Abstract:
Unwanted picture or video images are inhibited from being displayed by wireless communication devices based on the identity of the message originator, be that identity a phone number, an e-mail address, a website, a blocked message originator identification signal, the absence of a message originator identifier associated with the wireless picture message, or an electronic serial number of the message originator&#39;s device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/059,121 filed Feb. 16, 2005, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/033,824 filed Dec. 19, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/726,024 filed Oct. 4, 1996, which claims rights under 35USC119 to Provisional Patent Application 60/005,029 filed Oct. 6, 1995, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/177,851 filed Jan. 5, 1994, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to wireless devices and more particularly to the ability to eliminate the display of unwanted picture and video images. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    With the advent of wireless devices and more particularly advanced cellular phones, laptop computers, PDAs and wireless picture frames, there is a necessity to prevent unwanted wireless video and picture images from being displayed. These video images for instance can be from unknown sources or can contain objectionable material such as advertising or pornographic material. Access via wireless links to various devices that can display such images permits access to these devices from websites, cellular phones, cameras, computers or computer tablets including PDAs which information is pushed from these devices to the particular wireless device. In today&#39;s parlance these unwanted messages are called spam. 
         [0004]    These unwanted messages and data are described by the inventor hereof in his prior patents and patent applications. In co-pending application Ser. No. 11/134,669 filed May 19, 2005, claiming rights under 35USC119 to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/005,029 filed Oct. 6, 1995, as early as 1995 the ability to selectively display picture data based on the identity of the entity transmitting the data is described. The entity transmitting the data, i.e. the message originator, is identified either alphanumerically as by a telephone number or by other identifying means such as e-mail addresses, device serial numbers and websites. 
         [0005]    It is noted that in this patent application Caller ID is utilized to identify the message originator noting that while the above noted application was primarily presented in a paging or cellular environment, the identity of the calling party along with any optional data message such as a voice, text or image message were to be received by the called party&#39;s personal communicator. 
         [0006]    In the present context the called party&#39;s personal communicator is a wireless phone, PDA, wireless picture frame, computer or other device which obtains the picture and video image wirelessly. 
         [0007]    Clearly identified in this patent application were the existence of telephone numbers, e-mail addresses or the like to provide message originator identity. 
         [0008]    Note that in this prior patent application, the recipient could determine in advance at a message center or from within the wireless device which message originators they wish to receive wireless picture or video messages from. Any message originators not having the identity that matches the pre-stored preferences at the message center or from within the wireless device would not be able to cause a signal to be transmitted or displayed. 
         [0009]    In the context of the subject invention, if the signal is not transmitted or transmittable then the unwanted message is not displayed. 
         [0010]    Note in the above patent application that e-mail information received at a message center could be used alternatively as caller identifying information, with  FIGS. 6A and 6B  summarizing one embodiment of this concept. 
         [0011]    Key to the ability to eliminate unwanted wireless picture and video in this early patent application is the coincidence detection within a message center in which picture and video data could be selectively transmitted to the message recipient based on a comparator at the message center that analyzes the source identity of the message originator with pre-stored user preferences determined in advance by the message recipient. 
         [0012]    Moreover, coincidence detection was said to be available within a wireless portable communication device in which data representative of the identity of the message originator could be used at the portable communication device of the message recipient. In this case the wireless portable communication device would employ a coincidence detector that generates a number of notification events in response to a match with pre-stored data or user preferences compared against the caller identity data received. It is said in this patent application that a coincidence detection could inhibit any associated message transmitted from a message center from being reviewed by the message recipient at the personal communicator device. 
         [0013]    What is therefore eminently understandable is that as early as 1995 the patent application from which this application derives its early filing date described what is now known as spam filtering in wireless devices, especially as it relates to video and picture images. 
         [0014]    With the advent of disparate personal communication devices such as wireless picture frames which are viewable by many, or in fact by the transmission of videos and picture images to wireless phones, it is important that the user of the wireless phone be able to eliminate unwanted pictures and video. It is also important to be able to provide a mechanism by which someone in authority can limit, for instance the transmission of pornographic information to selected recipients, which pornographic or advertising information can be generated from those unknown to the recipient, such as from websites and from spammers who broadcast the offensive material to all of the cell phone numbers that they can identify. 
