Abstract:
A method and system for storing and sending multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages is provided which allows a called party to receive a video message even though he may not have the capability to receive video. In an embodiment of the invention, the called party, who may have the capability to receive video messages but is unable to do so at that time because the telephone is busy, not answering or not switched on to receive calls, may retrieve the video message being sent to him.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from Israeli Application Number 167484, filed Mar. 16, 2005 and which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for storing and sending multimedia messaging service (mms) messages.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In modern telephony telephone subscribers can communicate not only by voice and text but also by a video. There are many devices that enable video calls between two or more parties. In some modern telephones there are built-in digital cameras that enable for two or more owners of such telephones subscribers of carriers providing the service to make a video calls or videoconference. One major obstacle of video calls is that many people do not have handsets that equipped with video capabilities. The second is that the called party might be busy or he is not answering or he is out of a reception area of this service  
         [0004]     MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service, a technology that allows you to create, send, and receive text messages that also include an image, audio, and/or video clip. MMS messages may be sent from one mobile phone to another, or to an email address and is frequently used to send photos and videos.  
         [0005]     MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) is a descendent of SMS (Short Messaging Service). MMS extends text messaging to include longer text, graphics, photos, audio clips, video clips, or any combination of the above, within certain size limits.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention allows a called party to receive a video message even though he may not have the capability to receive video. In an embodiment of the invention, the called party, who may have the capability to receive video messages via his telephone, for example, but is unable to do so at that time because the telephone is busy, not answering or not switched on to receive calls, may retrieve the video message being sent to him. In another embodiment of the invention, the transmitted video clip may be captured, stored, and then sent to the called person by other communication means such as e-mail or interactive television (ITV), for example. In a further embodiment of the invention, the stored video message may also be retrieved by a called party.  
         [0007]     There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a method for storing, sending and retrieving multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages. The method includes the steps of:  
         [0008]     routing missed or unanswered telephone calls to an unified video mail server;  
         [0009]     storing a message from the caller at the unified video mail server, the message includes at least one of a group of messages including text, voice and video messages;  
         [0010]     notifying the called party that at least one message has been received from the caller; and  
         [0011]     forwarding the stored message to the called party.  
         [0012]     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method further includes the step of identifying the telephone numbers of the caller and the called party from the signaling system.  
         [0013]     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method further includes the step of converting a video image or clip into a video file compression format; and storing the compressed video file.  
         [0014]     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the step of notifying includes the step of sending an SMS message via a SMS Center in the telephone switch or via MWI notification (Message Waiting Indicator) to a telephone associated with the called party. Alternatively, the step of notifying includes the step of sending the message to the e-mail address associated with the called party.  
         [0015]     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the step of notifying also includes the step of attaching any of a group of files including a wave file, photograph and video file with a text message.  
         [0016]     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the step of notifying also includes the step of storing any of a group of file attachments on a dedicated web site for retrieval by the called party.  
         [0017]     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method further includes the step of the unified video mail server forwarding the message to a interactive television center (ITVC).  
         [0018]     In addition, the method may further includes the steps of:  
         [0019]     the ITVC storing the received message;  
         [0020]     entering details of the message in a database file associated with the called party; and directly broadcasting a notification to the television set of the called party that a message has been received for the called party.  
         [0021]     The step of broadcasting may include the step of transmitting an overlay message via satellite or cable.  
         [0022]     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method may further include the steps of:  
         [0023]     the called party requesting details of the incoming messages; and  
         [0024]     the ITVC transmitting the messages selected for viewing.  
         [0025]     The step of requesting details may include the step of communicating with the ITVC via cable or via a dedicated telephone line.  
         [0026]     In addition, there is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a method for sending SMS (Short Messaging Service) messages includes the steps of:  
         [0027]     routing the SMS message to an unified mail server;  
         [0028]     the unified video mail server forwarding the message to an interactive television center (ITVC); and  
         [0029]     the ITVC broadcasting a notification to the television set of the called party that a SMS message has been received for the called party.  
         [0030]     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method may further include the steps of:  
         [0031]     the ITVC storing the SMS message; and  
         [0032]     entering details of the message in a database file associated with the called party.  
