Patent Abstract:
A mobile terminal including a communicating unit, a display unit including an indicator area notifying an alarm when a message is received, and a controller configured to receive a message from at least one other terminal, and display message information on the indicator area of the display unit. Further, the message information including a first image selected according to a type of the received message, and a second image selected according to a type of the attached file.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation application of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/014,610 filed on Jan. 15, 2008. This application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Patent Application No. 10-2007-0017384 filed in the Republic of Korea on Feb. 21, 2007, the entire contents of both which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This present invention relates to a method and a terminal for displaying a received message with an icon. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Mobile terminal now allow users to send and receive multimedia messages (MMS) or short messages (SMS). When a user&#39;s mobile terminal receives a message, the mobile terminal displays, for example, a small image in the shape of an envelope to indicate to the user a new message has been received. 
         [0006]    However, the mobile terminal displays the small envelope icon regardless of whether the message is an SMS message, MMS message or e-mail message. Therefore, the user can not distinguish what type of message they have received. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to address the above-noted and other objects. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide information that assists the user in determining how many and what type of messages they have received on their terminal. 
         [0009]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides in one aspect a method for displaying a received message on a terminal. The method includes receiving messages, displaying on a display unit of the terminal different icons according to a type of the received messages, and displaying on the display unit of the terminal information indicating a number of unread received messages among the received messages. The present invention also provides a corresponding mobile communication terminal. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for displaying a received message on a terminal. The method includes receiving multimedia messages, and displaying on a display unit of the terminal different icons according to a type of contents attached to the received multimedia messages. The present invention also provides a corresponding mobile communication terminal. 
         [0011]    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings, which are given by illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a terminal for displaying a received message according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying a received MMS message according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying a received SMS message according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying a received email message according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A  is an overview illustrating multiple MMS icons indicating that multiple MMS messages have not been read. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5B  is an overview illustrating a single MMS icon indicating that a single MMS message has not been read. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6A  is an overview illustrating multiple SMS icons indicating that multiple SMS messages have not been read. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6B  is an overview illustrating a single SMS icon indicating that a single SMS message has not been read. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7A  is an overview illustrating multiple e-mail icons indicating that multiple e-mail messages have not been read. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7B  is an overview illustrating a single e-mail icon indicating that a single e-mail message has not been read. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is an overview illustrating icons when an SMS message, two MMS messages, and three e-mail messages have not been read. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9A  is an overview illustrating an icon indicating a basic MMS message. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9B  is an overview illustrating an icon indicating image contents. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9C  is an overview illustrating an icon indicating audio contents. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9D  is an overview illustrating an icon indicating video contents. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9E  is an overview illustrating an icon indicating combined contents. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying a received message including image contents according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying a received message including image or audio contents according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying a received message including combined contents according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a terminal  100  for displaying a received message according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the terminal  100  includes a communicating unit  110 , an input unit  120 , a controller  130 , a display unit  140 , a message processing unit  150  and a storage unit  160 . 
         [0034]    The communicating unit  110  wirelessly receives an SMS message, an MMS message, or an e-mail message from a mobile communication network. Hereinafter, a message including an SMS message, an MMS message, and an e-mail message will also be referred to as a ‘multimedia message’. 
         [0035]    Further, the input unit  120  is used to select a menu regarding an operation of the terminal  100 . In addition, when a multimedia message is received through the communicating unit  110  from the mobile communication network, the controller  130  controls the message processing unit  150  to analyze information about the message and display information (e.g., an icon) regarding a type of the received message and the number of messages that a user has not read yet. 
         [0036]    That is, the controller  130  analyzes the received multimedia message and displays an icon indicating a type of corresponding contents attached to the received multimedia message based on a result of the analysis. Further, the display unit  140  displays an operational state or status of the terminal  100  and also displays an icon indicating a type of a received message and the number of messages user has not read yet. 
