Patent ID: 7720924

Claim:
In a messaging system, a method for restoring media items to an original quality, the method comprising: upon receipt of a message containing a media item having original resolution quality by a switching center, storing the media item having original resolution quality in a repository by a server; generating an identifier for identifying the media item having original resolution quality stored in the repository by the server; embedding the identifier in the media item having original resolution quality stored in the repository by the server; replacing the media item in the received message with a copy of the identifier- embedded media item having original resolution quality stored in the repository by the switching center; and upon future encounter by the switching center of a message sent by a source node to a destination node, wherein the source node is different from the destination node, the message containing an identifier-embedded media item no longer having original resolution quality, substituting, by the switching center, the identifier-embedded media item no longer having original resolution quality in the encountered message with a copy of the identifier-embedded media item having original resolution quality stored in the repository using said identifier.