         [0033]     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method may further include the steps of:  
         [0034]     the called party requesting details of the SMS messages; and  
         [0035]     the ITVC transmitting the messages selected for viewing.  
         [0036]     Additionally, there is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a system for storing and sending multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages which includes a router for routing missed or unanswered telephone calls, an unified video mail server in communication with the router; the unified video mail server includes at least one storage device for storing a message from the caller, a notifier for notifying the called party that a message has been received from the caller; and a forwarding device for forwarding the stored message to the called party.  
         [0037]     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the unified video mail server further includes at least one of a group including a voice mail server and a video mail server.  
         [0038]     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the unified video mail server further includes a video converter and a storage device for converting and compressing and storing video messages.  
         [0039]     Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the system further includes an interactive television center (ITVC) in communication with the unified video mail server. The ITVC includes a controller, a client database in communication with the controller and a file storage device in communication with the controller. The ITVC is configured to transmit messages received from the unified mail server to the Interactive Television of the called party.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0040]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a system for storing, sending and retrieving Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a schematic flow chart illustration of the communication of a video call according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a prior art mail server for use for storing, sending and retrieving text messages;  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of a unified video mail server for use for storing, sending and retrieving video messages;  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a schematic flow chart illustration of the communication of an unanswered or missed video call to the called person, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a television center&#39;s voice/video mail server;  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustration of the transmission and retrieval of the text and/or video message to the called person&#39;s TV; and  
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustration of the forwarding of a SMS message to the TV set of a called party via an unified mail server.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0048]     Reference is made to  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a system for storing, sending and retrieving Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a schematic high level flow chart illustration of the communication of a video call utilizing the system of  FIG. 1 . The term ‘video’ is used herein to refer to the transmission of either still or moving images including photographs or video clips.  
         [0049]     Generally, when a person (caller  50 ), using an instrument having photographic or video capabilities, wishes to make a video call or transmit a photograph or video clip to a third party (the called party  52 ), the call is routed via the telephony switch  104  to the called party  52 . The call may be any video call such as a from a video cellular phone  54  via a cellular switch  56  or from a video phone  58 , such as used for video conferencing via a PSTN  60 .  
         [0050]     In the present invention, if the call is not received because the called person cannot receive photographic images or video or because the called person telephone is busy or not answering, for example), the call may be routed to the unified video mail server  100 . As described below in greater detail, the video call is converted into a compressed format to be forwarded via Internet  62 , to the called person email box  64  by email server  66  or to his interactive television (ITV)  68  via an ITV server  70 .  
         [0051]     If the called party  52  has video capabilities (query box  52 ) and is available to receive the call (query box  110 ), the call and the transfer of video images is effected and communicated to the called person  52  until the call is completed ( 112 ).  
         [0052]     If the called party does not have video capabilities (query box  52 ), the call is returned to the telephony switch  104  (link  114 ) and routed to the unified video mail server  100  (link  118 ). Similarly, if the called person is unavailable (busy or not answering, for example) (query box  110 ), the call is also returned to the telephony switch  104  (link  120 ) and routed to the video mail server  100  (link  118 ). Thus, in contrast to existing systems in which the video message is ‘lost’, the present invention allows the video call to be stored for transmittal to the called party, as will be described hereinbelow.  
         [0053]     As shown in the schematic block diagram of  FIG. 3 , to which reference is now made, a standard mail server  150  generally comprises a controller  152  connected to a Digital Signal Processing (DSP) or any other Computer Telephone Interface (CTI) card  154 , a database  156  and a message storage device  158 .  
         [0054]     Whenever a caller tries to call a subscriber of the mail service and the called party (subscriber) is unavailable, the switch transfers the call to the mail server  150 . The mail server  150  can identify the telephone numbers of the caller and called party  160  from the signaling system  162  (SS7, PRI, SIP or H.324 or any other signaling system, known in the art). Upon receiving the call from the switch  162 , the mail server uses the database to identify the called party and play the appropriate prompt and may request the caller to leave a message. The message is stored on a hard disk or any other storage device  158 . The mail server may then notify the called party&#39;s handset that the subscriber has a message by sending a SMS via SMSC (SMS—Center) in the switch or via MWI notification (Message Waiting Indicator) using a signaling system such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) or TCAP any other similar technique, known in the art.  