         [0037]    In addition, the display unit  140  includes an indicator area where an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) of an antenna, a remaining battery capacity, and whether a message has been received or not is displayed. Accordingly, the display unit  140  displays various icons indicating the type of the received message and the number of messages which have not been read in the indicator area. 
         [0038]    Further, the message processing unit  150  recognizes the type of the message received through the communicating unit  110  based on a message classification field included in a header of the received message. That is, the message processing unit  150  recognizes whether the received message is an SMS message, an MMS message, or an e-mail message, and analyzes whether a single message or multiple messages have not been read by the user. 
         [0039]    Next, the message processing unit  150  transfers the analysis information on the received message to the controller  130 . In addition, the message processing unit  150  analyzes the multimedia message received through the communicating unit  110 , and transfers information on contents attached to the multimedia message to the controller  130 . 
         [0040]    Thus, the controller  130  displays an icon indicating a type of the corresponding contents attached to the received multimedia message on the display unit  140 . Further, the storage unit  160  stores the received message and various types of icons indicating types of received messages and of contents. 
         [0041]    Next,  FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying a received MMS message according to an embodiment of the present invention. The overviews shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  will also be referred to in the description of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the terminal  100  receives a message through the communicating unit  110  from the mobile communication network (S 202 ). Then, the controller  130  analyzes the message information through the message processing unit  150  with respect to the received message (S 204 ). As discussed above, the received message includes a header and content of the message, and the header of the message includes a message classification field indicating a type of the message. 
         [0043]    Thus, the controller  130  classifies the received message using the message classification field as to whether the received message is an SMS message including text, an MMS message including a music or video file or an e-mail message having an e-mail format. The controller  130  also discriminates whether a single message or multiple messages has/have not been read yet by the user. 
         [0044]    Further, as shown in  FIG. 2 , when the received message is an MMS message (Yes in S 206 ), the controller  130  checks whether multiple MMS messages have not been read by the user (S 208 ). Further, the storage unit  160  stores icons indicating whether the received message is the MMS message, the SMS message, or the e-mail message. 
         [0045]    Then, in step S 208 , the controller  130  determines if multiple MMS messages have not been read by the user according to the analysis results. The controller  130  also reads MMS icons indicating MMS messages from the storage unit  160  and displays the multiple MMS icons as shown in  FIG. 5A  when there are multiple unread MMS messages (S 210 ). 
         [0046]    That is, the controller  130  stores icons indicating multiple MMS messages, multiple SMS messages or multiple e-mail messages in the storage unit  160 , and when multiple MMS messages have not been read by the user, the controller  130  reads the MMS icons indicating multiple MMS messages and displays the icons on the display unit  140 . 
         [0047]    For example,  FIG. 5A  is an overview illustrating multiple MMS icons  510  indicating that multiple MMS messages have not been read. As shown, the multiple MMS icons  510  include a type indicator  512  indicating MMS messages. Further, as shown in  FIG. 5A , the controller  130  displays the MMS icons  510  in the indicator area of the display unit  140 . The controller can also display the MMS icons  510  in a blinking manner to alert the user there are unread messages. 
         [0048]    The controller  130  can also display the MMS icons  510  in a different color to discriminate the MMS icons  510  from other icons. Further, the controller  130  can display the multiple MMS icons  510  next to each title of the messages on a non-read list in an MMS reception box. The controller  130  can also display the MMS icons in an area different than the indicator area. 
         [0049]    Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 2 , when the controller  130  determines a single MMS message has not been read by the user according to the analysis results (No in S 208 ), the controller  130  reads an MMS icon indicating a single MMS message from the storage unit  160  and displays the single MMS icon on the display unit  140  as shown in  FIG. 5B  (S 212 ). 
         [0050]    In more detail,  FIG. 5B  is an overview illustrating a single MMS icon  520  indicating that a single MMS message has not been read. Similar to  FIG. 5A , the single MMS icon  520  in  FIG. 5B  includes a type indicator  522  indicating the type of message is a MMS message. 
         [0051]    Further, the controller  130  can display the single MMS icon  520  in the indicator area of the display unit  140 , and display the single MMS icon  520  in a blinking manner. Also, the controller  130  can display the single MMS icon  520  in a different color so as to discriminate the single MMS icon  520  from other icons. The controller  130  can also display the single MMS icon  520  next to each title of messages on a list which have not been read in the MMS reception box. 
         [0052]    In addition, when displaying the icon indicating the MMS message, the controller  130  can display an icon indicating whether there is an attachment file to the MMS message and an icon indicating what type of the attachment file is. Further, the controller  130  can display an icon as to whether a single file has been attached to the MMS message or multiple files have been attached to the MMS message. 
         [0053]    Next, a description will be given for SMS messages with respect to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3  and the overviews shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B .  FIG. 1  will also be referred to in this description. In more detail,  FIG. 3  illustrates the processes performed by the controller  130  when the controller  130  determines the message is not an MMS message in step S 206  of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the controller  130  determines if the message is an SMS message (S 310 ). When the controller  130  determines the received message is an SMS message (Yes in S 310 ), the controller  130  checks whether multiple SMS messages have not been read (S 312 ). In addition, when the controller  130  determines multiple SMS messages have not been read (Yes in S 312 ), the controller  130  reads multiple SMS icons indicating SMS messages from the storage unit  160  and displays the multiple SMS icons on the display unit  140  as shown in  FIG. 6A  (S 314 ). 