         [0015]    Additionally, the dissemination of sexually explicit materials, now called “sexting” has reached proportions which are alarming to parents and authorities who wish to protect children from the harmful effects of pornographic information being transmitted to their individual wireless devices. Additionally, adults may not wish to have this offensive or objectionable material sent to their devices both because it is unwanted in the sense of its content, and also because it is unwanted due to the frequency with which such picture and video messages are sent out. Thirdly, these images can constitute unwanted advertising. 
         [0016]    Thus, with the advent of picture messaging there has been an increase in social problems related to this application, meaning that the sending of certain pictures and video has resulted in unwanted receipt of images by the recipient. 
         [0017]    Taking for example a wireless picture frame that one wants to send a picture to, one has to have a device capable of sending a picture. That transmission that is ultimately sent or intended to be sent to the wireless picture frame of necessity includes at least two components. It will include the picture data itself and it will include some alphanumeric textual identifier that is typically either the phone number used or associated with the message originator, or an e-mail address that may or may not include phone number information. Moreover, it might be other information such as a website address or in fact the number associated with the device used in transmitting the images. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0018]    It is the purpose of the subject invention to take information that is associated with the picture or video image that identifies the message originator and to utilize this information to inhibit the display of picture or video image at the wireless communication device. In one embodiment inhibiting image display includes coincidence detection that may be contained within the wireless communication device, or can be used at a message center within the wireless network or elsewhere to inhibit unwanted images from being displayed on the wireless communication device. 
         [0019]    As will be appreciated, coincidence detection can rely on rules that are established by the message recipient, either at his or her communication device or at a message center itself. Thus either at the wireless communication device or at the message center, it is the textual data associated with the picture or video data that is detected and is matched with pre-stored user preference data, which is in one embodiment a listing of undesirable message originators. When coincidence is detected then a transmission to the wireless communication device or display at the wireless communication device is selectively inhibited. 
         [0020]    There are two types of systems in which picture and video messages are transmitted wirelessly to a wireless device. The first uses a network which includes a message center that stores the picture or video message data and transmits it to the wireless communication device. Even in the case of streaming technologies, message centers operate as a buffer for the video or picture information. 
         [0021]    On the other hand, it is possible to store the video or picture information in a computer and transmit it from the message originating computer to the wireless handset without going through a server. This includes Bluetooth systems and infrared systems which involve point-to-point communication. 
         [0022]    Regardless of whether there is a message center or server involved, the picture and video images are tagged or associated in some manner with the message originator information. 
         [0023]    Thus, if one can identify the source of the video or picture image one can inhibit it from being displayable at the wireless communication device. Such identity can be ascertained before the device displays the image by comparing the identification information with a preloaded list of acceptable message originators or alternatively a preloaded list of prohibited message originators. 
         [0024]    In the case that a message center is employed, this message center can be a multimedia service message center or MMS message center, as described more fully in the 3GPP MMS Multimedia Messaging Service G. W. E Nael, Le Bodic, John Wiley &amp; Sons LTD, 2003, incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0025]    The MMS message center need not necessarily be on the wireless network, but can be for instance a Master MMS center at for instance a person&#39;s home or business which is then utilized to distribute via Bluetooth or 802.11 wireless communication the received image to various Slave devices that include wireless picture frames. Thus, one could for instance, at a given locale, have Master multimedia router or distributor at which the spam filtering provided by the subject invention can be housed. Thus, the Master multimedia device, which can display the images itself, can provide the inhibiting function, not only to the display of the images it receives, but also to inhibit images from being distributed. 
         [0026]    Additionally, it is a feature of the subject invention that when the picture or picture message has no associated source identification information then either no picture messages are sent to the wireless device, or if sent, the wireless device is inhibited from displaying such picture or picture message. 