         [0055]     In a further embodiment, the mail server  150  may send a message to the subscriber&#39;s e-mail address (if the address is registered with the mail server). When a call is routed to the mail server, the software may associate, through a look-up table or database (such as SQL, available from by Microsoft Corporation Inc), the appropriate e-mail address of the called telephone owner. The incoming message is converted to a wave attachment utilizing the wave device associated with application software such as TAPI (Telephone Application Program Interface), for example, or directly using the Wave API (Application Program Interface). An e-mail with the attached wave file may then be sent via the Internet to the e-mail address associated with the called telephone.  
         [0056]     In a yet further embodiment, the voice and video message may also be send to the called party&#39;s television set (TV) by storing it in appropriate format, such as MPEG 4, or similar, known in the art, for example at ITV server (interactive TV center).  
         [0057]     Though the example of  FIG. 3  refers to the called party being a subscriber of the unified mail server, the invention is not limited thereby but, as will be appreciated by persons knowledgeable in the art, a ‘virtual’ message maybe sent to the called party&#39;s telephone (the number being known from the signaling system) advising the called party that the caller has a text and/or video message for him.  
         [0058]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 , which is a schematic illustration of the unified video mail server, generally designated  100 . Unified video mail server  100  comprises a server for handling moving video and still photographic images  170  and a server for handling voice mail  172 . In an alternative embodiment, the video server and voice server may be combined in a single server. Voice mail server  172  is similar to mail server  150 , described hereinabove with respect to  FIG. 3  and will not be described further.  
         [0059]     The unified video mail server  100  further comprises a video converter  174  and storage device  176  for converting and storing the photographic and/or video files, respectively, connected to a controller  178 .  
         [0060]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 5 , which is a schematic flow chart illustration of the communication of an unanswered or missed video call to the called person, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0061]     When a video call is received at the unified video mail server  100 , having been rerouted by the telephony switch  104  (step  120 ), the unified video mail server  100  opens a communication session (step  121 ) with the video caller  102 . The caller  102  is invited to transmit a text message which may include an image, such as photograph from his mobile camera or video clip. The text message may be converted to a wave file, using wave API technology known in the art, for example.  
         [0062]     The video image or clip may be converted using video converter  174  into a video file compression format (step  122 ), such as Audio Visual Interleave (AVI) by Microsoft Corporation or MPEG2 or MPEG4 (Moving Pictures Experts Group), for example, or similar known in the art file format. Any suitable compressed format that is highly flexible that enables storing and streaming audio and video may be utilized, and that may be run over networks like the Internet is suitable. Similarly, photographic images may be converted into JPEG or Bitmap files or similar, as is known in the art.  
         [0063]     The video file may then be stored (step  124 ) within the video store  176  for later retrieval and transmission, using video storage technology, known in the art. For example, the files may be compressed and stored using the operating system (such as Unix or Linux, for example) of the video storage server.  
         [0064]     The pertinent details of the video file and call session, including contact details of the caller and the called person, may then be entered into a database (step  126 ) to close the session (step  128 ).  
         [0065]     A notification may then be sent to the called person  52  (step  130 ) using either SMS or MWI notification. The text message together with the video file may be sent either via email or to the called party&#39;s interactive television set (ITV).  
         [0066]     If the called person  52  has an email address that has been registered with the mail server (query box  132 ), the email may be sent with a video file attachment (step  134 ), as is known in the art.  
         [0067]     Alternatively, if the called person  52  is a registered user with an interactive TV (query box  136 ), the video clip may be sent directly to the ITV server (step  138 ), where the message can be stored for onward transmission to the called party, as will be described below.  
         [0068]     Alternatively, if the called person  52  is not a registered user with an interactive TV (query box  136 ), but is SMS/MMS OR MWI compatible (query box  140 ), a message may be sent with a video file attachment (step  142 ), as is known in the art.  
         [0069]     In an alternative embodiment, the photographic image or video clip may be stored on a dedicated web site. The notification may direct the called party to the web site, as is known in the art, where the photographic image and/or voice and video mail may be accessed via the Internet.  