         [0055]    In more detail,  FIG. 6A  is an overview illustrating multiple SMS icons  610  indicating that the multiple SMS messages have not been read. As shown, the multiple SMS icons  610  a type indicator  612  indicating the SMS messages. Further, when the controller  130  determines there are not multiple SMS messages (No in S 312 ). the controller  130  determines a single SMS message has not been read by the user, reads an SMS icon indicating SMS message from the storage unit  160  and displays only the single SMS icon on the display unit  140  as shown in  FIG. 6B  (S 316 ). 
         [0056]    In more detail,  FIG. 6B  is an overview illustrating the single SMS icon  620  indicating that the single SMS message has not been read. As shown, the single SMS icon  620  includes a type indicator  622  indicating the SMS message. As discussed with respect to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the controller  130  displays the single SMS icon  620  and the multiple SMS icon  612  in the indicator area of the display unit  140 , and/or in a blinking manner. 
         [0057]    The controller  130  can also display the icons  610  and  620  in a different color so as to discriminate the icons from other icons. The controller  130  can also display the icons  610  and  620  next to each title of messages on a list which have not been read in the SMS reception box. 
         [0058]    Next, a description will be given for e-mail messages with respect to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 4  and the overviews shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B .  FIG. 1  will also be referred to in this description. In more detail,  FIG. 4  illustrates the processes performed by the controller  130  when the controller  130  determines the message is not an SMS message in step S 310  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the controller  130  first determines if the message is an e-mail message (S 420 ). If the controller  130  determines the received message is an e-mail message (Yes in S 420 ), the controller  130  checks whether multiple e-mail messages have not been read (S 422 ). 
         [0060]    Similar to the other examples regarding MMS and SMS messages, when the controller  130  determines multiple e-mail messages have not been read by the user (Yes in  422 ), the controller  130  reads e-mail icons indicating e-mail message from the storage unit  160  and displays multiple e-mail icons on the display unit  140  as shown in  FIG. 7A  (S 424 ). Further, when the controller  130  determines only a single message has not been read (No in S 422 ), the controller  130  reads an e-mail icon indicating an e-mail message from the storage unit  160  and displays the single e-mail icon on the display unit  140  as shown in  FIG. 7B . 
         [0061]    Further,  FIGS. 7A and 7B  are similar to  FIGS. 5A and 5B  and  6 A and  6 B. That is,  FIG. 7A  illustrates multiple e-mail icons  710  indicating that the multiple e-mail messages have not been read and a type indicator  712  indicating the e-mail message.  FIG. 7B  illustrates a single e-mail icon  720  indicating that a single e-mail message has not been read and a type indicator  722  indicating the e-mail message. 
         [0062]    Similar to the other examples, the icons can be displayed in a blinking manner, using a different color, or next to each title of messages on a non-read list of an e-mail reception box. 
         [0063]    Next,  FIG. 8  is an overview illustrating icons when an SMS message, an MMS message and an e-mail message have not been read according to another embodiment of the present invention. In more detail, when the user has not read any of received SMS, MMS and e-mail messages, the controller  130  displays an SMS icon  812  indicating a SMS message, an MMS icon  814  indicating an MMS message, and an e-mail icon  816  indicating an e-mail message on the display unit  140  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0064]    Namely, the controller  130  reads the SMS icon, the MMS icon and the e-mail icon from the storage unit  160 , and displays the icons in an overlap manner as shown in  FIG. 8 . Alternatively, the controller  130  may also display an integrated icon indicating all of the SMS, MMS and email messages. In this instance, the integrated icon includes the SMS icon  812  indicating the SMS message, the MMS icon  814  indicating the MMS message, and the e-mail icon  816  indicating the e-mail message as a single icon. 
         [0065]    Further, the SMS icon  812 , the MMS icon  814  and the e-mail icon  816  shown in  FIG. 8  each have a different color so that the icons can be discriminated from each other. In addition, when displaying the non-read messages, the controller  130  can display the number of the messages that have not been read together with characters (S, M, E) indicating types of the messages. For example, and as shown in  FIG. 8 , when a single SMS message has not been read, S: 1  can be displayed, when two MMS messages have not been read, M: 2  can be displayed, and when three e-mail messages have not been read, E: 3  can be displayed. 
         [0066]    Further, when the received message is an MMS message, the controller  130  can display an icon indicating whether or not the MMS message includes an attachment file and an icon indicating a type of the attachment file, and can also display an icon indicating whether a single attachment file or multiple attachment files has/have been attached. These features will now be described in more detail with respect to  FIGS. 9-12 .  FIG. 1  will also be referred to in this description. 
         [0067]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , the controller  130  determines the terminal  100  has received an MMS message through the communicating unit  110  (Yes in S 1010 ). Here, the MMS message refers to a notification message from an MMS server (not shown) that there is an MMS message transmitted to the terminal. That is, when a terminal of the other party creates and sends an MMS message to the terminal  100 , the MMS server transmits the notification message with fields defined as shown in the below Table 1 to the terminal  100 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Field name 
                 Field value 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 X-Mms-Message- 
                 Message-type- 
                 Compulsory, 
               
