-ROMs,
DVD-ROM's, and transmission-type media, such as digital
and analog communications links, wired or wireless
communications links using transmission forms, such as,
for example, radio frequency and light wave
transmissions. The computer readable media may take the
form of coded formats that are decoded for actual use in
a particular data processing system
Furthermore, the skilled addressee skilled in the
art realizes that the present invention by no means is
limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On
the contrary, many modifications and variations are
possible within the scope of the appended claims. For
example, it is possible to include multi-modal
functionalities with the messaging server, such as for
_ ,. .
CA 02616414 2007-12-24
14
example a grammar-based speech engine for recognizing a
speech command provided by a user of a mobile terminal,
and transmitted to the messaging server. Furthermore, it
is possible to provide for the possibility to only
deliver an audio portion of the video message to the
intended recipient. This is for example advantageous when
sending a video message to a communication device
incapable of rendering a video sequence, or when a high
speed communication network is not available (e.g.
switching between 3G and 2G mobile communication
standards).
,. , , . . =;;,:;::, , . .<. ...., ,~ .. _ .