         [0070]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 6 , which is a schematic illustration of a interactive television center&#39;s (ITVC) voice/video mail server  200  and the forwarding of video messages to cable subscribers. The voice/video mail server  200  comprises at least one voice and video storage device  202  and a client database  204  containing details of subscribers connected to a processor  206 .  
         [0071]     Voice/video clips and messages which are received from the unified video mail server  100  are stored in the voice and video storage device  202 . Software may associate, through the client database  204 , the appropriate address of the called party. As is known in the art, each digital cable subscriber has an individually recognizable smart card device or similar device which enables the television company to transmit the specific television programs for which the client has subscribed. The subscriber may select programs (within his subscription package), via a remote control, which is generally only specifically associated with the subscriber&#39;s television set.  
         [0072]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 7  which is flow chart illustration of the transmission and retrieval of the text and/or video message to the called person&#39;s ITV (interactive television).  
         [0073]     Voice messages and/or video clips which have been sent by the unified video mail server  100  are received at the ITV center (ITVC) (step  250 ) and stored (step  252 ) within the file storage device  202  until transmitted, using video storage technology, known in the art. The details of the message, including details of the caller and time of the message, for example, associated with the called person (subscriber) are entered into the client database (step  254 ).  
         [0074]     A notification may then be transmitted to the TV of the subscriber (called person) (step  256 ) in the form of an overlay on the television program being transmitted at the time, using technology known in the art. For example, the overlay may be in the form of an envelope (indicating a message(s) received) together with instructions for viewing the message(s). The subscriber may request details of the incoming messages (step  258 ). The ITVC transmits details of the messages (in the form of an overlay, for example) which may be viewed, such as name of sender, date and time of message, for example (step  260 ).  
         [0075]     The subscriber may select from the available options, such as selecting a message to view, paging up or down or exiting (step  262 ). If a message is selected (query box  264 ), the ITVC may transmit the message in the form of text or voice and transit the video clip (if applicable) (step  266 ), using one of the methods known in the art, such as streaming or file transfer.  
         [0076]     In an alternative embodiment, where the called person receives television transmissions via satellite from the ITVC, messages and/or video clips may be transmitted in a similar manner. However, in this case, since the subscriber is unable to communicate with the ITVC via satellite, the interaction between the satellite TV subscriber and the ITVC may be through a separate telephone line. That is, instructions from the subscriber to the ITVC will be sent by telephone while the ITVC may transmit the messages and overlays as described hereinabove with reference to  FIG. 6 .  
         [0077]     In a further embodiment of the invention, the television may be utilized as a means for sending SMS messages. SMS messages are commonly sent between cellular phones. A person wishing to send a SMS message to a party not having a cellular telephone or not being contactable by telephone may instead send a SMS message directly to the called party&#39;s television set. The method is similar to the method described above for forwarding video messages to the interactive TV (ITV) of a called party.  
         [0078]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 8 , which is a flow chart illustration of the forwarding of a SMS message to the ITV set of a called party via an unified mail server.  
         [0079]     The caller prepares and sends an SMS message to the called party (step  302 ). If the called party cannot receive a SMS message (query box  304 ), the message is routed to the unified mail server (step  306 ).  
         [0080]     Alternatively, the caller may send the SMS message directly, via a dedicated telephone number, to the unified mail server (step  307 ). In the latter case, the caller would add details of the called party, such as his telephone number, as a header to the SMS message, for forwarding.  
         [0081]     The unified mail server may then send the SMS message with details of the caller and called party to the ITV center (step  308 ), where the message may be stored (step  310 ) until transmitted. The details of the message, including details of the caller and time of the message, for example, associated with the called person (subscriber) are entered into the client database (step  312 ).  
         [0082]     A notification may then be transmitted to the ITV of the subscriber (called person) (step  314 ) in the form of an overlay on the television program being transmitted at the time, as described hereinabove, using technology known in the art. The subscriber may request details of the incoming messages (step  316 ). The ITV Center transmits details of the SMS messages (in the form of an overlay, for example) which may be viewed, such as name of sender, date and time of message, for example (step  318 ).  
         [0083]     While the invention has been described with respect to embodiments, it will be appreciated that these are set forth merely for purposes of example, and that variations and applications can be made. Many other variations, modifications and applications of the invention will also be apparent to those skilled in this field.