         [0027]    In summary, unwanted picture or video images are inhibited from being displayed by wireless communication devices based on the identity of the message originator, be that identity a phone number, an e-mail address, a website, a blocked message originator identification signal, the absence of a message originator identifier associated with the wireless picture message, or an electronic serial number of the message originator&#39;s device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    These and other features of the subject invention will be better understood in connection with the Detailed Description, in conjunction with the Drawings, of which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of the use of a wireless picture frame at an individual&#39;s desk indicating the receipt of an unwanted spam image at the picture frame; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2   a  is a diagrammatic illustration of the subject invention in which a spam inhibit filter is interposed between a wireless transceiver in a message recipient&#39;s wireless device and the display on the device for the purpose of inhibiting display of unwanted picture images through the utilization of an ID list created by the message recipient reflecting acceptable message originators, with a comparison between the message originator and the ID list resulting in the inhibiting of unwanted images when no match is found; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2   b  is a diagrammatic illustration of the case in which a message center is involved showing the transmission of a spam image from a message originator to a message center which includes message storage and a filter for inhibiting the transmission of picture messages having originators which do not match with an ID list; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic illustration of a digital image network for wireless picture frames involving a message originator who transmits a picture message to a MMS message center within a cellular network, with the picture message being wirelessly transmitted, in one embodiment to a Master unit that in turn wirelessly transmits the picture image to a number of Slave devices, in one embodiment utilizing a Bluetooth network; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of the Master of  FIG. 3  that includes a display and a spam filter coupled to a controller for preventing the transmission of unwanted pictures to a number of Slave devices; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic illustration of the Master of  FIG. 4 , wherein the Master has a wire line receiver capable of receiving CATV, PSTN and other wire-line transmitted images, with the spam filter being able to inhibit wireless transmission of unwanted pictures to a number of Slaves; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic illustration of the Slave of either  FIG. 4  or  FIG. 5  usable as a digital picture frame, illustrating the ability to wirelessly receive picture message data from the Master; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing the transmission of a picture message from a message originator who enters the telephone number of a Master recipient device to which the picture is to be sent, with a message center receiving and storing the picture message and wirelessly transmitting the picture message to the Master where the picture message is received and displayed; and, 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating the receipt of an image transfer request from a Slave, for the accessing of the requested image in a Master memory and a wireless transmission of the requested image from the Master memory to a Slave or other external device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a wireless picture frame  10  is shown on a desk  12  such that an image  14  is readily viewable by a person in a chair  16 , or in fact by any one in the vicinity of the desk. In this case the screen displays unwanted spam which may be pornographic or otherwise undesirable. Note that having such pictures on a wireless picture frame may be embarrassing or offensive, or may pose other legal problems such as sexual harassment in a work environment. 
         [0039]    Most notably wireless picture frames are susceptible to addressing by spammers in which unwanted spam  18  is transmitted to the wireless picture frame whereupon without control of the message recipient the image is displayed, much to the annoyance and/or embarrassment of the individual owning the picture frame. 
         [0040]    While the subject system is described in connection with wireless picture frames, it will be appreciated that the receipt of unwanted picture or video images on any kind of device such as a wireless phone, PDA or the like can be both embarrassing and undesirable. Since the owner of such a device has no control over what is displayed on his device, such spamming is all the more objectionable. 
         [0041]    There therefore needs to be a simple system under the control of the message recipient to limit or inhibit unwanted image spam from being displayed on his or her device. 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 2   a , in one embodiment a spam image  20  is generated by a message originator  22  whose identity is known because of his or her telephone number, email address, alphanumeric information or website address. When the spam image is transmitted to wireless network  24 , that which is sent to the wireless network is not only the picture or video message, but also information corresponding to the identity of the source of the picture message, namely the message originator. 
         [0043]    Under normal circumstances the picture is transmitted via the wireless network to a wireless device  26  that includes a wireless message receiver  28 . The output of the message receiver is coupled to a spam filter  30  for inhibiting selected image spam. A preloaded ID list is coupled to filter  30  to identify which message originators are permitted to have their picture messages displayed. When wireless message receiver  28  attempts to output the picture message to a display  32 , spam filter  30  inhibits or prohibits the transmission of the image spam to display  32  for those picture messages whose message originators do not match those in the ID list. As an alternative feature of the invention herein, the message recipient can be required to enter a security code or pin that will allow the inhibited picture message to be seen. 