               
                   
                 Type 
                 value = 
                 Indicating 
               
               
                   
                   
                 m-send-req 
                 characteristics 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 of data packet 
               
               
                   
                 X-Mms- 
                 Transaction-id- 
                 Compulsory, 
               
               
                   
                 Transaction-ID 
                 value 
                 A unique 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 key value 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 indicating 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 packet 
               
               
                   
                 X-Mms-MMS- 
                 MMS-version- 
                 Compulsory, 
               
               
                   
                 Version 
                 value 
                 Indicating 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 MMS version 
               
               
                   
                 Date 
                 Date-value 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Indicating 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 date 
               
               
                   
                 From 
                 From-value 
                 Compulsory, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Address of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 person who 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 created 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 message 
               
               
                   
                 To 
                 To-value 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Naming 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 receiver. 
               
               
                   
                 Cc 
                 Cc-value 
                 Optional 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 item 
               
               
                   
                 Bcc 
                 Bcc-value 
                 Optional 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 item 
               
               
                   
                 Subject 
                 Subject-value 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Inputting 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 title of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 MM 
               
               
                   
                 X-Mms-Message- 
                 Message-class- 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                 Class 
                 value 
                 Classifying 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 message 
               
               
                   
                 X-Mms-Expiry 
                 Expiry-value 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Amount 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 stored 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 in MMSC 
               
               
                   
                 X-Mms-Priority 
                 Priority-value 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Importance 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 level of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 message 
               
               
                   
                 X-Mms-Sender- 
                 Sender-visibility- 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                 Visibility 
                 value 
                 Sender is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 not to be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 seen 
               
               
                   
                 X-Mms-Delivery- 
                 Delivery-report- 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                 Report 
                 value 
                 Choose to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 be reported 
               
               
                   
                 X-Mms-Read-Reply 
                 Read-reply- 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 value 
                 Receiving 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 report on 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 whether 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 it was read 
               
               
                   
                 X-Mms-Reply- 
                 Reply-charging- 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                 Charging 
                 value 
                 Used when 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 sender 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 charges 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 reply fee 
               
               
                   
                 X-Mms-Reply- 
                 Reply-charging- 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                 Charging- 
                 deadline-value 
                 Charging 
               
               
                   
                 Deadline 
                   
                 reply fee 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 within 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 certain 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 time in 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 case of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 charging 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 reply fee 
               
               
                   
                 X-Mms-Reply- 
                 Reply-charging- 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                 Charging- 
                 size-value 
                 Charging 
               
               
                   
                 Size 
                   
                 only 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 particular 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 size in 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 case of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 charging 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 reply fee 
               
               
                   
                 X-Mms-Reply- 
                 Reply-charging- 
                 Optional, 
               
               
                   
                 Charging-ID 
                 ID-value 
                 ID of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 original 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 MM as 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 returned 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 in case of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 charging 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 reply fee 
               
               
                   
                 Content-Type 
                 Content-type- 
                 Compulsory, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 value 
                 Type of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 contents 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 of MM 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0068]    Thus, as shown in  FIG. 10 , when the MMS message is received (Yes in S 101 ), the controller  130  analyzes a type of contents of the received MMS message through the message processing unit  150  (S 1020 ). Namely, the controller  130  analyzes whether the MMS message includes only text or whether the MMS message includes image (picture) contents, audio contents, or video contents through a contents type field included in the notification message. Here, the image contents correspond to a photo image captured by a digital camera or a picture or an image created using a graphic tool. 
         [0069]    Further, the MMS message may only include text data, and not image (picture) contents, audio contents, or video contents according to the analysis results. Thus, if the received MMS message does not contain any contents besides text, the controller  130  can display a character or an icon indicating that there are not any contents. Namely, as shown in  FIG. 9A , the controller  130  displays an icon indicating the basic MMS message on the display unit  140 . As shown in  FIG. 9A , the displayed icon includes a type indicator  910  indicating the type of the received message. 
         [0070]    In addition, as shown in  FIG. 10 , when the controller  130  determines the received MMS message includes image (picture) contents according to the analysis results (Yes in S 1030 ), the controller  130  reads an image contents icon indicating image (picture) contents among contents icons stored in the storage unit  160  and displays the icon on the display unit  140  as shown in  FIG. 9B  (S 1040 ). 
         [0071]    As shown in  FIG. 9B , the displayed icon is an image contents icon  920  including a type indicator  922  indicating the MMS message and a contents indicator  924  indicating image contents are included in the MMS message. As shown, the contents indicator  924  is expressed in the shape of a camera, but the contents indicator  924  can be expressed in a different shape. The controller  130  can also display only a character indicating that the image contents are included in the received MMS message. 
         [0072]    Next, when the controller  130  determines the message does not include image contents (No in S 1030 ), the controller  130  determines if audio contents are included (S 1110  in  FIG. 11 ). When the controller  130  determines the contents included in the received MMS message are audio contents (or sound contents) (Yes in S 1110 ), the controller  130  reads an icon indicating audio contents among contents images stored in the storage unit  160  and displays the icon on the display unit  140  as shown in  FIG. 9C  (S 1120 ). 
         [0073]    As shown in  FIG. 9C , the displayed icon is an audio contents icon  930  including a type indicator  932  indicating the MMS message and a contents indicator  934  indicating audio contents are included in the MMS message. As shown, the contents indicator  934  is expressed in the shape of musical notes, but the icon can be expressed in a different shape. The controller  130  can also only display a character indicating audio contents are included in the MMS message. 
         [0074]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 11 , when the controller  130  determines the message does not include audio contents (No in S 1110 ), the controller  130  determines if the message includes video contents (S 1130 ). When the controller  130  determines the contents included in the received MMS message are video contents (Yes in S 1130 ), the controller  130  reads an icon indicating video contents among the contents images stored in the storage unit  160  and displays the on the display unit  140  as shown in  FIG. 9D  (S 1140 ). 
         [0075]    As shown in  FIG. 9D , the icon is a video contents icon  940  including a type indicator  942  indicating the MMS message and a contents indicator  944  indicating that the video contents are contained in the MMS message. As shown, the contents indicator  944  has the shape of a film, but the indicator  944  can be also expressed in a different shape. Further, the controller can also only display a character indicating that the video contents are contained in the MMS message. 
         [0076]    Further, the flowchart in  FIG. 12  illustrates when the controller  130  determines there are no image contents in step S 1030  of  FIG. 10 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the controller  130  determines if the contents contained in the received MMS message are combined contents including an image, audio, and video (S 1210 ). When the controller  130  determines the contents are combined contents (Yes in S 1210 ), the controller  130  reads an image contents icon, an audio contents icon, and a video contents icon from the storage unit  160  and displays the icons on the display unit  140  as shown in  FIG. 9E . The controller  130  can also read a combined contents icon indicating all of the image contents, the audio contents, and the video contents from the storage unit  160  display the combined icon on the display unit  140 . 
         [0077]    As shown in  FIG. 9E , the combined contents icon  950  includes a type indicator  952  indicating the MMS message and contents indicators  954  indicating that the respective contents are contained in the MMS message. Further, the contents indicators  954  may be expressed by mixing the shapes of the camera, the musical note, and the film. 
         [0078]    Similar to the other icons discussed above, the controller  130  can display the combined contents icon  950  in the indicator area of the display unit  140 , display the combined contents icon  950  in a blinking manner, and/or display the contents indicators  954  of the combined contents icon  950  in different colors to discriminate the icon from other icons or contents. The controller  130  can also display the combined contents icon  950  next to each title of messages on the list of the MMS reception box. Further, the controller  130  can display only a character indicating that the MMS message contains the image contents, the audio contents, and the video contents. 
         [0079]    Accordingly, when the user receives a multimedia message on their terminal, he/she can easily recognize what type of message has been received, how many messages have been received, and also can easily recognize what type of contents are contained in the received multimedia message. 
         [0080]    In addition, according to embodiments of the present invention, when a message is received by the terminal, the received message is analyzed and information (e.g., one or more icons) is displayed to inform the user about the received message(s). Thus, the user can easily recognize what type of message has been received and/or how many messages have been received. 
         [0081]    As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7