         [0044]    In this matter the spam filtering is accomplished at the recipient&#39;s device as opposed to being filtered at the network. 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 2   b , the spam may be filtered at a message center  40  of a network or as shown in a message center as depicted elsewhere in the parent application this application claims the benefit of. In this case spam image  20  has an associated message originator  22  as before, with the spam image having an associated image source identifier or message originator ID in terms of a telephone number, email address, alphanumeric tag, or website address. A storage device  42  in the network server stores the picture message and a filter  44  inhibits the transmission or display of picture messages over wireless network  24  when the message originator identifier does not match those in a preloaded ID list  46 , provided in one embodiment by the message recipient. Alternatively, a list of undesirable messages originator IDs may be provided. In this case an adaptation is contemplated in which only message originator identifiers that do match those in this undesirable id list result in the inhibiting of the transmission or display of the unwanted picture messages. 
         [0046]    The network is therefore responsible for wirelessly transmitting all picture messages to wireless device  50 , which in this case has a wireless message receiver  52  coupled directly to a display  54 . 
         [0047]    In this embodiment the message filtering or spam filtering is accomplished at the message center, such that with the provision by the message recipient of acceptable sources of picture data, it is the network that does the filtering as opposed to the wireless device. 
         [0048]    What will be seen is that what is provided is a method of inhibiting the display of unwanted pictures, be they still pictures, icons, graphics or video through the utilization of a filtering function that inhibits the display of images the source of which does not match a preloaded ID list. As mentioned earlier, an alternative embodiment contemplates that the display of unwanted pictures may be inhibited upon a coincidence detection between the received picture message source identification data and a preloaded list of undesirable message originators, either at the message center or from within the wireless portable communication device. This preloaded list may be recipient-generated or may be generated in some other manner such as by networks or other authorities. 
         [0049]    The subject system is especially useful in the prevention of unwanted pictures from arriving at digital picture frames. While digital picture frames may be direct coupled to a wireless network, in one embodiment and as shown in  FIG. 3 , an MMS message center  60  is wirelessly coupled to an MMS Master unit  62 , which in turn relays any picture message traffic to a number of Slave units  64 ,  66  and  68 , in one embodiment utilizing Bluetooth techniques. However, this Master/Slave relationship is not limited to Bluetooth transmissions, but may be for instance involve optically coupling or may use the 802.11 protocols. 
         [0050]    The picture message inhibit system of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  may be installed at either at MMS server  60  or at an MMS Master unit  62 , as well as for instance at Slave units  64 ,  66  and  68 . With the subject system it is possible to eliminate unwanted pictures from being displayed when the pictures are transmitted over a wireless network to a device which can display the pictures. 
         [0051]    Thus, as can be seen in  FIG. 3 , a picture phone  70  may be utilized to create or generate a picture message which is transmitted to an MMS message center  60  within a cellular network  72 , with the message originator information being captured by the MMS message center from the picture phone. 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment Master  62  may include a display  74  coupled to a controller  76  to which a spam filter  78  is coupled that has been provided with the aforementioned preloaded ID list, against which incoming messages with source identification is compared. Master  62  is provided with a user actuatable button  80  which can be utilized to selectively transmit out the picture messages to one or more Slaves  82 ,  84  and  86  through the utilization of a Bluetooth wireless transmitter  88  in one embodiment. 
         [0053]    As will be seen, both the Master units and the Slaves can be provided with user actuatable buttons, keyboards or the like to for instance specify what pictures are to be transmitted to what Slave and for the Slaves to be able to access selected picture messages from the Master. Thus, the Slaves can manually request updates, whereas the Master can be manually controlled to transmit only selected pictures to selected Slaves. Thus, as part of the subject invention there is manual control of the Master/Slave relationship so that for instance only certain Slaves are provided with recent wireless pictures. The manually controlled system also permits selecting which, if any, Slaves are to receive image transfers at all, whereas the Slaves may be manually controlled to request updates from the Master. 
         [0054]    Referring back to  FIG. 4 , the Master unit which itself can be a wireless picture frame, is provided in one embodiment with a wireless receiver  90 , the Bluetooth wireless transmitter  88  and a cellular wireless receiver  90 , with these modules being the major components of a wireless component  92 . Associated with Master  62  is a memory  94  and a controller module  96 . Memory  94  stores the incoming picture messages. However, the only images that are outputted are those sent from selected message originators as illustrated at  98 . The acceptable message originators are inputted in terms of the identification or ID of approved message originators entered at spam filter  78 . Incoming picture messages and IDs are coupled through controller  76  to memory  94  and then to unit  98  which controls which picture messages can be transmitted to Slave units  82 - 86 . It will be appreciated that in this embodiment the Slave units do not themselves have the ability to compare the picture source identification with a preloaded list. This is because spam filtering is accomplished at the Master unit. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 5  in which like reference characters are utilized to identify like elements; what can be seen is that rather than having a wireless receiver  90 , what is provided in this embodiment is a wire line receiver  100  capable of receiving CATV, PSTN, and other wire line transmissions. 
         [0056]    Thus, it can be seen that picture data can either be wirelessly transmitted to the Master unit or can be transmitted through a wire-line connection to the Master unit. Here the wired component is designated by reference character  92 ′. 
         [0057]    The wireless component in this case is the wireless transmission from the Master unit to the Slaves. 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , what is shown is a Slave  110  which has its own display  112  and a controller  114  as well as a user actuatable switch  116  to poll the associated Master unit. The Slave has a wireless component  120  which in one embodiment includes a Bluetooth wireless receiver  122  for receiving the picture messages from the associated Master, and also includes a wireless transmitter  124  which may be utilized to communicate with the Master unit, for instance select what pictures are to be wirelessly transmitted to the Slave. 
         [0059]    The Slave also has a memory  126 , a control module  128  and a spam filter  130  which only allows images to be displayed from selected message originators. In this case while messages may have been previously filtered at the Master, Slave  110  can perform the filtering function itself. 
         [0060]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a flow chart for the subject system requires a message originator to enter the telephone number of a Master unit that is to receive picture message data, with the picture to be sent illustrated at  150 . Thereafter, this information is transmitted to a message center  152  which receives the new digital picture data from the message originator and stores it as a new MMS digital photo as illustrated at  154 . Thereafter, the new digital picture is transmitted via wireless MMS transfer as shown at  156 , whereupon it is received at a Master unit  158  that saves the new digital picture in memory and removes old pictures as necessary. Finally, the new digital picture is displayed at the Master unit as illustrated at  160 . All of this may occur with or without the image spam filtering described above. However, the flow chart shown in  FIG. 7  illustrates that at least as far as wireless picture frames are concerned how one can transmit wireless picture imagery to a Master unit at which the picture message may be displayed if desired. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 8  at a Slave device, the Slave as illustrated at  162  requests the transmission of a digital image from the associated Master such that it receives a transfer of the digital image upon request. 
         [0062]    As illustrated at  164 , the requested images are accessed at the Master memory and are then transmitted from the Master memory to the Slave device as illustrated at  166 . 
         [0063]    What is set forth above is a description of what is currently believed to be the preferred embodiment or best example of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications which make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent. Where alternative meanings are possible, the broadest meaning is intended. All words used in the claims are intended to be used in the normal, customary usage of grammar and the English language and are accorded their ordinary meanings. 
         [0064]    While the inventions have been shown in only one of its forms, it is not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the words used in the following claims that define the invention. Rather, it is contemplated that future modifications in structure, function or result will exist that are not substantial changes and that all such insubstantial changes in what is claimed are intended to be covered by the claims. While the inventions have been particularly shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventions. Accordingly, modification to the preferred embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments or applications without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventions.